Dale Earnhardt Jr. Voices Seven-Word Love Letter to NASCAR Despite Basking in F1’s Miami Glamor

As a kid, Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t wake up early for cartoons. He woke up to catch Formula 1 races. Young Dale Jr. watched Michael Schumacher and Mika Häkkinen duel across European tracks while most of his friends stayed glued to American racing. It was something different. The speed, the precision, the global stage, it all pulled him in. He was hooked. But somewhere along the way, that love faded. Life happened. NASCAR took over. The early mornings didn’t fit anymore. He drifted.

Years passed. Then came a spark. Not from Schumacher this time, but from Max Verstappen. Dale Jr. found himself following Max’s races. Verstappen’s aggressive style and calm under pressure pulled him back in. “I like to see Max succeed, I love to see him dominate,” he said in 2024. Watching Max take on the grid gave Dale a rooting interest again. The F1 world, once distant, was exciting again. It reminded him of the days he used to get up before sunrise. And that new interest would lead to something big.

That “something big” happened in Miami. For the first time in his life, Dale Earnhardt Jr. attended a Formula 1 race in person. He wasn’t just watching from his couch. He was there, on the ground, with his wife Amy. They soaked it all in: the food, the fashion, the fans, the speed. He even got to meet Max Verstappen. But as dazzling as F1 was, Dale Jr. walked away with a simple conclusion. NASCAR still has its heart.

NASCAR wins over Dale Jr.’s childhood ‘dream’

This week, Dale Jr. and Amy made the trip to the Miami Grand Prix. It was their first F1 race together, and for Dale, his first ever. “Everybody’s been asking me about my opinion on the F1 thing. I was excited to go because Amy was going,” he said on the Bless Your Hardt podcast. He admitted it was more about the shared experience than the racing at first. But once they got there, the show blew him away.

Dale Jr. was full of praise. He described the setting like a movie, mermaids in pools, everyone dressed up, music, and lights. “The food was really good. The hospitality was awesome. Everything fans engage with is really thoughtful… The pool even had mermaids in it. It was like a scene. Really cool,” he said. Despite the glamour and blitz of the NASCAR world, Dale Jr. wasn’t entirely sold on F1’s racing product.

“The racing was pretty good up until Max got passed. Max was kind of holding up the McLarens, and it was exciting to see how they were trying to put the passes together. Once he fell to third, the race was pretty much over, even though there was still half the race left. There were still some things going on for die-hards—Hamilton, some action mid-pack—that were interesting. But it was easy to zone out from the race and just get more food, drinks, and hang around and BS with people,” he added. This forced Dale Jr. to admit that, “I’m more entertained by the NASCAR product.”

His comments are backed by some honest facts. In NASCAR, finishes often come down to inches. At Phoenix this year, less than a tenth of a second separated the top three as Christopher Bell beat Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson. Similarly, at Talladega, Austin Cindric beat Ryan Preece by just 0.022 seconds. However, in F1, the winner often cruises to victory. Oscar Piastri led a dominant one-two for McLaren in Miami. He won the race by more the 4.6 seconds. While George Russell as third place finished more than 37 seconds behind him.

Dale Jr. also highlighted another stark difference between NASCAR and F1. “You can walk the garage in NASCAR. You can feel the engines. It’s loud, messy, and raw. F1 is polished. Beautiful. But it’s also far away from the fans,” he said. Even though Jr. stands by NASCAR, he isn’t done with Formula 1. Far from it. In fact, the Miami trip may have just been the start. “Absolutely. Especially in another country,” he said when asked if he’d attend another race.

“I got a you know an American version of the global sport that F1 is, but… If I were to go to Monaco or another country and see it, it would be even completely different, it’d be even more epic,” he added. The thought of sitting above the harbor, watching the cars dance through tight corners, clearly excites him. F1 may not be his first love, but it’s become something real. As he wrapped up his thoughts on the trip, Dale Jr. circled back to what matters most—racing. Whether it’s the global glamour of F1 or the gritty heart of NASCAR, he loves motorsports.

Earnhardt Jr. Talks Carson Kvapil’s Future!

Dale Earnhardt Jr. didn’t mince words when someone asked him about Carson Kvapil’s NASCAR future. He acknowledged Carson’s strong rise through JR Motorsports and his impressive Xfinity Series performance, but he emphasized, “Carson’s future is not guaranteed.” Kvapil, 21, joined Earnhardt’s team in 2022. He began in Late Models, advanced to ARCA and Trucks, and now runs as a rookie at JRM. He has notched three top 5 finishes so far in 2025, but his team owner wants more.

“Carson has to win. I can move past Justin because Justin’s won a championship. He’s going to win races. Justin is fine. He’s established,” he said. But Kvapil? He’s not there yet. Dale Jr. sees potential, but also risk. “I think we can all agree that he’s got potential, and there’s something there. If the right things happen the right way, he could have a 20-year career, but it easily could go the opposite way,” he said.  That pressure isn’t just about performance. It’s also about comparison. Dale Jr. mentioned another rising talent, Connor Zilisch.

“Connor has a runway in front of him. A plan. He’s got Trackhouse support,” Dale Jr. noted. Zilisch’s road course ability and growing fan base make him a standout. Kvapil, meanwhile, has to carve his own way. And in NASCAR, that road isn’t always smooth. The JRM co-owner has built a reputation as someone who gives young drivers real chances. But he also tells it like it is. Kvapil’s got talent, he’s landed on his feet at JRM. But now, it’s about results. The next step is clear: win and keep winning. That’s the only way to lock in the future.

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