Respecting Dale Earnhardt Sr.: Navigating the Unspoken Rules of NASCAR Fandom

In the world of NASCAR, there are certain rules that must be followed. For instance, one should not cheer for Bubba Wallace, as boos are expected instead. Visiting the pool room in Dawsonville is mandatory, and supporting anyone other than an Earnhardt or Elliott in Talladega is strictly prohibited. During races, fans cannot go without complaining about the TV coverage and commercials. Giving Denny Hamlin the finger is encouraged at most tracks, and the double-bird is also acceptable. However, the ultimate rule that must be obeyed is never disrespecting Dale Earnhardt Sr., who should be treated with utmost respect, as he was and is a true legend in NASCAR. Earnhardt famously drove a Chevy for many years, although he did drive a Ford briefly in 1982. Many people forget this due to his infrequent appearances in a Ford. Now, Hailie Deegan, NASCAR’s Most Popular Xfinity Series Driver, is facing backlash for her Darlington paint scheme, which pays tribute to Earnhardt. Some NASCAR fans seem to expect others to remember that Earnhardt once drove a Ford, but this is a challenging request. When a trend related to this issue appeared on Elon Musk’s Twitter feed, the author thought that everyone would appreciate it. However, the comments section soon revealed that the situation was tense, with dozens of angry, possibly drunk NASCAR fans attacking Deegan. The author suggests that consulting Google might have helped ease tensions, but the current state of affairs seems to indicate that we live in a highly reactive and angry society. As a huge fan of NASCAR, the author advises leaving Deegan alone, as she bears no responsibility for this situation. Interestingly, NASCAR’s decision to let a driver with zero career wins run a Dale Earnhardt paint scheme is bold.