Dale Earnhardt Jr. launches Becoming Earnhardt season two this month, bringing a fresh spotlight to his father Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s first NASCAR Cup championship and introducing a new generation of listeners to a milestone era in classic motorsports. The latest season continues Earnhardt Jr.’s quest to explore historic moments in racing, with a focus on the 1980 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Podcast Returns with Renewed Focus on 1980 Triumph
After last year’s acclaimed release of a docuseries that intimately documented Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s life and the Earnhardt family, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is once again delving into his legendary father’s story. Building on the momentum of his other Dirty Mo Media podcasts, including The Dale Jr. Download and Bless Your ‘Hardt with his wife Amy, Earnhardt Jr. is spearheading another season of Becoming Earnhardt. This series initially began two years prior, gaining traction with racing fans eager for a deeper look at motorsport history.
The first season of Becoming Earnhardt launched in July 2023 as an eight-episode exploration of the 1979 NASCAR Cup Series season. That year was pivotal for Dale Earnhardt Sr., who captured his first career Cup win and secured Rookie of the Year honors, marking the beginning of a storied NASCAR legacy. Now, with interest fueled by the Amazon Prime docuseries that aired in late May highlighting Dale Sr.’s personal journey and legacy, the second season turns the focus squarely on the 1980 NASCAR Cup campaign that ended with Earnhardt Sr.’s inaugural Cup Championship.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Reflects on Bringing the Past to Life
Earnhardt Jr. recently announced the return of the podcast through a series of posts, expressing his excitement about revisiting the early days of NASCAR and his father’s groundbreaking achievements with a modern audience. In his own words:
“Today I went into the @DirtyMoMedia studios and recorded the full second season of ‘Becoming Earnhardt.’ It’s a series focused around the 1980 season, dad’s first Cup Championship. Follow @DirtyMoMedia for updates on when that will be available. We did a deep dive into the 1979 season a few years ago as well.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., @DaleJr
The NASCAR culture of the late 1970s and early 80s was legendary for its larger-than-life characters and fiercely competitive teams, elements that Dale Earnhardt Jr. aims to capture in this new season. He told listeners:
“This series is an opportunity for all of us to learn about the quirky nature of the race teams and the cantankerous personalities that filled up the @NASCAR garages back then. I’m massively nostalgic to the past historical moments in NASCAR competition, so this series is a ton of fun for me.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., @DaleJr
Anticipating Audience Response to the New Season
Following the emotional docuseries that covered personal narratives within the Earnhardt family, such as Kelley Earnhardt Miller recounting childhood stories, this new Becoming Earnhardt season shifts towards the professional milestones of Dale Earnhardt Sr. The production brings together stories from iconic NASCAR garages, the evolving competitive landscape, and the fierce personalities that defined a transformative era. Listeners familiar with Junior’s connection to his father and the sport can expect a nostalgic yet insightful journey into the events that shaped the Cup Championship season of 1980.
The Amazon Prime docuseries set a high bar by moving fans emotionally and offering a rare glimpse into the Earnhardt legacy. The challenge now lies in whether this soon-to-be-released podcast season will engage both long-time racing followers and newcomers, extending the Earnhardt legacy to a wider audience.
With the new Becoming Earnhardt episodes soon to drop through Dirty Mo Media’s channels, interest is building among fans eager to relive key moments from NASCAR’s past. The project both honors Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s 1980 Cup Championship victory and connects that history to today’s listeners, highlighting the ongoing impact of the Earnhardt family in American motorsport storytelling.
