Dale Earnhardt Jr. first car story reached fans anew when he opened up about the surprising vehicle that sparked his lifelong passion for automobiles, revealing unexpected details during a heartfelt conversation on Dinner Drive with Kyle Petty. While known for racing NASCAR and high-powered Corvettes, Earnhardt Jr. told his audience that the car closest to his heart was a modest chevrolet/”>Chevrolet pickup, now remembered as the vehicle that marked a pivotal moment in his life.
The Pickup That Meant Everything
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has driven nearly every type of vehicle through his storied career, from the elite NASCAR Cup Series cars to modern street Corvettes. Yet, when Kyle Petty asked him about his all-time favorite, Junior stunned many by naming his first set of wheels, a 1988 Chevrolet S-10 pickup.
“It’s probably my little (Chevrolet) S-10 pickup truck,”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Driver. He described the truck as a single cab, two-tone model with a special Tahoe package, making it unique not just to him, but also to any true enthusiast.
This special vehicle holds enduring sentimental value for Junior. He cherishes a near-identical replica today, although the original truck no longer exists. According to Junior,
“This isn’t the exact truck that I owned, but this is as close as you’re going to get. And I’m so glad that I have it today. It’s kind of like this thing that reminds you of where you were and where you’ve been.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Driver. The emotional connection comes from the fact that the truck was given by his father, the late Dale Earnhardt Sr., at a pivotal time: his 16th birthday when he earned his first driver’s license.
A Father’s Influence and Practical Beginnings
The wisdom of Dale Earnhardt Sr. shaped Junior’s formative years and his choices behind the wheel. Unlike many of his peers who desired powerful hot rods, Dale Sr. favored a safe and sensible vehicle for his son, believing in the need for something practical and sturdy rather than fast. Junior respected this approach,
“I appreciated my dad’s vision and not to put me in anything that was going to go super-fast, not to put me in anything that I was going to get myself in trouble in,”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Driver. New to driving at 16, Junior realized that a robust pickup was the right call, especially for someone still learning the ropes.
The S-10 became a dependable companion, enduring typical teenage mishaps while serving as the setting for countless memories.
“And this thing could take a beating. It was small, easy to park, easy to get around in, just really a good truck. I had a lot of great memories in this truck with friends and trips, things I did and places I went.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Driver. Although not immediately smitten, Junior grew fond of the truck. He remembers,
“It showed up in the driveway and it was all I needed. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh man, this is awesome! I love this thing.’ It was just like that’ll get me where I want to go. And I ended up falling in love with it.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Driver.
Making Lifelong Memories On and Off the Road
Despite later piloting some of the fastest machines on the planet, Dale Jr. always found comfort returning to his first truck. He described the feelings and simple joys of those early days:
“I’d park this truck in the field and lay in the bed of it and look up at the stars,”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Driver. These were not just cinematic moments seen in commercials, but his real experiences.
Fixing and maintaining the S-10 himself forged a stronger bond between him and the truck.
“Me and this truck, we were a team, you know what I mean? It was dependable and I fixed everything that went wrong with it. When you invest yourself into something like that, it’s part of you.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Driver. The S-10 became a symbol of independence, camaraderie, and youthful adventures with friends throughout his hometown of Mooresville, North Carolina.
Speeding Tickets and Teenage Lessons
Even though the 1988 S-10 wasn’t a race car, the thrill of driving sometimes got the better of Junior. He confessed,
“I got four speeding tickets between (the ages of) 16 and 18,”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Driver, adding with some relief,
“And I ain’t had one since.”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Driver. The lessons from his early driving years lingered, steering him toward responsibility while infusing a hint of humor familiar to many young drivers.
When asked by Petty about his encounters with law enforcement growing up as a local celebrity, Earnhardt Jr. set the record straight,
“Well, that’s not true. Actually, I’ve had a couple (speeding tickets) since, over a couple decades, but that’s pretty good,”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Driver. He clarified that his heyday of speeding tickets was during the period he spent behind the wheel of the S-10.
The truck also played a role in formative social moments. Junior candidly told Petty about his first romantic experiences with the pickup:
“It was probably a pretty bad date,”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Driver. From clumsy first dates and kisses to late-night truck-bed stargazing, the Chevrolet S-10 was the silent witness of his coming-of-age years.
The Fate of the Original S-10
Although Junior treasures his near-perfect replica today, the story of the original truck ended dramatically. He revealed years ago,
“I financed it for five years for a $100 payment. I had it for about three months, and I flipped it on Christmas morning driving to MeMaw’s for a family reunion.”
Snow lined the road that day as Junior, distracted by a new Walkman CD player gifted by his sister, lost control. The truck hit a driveway culvert and rolled over multiple times, fortunately leaving him unharmed. The S-10, however, was totaled in the accident, closing a short but meaningful chapter in his life.
Still, the impact of that first vehicle endured, especially with the help of friends like Ray Evernham, who helped bring an exact replica to life for Junior. In his own words:
“Puttin miles on my new truck. 1988 s10. First car when I was 16. Exact replica. Thanks 2 @RayEvernham and his gang. pic.twitter.com/VPV5ZCacsh”
—Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Driver
Why This Story Resonates
Dale Earnhardt Jr. first car story is more than a tale about a vehicle—it’s a testament to personal growth, generational wisdom, and the powerful memories forged during adolescence. The Chevrolet S-10, entrusted to him by his father, not only launched Junior’s driving journey but also shaped his character, values, and outlook on the importance of humility and gratitude.
As Junior continues to share memories from the driver’s seat, fans and fellow drivers alike are reminded of those humble beginnings, the meaning of true independence, and the lessons learned on the roads of Mooresville, North Carolina. His story underscores the emotional attachment countless people feel for their first car, and how sometimes, the most unassuming vehicles create the most lasting legacies.
