Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s competitive drive is well known among NASCAR fans, but recently he revealed how the intensity of the Dale Earnhardt Jr competitive nature extends to his gaming life. In a candid conversation with Jeff Gluck, the racing star explained how his passion for winning—not just on the track but also on console games—has led to moments of frustration and self-reflection.
Bringing the Racing Mindset to Video Games
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s racing achievements, including two Busch Series championships and 26 Cup Series victories, have always been tied to his relentless spirit. However, that same sense of competition follows him off the track, particularly when he picks up a gaming controller. During his interview with Jeff Gluck, Earnhardt Jr. admitted that even friendly matches, especially in his NCAA College Football Xbox/PlayStation Dynasty League, often leave him anything but calm after a defeat.
The racing legend described how losing isn’t easy for him, and the emotions stirred up in defeats are hard to shake. Notably, console games like Madden Mobile seem to fuel those emotions even more, as games with friends tend to bring out a heightened sense of rivalry and frustration.
Earnhardt Jr. Reflects on Gaming Emotions
During his discussion about Madden, Earnhardt Jr. revealed the challenges of managing his responses to winning and losing, especially when competing in the virtual leagues with friends. He opened up about his past performances and the emotional rollercoaster that followed close matches and tough losses:
“We used to be in a Madden league back in around 2012, and I won the Super Bowl three years in a row, so I was pretty good, but playing Madden with your friends brings the absolute worst out of you. Nothing else is like this,”
Earnhardt Jr. said.
He continued,
“And I had to stop and tell myself: ‘This isn’t healthy if I can’t control my emotions around winning and losing.’”
Earnhardt Jr. even mentioned that Brad Keselowski, co-owner of RFK Racing, has struggled with the same issues:
“I don’t know what it is about console games and your friends, especially sports games.”
According to Earnhardt Jr., gaming with close friends can create intensity not found elsewhere, sometimes leading to broken controllers and visible frustration.
Madden Mobile Becomes a Time Sink
The NASCAR star’s passion for Madden Mobile surfaced in a 2017 episode of Dale Jr. Download, where he confessed to spending significant amounts of his day playing the game. He explained,
“New season just started, so I’m spending roughly half of my waking hours on Madden Mobile. Yeah, I know it’s excessive, and Amy’s not very happy.”
Earnhardt Jr. elaborated further on the gaming culture among his circle:
“People ask us what music we listen to, people ask us all kinds of questions. Our favorite mobile app – mobile game – is Madden Mobile. It is free. We’re in a league, and got a bunch of guys in there. Half of them don’t know who we are – don’t know who I am – that’s probably best.”
Despite his involvement, he avoided sharing his username, noting that it would not be easy to identify him within the game.
The Ongoing Impact of Competitive Drive
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s openness about his gaming habits exposes how the relentless pursuit of victory shapes personalities beyond professional sports. The same competitive instinct that propelled him to championships in NASCAR also drives his engagement in gaming, sometimes to a fault. With fellow NASCAR names like Brad Keselowski experiencing similar frustrations, it becomes clear that the high stakes of competition can follow athletes into their off-track pursuits. As Earnhardt Jr. continues to reflect on these moments, his struggle highlights the challenges of channeling intensity in healthy ways—both on and off the virtual field.
12 Questions with @DaleJr just dropped: https://t.co/x3b6mBWEHx
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) October 22, 2025
