Dale Earnhardt Jr recently recounted a memorable cheating incident that took place during his NASCAR career, giving rare insight into the inventive ways teams have tried to get an edge. The Dale Earnhardt Jr cheating story reveals how attempts to outsmart officials sometimes took dramatic turns, especially in the high-pressure environment of NASCAR.
Cheating in NASCAR has a long, storied past—in an era before stringent laser scanning and technical scrutiny, working around the rules was a common strategy among competitors. Dale Earnhardt Jr has become known for candidly sharing stories from his time on the track since retiring from the NASCAR Cup Series in 2016. His reflections shine a light on both the creativity and desperation that sometimes defined the sport’s earlier days.
How the Illegal Wing Mount Was Discovered
During the Car of Tomorrow (COT) era, Earnhardt Jr’s No. 8 team made an attempt to pass technical inspection with an illegal wing mount in place. According to his account, NASCAR officials eventually spotted the non-conforming part and immediately removed it from the vehicle. As tension rose, one crew member considered an audacious plan—simply grabbing the evidence and sprinting away to prevent officials from confiscating it.
“We got busted because we went to Darlington, the COT had just come out and Tony Jr had figured out something,”
Dale Earnhardt Jr stated.
Tony Gibson, a key figure on the team, elaborated,
“We made wing mounts. We found out that the distance between the wing and the decklid was where the downforce came from.”
By adjusting the space between the decklid and wing, the team aimed to generate a crucial aerodynamic advantage. NASCAR’s inspectors, however, knew to check for such modifications, as Gibson explained:
“And the only way to really tell was if you measured between the decklid and the wing. So, we’re pushing through tech and we had already made it out of the tech line, pushing it up the hill.”
Officials then intervened, telling the team,
“Hold on stop. Take those wing mounts off.”
At this pivotal moment, a crew member known as “Two beer” seriously suggested making a run for it with the illicit parts in hand, hoping that without the physical evidence, the team could avoid further penalty.
“I looked at two beer and I said, ‘Two beer, they got us.’ They got them wing mounts that they just took off our car, laying that table.”
Instead of backing down, “Two beer” showed his determination:
“Old man, ‘I’m going to grab those wing mounts right there and I’m going to take off running.’ He says, ‘If they can’t find them, they can’t throw us out.’”
Earnhardt Jr kept his sense of humor in a heated situation, recalling his reply:
“I said, ‘Two beer, they already know.’ He’s like, ‘I’m getting ready to grab them and I’m going to take off running. I’ll be out of this place in no time.’”
Reflecting on the near-escape, Earnhardt Jr mused,
“I said, ‘Two beer, they’ll have dogs and helicopters after you here in about 15 seconds.’ I said, ‘It’s over!’”
The Lasting Influence of NASCAR’s Rule-Bending Culture
This Dale Earnhardt Jr cheating story not only sheds light on the lengths teams would go to for competitive gain, but it also highlights the ever-present cat-and-mouse game between NASCAR officials and racing teams. The anecdote underlines the persistent culture of innovation—sometimes at odds with the rulebook—that has marked NASCAR’s history.
While strict enforcement methods have reduced the opportunities for such antics, stories like this one remain a testament to the intense drive for success that defined a pivotal era of the sport. Dale Earnhardt Jr, Tony Gibson, and their team’s creative—if risky—thinking represent the clever, daring determination that often set NASCAR apart.
