Dale Earnhardt Sr. was a legend, but he was also a hard man. On the track, he was ‘The Intimidator,’ a fearless driver who dominated NASCAR. Off the track, he carried that same intensity, especially when it came to his family. He wanted his kids to be tough, independent, and driven. But that often came at the cost of emotional expression. His close friend Hank Parker once shared a revealing moment of Earnhardt’s struggles with fatherhood.
Once, Earnhardt told Parker, “I don’t know how to love my kid like you love your kid.” It was a rare glimpse into the mind of a man who knew how to dominate a racetrack but found it difficult to show affection in the traditional way. Dale Sr. wasn’t unloving—far from it. He just showed love differently. He believed pushing his kids, particularly Dale Earnhardt Jr., to their limits as it would prepare them for life’s hardships.
Notably, this old-school mentality wasn’t unique to Earnhardt. Many NASCAR legends came from hard beginnings, where grit and determination meant more than words. One such figure is NASCAR Hall of Famer Jack Roush. Often misunderstood for his no-nonsense approach, he was a father-like figure to many. Recently, one of his biggest prospects, Carl Edwards, spoke about the ‘misunderstood’ side of his personality.
Jack Roush earned loyalty for his efforts!
Just a few weeks ago, NASCAR inducted Carl Edwards into its Hall of Fame. The legendary driver retired from the sport in 2016 after dominating the track for almost two decades. But his journey is nothing without Jack Roush’s support. The team owner discovered Edwards through a classified ad in National Speed Sport News. He gave him a full-time opportunity in the Truck Series, but Edwards’s performance shocked Roush. Within a year, Edwards was asked to replace Jeff Burton in the Cup series, and the rest is history.
But Roush’s leadership style wasn’t for everyone. In a recent conversation with Dale Earnhardt Jr. on his Dale Jr. Download podcast, Edwards spoke about Roush’s personality. He described Roush as a tough but brilliant leader, someone who demanded excellence from everyone around him. He compared Roush’s work ethic with Dale Earnhardt Sr., saying, “Jack is hard. I mean, he would say it how it is.”
He recalled a moment when he made a costly mistake at Talladega. Instead of a pep talk, Roush brought him in just to tell him his mistakes. But Edwards didn’t take it personally. He respected it. “But for me, that was fine because Jack was there to win. He had grown up dirt-floor poor, fought his way through every single thing, and that’s who he is. He doesn’t look at the world like, “How are we going to feel good about where we’re at?” He says, ‘Hey, how are we going to fight to get where we want to go?’” Edwards added.
While many would find Jack Roush a little harsh, he has been clear that he is here to build champions. Notably, Roush didn’t inherit a racing empire—he built one. He grew up in tough conditions and had to fight for every opportunity. He even declined the offer to join the Air Force to pursue his love for cars. “They wanted me to start off riding in the back seat of an F-4… but I wanted to be the guy up front with his hair on fire,” Roush once admitted in an interview.
His ability to fight hard and his no-nonsense approach paid off, as the numbers speak for themselves. Roush’s teams have won 325 NASCAR races, including 137 in the Cup Series. He has championship titles across all three national touring series and was a pioneer in safety innovations, developing the roof flaps that help prevent dangerous flips. His impact on the sport was so significant that he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2019.
Apart from the results, Roush also earned priceless loyalty and trust from his colleagues. Mark Martin, one of NASCAR’s all-time greats, had multiple opportunities to leave Roush Fenway Racing. He never did. Why? Because Roush built his career when others didn’t even notice him. “A lot of people wonder why I stayed with Jack Roush for 19 years. Well, it’s because he’s the only one that would give me a chance, and I never forgot it,” Martin once admitted.
That loyalty wasn’t just about gratitude—it was about respect. Roush’s drivers knew he would push them harder than anyone else, but they also knew he would never settle for anything less than their absolute best. Notably, Roush’s work ethic was also very different from others. Speaking about it, Carl Edwards admitted that Roush and Joe Gibbs were poles apart in their approach to the team.
Unlike Roush, who controlled every detail, Gibbs took a hands-off approach. “If you’ve never seen Jack in a meeting screaming about lug nuts and stuff, I mean it’s awesome this guy knows what’s up. But coach Gibbs would say, ‘I don’t know anything about tires. You tell me what I need to do.’ He trusted his people,” Edwards said.
Despite their differences, both owners built winning organizations. And while Gibbs helped Edwards reach new heights, it was Roush who shaped him into the driver he became.
Carl Edwards makes a comeback in NASCAR!
For years, Carl Edwards was one of NASCAR’s most electrifying drivers. Known for his signature backflips after victories, he won 28 Cup Series races and came heartbreakingly close to winning a championship twice. In 2011, he lost his first championship battle in a tiebreaker to Tony Stewart. However, things took a different turn when he failed to pull up against Jimmie Johnson in 2016. Despite finishing second in the championship, he shockingly announced his retirement.
His departure stunned the racing world, and despite countless offers, Edwards never wavered in his decision to stay retired. But now, after nearly a decade-long absence, Edwards is making a comeback—not as a driver, but as a broadcaster. He has signed on to be part of Amazon Prime Video’s NASCAR coverage, providing expert analysis for their first season of broadcasting the sport.
Starting May 25, Edwards will be in the broadcast booth, bringing his deep understanding of the sport to NASCAR fans in a whole new way. He’s excited about the chance to share insights that only a former driver can provide. “I have nothing to hide. I want to share with the fans what might be going on inside of that helmet,” Edwards said. While fans may have to wait for another backflip, Edwards’s analysis is surely going to make headlines.
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