In NASCAR, the bond between drivers and their pets often becomes a surprisingly public chapter in their lives. Take Alex Bowman, for example, whose Labrador, Finn, has been a regular presence at the track. Bowman’s partnership with Best Friends Animal Society has raised over $650,000 and helped facilitate 183 pet adoptions, underscoring just how deeply pets are woven into the personal stories of racers. While dogs are the common companions, with drivers like Shane van Gisbergen, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Daniel Suárez regularly traveling with their canine friends, cats remain quietly tucked away from the spotlight.
That’s what made Buddy, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Maine Coon, such a rare figure in NASCAR lore. While Bowman’s Finn soaked in the roar of the grandstands, Buddy lived a more discreet but equally significant life, as cats ideally like to do, often spending 10 months a year on Dale’s bus before settling into the race shop on his property. The presence of such pets in drivers’ lives offers fans a softer, more human perspective, one that runs parallel to the adrenaline of race day. In a sport built on speed and strategy, these bonds are a reminder of the quieter victories that happen away from the track.
Buddy’s story came to a close this week, as Dale Jr. revealed his feline companion had passed away. Bought from a mall in New Hampshire during Dale’s rookie season. Buddy was by his side through championship runs, broadcasting transitions, and family milestones. From Dale Jr’s rookie days, Buddy certainly witnessed a long part of his career.
Buddy the Cat. Or Buddy Love. Bought him from a mall in New Hampshire during my rookie season. He lived 10 months of the year on the bus. Eventually became a race shop cat and live his final days in a shop on my property where I keep all my stuff. Maine Coon. He was a great cat. https://t.co/7hIGp64885
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) August 15, 2025
When fans on X read this short story about Buddy, they couldn’t help but pour in their love with heartfelt tributes, photos of their own pets, messages of support, and shared loss. This narrative underscores how tightly the NASCAR community is woven, even when the thread is a feline friend of their beloved driver.
NASCAR fans pour in their love for Dale Jr.’s beloved cat
One fan, clearly touched by the story, shared, “I had a Maine Coon lived to be 18 years old.” The comment carried both sympathy and solidarity, reflecting an understanding of the deep connection between cat owners and their long-lived companions.
Another fan kept it short but profoundly true: “They steal your hearts n souls.” The words echoed across the replies, resonating with anyone who has experienced the quiet but powerful companionship of a pet. In the whirlwind world of NASCAR, this sentiment cut through the noise, capturing the universal impact of losing a beloved animal.
There were also messages aimed directly at Dale Jr himself. “Cats are awesome. @DaleJr ‘CatDaddy’ I love it. Hate you lost your furry friend. Prayers,” one supporter wrote. The affectionate nickname “CatDaddy” has been part of Dale’s fan identity for years, and here it became a badge of shared grief, with prayers offered like a hand on the shoulder from afar.
Not all fans were focused solely on Buddy, some thought of Dale’s other pets, too. “How is Gus these days?” one asked, referencing Dale’s dog, who famously survived a 2019 plane crash. In August 2019, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was traveling with his wife Amy, their young daughter Isla, two pilots, and the family dog, Gus, when their plane crashed during a landing at Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Tennessee. The aircraft hit the runway hard, veered off course, and burst into flames. Miraculously, all passengers, including Gus, made it out safely before the fire consumed the plane.
Others went straight back to the earliest memories, recalling Buddy’s on-screen cameo during that 2008 house tour. “Didn’t he have a cameo on one of your house tours?” a fan asked, clearly still picturing the persistent meows and Dale’s amused commentary. Fans remember that during a 2008 tour of Dale’s private home, almost 17 years ago, Buddy famously meowed through much of the filming. Dale, smiling, joked, “Cats are hungry all the time I do feed them, believe it or not,” later adding that he loved the house because “my cat seems to like it.” That charm made Buddy not just Dale’s cat, but a small part of NASCAR culture.
Buddy may have lived out his days between the roar of the road and the quiet of Dale’s property, but the wave of love he received from Dale Jr’s fans showed just how much he meant to the NASCAR community.
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