Dale Earnhardt Jr. has sparked a conversation throughout the NASCAR community after revealing that he has briefly considered walking away from the empire he has built to focus on selling collectibles online.

Taking to X, Earnhardt Jr wrote, “I'm considering quitting all other jobs, responsibilities, and requirements to just sell stuff on Whatnot and eBay. This isn't likely, but I'm still gonna consider it for a while.”

Even though the comment seemed lighthearted in manner, it showed how passionate Earnhardt Jr is about collecting and trading memorabilia. And this isn't just out of thin air.

The Hall of Famer has spoken many times about how he likes collecting racing history, die-cast cars, and even vinyl records. Just a few months back, he revealed that he likes to go online and browse eBay, trying to hunt for rare items.

This idea of Earnhardt Jr stepping away from all that he created seems a dramatic and absurd one once you consider how involved he remains with stock car racing.

After he retired from the Cup Series in 2017, Earnhardt Jr remains one of the sport's most influential figures. He co-owns JR Motorsports, co-owns the CARS Tour, hosts the Dale Jr. Download podcast, owns and operates Dirty Mo Media, and serves as a television analyst for Prime Video and TNT Sports.

His record while driving, too, is equally impressive, amassing 26 Cup Series races, two Daytona 500s, and back-to-back Xfinity championships before entering the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2021.

His latest comments, therefore, should be seen as exactly that, an attempt to make an amusing joke while hinting at a hobby he always wanted to pursue. The NASCAR community, however, had a lot to say about this idea, quickly reacting to this humorous post.

NASCAR Community Reacts to Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Surprise Idea

Earnhardt’s post drew quick reactions from around the NASCAR world. Another Hall of Famer, Mark Martin, was the first to weigh in. “Don’t do it. We need you out here doing all you do for stock car racing,” Martin wrote.

Dale Jr.’s longtime producer, Travis Rockhold, also joined the conversation, joking, “So do I have a show to prep for on Tuesday, or do I get the day off?”

Former Cup Series driver Corey LaJoie offered another option to Earnhardt Jr, telling him to “Take a break from Whatnot and come to S&S Dale.”

Meanwhile, Chris Wolfe, a longtime Dirty Mo Media personality and close associate of Earnhardt Jr, responded with his own humorous take. “You’ve discovered my own retirement plan. Granted, I haven’t run this past my wife yet, but I’m sure she’ll be as excited about the idea as I am.”

Other fans, too rushed to support the community take and discourage Earnhardt Jr from such a decision by writing, “Whatever you touch turns to gold. No doubt it would be a success. I know your dad would be proud.”

These reactions show how important Earnhardt Jr is to the community, showcasing how many value him as a necessary leader for the NASCAR world rather than one in the collector space.

You can read more on the Daytona Racing Digest!

Written by

Uday Jakhar

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason