Dale Earnhardt Jr. made a historic comeback during the South Carolina 400 at Florence Motor Speedway on November 23, donning his iconic No. 8 Budweiser red colors for the first time in 17 years. The highly anticipated race streamed exclusively on FloRacing, and tickets were a sellout. Despite the significance of the event, one notable absence was Dale Jr.’s wife, Amy Reimann. The reason, however, was simple and relatable – she fell asleep while putting their two daughters to bed.
Amy, who married Dale Jr. in 2016, is a devoted mother to their two daughters, Isla and Nicole. Her responsibilities as a parent kept her from witnessing her husband’s electrifying performance in person. In an Instagram post, she admitted, “I heard the 8 was bad fast. I fell asleep putting the girls down and missed the whole thing.” However, Amy did not miss out entirely, as she joined the family for post-race festivities and shared heartwarming photos of Dale Jr. with their daughters, both dressed in bright red outfits with Budweiser logos to celebrate their father’s return to racing.
The race itself was a dramatic event. Although Dale Jr. had a poor qualifying effort, starting 53rd, he quickly moved up to 2nd place by lap 40. Fans were thrilled to see a glimpse of his former glory as he competed against top drivers of the CARS Tour. However, his race took an unfortunate turn with 31 laps remaining when he was forced to retire due to an engine issue. The lead was then secured by Treyten Lapcevich, who went on to win the race.
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The event wasn’t without its share of drama, including a mid-race red flag caused by an altercation between Mason Diaz and Conner Jones. Dale Jr., ever the veteran, capitalized on the break to showcase his racing prowess before the mechanical issue ended his night prematurely.
While Amy missed this momentous occasion, she had previously expressed her encouragement for Dale Jr. to continue racing. After retiring from the Cup Series in 2017, Dale Jr. transitioned into roles as a broadcaster and team owner. However, in 2023, he stepped back from his duties with NBC, leading to more time at home. Amy humorously admitted that while she enjoyed having him around, his presence felt unusual after years of a busy schedule. Her playful remarks about needing time alone eventually led her to motivate Dale Jr. to return to the racetrack.
Although the result in Florence wasn’t a win, fans celebrated Dale Jr.’s performance and his revival of the No. 8 car, a nostalgic nod to his 17 Cup Series wins with Budweiser between 1999 and 2007. The anticipation for his next Late Model Stock Car race remains high, as supporters eagerly await another opportunity to see the NASCAR legend in action.
Despite her absence from the event, Amy Reimann’s unwavering support for Dale Jr.’s racing pursuits shines through, proving her role as one of his biggest champions.