Dale Earnhardt Jr., a NASCAR legend, recently shared details about his enthusiasm for EA Sports’ College Football 25, revealing a passion for virtual coaching that few knew about. Away from the world of stock car racing, he has built and managed an entire football team, meticulously tracking data on his iPad to guide his dynasty’s progress.
Although widely recognized for his driving and broadcasting expertise, Earnhardt Jr. has demonstrated an impressive understanding of the game. He has dedicated time to developing a powerhouse team, hinting that if an opportunity ever arose, he could pursue a career in this space. However, for now, he seems content with his achievements in the virtual football world.
Earnhardt Jr. chose UNC Charlotte’s football program to build his dynasty, starting as a one-star team and transforming it into a 4.5-star contender. His efforts paid off when he defeated Michigan, a team run by his close friend and former best man, TJ Majors. During an appearance on the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast, he shared his excitement about the process and even displayed a Charlotte 49ers replica helmet he received as a gift.
“I started as a one-star with Charlotte and recruited them up to a four-and-a-half star, and beat Michigan, who’s a buddy of mine,” Earnhardt Jr. explained. “He was my best man at my wedding—TJ Majors.”
When asked how he managed to take down a strong program like Michigan, he simply replied, “I recruited, worked hard.”
Earnhardt Jr. then pulled out his iPad, displaying the depth chart of his dynasty. He elaborated on his approach, saying, “That is my depth chart. This is my playbook. These are all run plays, pass plays, RPO screens. I rank them based on their ability to gain yards and customize my playbook accordingly. It’s fun.”
Despite his passion for the game, Earnhardt Jr. remains actively engaged in NASCAR discussions. Recently, he weighed in on the controversial driver approval process following Katherine Legge’s crash at Phoenix. While some drivers questioned NASCAR’s decision-making, he highlighted the lack of practice as a possible factor in the incident. Speaking to Newsweek Sports, he noted:
“The conversation around practice, right? It hasn’t really been discussed until the last 48 hours. Katherine Legge’s crash at Phoenix sparked debate over the approval process in NASCAR.”
He added that while changes could be made, he personally doesn’t dwell on the matter. “Somebody at NASCAR is going to make a decision, say yes or no, and that’s that.”
