On a recent episode of his podcast, *Dale Jr. Download*, Dale Earnhardt Jr. found himself in the middle of a playful exchange with fellow NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney. During the show’s popular “Question of the Week” segment, Blaney took the opportunity to jokingly call out Earnhardt, asking when he would be invited over for beers again. This lighthearted question sparked a humorous back-and-forth, with Earnhardt reflecting on their friendship and how things have changed since Blaney moved to a new neighborhood.
Blaney and Earnhardt used to be next-door neighbors, but Blaney recently relocated to Concord, where he now lives near another NASCAR legend, Jeff Burton. Earnhardt, with a good-natured tone, admitted to feeling slightly abandoned by Blaney’s move. “He used to be my neighbor and then he moved. Now he lives over in Concord next to Jeff Burton. I took a little bit of offense to that,” Earnhardt said during the podcast. Though he emphasized that he holds no grudges against Burton, whom he described as “a great guy,” Earnhardt couldn’t shake the feeling that Blaney had replaced him. “I love Jeff Burton, think he’s a great guy, but I kind of feel like I got traded out, I really do,” he joked. Earnhardt even speculated whether Blaney and Burton were now sharing beers together, leaving him out of the fun.
In continuing his playful ribbing, Earnhardt pointed out that Blaney’s life has become more hectic, especially with his upcoming wedding. Earnhardt suggested that Blaney may not have as much free time to hang out and enjoy beers as he used to. “He’s getting married now, I know he doesn’t have time for beers. I’m not sending him invites when he can’t come,” Earnhardt remarked, with a laugh. Despite the teasing, the exchange underscored the real camaraderie between the two drivers, even though they’re no longer next-door neighbors.
Earnhardt shared a recent text message exchange with Blaney, where Blaney expressed a little bit of FOMO (fear of missing out) after seeing some social media posts. The posts featured Earnhardt and others having a good time on pit road, and Blaney lamented that he couldn’t be there. “Dang man, I saw all y’all having fun on pit road with social media posts. I would have loved to been out there. That’d been awesome,” Blaney texted. Earnhardt, recalling Blaney’s laid-back nature, commented that he’s the kind of guy who will eventually become known for bringing a beer cooler out to pit road after races. “He’s the kind of guy that will one day eventually start dragging a beer cooler out on pit road at the end of the race,” Earnhardt joked. “He will eventually start doing that.”
The conversation then took a humorous turn, with Earnhardt musing over what kind of beer they might share when they finally do get together. He speculated about cracking open a Budweiser Select 55, a beer that had recently gained notoriety after being ranked the worst beer in the world by Beer Advocate. In an earlier episode of his podcast, Earnhardt had expressed his surprise at the ranking, considering his long-standing partnership with Budweiser. “That’s amazing,” Earnhardt said at the time. “I’ve worked for Budweiser for almost 10 years. When you have that kind of relationship with Budweiser, they put me on this deal where I still get beer.” He shared that the Budweiser truck continues to drop off cases of beer at his house every month, even though he’s no longer a full-time driver. It’s a perk he’s continued to enjoy, even as his lifestyle has evolved.
Now that he’s a father, Earnhardt admitted that he still loves beer but is more conscious about how much he drinks. “When I became a dad and I got a little bit older, I still love to drink beer… but I didn’t always want to be intoxicated, not all the time,” he explained. As a result, Earnhardt has become more mindful of his beer choices, often opting for lighter, low-calorie options like Budweiser Select 55 and Miller 64.
Earnhardt went on to discuss how he’s been counting calories on and off for most of his life, and beer is no exception. He explained that many popular light beers—such as Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller Lite, and Corona Light—typically contain around 90 calories per bottle, while Budweiser Select 55 contains just 55 calories. For Earnhardt, the math is simple: two Budweiser Select 55s equal the calorie count of one Bud Light. “I’m thinking, man, I can have two 55s to one Bud Light,” Earnhardt quipped.
Whether or not he and Blaney will end up sharing a few Budweiser Select 55s remains to be seen. However, the lighthearted exchange on *Dale Jr. Download* showcased the close-knit and fun-loving nature of the NASCAR community. Despite their busy schedules and life changes, drivers like Earnhardt and Blaney still find time to connect, share a laugh, and, of course, enjoy a cold beer together.
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