Dale Jr. Shares Actual Check From First NASCAR Win 26 Years Ago

Earlier this week, someone named Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrated the 26-year anniversary of his first NASCAR Busch Grand National Series win. 

Yes, Grand National! Haven't heard that one in a while, have you, NASCAR fans? That's what the old Busch Series – now Xfinity Series – was called. God, this sport used to be awesome. 

Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, Dale! 

Junior won his first Busch race on April 7, 1998, at Texas Motor Speedway while driving his daddy's famous No. 3. 

He led just six laps all damn day, but wheeled this beautiful Chevy to Victory Lane in the waning laps for his first of seven (!!!) wins that season. 

Dale Jr. shares first NASCAR paycheck 

I mean, my God. It's the best. Old NASCAR videos are just the best. And how about Dale Jr. giving Front Row Joe Nemechek – in the BELLSOUTH CAR – the boot for the win? Electric. 

Anyway, Earnhardt Jr. went on to win (duh), he'd win six more times that season, win the damn title and then eventually become a NASCAR Cup Series Hall of Famer. You know, normal career-path stuff. 

But it all started right here in Fort Worth, and it made Junior a … pretty rich man for 1998!

Not a bad little payday for … checks notes … 24-year-old Dale Earnhardt Jr. 39k for first place is nothing to scoff at, and how about that $5k TV money? Not bad. 

It all adds up to around $50k, which I assume it like a billion in today's world? No? Fine! Maybe around $95k then? 

Regardless, just imagine walking to your mailbox this morning before you settle in for a full day of Masters watching, and you open a check for $50k. I can't think of a better way to start a big weekend. 

Instead, I'm blogging about Dale Jr. while my wife sits in our driveway at 8 a.m. for Day 2 of our neighborhood garage sale. 

Different worlds. 

Raise hell, Praise Dale!