18 - Junior Johnson: The Earnhardt Alternate Reality

Glorious White-Knuckled, God-Fearing, Spun-Out-And-Half-Turned-Over Racing Stories

Imagine a world where Dale Earnhardt drives only half of a season at Richard Childress Racing, and instead teams up with Junior Johnson for the 1984 season and beyond. A world where Earnhardt replaced Darrell Waltrip and teamed up with Neil Bonnett with Coors on the hood.

This world came closer to reality than you think.

NASCAR legend Junior Johnson played an integral role in this deal that almost changed the course of NASCAR history, and walks you through the entire situation. Could Earnhardt have driven for a different team? Could he have sported the Budweiser colors long before his son did? It’s a story that makes you question everything you witnessed, if this Earnhardt alternative reality came true.