Dale Earnhardt Jr. continues to follow in his father’s footsteps. It was announced on Tuesday that he’ll be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as part of the 2021 class. He will be joined by Mike Stefanik and Red Farmer.
Earnhardt Jr. received 76% ballot votes and is the first-ballot inductee just like his father Dale Earnhardt Sr., who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in its inaugural year of 2010. Stefanik had 49% of the votes to be inducted as the second Modern Era driver, while Red Farmer made it with 71% Pioneer Era ballot votes.
“Just talking about it, it’s really emotional because I feed off affirmation,” said Earnhardt Jr. after finding out the news. “It’s such a great feeling to know people think I made an impact. I know what my numbers are and I feel like I was chosen because of that but also for the impact I made off the track, being an ambassador for the sport.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. spent 19 years in NASCAR and was continuously one of the most popular drivers in the competition despite never winning a title. He won 26 races and had 15 poles, while his best season finish came in 2003 when he was third. Earnhardt Jr. retired from NASCAR in 207.
Mike Stefanik rose to prominence during Whelen Modified tour, which he won seven times between 1989 and 2006. Stefanik also won the K&N Pro Series East divisions in 1997 and 1998, becoming the first driver to win NASCAR championships in consecutive years.
Red Farmer, on the other hand, has a Modified championship title from 1956 and has won NASCAR Late Model Sportsman title three times. He is known as a member of the iconic Alabama Gang and was voted the most popular driver in the competition four times.
