Junior: Jimmie wanted to wear dad’s fire suit – Nascar

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Monday that Jimmie Johnson had asked him to borrow one of his father’s old uniforms to complete his retro look for this weekend’s NASCAR throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway.

Earnhardt Jr.’s remarks came on Monday’s edition of the “Dale Jr. Download,” a 70-minute episode that he co-hosted on his Dirty Mo Radio network.

Earnhardt did not provide a health update on the concussion-related symptoms that have forced him to miss the last six NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, but offered an anecdote about his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, who will be running a blue-and-yellow paint scheme on his No. 48 Chevrolet that pays tribute to Earnhardt’s father and the legendary David Pearson — both NASCAR Hall of Famers.

“He’s texting me, he’s like, ‘You got one of your dad’s old uniforms and all that stuff?’ ” Earnhardt said of a recent exchange with Johnson. “He wanted to actually wear it to intros, and it would fit probably. It smells like … every bit of 40 years old.”

Earnhardt Jr. clarified that Johnson had asked about a different uniform than the one from the 1982 season that he recently modeled on social media. He also had to clarify for Johnson the level of Lowe’s involvement with stock-car racing back in 1979, the elder Earnhardt’s rookie season.

“He sends me a picture of this car, and I said ‘David Pearson ran second in that car at Talladega in relief for my father,’ ” Earnhardt Jr. said. “My father was out four weeks with broken collarbones (from a crash at Pocono), and David drove that car, ran second. That was the only race Lowe’s was on the hood. I don’t know why. Must’ve been a local chain, but they had Lowe’s on the hood for that race, and that race only.

“And so, it’s kind of unique, kind of weird. Jimmie gets excited about it and then I have to tell him the story. He’s like, ‘Man, I’m going to run one of your Dad’s throwbacks,’ and I’m like, ‘Well, David Pearson drove that car and Lowe’s was on the hood for just that race,’ but it’s still really cool. I’ve always wondered what that paint scheme would look like on one of the modern cars.”

Earnhardt will be replaced by interim driver Jeff Gordon in this Sunday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 (6 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM) as his recovery from concussion-related issues continues. Earnhardt said he was “real sad” he won’t be driving his own throwback paint scheme, a No. 88 Chevrolet that pays homage to Buddy Baker’s “Gray Ghost” look from the early 1980s.

Alex Bowman made his second substitute start last weekend at Michigan International Speedway, placing 30th after slowing early with engine trouble. Still, Earnhardt Jr. gave him a vote of confidence.

“That was disappointing. I know Alex was upset,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “He doesn’t know how many opportunities like that he’ll get to show he’s capable. I believe in him, and I know he’s got the ability to do it, to be in the Cup Series and to be in a competitive car and do a good job behind the wheel. It was a shame because I think he could’ve shown again — like he did at New Hampshire — that he belongs.”

Though Earnhardt Jr. will sit out Sunday’s event at Darlington, co-host Mike Davis — brand and communications director for Earnhardt and his JR Motorsports team — teed up what’s scheduled to be a busy week for the 41-year-old driver.

Earnhardt Jr. is scheduled to participate in competition meetings Tuesday, before traveling to a Wal-Mart in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, for a Wednesday driver appearance. Wednesday’s schedule also includes an interview on Nickelodeon’s “NASCAR Hammer Down” program, hosted by Karsyn Elledge, Earnhardt Jr.’s niece.

Earnhardt’s JR Motorsports organization in the NASCAR XFINITY Series also has a busy week on tap. Davis said JRM planned to unveil nostalgic paint schemes for its three Darlington entries, which will be piloted by XFINITY regulars Justin Allgaier and Elliott Sadler, plus Sprint Cup star Kevin Harvick.