Becoming Earnhardt 1980 Vol. 3 - I Just Want to Win, Win, Win
About this episode
Earnhardt’s 1980 season momentum swings wildly: strong point leads and back-to-back wins are followed by mechanical failures, team instability, and escalating tensions. The crew’s gamble with worn tires at Atlanta pays off for Dad’s first win of the year, while Bristol delivers another dominant finish after Kale Yarborough’s engine trouble. Off-track drama includes an FBI probe into alleged stolen-car rings tied to Joe Millican’s team, plus LGD Witt shutting down operations. As Earnhardt’s aggressive driving sparks veteran backlash and pit-road chaos, the episode frames the real question: can the team survive long enough to chase the championship?
It’s February of 1980, and Dale Earnhardt is hungry to return to victory lane. The Osterlund-2 car hasn't brought home a win since David Pearson filled in for Dale at the Southern 500 the previous year. Plus, with a new contract and sponsorship comes expectations, so needless to say, he’s eager to hold up his end of the bargain. Thankfully, he won’t have to wait long, as he overcomes adversity at Atlanta for his first speedway win and follows it up with a repeat at Bristol. He quickly goes from a potential flash-in-the-pan, one-time winner to etching his name into the NASCAR history books.
But racing is a humbling sport, and his jubilation won’t last long. More engine problems and a lack of speed would relegate him back to the middle of the pack, and that pressure to perform would build up again. Unfortunately, this time, the pressure pushes Dale to make a blunderous mistake on the opening lap of the spring Martinsville event, and he has a run-in with a fella you never want to cross: King Richard Petty.
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