“What Is the F*cking Deal?” — Dale Earnhardt Jr. Reacts to NASCAR’s Bizarre Tradition of Burying Cars

A Strange NASCAR Tradition

In the wild world of NASCAR, where speed, danger, and spectacle collide every weekend, there’s one tradition that often leaves outsiders scratching their heads: the practice of burying or preserving wrecked and iconic cars in hidden fields, barns, and woods across the South.

Fans may know about the trophies, the champagne showers, or the legendary rivalries. But what many don’t realize is that for decades, drivers and teams have quietly tucked their twisted, battered race cars into secluded graveyards — a practice that is equal parts eerie and fascinating.

And at the center of this peculiar tradition stands one man: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Jr.’s Candid Reaction

Never one to hold back his feelings, Dale Jr. recently gave a raw and unfiltered reaction to the phenomenon of burying cars.

“What is the fcking deal?”* he asked with a mix of curiosity and disbelief. “Why do we do this? Why do we bury these cars instead of just crushing them or putting them in museums?”

It was a moment that resonated deeply with fans. Here was one of NASCAR’s most beloved icons — son of “The Intimidator” himself — wrestling with the strange rituals of the sport he loves.

Dirty Mo Acres: The Race Car Graveyard

Of course, Dale Jr. knows this tradition better than anyone. At his sprawling property in North Carolina, known as Dirty Mo Acres, he has personally created what fans now call a “race car graveyard.”

Tucked deep in the woods, far from the polished garages and trophy cases, lies a collection of vehicles that would make any NASCAR historian drool.

Among the relics:

• A modified 1972 Chevy Camaro

• A 1976 Chevy Laguna

• A 1948 Chevrolet TK pickup

• A 1965 Chevrolet Impala

Each car tells a story — of triumph, disaster, innovation, or heartbreak. Some are bent and battered from violent wrecks. Others are simply too iconic to part with. All of them, together, form a haunting yet beautiful tribute to NASCAR’s soul.

A Treasure Trove for Fans

For motorsports aficionados, Dale Jr.’s “car graveyard” is nothing short of a holy site. Over the years, photos and videos have leaked online, showing rows of rusting steel framed by Carolina pine trees.

To casual observers, it may look like junk. But to diehard NASCAR fans, it’s a treasure trove — a physical time capsule preserving the sport’s most visceral memories.

“This is the history of NASCAR, sitting in the woods,” one fan commented on Reddit. “You can literally walk among the ghosts of racing.”

Why Bury Cars at All?

The practice of burying cars might sound bizarre, but there are reasons behind it. Some cars are preserved because they’re tied to legendary races or drivers. Others, particularly those involved in crashes, are kept intact as memorials to fallen drivers or as markers of resilience.

Dale Jr. explained it this way:

“When you look at these cars, you don’t just see metal. You see moments — victories, defeats, near-death experiences. It’s like freezing time.”

In some cases, teams bury or stash cars simply because disposing of them feels wrong. A car that’s carried a driver to the Daytona 500 or Talladega might be too sacred for the scrapyard.

A Family Tradition

For Dale Jr., this practice also connects to his father’s legacy. The late Dale Earnhardt Sr. was notorious for keeping cars, whether wrecked or victorious, as part of his personal memorabilia.

Growing up, Dale Jr. often wandered among these relics, seeing them not as junk but as artifacts of greatness. That childhood perspective may explain why he has leaned into the tradition, even while questioning it.

“It’s weird, yeah,” he admitted. “But it’s also part of who we are as racers.”

Fan Reactions: Fascination and Debate

As news of Dale Jr.’s remarks spread, fans took to social media to weigh in.

• Some were fascinated:
  “Only in NASCAR do you find a graveyard full of Chevys and Camaros sitting in the woods like relics. I love it.”

• Others questioned the practice:
  “Why not restore them? Or put them in a museum? They deserve better than rotting away in the forest.”

• And some embraced the mystique:
  “The graveyard makes racing feel like folklore. It’s creepy but also beautiful.”

The debate underscores the strange allure of this tradition: half-macabre, half-romantic.

The Preservation of Memory

Beyond the debate, one truth remains clear: these cars are powerful symbols. They embody stories that can’t be told through stats or highlight reels alone.

Walking among Dale Jr.’s graveyard, one can imagine the roar of engines, the smell of burning rubber, the thunder of crashes. Each rusting frame is a silent storyteller, keeping NASCAR’s past alive in ways no museum could replicate.

The Future of the Graveyard

Dale Jr. has hinted that he may eventually open up portions of his car collection to the public. For now, though, Dirty Mo Acres remains private — a sanctuary for both the living and the ghosts of NASCAR’s past.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen to them long-term,” he said. “But right now, they’re here. They’re part of me. Part of the sport. And part of history.”

Conclusion: Beauty in the Bizarre

From the outside, the tradition of burying cars might seem strange, even wasteful. But to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and countless fans, it’s something deeper. It’s a way of honoring the sport, of keeping its rawest memories tangible.

So when Dale Jr. asks, “What is the fcking deal?”* the answer may be simple: the deal is that NASCAR isn’t just about races won and lost. It’s about the machines that carried those dreams — and sometimes, the best way to honor them is to let them rest in peace.

For now, in the quiet woods of Dirty Mo Acres, those cars sleep. And for fans, they are more than wreckage. They are relics — and reminders of why NASCAR remains a sport like no other.