Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Cars: The No. 8 cameo
576 mots | Temps de lecture : 2 minute(s)
Behind the scenesDale Earnhardt JrPiston Cup
The Budweiser logo on the No. 8 had no place in a film made for the whole family. In Cars (2006), Dale Earnhardt Jr appears under the name “Junior”, a No. 8 Piston Cup stock car modelled on his real Chevrolet Monte Carlo, where the alcohol brand gives way to “Dale Earnhardt Inc.”. The driver voices himself in the original version and turns up three times: on track, in an interview after Lightning McQueen's disappearance, then at the final race to wish The King good luck. This profile also looks back at his real record, 26 Cup Series wins and two Daytona 500s.
Summary
- Who is Dale Earnhardt Jr in Cars?
- His real car on screen
- His appearances
- A NASCAR icon
- Summary table
- FAQ
Who is Dale Earnhardt Jr in Cars?
Dale Earnhardt Jr appears in Cars (2006) as "Junior", a Piston Cup driver wearing number 8. A NASCAR star, he voices himself in the original version.
His real car on screen
The character's design is based on his real Chevrolet Monte Carlo #8. Fun fact: the Budweiser sponsor logo was replaced with "Dale Earnhardt Inc." — no alcohol brand was allowed in a family-friendly film.
His appearances
He is seen on track during a race, then in an interview after Lightning McQueen's disappearance, where he hopes nothing serious has happened to him. He finally returns for the final race, to wish The King good luck.
Piston Cup Spirit
Piston Cup Decorative Metal Plate - Cars
The Piston Cup decorative metal plate: the championship where Dale Jr's #8 races, on your wall.
A NASCAR icon
In reality, Dale Earnhardt Jr is a living legend: son of Dale Earnhardt Sr (seven-time champion, who passed away during the 2001 Daytona 500), he is a two-time Busch Series champion, has 26 Cup Series victories including two Daytona 500s (2004 and 2014), and has been voted fan-favorite driver 15 consecutive times. He joins other real drivers from the saga, such as Mario Andretti, Lewis Hamilton, and Michael Schumacher.
🏁 Find the race cars from the first movie in our Cars collection.
Summary table
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name in film | Junior |
| Number | 8 |
| Vehicle type | Piston Cup stock car (Chevrolet Monte Carlo) |
| Film | Cars (2006) |
| English voice actor | Dale Earnhardt Jr (himself) |
| Real achievements | 26 Cup victories, 2 Daytona 500s (2004, 2014) |
FAQ — Frequently asked questions
Who is Dale Earnhardt Jr in Cars?
A cameo: the NASCAR driver appears as "Junior", a Piston Cup stock car #8, which he voices himself.
Why was the Budweiser logo changed?
To avoid displaying an alcohol brand in a G-rated film, it was replaced with "Dale Earnhardt Inc.".
Does Dale Earnhardt Jr voice himself?
Yes, in the original version.
What are his real achievements?
Two-time Busch Series champion, 26 Cup Series victories including two Daytona 500s (2004 and 2014).