NBC picks up its half of the NASCAR schedule at a time when ratings and attendance have cratered and nothing — from stage racing to a revamped championship format to a force-feeding of underachieving 20-somethings — have revived a sport Earnhardt’s late father helped usher into the national spotlight in the 1990s.
Earnhardt, a two-time Daytona 500 champion, retired at the end of last season and earned his 15th straight most popular driver award. Hilarious and heartfelt, his folksy charm endeared him to the millions that comprised his “nation” of fans and even made Earnhardt a household name to the casual fan who recognized him simply as NASCAR’s top pitchman.