Dale Earnhardt Jr. Wore A Special Hat At Daytona 500 That No One Can Get

“Can’t get it,” Earnhardt said. “The Osterlund hat that I wore, that was intentional. I was waiting for somebody in our camp, maybe Kelly [Earnhardt Miller] or somebody to go, ‘Alright, you’ve worn it, let’s put something else on.’ Osterlund was Dad’s team that he raced with in ’79 for his first Daytona 500. Rod Osterlund gave Dad a chance in the full-time cup series. I think without that, none of this is possible.

“I wanted to wear that hat just as a reminder to me really every time I put it on or saw it to enjoy this week. Remember how Dad must have felt when he came down here and how that whole experience must have been for him and just try to make sure you don’t get too wrapped up in the machine, the industry and all the things happening.

“If you’re in the muck of that Daytona 500 weekend in the garage, in the grind, you kind of lose focus of where you are, what’s going on, what you’re trying to do and how cool this is. …You get down in that garage, you get competitive and you get to racing in your mind. That hat was just kind of a help for myself to keep the priorities or perspective.”

Osterlund Racing was founded by Rod Osterlund in 1977 and made Earnhardt Sr. its most iconic team addition in 1979. But in 1981, Osterlund sold the team to Jim Stacy - who ultimately didn't get along well with Earnhardt. 

Earnhardt Sr. would go on to join forces with Richard Childress Racing in 1984 and would spend the rest of his racing career on the top circuit with them.