Dale Jr.'s 1980 Nova: The Story You've Never Heard

In this conversation, Dale Jr. discusses finding and securing his father’s 1980 Chevy Nova. He details the nostalgia associated with the legendary car and the emotional journey of restoring a family heirloom. He shares personal anecdotes about his father's racing legacy and the significance of preserving history through these iconic vehicles.
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[@JTWy37]

I could listen to Dale Jr. tell those stories all day long. I love the passion he has for racing history, old race cars and his father.

[@jimwood3692]

Amen

[@garry3013]

Great story Dale. Thanks for sharing and you getting back such a great piece of not only nascar history but your's and your Dad's history... heartwarming to say the least

[@DirtyMoMedia]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Ratchetman6]

I love this story. He's so proud of that car and rightfully so. Still doin it for Dale.

[@chrishensley6745]

So True.....Nascar just aint the same/driver,s nowandays....

[@pamelamaloy9778]

Such a great story I'm so glad you got that Nova not only is it NASCAR History it also belonged to your Dad's that's so dang awesome ❣️🥰

[@Kevin_Drone]

I’m really happy the car is finally home and in good hands.

[@Brooks_M3]

What a great car guy to car guy moment. Taking care of these cars and passing them on to then next generation is so important. Whatever old car your granddad or dad’s got sittin in the garage or barn, go fix it up, bring it back to life and enjoy it like they did.

[@netycornejo6592]

Robert Gee (Jr?) works at JRM? When will he be on the podcast? I regularly hear his father mentioned on the show. Especially when the old guys are on. Has he been asked? I imagine he probably isn’t in to it. But it would be cool. Can we ask him? Please? 😅

[@happyjohn8256]

That’s an awesome request. I’ve often heard of him as well!

[@TheMrtgamer]

He was on already either Earlier this year or last year

[@doubleaa3355]

I'd like to see Robert Gee on the podcast

[@netycornejo6592]

I just made the same comment. Go “Like” mine. Let’s make these comments go viral and get him on the show. It would be a great interview I think.

[@DaveScott-r3m]

I met dale jrs mom in the grocery store of all places in Chesapeake. She lived in great bridge at the time. Sad when I heard she passed.

[@johnlarusta4528]

Scroll through the videos and watch him then.

[@66Grudge]

Can't believe you didn't show the car to us.

[@alkelenson648]

I was looking for it too- had to Google it. #8 car

[@johnlarusta4528]

The ugliest body style ever

[@spooge33]

Jr is a proud son and a special man.

[@dianej1714]

Amazing story, Dale! ❤

[@HPBenton1]

Great story. I love Jr. See him at florence occasionally he is such a good dude.

[@scottbrown8142]

Awesome story

[@edkowalski9131]

What a great story! Glad it was the real deal for you.

[@waynethomas1882]

My favorite car in my die-cast collection… That 80 Nova!

[@crazylarryjr]

I was very young during this period of NASCAR and never knew the Nova was used for racing, I had always thought it was Mote Carlos or Malibu's, I actually had to look it up to verify. Learn something new everyday

[@chrisnewton9325]

Great story brother

[@darylb5564]

I’m a truck driver. I had a few hours to kill in the Mooresville area so I Jr. Motorsport to see if I could visit in a semi. They could not have been nicer. Go take the tour if you get the chance. I remember seeing the Nova but for some reason I remember it all black. And just an FYI… they have no tumblers in the gift shop! IYKYK

[@kentstephens4770]

Cool story!!

[@oneted8]

I met Robert Gee when i toured JRM and seen the nova

[@Vsilvers99]

Tell us a story about what happened with the motorsports complex that was supposed to be build in saraland Al

[@arubino19]

This story was told on this podcast a few years ago around the time he bought the car. Nevertheless, it’s a great story but we have heard it!

[@mgnta1]

Ok? He just wanted to share the story with Zak.

[@jeremyfisher8782]

Great story ...cool dudes .... crazy how paths intersect at certain times.

[@billparks7368]

I would have left the original body on it. Unless maybe it was falling apart. I hope they saved the sheet metal just to say it was the original. But i understand it has to look good as it's on display in his showroom.

[@camaroboy1968ss]

I think that is the car that originally was a Pontiac Ventura (at least the nose) so the "original" body was modified when it was changed over to a Chevy. I could be wrong but I think I heard than in another video or article on this car. It was a Pontiac due to when it was originally built it was when Dale was driving the 15 Bud Moore Ford, so coulnt have a rival Chevy. Similar thing happened later in the 80s with Davey Allison. Once he got signed on at Yates his Busch car became a Buick. With race cars you kind of just have to pick a point in time to restore to and make it look like it did on the track after being rolled off the trailer and the car had been modified quite a bit again to still vintage race, the old race cars have to have some modern safety stuff added.

[@Carlos-r5n2b]

​@camaroboy1968ss yep a Pontiac

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

@@camaroboy1968ss Solid take. Silhouette race cars can wear many bodies over their lifetime. Race cars in general tend to receive modifications for their entire lifespan. There is no real 'factory correct' standard to restore a race car to. Sometimes you'll even see race cars that have participated in multiple race series over their lifetimes. If you want to see a really crazy example, look up Glenn Bunch's Dodge Challenger. There's a dozen or more ways that car could be 'restored'.

[@Roystothecoolkid]

​@@camaroboy1968ssalso apparently Dale also wanted the nova front-end because it had better aero

[@vezna31]

Zak seems like a great guy and very personable, Working with Hendrick to allow Larson to do the double and being a strong proponent to allow Andretti to join the Formula 1 grid.

[@DimMakTen]

Zach looks like hes getting in good shape. Hes lookin healthy.

[@chrisedgemon4943]

I'd love to see the chrvy celebrity he won bristol with such an odd looking car

[@PaulieB-wi7mx]

Hopefully some day the technology will exist that will let people recording videos on KZbin to share photos of the things they are talking about.

[@mattym893]

😂

[@Skillbiscutt]

Zach is the dude!

[@shelbysupersnake1]

Would have been nice to see it

[@anthonydubetsky7758]

Was this not on last week?

[@Mystic-l3r]

The radio mount hole story. Yea heard it before

[@TheToycloser]

We have heard this story! 😂

[@rescobar7929]

I thought Gene Felton owned that Nova for years and did the upkeep for it before Jr owned it.

[@larryschmidt977]

Thought back in the 80's a racecar started out as a real car, do they not have any kind of VIN or number? If not might be a simple way to keep up with them

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

NASCAR has used silhouette cars since 1966 (or whenever Gen 2 is considered to have begun).

[@arthuralford]

NASCAR hasn't used "real cars" since the sixties. It was easier and cheaper for teams to buy body panels from the manufacturer, then mount them on their chassis. It also made "massaging" bodies into the right shape easier. So, no VIN. Most chassis shops would put their serial numbers on the chassis, and teams would assign them numbers in-house. But there was no "standard" until recently when NASCAR started putting tags on approved chassis that are permanent

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

@@arthuralford If I recall correctly a lot of the teams frames (at least early on) were based on a Ford Galaxie platform, regardless of how the car was dressed. Gen 2 and 3 used sheet metal bought from the manufacturer, Gen 4 switched to bespoke bodywork, which would have made 'massaging' even easier.

[@Houndini]

I feel every driver should know at least the basic’s & can exchange any parts front to back. Only good driver I seen that couldn’t is Tim Richmond I don’t think he knew what I read about him the difference between an Air Filter from an engine oil drain plug. Really driving is very strange talent appears the very best can feel it with there body and feeling of what the car is & going to do. Strange I can do that with a 35 ton up to 350+ ton Heavy Equipment Rock Tk. But took myself countless hours and years of experience of seat time to be able to feel in seat what TK will do & not. If I drive 1 today I still will accidentally spin 1 around 360+ degrees mainly over sudden rain or dust control water tk accidentally putting down a little too much water suddenly upon harden packed dirt. You can’t be scared of the equipment but you must respect it too. And that is a fine line between them 2 issues.

[@DBENTLEY369ig]

Dont tell me i can't afford it. Zack

[@doedecaheedron]

Like to pictures of the nova?

[@motecalevol]

Who is this person?

[@evel5771]

Did he sit low to get his weight as low as possible for better handling ?

[@DBENTLEY369ig]

What's cost to get into a GT3

[@redstedman]

I don’t understand. The Nova ended production in 1978. Inform me.

[@bobbrinkerhoff3592]

Actually , 1979 was the last year of the Nova . It may have been considered to be a 1980 , by the family , as that's when it was converted into a race car .

[@johnlarusta4528]

@@bobbrinkerhoff3592actually 1988, and a new 2025 model, these ugly novas competed after 1980 with the same body.

[@starearth-y8g]

😅😅

[@joe-hp4nk]

Who is Dale talking to?

[@vezna31]

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing

[@nickb289]

Zac never got a chance to even speak, why have a guest.

[@hippyjason]

It was just for that segment. It was clipped from a video that was well over an hour long. Zak spoke plenty.

[@chriswright7710]

This story, as a true full fledged car guy , race fan ,Earnharht fan, is an emotional tug at the heart. Awesome to hear.

[@jimb_28]

Great story , love the Nova

[@StudioDaVeed]

I am old enough to remember watching those cars run.

[@stevebiddle8912]

What a great story Dale. Wished you would have put a picture of it in your podcast.

[@toddclark332]

Yes sir the Nascar Nova love it everyone have a great day ok later 🏁💪🏼😎❤uall

[@darrylniehoff2707]

I'm sure when they knew Rick was bidding on it .

[@TheMainLead]

I know it would never happen but i would love a series of jr tracking down his dads old cars

[@jc-ham3247]

Hey when are we gonna see Jody Ridley on the show??

[@GaOutlaw-61]

Jc-ham3247 that would be awesome grew up watching him race at DIxie speedway was my hero

[@allanpolk2681]

Would have been fitting to have had a picture of the car for the rest of us to enjoy as well.

[@johnlarusta4528]

Big fans already know exactly what it looks like. You could simply google it instead of complaining it take seconds to google.

[@af4od02]

Dale Jr is the best. This is a great story. Thanks for sharing.

[@scubasteev]

My first car was a 78 nova custom with the 305. It was maroon with hubcaps. Did some body work had it painted black and had crager SS's on it...best car ever. Totalled it 2 years later...biggest mistake ever. Somehow I walked away tho. 35 year later, I still miss it terribly.

[@SouledOut357]

that Nova of Dale Sr's was the car to beat in Grand National. that Nova is no duck, so proud that Dales Nova was persevered and is in Juniors hands. would be great if Junior owned the wrangler car.

[@alvingriggs6932]

He had pictures on another episode of what he's explaining

[@stevescoville8465]

Could you at least show a picture of the car?

[@sametozkan9175]

Dale Jr. needs to visit F1 in one day

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

I'd like to see him visit a Trans-Am race.

[@knightnrmer]

I didn't see the car ... All that and no car

[@WVFreebyrd]

Who is the gentleman he is interviewing?

[@waylandcool]

Zac Brown, the owner of the McLaren Racing

[@EvilChong]

​@@waylandcoolCEO not owner

[@arthuralford]

@@EvilChong CEO of McLaren, owner of United Autosports (sports cars and historic racing), co-owns Walkinshaw Andretti United (Australian Supercars)

[@EvilChong]

@@arthuralford 🤔

[@robertcounts5300]

wow you just don't find story's like this and you can tell it is not made up, thank Jr.

[@dacrd]

SR looking down so Proud

[@TawDrago]

He's told this story at least twice on the download...

[@teacheraaron26]

Now get Danny Ric on there.

[@johnlarusta4528]

Oh god no!

[@darrylniehoff2707]

Maybe he figured out some advantage to sitting low in the car . I always wondered . I noticed guys doing that back in the day at Hickory speedway , especially Pete Silva when he came down here .

[@purpurahaze9179]

Yeah I heard it before don't remember where but basically it was so he could see better in the corners especially on high bank tracks or something to that effect somebody else might be able to explain it better

[@coreymacqueen4802]

@@purpurahaze9179Will Cronkrite’s story about putting the seat in for Dale in his 96 car.

[@marcusvillarreal]

First my pick christopher bell ended up 14th but is 2nd in the points and leading the owners points and I predict he'll win at Bristol next week

[@tylerpowers453]

Spam is annoying af

[@marcusvillarreal]

@@tylerpowers453 sorry 😞