10: Maintaining Mental Focus
Earnhardt also learned a lot from fellow driver Bubba Wallace, who he told Men’s Health taught him how to hone his mental energies before a race. “It becomes instinct. The car demands it. We’re going so fast, it’s dangerous, and you don’t know what moves a guy’s going to make next. You hit the track and the risk of spinning out and damaging the car puts a lot of responsibility on you, so you have to be plugged in from the minute you mash the gas.”
When you’re driving 200+ mph, the support of your fellow drivers is crucial. The new crop of drivers and the old crop all respect Earnhardt Jr. for the most part. His reputation in the racing community is second to none and with good reason. He has never spoken out of pocket and he always sticks to the racing.