‘Raise hell, praise Dale’ Earnhardt speeding ticket excuse unites Americans

Greensboro police joked on social media that “Raise hell, Praise Dale” was not a suitable explanation for speeding, prompting a wave of responses from NASCAR fans who defended the late Dale Earnhardt. The exchange drew in Earnhardt’s son, Dale Jr, and NASCAR itself, turning a traffic joke into a debate about the sport’s history and its fans’ attachment to its roots.

NASCAR replied, “Leave the speeding for the race track”, but some fans criticised the message as out of step with the sport’s bootlegging origins, when drivers evaded police while transporting illegal alcohol. The article gives no details about the speeding driver or ticket; it focuses on the online reaction and Earnhardt’s enduring appeal.