NASCAR's 1996 exhibition race in Japan signified the sport's expansion into a global brand.
Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Rusty Wallace, and a young Dale Earnhardt Jr. were among the group of drivers who competed in the exhibition against some of the top Japanese drivers in an event called the Suzuka Thunder Special.
A film debuted on FS1's Race Hub on Wednesday about the race. It was also the first time Dale Earnhardt and Junior raced against each other, and Dale Jr. recalled a hilarious story after he beat his dad.
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Dale Jr. said he beat his dad for the first time, and after the race his dad didn't even speak to him. But he did throw his shoe at his son for beating him.
Junior said the two got on the plane after the race and never even mentioned it. It sure didn't seem like the elder Earnhardt wanted to lose to his son, especially the first time they ever raced against each other competitively.
The race was important for NASCAR to expand globally, and it was important for the younger Earnhardt to develop the confidence to beat his dad in a race.