He explained that the hat was an homage to the Osterlund Racing team that his father, the late-great Dale Earnhardt Sr., wore during his Daytona 500 debut in 1979. Dale Sr. would remain with the ...

Dale Earnhardt Jr. wore an Osterlund hat all weekend at Daytona and had a good reason for wearing it. ... Dale Earnhardt Sr. made his Daytona 500 debut with Osterlund Racing in 1979 and finished 21st.