Dale Earnhardt Jr to Appear on Rachael Ray Show

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will appear on the Rachael Ray Show on Tuesday, and the show’s producer, a Concord native, said he was thrilled to meet his childhood hero.

“We just had the best time,” said Chad Carter, of Concord, a producer on the show.

Though Carter has met many celebrities in the show’s nine-year run, he could barely contain his excitement when Dale Jr. entered the set.

“In our neck of the woods you got Jesus, Elvis and Earnhardt, and not necessarily in that order,” Carter said. “It was kind of a magical day.”

He gave Dale Jr. a welcome basket and left a letter of appreciation produced on a 1940s typewriter, which Dale Jr. posted shortly thereafter on www.nascar.com.

“We think of Junior as North Carolina’s finest,” Carter said. “Every staff person that came into contact with him … said he was so nice and courteous. He was the thing that you wanted your hero to be.”

In the upcoming broadcast, Dale Jr. joins Ray and co-host Regis Philbin, to talk about the upcoming Daytona 500 race, according to information provided by show staff. (Independent Tribune)