Denny Hamlin’s Pro Tip Goes South for Dale Earnhardt Jr. as He Loses It All in True Vegas Fashion
Dale Earnhardt Jr., a name synonymous with NASCAR success and a flair for living large, recently found himself on the losing end of Las Vegas luck-despite following the advice of fellow NASCAR star Denny Hamlin. What started as a lighthearted attempt to replicate Hamlin’s casino windfall turned into a classic tale of Sin City misfortune, all recounted in detail by Earnhardt Jr. and his wife Amy on their podcast.
The Vegas Gamble: Following Hamlin’s Lead
Before the NASCAR Cup Series took to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Denny Hamlin made headlines off the track by hitting the slot machines. Hamlin’s luck was extraordinary-he scored a massive $126,150 jackpot on a single $300 spin, thanks to a tip from his friend Austin, who gave up his seat at the slot machine just before Hamlin’s big win. The machine in question? “Buffalo Stampede.” Hamlin was clear in his advice: only play the “Buffalo Stampede,” and don’t be fooled by other Buffalo-themed slots.
Inspired by Hamlin’s success, Dale Earnhardt Jr. decided to try his own luck. Staying at a Las Vegas hotel with Amy, he texted Hamlin for the exact name of the winning machine. Hamlin replied with detailed instructions, emphasizing the importance of finding the right version of the game. While Dale Jr. wandered the casino floors searching for the machine, Amy and her friend Morgan took a more modern approach-using the casino’s website to locate the exact slot.
A Brief Streak of Luck-and a Quick Downfall
Dale Jr. eventually found the elusive Buffalo Stampede. Unlike Hamlin, he played with much smaller stakes. “Like Denny’s playing with thousands of dollars winning hundreds, you know, tens of thousands of dollars, I played with, you know, dollars,” Earnhardt Jr. recounted. Still, he managed to win $1,000 in just four or five minutes. Encouraged, he moved on to another machine, the Wheel of Fortune, and won another $600.
But the luck didn’t last. After Amy and her friend went to bed, Dale Jr. headed to the roulette wheel, a favorite of his for its simplicity. There, he lost all his winnings. “I like roulette because you don’t have to do math…And I lost all the money that I won,” he admitted. In true Vegas fashion, the house reclaimed its due, and Earnhardt Jr. walked away empty-handed.
Lavish Living and a New Partnership
Despite the casino setback, such losses are unlikely to faze someone with Earnhardt Jr.’s reputation for enjoying the finer things in life. The article playfully references his “Elvis Presley Style” red velvet bedroom and his penchant for lavish spending, suggesting that a single unlucky night in Vegas is just a blip for the racing icon.
What’s more, Earnhardt Jr. has recently secured a new partnership as a brand ambassador for Hard Rock International, which operates casinos, restaurants, and memorabilia shops. As part of this collaboration, he’s featured in a new racing-themed slot game, “Hard Rock Games’ Full Throttle,” available on Hard Rock’s casino apps. The game incorporates unique features inspired by Earnhardt Jr., such as expanding reels and a dual-streak system, adding a new dimension to his association with casino gaming.
The Takeaway: Luck, Skill, and Vegas Reality
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Vegas adventure underscores a simple truth: in the casino, luck is fickle, and even the best advice can’t guarantee a win. While Hamlin’s tip led to a life-changing jackpot for himself, Earnhardt Jr.’s attempt ended in a classic Vegas reversal. The story serves as a reminder that, in gambling as in racing, sometimes you’re up, sometimes you’re down-and the house usually wins in the end.
“Dale Jr. struck out in Vegas-Is luck really a skill, or just a roll of the dice?”
Whether luck is a skill or pure chance remains up for debate, but for Dale Earnhardt Jr., this Vegas tale is just another colorful chapter in a life lived at full throttle.
