Bar none, Whisky River is Earnhardt Jr.'s favorite
By Kenny Bruce - Assistant Managing Editor
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Jim Fluharty
NASCAR Scene
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – There are no race cars hanging from the ceiling, and country music is only a small part of the background noise. Metal and leather decor dominate.
Whisky River, located in downtown Charlotte’s EpiCentre, is Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s latest venture outside the racing world.
Earnhardt Jr., the majority owner, describes the bar/nightclub as “Carolina country” but doesn’t want it to be thought of as a strictly
country hangout.
“Basically ... if I’m sitting in a bar, and I’m not having a good time, this is everything that I would change,” he said. “This is how I would
make it.”
That includes a large dance floor, plenty of TV screens (that will show various areas of the bar), a mechanical bull and fiber optic lighting on the bars themselves.
Already immersed in television (Hammerhead Entertainment) and race-track development (Alabama Motorsports Park), Whisky River is yet another extension of his life – and interests – away from the track.
And while he hopes it will be a success, Earnhardt Jr. says such endeavors interest him for more than just the potential financial gain.
“I’ve never went into anything like this thinking: ‘Man, we’ve got to make this much money .... If I break even, and have a good time, then it’s worth it,” he said. “That’s the way I’ve always treated everything. That’s why I don’t make any money owning Nationwide cars. If I can just break even, I’m happy just to be able to enjoy it.”
When he does eventually step out of the race car, Earnhardt Jr. says he’d like to have options to occupy his time.
“Hopefully you do find that one that helps you establish what you want financially after you retire from driving a race car,” he said. “If I’m going to race until I’m 50 – I don’t want to push my luck, but I’d like to think I’m going to live to a pretty old age. So it would be nice to have some other things going on, some other things I’m involved in. Because what do I have after I’m done driving? What do you do? What are you supposed to do?
“I guess you do things you want, things that interest you. So I’m sort of lining those things up. ... Some of them will be gone by then, but maybe there will be one that sticks around and is still working and profitable. Hopefully that’s the case.”
The bar is named after the popular Willie Nelson song of the same name – but different spelling – and is the name of the western town Earnhardt Jr. had built on his property in Mooresville, N.C.
“When we were planning, and starting to build this, I was with [sponsor] Budweiser, and I couldn’t name it Whisky River,” he said.
“... When we parted ways with Bud, it was like, ‘Man, we’ve got to do Whisky River. It’s such a cool name. We had these other names, something Junior, Junior something. That sounds cheesy as hell. I don’t want that. People want to go to Whisky River. They don’t want to go to Junior’s Bar or Junior’s Garage. That’s just not my style. I don’t wear my name on my belt.
“I think Whisky River gives the bar an identity. It gives the bar a personality that I can’t give it. It’s got to have a life of its own.”
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10 responses to "Bar none, Whisky River is Earnhardt Jr.'s favorite". Post a Comment.
Worm Dirt said:
Apr 16, 2008 at 3:11 PMI heard they've got a nacho fountain in there... with three kinds of cheeses!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Apr 16, 2008 at 3:13 PMIf Dale, Sr. were alive Jr. would never be driving for the crook Hendrick. My heart was broken when Jr. went over to Hendrick as was many more.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportDonald Foor said:
Apr 17, 2008 at 2:02 AMAs a Capitalist and a Dale Jr fan i'm all for Dale Jr's decision to have and own a bar.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportlinda padgett said:
Apr 17, 2008 at 7:25 AMthe media needs to cut him some slack. give him some room to breathe. your all over him like a pack of wolves. he does not need a daily/weekly reminder about how long it has been since he won a race. in my opinion win or not he is hot both on and off the track.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJr4Life said:
Apr 17, 2008 at 1:33 PMJr. made a great choice for his future. After all that is who he should be looking out for. True, if his daddy were still with us, he would undoubtedly have been secure in the "family" business. Our hearts broken or not, we are fans thru and thru!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWorm Dirt said:
Apr 19, 2008 at 12:02 AMI seen the nacho fountain my own self.... it cascades down into the center of a sombrero-shaped plate with chips all lined up around the brim all crispy and ready for eatin'. Yeeooowhhh YEET! YEET! YEeooowhhhhYh!!! On a side note.... Paul Menard's new tanning bed in downtown Plano has some really reasonable prices.... I would also recomend Jimmie Johnson's sushi bar over in Richardson.... on Thursdays if you order three california rolls, you get a free bucket of ice-cold zimas.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportWorm Dirt said:
Apr 19, 2008 at 12:23 AMI heard Tony Stewart just opened a bar in Indianapolis called.... "Normally a beer goes for about three bucks, but since there are autographed car hoods on the wall,and nothing but Drive-by Truckers CDs in the jukebox, you won't mind paying seven bucks for a beer that comes in a bottle shaped like an orange & black bowling pin....Right?" Kind of a long name for a bar, but honesty is Tony's policy right??
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» Confirm Abuse ReportLee Stinnette said:
Apr 20, 2008 at 7:55 AMI support Dale Jr. in any move he made or makes to better himself, I tink Sr would have done the same.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJulie Marrow said:
Apr 27, 2008 at 1:42 PMComing to Charlotte in October Can't wait to visit Whiskey River! Think I'll try riding that Bull!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRandi Ross said:
Feb 15, 2009 at 8:25 AMJr,I would just like to say that you are doing very good with all your choices that you are making for your life. Yes, your Father would be proud,However... this is about you and your business,and how you run your NASCAR team. Keep doing good.I have been to the bar once,and enjoyed the people,surroundings and your staff.
Report as AbuseRandi Ross
Charlotte,NC
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