‘Bad a**’ Daniel Ricciardo just blew America away

Daniel Ricciardo lived a childhood dream on Sunday and his ridiculous antics left local fans in the United States with their jaws dropped.

Daniel Ricciardo had waited six weeks for his dream moment and it didn’t disappoint.

The Australian got to live out a childhood dream on Sunday morning ahead of qualifying at the United States Grand Prix when he hopped behind the wheel of an iconic Nascar touring car.

The 31-year-old was a kid in a candy store as he took to the Circuit of the Americas track in Dale Earnhardt Sr’s 1984 Chevrolet Monte Carlo just minutes before the final practice session.

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Many expected his exhibition laps to be a safe, slow pace — but he instead went hell for leather, leaving McLaren CEO Zak Brown wincing at a few of the hairier moments when his star driver pushed the car to its limits.

Daniel Ricciardo living his best life. Photo: Twitter, @McLarenF1.

Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo drives the NASCAR 1984 Dale Earnhardt Cup car ahead of the United States Grand Prix. Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP.

He ended his exhibition drive ripping some burnouts on the track — prompting wild applause from the local crowd in Texas.

It was also wild on social media, with Twitter lighting up about the McLaren driver’s antics.

Ricciardo had bet that he would get to drive Earnhardt’s Chevrolet wheels if he won a Grand Prix in his first season since joining McLaren from Renault.

He did exactly that at the Italian Grand Prix in September.

Daniel Ricciardo really went for it. Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images.

Daniel Ricciardo loves Texas. Photo: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images/AFP.

He said earlier this week it would be a “pinch me kind of moment” to drive his hero’s car.

“Well, hell, boogedy, I’m very excited Earnhardt was an absolute hero of mine,” he said.

“To be able to drive the 84 Earnhardt car. I believe he won five races in that car.

“It’s special. The livery is amazing. The Wrangler jeans, the blue and yellow, the big three on it.”

Just as much as there was admiration for Ricciardo’s reckless driving, there was also joy in watching just how much the Perth product enjoyed his special moment.

Deep inside the shadows of the car, his smile could still be seen.

We've all got our dream cars, and this is @danielricciardo's! 🥰

His prize for his first podium for @McLarenF1 was a drive in his hero Dale Earnhardt's iconic 1984 Chevrolet, which is now owned by Zak Brown#USGP 🇺🇸 #F1pic.twitter.com/BT6Wm4XLqt

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 23, 2021

There's a private area in paddock where F1 workers take out trash & take a smoke break w/ great view of track (ssh, don't tell anyone). Chatting w/the guys & one watched Ricciardo come around the turn in the No. 3, took a long drag & said "Now, that's genuinely bad ass," haha

— Thomas Jones (@ThomasJonesAAS) October 23, 2021

You can literally see him smiling at the wheel 😁 https://t.co/ooDU4y7yWqpic.twitter.com/AKZfilWvQQ

— WTF1 (@wtf1official) October 23, 2021

Reckon he enjoyed that @danielricciardopic.twitter.com/j8kOXzU3Ay

— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) October 23, 2021

That’s a smile from a guy that just got to drive his idols car. #USGP@danielricciardo loves America. pic.twitter.com/HG0TjhIVTA

— Vincenzo Landino (@vincenzolandino) October 23, 2021

The man knows his audience… donuts for breakfast @danielricciardopic.twitter.com/ZGO3pTIqwC

— Will Buxton (@wbuxtonofficial) October 23, 2021

Think he quite enjoyed it 😁 pic.twitter.com/DgFrcWwHRj

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 23, 2021

Dale Earnhardt Jr also loved seeing Ricciardo’s drive and tweeted: “I’m happy for Daniel. I’m also appreciative for how he celebrates my father. That makes a lot of dads family members and fans smile.”

Originally published as ‘Bad a**’ Daniel Ricciardo just blew America away