#CBJ welcome Dale Earnhardt Jr. to Nationwide Arena

Tuesday night at Nationwide Arena the 5th Line and the Blue Jackets were welcomed by the newest - and fastest - member of the 5th Line, prolific NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale, or "Junior," was in the house for the ceremonial puck drup, spent time participating in arena entertainment and had some fun throughout the night with the #CBJ.

Prior the drop, Dale was getting his mind right for what was to come.

Leo Welsh was welcomed at center ice by Earnhardt and Elk & Elk military honoree Sean Landis after they had joined captain Nick Foligno and Devils captain Andy Greene for the puck drop.

But after the anthem had been belted out through the arena and Dale had done his job for the moment, that didn't stop him from taking a moment for a young fan along the way to his event-filled night at Nationwide Arena.
Elsewhere during the first period, Earnhardt and current NASCAR #88 driver Alex Bowman stopped at the Nationwide Fan Lounge for a visit with Mike Todd and a pair of contestants playing "Nationwide Name That Toon."

NHL All-Star voting began this week. While we can say that Dale Jr. isn't on the ballot, a little birdie told us that he wants to the 5th Line to vote for all his Blue Jackets friends.

Even elsewhere outside the arena, Dale was able to give the viewers at home a look into his time at the game.
Jonathan "T-Bone" Smith of 97.1 The Fanwas especially happy to see the two-time Daytona 500 winner pop up on the screen!
After running around everywhere during the first, Earnhardt took a minute to sit down with Fox Sports Ohio for some good talk with Bill Davige and Brian Giesenschlag.

As the Blue Jackets battled the New Jersey Devils in a race for the Metropolitan Division, it was nice to be able to have added presence in the arena, a place where Dale Earnhardt Jr. is forever welcome.
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