In NASCAR, the bond between drivers and their pets often becomes a surprisingly public chapter in their lives. Take Alex Bowman, for example, whose Labrador, Finn, has been a regular presence at the track. Bowman’s partnership with Best Friends Animal Society has raised over $650,000 and helped facilitate 183 pet adoptions, underscoring just how deeply pets are woven into the personal stories of racers. While dogs are the common companions, with drivers like Shane van Gisbergen, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and Daniel Suárez regularly traveling with their canine friends, cats remain quietly tucked away from the spotlight.

That’s what made Buddy, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Maine Coon, such a rare figure in NASCAR lore. While Bowman’s Finn soaked in the roar of the grandstands, Buddy lived a more discree

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