Dale Earnhardt Jr. has spent the seven years since his father’s death learning how to live without him.  In the cover story for ESPN The Magazine, “All Grown Up”, Dale Jr. talks in depth publicly for the first time about the pain of losing his dad, who was killed in a crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001.  Writer Marty Smith reveals that since Junior left the family business, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (and affiliation with Dale Sr.’s third wife Teresa Earnhardt), for NASCAR juggernaut Hendrick Motorsports this season, he’s finally feeling like himself again.

“When my dad died, I was numb, blind. I just kept moving. Going. Doing. It was horrible. The further away from it I get, the more I understand how I went through it.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“I didn’t talk about it because it wasn’t something I wanted to preach. ‘Oh, I lost my Daddy, woe is me, and I gotta go through life without him.’ I didn’t want that message.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr.

“I ain’t got nothing against her. She might have something against me, I don’t know. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. regarding Teresa Earnhardt, who declined to be interviewed for the story.

“I am striving to be the total package. A mature, dedicated, motivated racecar driver.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr.

ESPN The Magazine was granted exclusive access to Junior’s property and Whiskey River, the replica Wild West town he’s built on his 200 acres of land in North Carolina. The issue is on newsstands Wednesday, May 7.

ESPNthemag.com will exhibit a complementary photo gallery and a “behind the story” by Smith, who lost his own father while writing the piece on Dale Jr.

In “Sucking It Up” ESPN The Magazine takes a look at how NBA and NHL athletes play through the pain – especially during the playoffs. How does physical and psychological pain assist, and impede, a team’s chances of winning when it really counts?  From Willis Reed to Joe Thornton to Derek Fisher there are plenty of examples. In addition, ESPNthemag.com will feature an extended “Pain Package” to include Playing Through the Pain, and Warriors and Wimps – a survey and anonymous comments by players/about players in the two leagues.

Also in this issue The Mag introduces Stephen A. Smith’s new column – “Up Front”.

Other exciting features in the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine include:

THE RULES ARE THERE ARE NO RULES.  When she steps onto the mat, Olympic wrestling hopeful Sara McMann attacks her opponents with an uncanny ferocity. That’s been a pretty good strategy for battling the beasts that life has thrown at her. By Lindsay Berra.

TICK TICK TICK. The only thing more explosive than outfielder Elijah Dukes’ temper is his swing. The Rays couldn’t save him, so why do the Nationals think they can? By Chris Jones.

FROM THERE TO HERE: MATT RYAN. What do Thomas Edison, ugly yellow pants and a really bad nickname have in common? They all helped mold a scrawny Pee Wee fullback into the Falcon’s franchise QB. As told to Alyssa Roenigk.

NOW COMES THE HARD PART. He just signed a $60 million deal with the NFL’s least popular franchise. But if you think David Garrard is sweating his latest challenge - how do you make Jacksonville love the Jaguars? – you don’t know the league’s most laid-back QB. By Allison Glock