Kansas City Royals manager Ned Yost credits Dale Earnhardt

In the aftermath of guiding the Kansas City Royals to the World Series, manager Ned Yost couldn’t help but think of longtime friend Dale Earnhardt.

A devote NASCAR fan, Yost befriended Earnhardt when he used to be a coach for the Atlanta Braves. From that friendship, Yost became a volunteer on Earnhardt’s Richard Childress Racing team in 1994 when Major League Baseball was in the midst of labor stoppage.

Yost spoke about Earnhardt and the impact he had on his managerial style in an interview with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio host Danny “Chocolate” Myers Thursday. Myers was a crew member for Earnhardt during six of his seven Cup championships.

“To watch the way that Dale and you guys never gave up. Ever,” Yost said. “No matter what the situation was you guys continued to fight no matter what the situation was -- until that last lap was done. The ability that Dale had and you guys had not to be happy with second, not to be happy with third.

“The only thing that really mattered to you guys was first-place, and that changed my whole perspective on competing.”

When Yost got his opportunity to manage, first with the Milwaukee Brewers and later the Royals, he chose jersey No. 3 in honor of Earnhardt’s car number. Earnhardt was killed on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.

Yost led the Royals into the playoffs this season for the first time since 1985. They completed a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles to advance to the World Series Wednesday.

“I thought about Dale all day long,” Yost said. “About how proud he would have been of us, turning this team from a loser back into a winner, with determination, with spirit, with enthusiasm and just dogged competitiveness.”

The club’s playoff run has been closely followed by Earnhardt’s son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., who posted numerous tweets supporting the Royals. Earnhardt Jr. was invited by Yost to spring training in February, but he couldn’t make it due to the NASCAR season beginning.

Yost was to attend the Sprint Cup race two weeks ago at Kansas Speedway. He couldn’t make it, however, as the Royals were playing Game 3 of the American League Division Series against the Los Angeles Angels across town. Instead, in a pre-taped segment, Yost gave the traditional “Drivers, start your engines” command.

“He is a genuine guy with a genuine appreciation and friendship with my father,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “It means a lot to me that he follows me still to this day and I think that I want to see him do well as much.

“We don’t really have consistent contact with each other, but there is a mutual respect for sure.”