BRISTOL, Tenn. — Dale Earnhardt Jr. is — hands down — the most popular NASCAR Sprint Cup driver among stock-car racing fans.

He also counts himself as a huge fan of the National Football League in general and the sad-sack Washington Redskins in particular.

So Earnhardt was particularly upset Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway when he was asked about the NFL lockout and how it will impact him.

“I’m upset as a fan,” he said. “I hope we get to see some football.”

Even though the early NFL season runs parallel to NASCAR’s late season, Earnhardt said that he always finds time for football — especially his fantasy football team

“I don’t know what I’ll do, or how I’ll replace my fantasy football league,” he said. “Really, I mean, I look forward to it. I don’t know what I’ll do with my time.

“It will be disappointing not to have football, especially when our season is over.

“As a race-car driver, that’s one thing I look forward to about the end of the season, watching football, watch my team on Sunday. It will be disappointing that we might not have a season.”