F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo makes podium-finish bet involving Dale Earnhardt's No. 3 car

F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has an intimidating extra incentive to earn a podium finish in his first season with McLaren.

McLaren’s CEO Zak Brown gifted Ricciardo a die-cast of Dale Earnhardt’s iconic 1984 No. 3 Wrangler car, but he upped the ante by betting a drive with the actual car. Brown currently owns the real-life version of Earnhardt’s No. 3 in his personal heritage collection. If Ricciardo is able to finish third or better during his first season with the team, he’ll get to test out the car.

Growing up, Ricciardo was a massive Earnhardt fan. He also drives the No. 3 car in F1 partly because of his fanhood to “The Intimidator.” Ricciardo couldn’t contain his excitement to receive the replica.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. even chimed in about the bet.

Ricciardo has earned 31 podiums over the course of his F1 career, which began in 2011. The 31-year-old from Perth, Australia, recorded two of those podiums last year with Renault F1 Team, which has been rebranded as Alpine.