[Tuck4Bama]

Earnhardt Calls Gordon Tribute Classy Last Edited: Tuesday, 24 Apr 2007, 7:25 PM CDTCreated: Tuesday, 24 Apr 2007, 7:25 PM CDT
By JENNA FRYER
AP Auto Racing Writer

CONCORD, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn't understand the backlash over Jeff Gordon's decision to fly a No. 3 flag after tying the late Dale Earnhardt on NASCAR's career victories list.
Gordon took the flag on his victory lap following win No. 76 on Saturday night at Phoenix International Raceway. His car was pelted with beer cans during the tribute, and fans have been critical of the display in the days since.
But Junior, who congratulated Gordon in Victory Lane, called the tribute to his father a classy move.
"I don't know how in the world you could take that the wrong way," Earnhardt Jr. said Tuesday during an appearance at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "That's what's bothering me so bad. Jeff can't win for losing.
"He was trying to make a good gesture. That's all that was. I don't think anybody in the world could find anything wrong with what he did. That's a shame he didn't get all the credit he deserved for it."
Gordon's crew decided on the tribute last summer when the driver reached win No. 75. The team had carried the No. 3 flag in its truck ever since.
Aaron Kuehn, a crewman on Gordon's team, approached Junior and his sister at a party last year to get their approval. Earnhardt had forgotten the request until reminded Tuesday.
Earnhardt said he thought his father would have appreciated the moment, and the time the team had to carry the flag before using it.
"That flag rode around in that truck for several months -- which my dad would get a real kick about that," he said.
"I don't understand the disrespect -- what's the angle there? When you win a race, it's all about you at that moment. You won, you're happy, you're excited, you're the best of the best.
"And (Gordon) decided to split that down the middle, 50/50, and give my father some respect and take half of his moment and give it to my dad. I thought that was really classy."
Earnhardt took particular issue with fans who threw beers cans onto the track. It's grown increasingly common. And a few years ago it created a dangerous situation at Talladega Superspeedway, where fans showered the track with cans after Gordon beat Earnhardt under caution.
As the Nextel Cup Series heads to Talladega this weekend, Earnhardt acknowledged Gordon could see more animosity -- and beer cans -- if Gordon wins to break a tie with Dale Earnhardt.
"I'd consider it nasty," he said. "I don't feel comfortable with beer cans flying on the racetrack at any point in time. You see a lot of them are full, half full, hitting people 'cause they're not making it over the fence, knocking people in the back of the head.
"I've seen that happen on occasion. It's a dangerous business. I don't think it's cool. It ain't cool at all."
Earnhardt said it's a misconception that his father and Gordon were bitter rivals, saying the two were friends who partnered together in several business ventures.
And when Gordon was breaking into the sport, it was the elder Earnhardt who helped him understand the etiquette of big-time racing.
"I never remember a rivalry. ... I actually never remember any problems," Rick Hendrick, Gordon's car owner, said. "I think there was a lot of respect there. I think when you've got two popular drivers, different fan base, I think a lot of times the fans create the rivalry.
"I think in that case it was just the Earnhardt fans didn't want to see Jeff win. And Jeff fans against Earnhardt."

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Wow...good for Gordon...but really, what's the beef with what he did?...If his son said it was in good taste...why the up roar?

[Tuck4Bama]

I thought it was a tribute myself. Talladega could be really ugly if Gordon wins. I live about 25 miles from Talladega and the fans there are Earnhardt crazy. For thise who have never attended a race there , it is Nascars fans gone wild track. The campgrounds are full already and going through the campgrounds and parking is similar to Marti Gras. Tents everywhere and clusters of tents with sighns saying '"not family friendly". I quit attending raeces there about 10 years ago. The infield is as wild as a crowd can get.
Basically you have 100,000 plus fans with 90% that start drinking on thursday and are on the verge of out of control on Sunday.

I love the excitement of the race itself but if you go don't linger getting into the stands and don't be in a hurry trying to leave, I worked the spring race last year and it took me 5 hours to tavel 25 miles.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Wow...good for Gordon...but really, what's the beef with what he did?...If his son said it was in good taste...why the up roar?

Well, in short, there are a lot of people who criticize Gordon for whatever he does. They're just looking for a reason to bash him. Not saying anyone here falls into that category, but without a doubt he is every bit as polarizing a force in NASCAR as the Yankees are in baseball. People either love him or hate him, it seems, with very few falling in between.

[Tuck4Bama]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Well, in short, there are a lot of people who criticize Gordon for whatever he does. They're just looking for a reason to bash him. Not saying anyone here falls into that category, but without a doubt he is every bit as polarizing a force in NASCAR as the Yankees are in baseball. People either love him or hate him, it seems, with very few falling in between.

Like him or hate him Jeff Gordon deserves credit for being one of the most talented drivers in NASCAR. He has proven that he can win and is as talented or more talented than half of the field. I personally am not a Gordon fan but He will be a Hall off Fame driver.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Wow...good for Gordon...but really, what's the beef with what he did?...If his son said it was in good taste...why the up roar?

Keep in mind that the fans didn't know of Jr.'s approval until after the fact. Also consider that this what you get when you have fans that cannot see past their own favorite and then you load them up with beer you're bound to have these situations, sad as they may be.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Well, in short, there are a lot of people who criticize Gordon for whatever he does. They're just looking for a reason to bash him. Not saying anyone here falls into that category, but without a doubt he is every bit as polarizing a force in NASCAR as the Yankees are in baseball. People either love him or hate him, it seems, with very few falling in between.

Not so sure that your last statement is true. Many of my friends fall right in the middle. Some are ardent fans of other drivers and some are like myself, who favor no one particular driver. If Jeff wins and it was a good race I'm perfectly fine with it. He has done a lot for the sport of NASCAR Racing and in my book it is real hard to hate anyone who supports the sport I favor the most.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Keep in mind that the fans didn't know of Jr.'s approval until after the fact. Also consider that this what you get when you have fans that cannot see past their own favorite and then you load them up with beer you're bound to have these situations, sad as they may be.

So in short, you are saying that, "Gordon showed way more class than did Earhardt fans"...

[Tuck4Bama]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

So in short, you are saying that, "Gordon showed way more class than did Earhardt fans"...

In a word,YES However I am sure that fans of other drivers were glad to join in. With that many fans full of beer it does not take much to incite this sort of behavior.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

So in short, you are saying that, "Gordon showed way more class than did Earhardt fans"...

Yes and no. Yes he did show class in what he was attempting to do. He was merely honoring Sr. with the approval of Sr.'s family way before hand. More class than Earnhardt fans ..... ??? Again they had no concept of what was happening. I can't say for sure since I wasn't there but having been to a few races I can say that some people do get drunk. My guess is that the drunk were in the majority of trash tossers. People who are drunk and tossing trash lack class at that moment, no matter who they are a fan of.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

So in short, you are saying that, "Gordon showed way more class than did Earhardt fans"...

I think so. But who knows they were all Earnhardt fans? Might have been some of his own fans throwing and booing cause he had the 3 flag. Doubt it but could have been.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Well, in short, there are a lot of people who criticize Gordon for whatever he does. They're just looking for a reason to bash him. Not saying anyone here falls into that category, but without a doubt he is every bit as polarizing a force in NASCAR as the Yankees are in baseball. People either love him or hate him, it seems, with very few falling in between.

EEEK! Not the Yankees!

I'd take Gordon over the Yankees any day of the week!