[SpaceCadet]

Originally Posted by 3fanforever

If you'll endulge me, I'll list a few of the reasons why I'm a Dale Earnhardt fan forever.

* After Dale Jr. won his first Winston in 2000 as a rookie driver in the Cup, Dale Sr, joined him in victory lane. Jr. said in an interview "My father coming to Victory Lane and not having an airplane to rush and get on, so he stuck around and we threw beer on each other and jumped around and hollered and just made fools of oursleves." "I don't think I'll ever get that close to that feeling I had that night again."
That's why I like Dale Earnhardt!

* In 1999 Dale Jarrett won the Winston Cup championship. He wanted to bring his family and friends to New York for the ceremony, to show his appreciation for their support, but didn't have a way to get that many people there. He called Dale Earnhardt to rent his airplane. Dale agreed. In December, Dale Jarrett called Earnhardt and wanted to settle up the bill. Dale told him "I'll send you something in the mail."

A few days later, Dale Jarrett got an official letter from Dale Earnhardt Inc. It looked like an invoice, with all the details about how many people flew on the plane and the miles flown and all. Then, at the bottom, Dale Earnhardt wrote: "Congratulations on the championship. Merry Christmas. No charge."
That's why I like Dale Earnhardt!

* One year Dale Earnhardt went to a local church. They were having a car wash in the parking lot. Dale let them wash his truck. He asked the pastor why they were doing it. He told Dale it was to raise money to pave the parking lot. Dale asked how much would it cost. The pastor said around $10,000 dollars. Without hesitating, Dale took out his checkbook and wrote a check for $10,000 to the church, and gave it to the pastor on one condition. Nobody would ever know who it came from. This story was never told until after his death.
That's why I like Dale Earnhardt!

* In 1996 Earnhardt was involved in a freightning crash at Talladega. In 2000, he underwent neck surgery for lingering problems associated with that crash. While he was in the hospital, he was told a young boy who was also having neck surgery wanted to meet him because he was a Dale Earnhardt fan. Dale agreed. He let the boy take a picture with him, with both of them in a neck brace. Only one picture was taken and he gave it to the little boy.
That's why I like Dale Earnhardt!

* In 1998, Dale Earnhardt was practicing for the Daytona 500, which he'd never won. He had a great car, but after practice, Larry McReynolds told Dale they needed to do some work on the car. So Dale went to socialize with the fans. Larry McReynolds said "Well, he's picking a helluva time to be social with the fans. We gotta work on this car."

Later, Dale comes back and in Larry's words "He's absolutley beaming." He met up with a little girl in her wheelchair from the Make-A-Wish Foundation. She had a very bad disease, and this may have been the last 500 she'd ever see, and all she wanted to do was meet Dale. He spent 15 minutes with her, and she gave him a lucky penny to hold on to for the race. He went looking for some adhesive to glue it to the dashboard of his race car. Larry McReynolds helped him do just that. The rest of that day is history. Larry later said "Kids would open up his heart till it got bigger than the moon."
That's why I like Dale Earnhardt!

These are all the reasons (and there are more) I have so much respect for the memory of Dale, Sr.. He was a great humanitarian, as are many driver's today. And let's face it, he must have done something right because his kid's didn't turn out too badly, for sure. While I may have admired him as a person, I still don't care for the way he drove.

[LSC9901]

I also find it gratifying to know that Dale did so much for others but in all fairness I think you can look at many drivers and see the same great qualities as far as charitable donations both time wise and financially. I admire anyone that can and does give to those who need.

When I think about respect for a driver I try to keep it in line with what it is they do on the track. It has been said many times already but I'll add myself to the list of those who did not like his style of driving. No he didn't crash & pass every race. When he had the car that could pass & win he didn't need to crash & pass. Laugh at those who are willing to take a 2nd place finish versus the crash & pass style if you want but I, personally, find them to be the better driver

I do agree that overall Dale is a legendary NASCAR figure ... overall, but not in every aspect.

[3fanforever]

Ok, if all we're gonna focus on is his driving style, I loved it!
Sure there were times he pissed me off wrecking someone, but those were rare. A lot less than what some of you are suggesting.
I've never condoned anyone flat out intentionally wrecking someone to advance their position, no matter who they are.
And he was the last driver NOT castrated by NASCAR to drive and act just like they want, which is how today's drivers are.

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by 3fanforever

Ok, if all we're gonna focus on is his driving style, I loved it!
Sure there were times he pissed me off wrecking someone, but those were rare. A lot less than what some of you are suggesting.
I've never condoned anyone flat out intentionally wrecking someone to advance their position, no matter who they are.
And he was the last driver NOT castrated by NASCAR to drive and act just like they want, which is how today's drivers are.

I totally agree with you..
Dale is the greatest driver in nascar history, even better than petty, there I said it..To answer his driving style, in most of Earnhardt's 76 wins he did not have to resort to the bumper as no one could outrace him and most of them knew it. If you could outrun him,there was no need to worry about his bumper because if he couldn't catch you, he couldn't bump you. He could usually catch them and when he did they had a personal choice to make, race him or block him. Blocking was never advisable..

[PettyBlue]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Who the heck put a bee in your bonnet?

First, I started following NASCAR closely in 1985. Is that ok?

Second, no, I wasn't there to see Lee Petty, but I am interested in the history of the sport. On ESPN's Top 20 NASCAR Drivers it was stated that the ol' bump-and-run was Lee's style. Not even for the win. Just to get ahead. I've also read articles supporting that fact. And wasn't it Lee who took Dale under his wing? Perhaps that's where Dale learned it.

Frankly, I don't really care if it was Lee's style or not. I was simply pointing out that Dale is not the sole owner of that reputation ... justified or not.

A bee in your bonnet,wow it's been quite a long time since I heard that.Then as I think of it I do remember the sexy bee hive hair-do.Did you ever have one?If so I bet you were cute.All this thread is in fun people,lighten up e fans.

[PettyBlue]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

I totally agree with you..
Dale is the greatest driver in nascar history, even better than petty, there I said it..

Now lets check that statement out.The 3 big stats in Nascar.Championships,total wins and Daytona 500 wins.7/7=tie,76/200=lost,1/7=lost.One tie and two lost for big e,and he is the greatest over Petty,how?

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by PettyBlue

Now lets check that statement out.The 3 big stats in Nascar.Championships,total wins and Daytona 500 wins.7/7=tie,76/200=lost,1/7=lost.One tie and two lost for big e,and he is the greatest over Petty,how?

Petty's first Championship was won under a dubious points system where winnings were figured into a complicated formula to dertermine points payouts. It was possible to score more points than drivers ahead of him in the finish order of a race.

Only 5 of Petty's Cups came under a fair points system but they also occured in a period when cheating was still rampant as evidenced by the fact that between 1970 and 1979, only 3 men won the Cup with Parsons taking only one.Petty won 5 for Petty Enterprises and Cale won 3 in a row for Junior Johnson. Neither organization was known to be pure or free from seeking unfair competitive advantage.

Many of Petty's 200 wins were a direct result of 2 distinct factors in NASCAR's early days. Cheating and fields of 25 cars or less where it was unusual to have more than half the field running at the end. In 1967 over half of his wins were due to the second factor.In the modern era, under a fair points system based on performance and consistency, Earnhardt won 7 Cups while Petty won 5. From 1970 through 1980 Petty won 89 races. Pearson won 48 in the same time frame.

Over the course of the next decade, during a more competitive period, Earnhardt won 47 races while Petty won 10. After each man's 40th birthday Petty won 20 races and 1 championship while Earnhardt won 28 races, 2 Cups and missed a 3rd by 34 points and a 4th by 265 points.Following Petty's last Championship in 1978 at the age of 41, the closest he ever got to a Cup was 1980 when he finished 4th, 406 points behind the Champ, Earnhardt.


NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog: Careful There Richard
http://www.racehippie.com/nascar-his...-of-nascar.php

[LSC9901]

Lets be realistic here fella's. One of you is a Petty fan and the other an Earnhardt fan. Neither of you are going to agree that the others driver was better than your choice. I can make numbers do whatever I want them to do. I suspect that I can make Jeff or Jimmy look better than the two that you guys stand by. Believe in what you believe and accept what the other believe. This is a no win situation, so save all the trouble.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Bob Tanner

PPS, please don't get too caught up in ESPN's program. I'd take it with a grain of salt, especially in the area of comparing drivers of the late 40's and early 50's to more current drivers. Racing since you began watching it is a long way from the racing scene of Lee Petty's day.

Let's take Lee Petty and his alledged bump and run tactics. I saw him drive a couple time but don't remember him doing this, but...

Think about the era. They were driving absolutely stock cars. They were on the widest tires available on wheels that usually only had a plate welded on it for reinforcement. The big thing was the engines. Lee was a Plymouth driver and until 1954 he competed against Olds V8's and Hudson 6's with a small, in-line 6 cyl. engine! The Hudson was a pretty big 6 cyl. and it had the lowest center of gravity in the automotive world. It was hardly a "level playing field." When these guys were running, a higher finishing position sometimes meant the different between your family eating hamburger and eggs or rabbit and fatback.

Speaking only for myself, if you are in an under-powered car and pushing someone off the track meanth a better finish... I'd do it.

Oh, I understand, Bob. It was ESPN's program that mentioned it (I forget which driver, owner, or crew chief said it), but that peaked my interest, so I did a bit of research on the web. Not too much. I don't read or watch one opinion and take it as gospel.

And I absolutely take the ESPN program with a grain of salt. I actually was surprised that Dale was at the top of the list over Richard Petty. I thought for sure Petty would be on top ... but that's all been discussed before.

I particularly enjoyed your analogy of the "era" and the "a higher finishing position sometimes meant the different between your family eating hamburger and eggs or rabbit and fatback." Today, it's lobster, steak, and champagne for all.

Oh, and please don't hold it against me because I've only been interested in NASCAR since 1985. Doesn't mean that I only know the sport from that point forward. I just love watching, reading, and learning about the good ol' days.

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by PettyBlue

A bee in your bonnet,wow it's been quite a long time since I heard that.Then as I think of it I do remember the sexy bee hive hair-do.Did you ever have one?If so I bet you were cute.All this thread is in fun people,lighten up e fans.

Typical. Focus on the "bee in your bonnet" comment, the "sexy bee hive hair-do", whether or not I had one (which I didn't ... too young), and whether or not I was "cute", as opposed to the point(s) of my post.








http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb098&pp=ZN

[Phils20]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Lets be realistic here fella's. One of you is a Petty fan and the other an Earnhardt fan. Neither of you are going to agree that the others driver was better than your choice. I can make numbers do whatever I want them to do. I suspect that I can make Jeff or Jimmy look better than the two that you guys stand by. Believe in what you believe and accept what the other believe. This is a no win situation, so save all the trouble.

Indeed. We went through this BS with Pepsione a bit ago, and nothing good came of it.

Both were awesome drivers, and I fail to see why folks feel the need to degrade either of them!

[PettyBlue]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

Petty's first Championship was won under a dubious points system where winnings were figured into a complicated formula to dertermine points payouts. It was possible to score more points than drivers ahead of him in the finish order of a race.

Only 5 of Petty's Cups came under a fair points system but they also occured in a period when cheating was still rampant as evidenced by the fact that between 1970 and 1979, only 3 men won the Cup with Parsons taking only one.Petty won 5 for Petty Enterprises and Cale won 3 in a row for Junior Johnson. Neither organization was known to be pure or free from seeking unfair competitive advantage.

Many of Petty's 200 wins were a direct result of 2 distinct factors in NASCAR's early days. Cheating and fields of 25 cars or less where it was unusual to have more than half the field running at the end. In 1967 over half of his wins were due to the second factor.In the modern era, under a fair points system based on performance and consistency, Earnhardt won 7 Cups while Petty won 5. From 1970 through 1980 Petty won 89 races. Pearson won 48 in the same time frame.

Over the course of the next decade, during a more competitive period, Earnhardt won 47 races while Petty won 10. After each man's 40th birthday Petty won 20 races and 1 championship while Earnhardt won 28 races, 2 Cups and missed a 3rd by 34 points and a 4th by 265 points.Following Petty's last Championship in 1978 at the age of 41, the closest he ever got to a Cup was 1980 when he finished 4th, 406 points behind the Champ, Earnhardt.


NASCAR Ranting and Raving Blog: Careful There Richard
NASCAR history, facts, information & Dale Earnhardt tragic accident

Please provide facts to backup all of what you state in your post as I did in mine and I will become a big e zombie,cross my heart I will.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by PettyBlue

Please provide facts to backup all of what you state in your post as I did in mine and I will become a big e zombie,cross my heart I will.

Just out of curiosity, what statements are you disputing ???

[PettyBlue]

Originally Posted by PenelopePitStop

Typical. Focus on the "bee in your bonnet" comment, the "sexy bee hive hair-do", whether or not I had one (which I didn't ... too young), and whether or not I was "cute", as opposed to the point(s) of my post.








http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb098&pp=ZN

Typical?Please say male thinking and do this old guys heart some good,lol.

[PettyBlue]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Just out of curiosity, what statements are you disputing ???

Each and every.I want to learn me something from that post,lol.