[vincesanity82]

There are many reasons to like Dale Earnhardt, Jr., some that don't make much sense. He has a famous father. He has a smile and a wit that can light up a room. And he looks pretty good and comfortable in a pair of jeans in a TV commercial. But, c'mon. The guy has won exactly one NASCAR race in the past 778 days, yet no one has booed him. Barry Zito can't go five days without hearing boos. That's because Earnhardt transcends his sport like Tiger Woods does his. Junior is testament to the strength and depth of NASCAR and the endurance of his family name. "Let's be honest. The most popular figure in our sport went two years and never won a race," said Kyle Petty, the veteran NASCAR driver and TNT analyst. "The guy who sells the most T-shirts. The most hats. Gets the most cheers from the grandstand. Somebody the sport has promoted as our big guy goes two years (without winning)? What if golf went two years without Tiger Woods ever winning an event? I'm not sure golf would survive that. NASCAR can survive that." Or maybe not. "I would disagree. I would think it would be parallel in some ways," said Jimmie Johnson, Earnhardt's Hendrick Motorsports teammate. "If you're a fan of golf and you respect Tiger and watch Tiger and, if he's gone, you're still going to watch golf. Die-hard Tiger fans might not be as interested but they're golf fans. They're going to watch it. "Motorsports is the same way. Every sport needs their heroes. Every sport needs their marquee guy. Tiger has every (competitor) covered by so far. In NASCAR, you don't have that gap from first on down." -- Marin Independent Journal



Dave Albee: Junior Nation stands behind its leader - Marin Independent Journal

[Bob Tanner]

Can there possibly be a week, during the race season, when some writer doesn't break out in night sweats if Dale Junior isn't written about?

Contrary to popular opinion, gratuitous stories centering on Junior are not necessary.

[stroker crank]

The most overrated driver in the series. If his name wasn't Earnhart I doubt he would have even made it to this level.

[LSC9901]

We've been down this road before but I enjoy the topic. Jr is very much over-hyped by the media. Over rated would mean that at a minimum he is below average. With 18 wins along with all his other stats ... I'm still not convinced he is over rated. Mark Martin has been racing 27 years and has 35 wins, no championships. Jr also has no championships, but has a better chance at getting one. 18 wins in 9 years. Over hyped, no doubt. Over rated ... I'm not so sure.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by stroker crank

The most overrated driver in the series. If his name wasn't Earnhart I doubt he would have even made it to this level.

He's not the most overrated driver in the series. If his name wasn't Earnhardt I do believe he'd still be in Nascar. He's not in Nascar just because of what his name is. Does the name Kerry Earnhardt ring a bell? If it was just name only, I think Kerry would be there too.

[BiscuitMan]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

There are many reasons to like Dale Earnhardt, Jr., some that don't make much sense. He has a famous father. He has a smile and a wit that can light up a room. And he looks pretty good and comfortable in a pair of jeans in a TV commercial. But, c'mon. The guy has won exactly one NASCAR race in the past 778 days, yet no one has booed him. Barry Zito can't go five days without hearing boos. That's because Earnhardt transcends his sport like Tiger Woods does his. Junior is testament to the strength and depth of NASCAR and the endurance of his family name. "Let's be honest. The most popular figure in our sport went two years and never won a race," said Kyle Petty, the veteran NASCAR driver and TNT analyst. "The guy who sells the most T-shirts. The most hats. Gets the most cheers from the grandstand. Somebody the sport has promoted as our big guy goes two years (without winning)? What if golf went two years without Tiger Woods ever winning an event? I'm not sure golf would survive that. NASCAR can survive that." Or maybe not. "I would disagree. I would think it would be parallel in some ways," said Jimmie Johnson, Earnhardt's Hendrick Motorsports teammate. "If you're a fan of golf and you respect Tiger and watch Tiger and, if he's gone, you're still going to watch golf. Die-hard Tiger fans might not be as interested but they're golf fans. They're going to watch it. "Motorsports is the same way. Every sport needs their heroes. Every sport needs their marquee guy. Tiger has every (competitor) covered by so far. In NASCAR, you don't have that gap from first on down." -- Marin Independent Journal

Dave Albee: Junior Nation stands behind its leader - Marin Independent Journal

Vince, This is "old news". Dave Albee wrote this article prior to last Saturday for the local Novota, CA newspaper, probably to pump up interest in the Sonoma race. I personally think Albee is out of touch with what's really happening in NASCAR. He seems to be overly obsessed with with Dale Jr.s popularity and his followers.

All these media buffs think you have to win every other race to be the NASCAR champion.

Remember that Benny Parsons won the NASCAR championship in 1973 with only one win that year. He made consistency the name of the game. With all this "parity" with the CoT, someone could possibly do that again.

[WestCoast]

2003 Champ Matt Kenseth had 1 Victory and was the catalyst for the "play offs" that we know as the Chase.

Jr. is above average in my mind, and a champ, with the cup or without.
But I can't stop laughing at his Jr. Real estate Company, do the Realtors have a GIANT cardboard cutout of Junior that they use as a sale sign.

[BiscuitMan]

Originally Posted by WestCoast

2003 Champ Matt Kenseth had 1 Victory and was the catalyst for the "play offs" that we know as the Chase.

Jr. is above average in my mind, and a champ, with the cup or without.
But I can't stop laughing at his Jr. Real estate Company, do the Realtors have a GIANT cardboard cutout of Junior that they use a a sale sign.

You are correct. I over looked Matt Kenseth with his 1 victory.

I was really thinking of Jeff Burton having a chance at the title because of RCR and their consistency of late. Of course, some of those other drivers will have to get into their "late season slump" for this scenario to take place.

I believe DEJ Realty was originally a company that was used for land acquisitions for their projects. But its easy to expand into the residential market. Then the home buyer can say "I bought one of Dale Jr.'s homes."

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by jks812

He's not the most overrated driver in the series. If his name wasn't Earnhardt I do believe he'd still be in Nascar. He's not in Nascar just because of what his name is. Does the name Kerry Earnhardt ring a bell? If it was just name only, I think Kerry would be there too.

BINGO !!!

What about Steven Wallace, Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace ?? Lorne is more famous than all of them together.

[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by WestCoast

2003 Champ Matt Kenseth had 1 Victory and was the catalyst for the "play offs" that we know as the Chase.

Jr. is above average in my mind, and a champ, with the cup or without.
But I can't stop laughing at his Jr. Real estate Company, do the Realtors have a GIANT cardboard cutout of Junior that they use as a sale sign.

Leonard Skynerd sold a lot of real estate in Jacksonville after the band became popular and he changed his vocation from school teacher to real estate salesman.

Shakesphere was naive when he asked, "What's in a name?"

[kcoruol]

Originally Posted by stroker crank

The most overrated driver in the series. If his name wasn't Earnhart I doubt he would have even made it to this level.

Blasphemer!!

May your cable go out every sunday afternoon!

May you only get tickets on the backstretch!

May the hat of your favorite driver develop mold!

You! You will suffer the consequences of taking DEJ's name in vain!!!

Repent! Repent! Get down on your knees and throw away all that NASCAR merchandise from your NASCAR shrine and replace it with DEJ and Brad Keslowski Merchandise NOW!!


Blah haaahahaaaa

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[Bob Tanner]

Originally Posted by stroker crank

The most overrated driver in the series. If his name wasn't Earnhart I doubt he would have even made it to this level.

You are probably right on your second point, stoker. The name "Earnhardt" undoubtedly opened more than one door. I agree that if he didn't have the lineage there is a good chance he'd be driving a black/white VW with a "Geek Squad" patch on his white shirt.

BUT, he did get a chance and he made the best of it, and backed up the faith his late dad had in him. A BGN Championship, eighteen wins at the highest level (though, to me, that Firecracker 400 win will always be suspect, but the other seventeen were genuine wins).

"Over rated?" Not in my eyes. Two or three years ago I might have agreed with you. But now. the kid can back up the massive about of hype he gets. Plus, in the past year he's matured a whole lot and, as far as I'm concerned, he's the real thing.