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June 25, 2005
Joker wild?
There have been rumors about Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s future in stock car racing almost as long as he's been carrying the banner for Dale Earnhardt Inc.
They've grown a lot louder this season, one of obvious discontent in Mooresville, N.C., and everywhere there are Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans. Which is to say, simply, everywhere.
And now suggestions that Earnhardt Jr. could bolt from DEI - and even join Richard Childress Racing - have come out of the basement and are going mainstream.
That's a fine story line, the kind many NASCAR fans fitfully dream about.
Motorsports writer David Newton quotes Richard Childress as saying the door is open. Well, sure it is. And the door at the Childress place in Welcome isn't the only one with a big ol' welcome sign hanging on it.
Is there a team owner out there who wouldn't welcome the sport's most popular driver and his sponsors?
What Dale Earnhardt Jr. does on Sunday at Sonoma, for the rest of the 2005 season and beyond will be big news.
Heck, it's even pretty big news when he runs an exhibition go-kart race against an 11-year-old.
So you've got to wonder while watching the same three or four guys winning most of the Nextel Cup races this season which will be the bigger story: the second round of NASCAR's Chase for the Championship or Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s odyssey?
We might just find out if that driver doesn't have a seat at the table when the Chase cards are dealt in September.
June 25, 2005 in Racing | Permalink
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Comments
Nope. Not confusing a thing. There are a LOT of other drivers out there that have a lot more skill and talent than Jr.
But overexposed works, too. Jr. is NOT the only driver on the track, and contrary to what the boys in the booth might want to think, all of that red in the stands is NOT solely for Jr.
Posted by: Stace | Jun 27, 2005 7:24:27 PM
Stace, I think you are confusing overrated with overexposed.
Posted by: Serena | Jun 27, 2005 4:22:30 PM
Interesting comments by all.
Does anyone really believe Jr. hurt his kin by having Tony Jr go with Mikey? It appears it's the best thing that has happened for Tony Jr. An opportunity to show what he can do with out Tony sr over his back. And he has helped Mikey and will save his ass and job. A shame in my opinion, never liked the guy. But gee, guess that stab in the back really hurt cousin Tony..he now has a better chance of getting more $$$ and apprecation somewhere else as a CC. Plus Jr tried to save their relationship as family since all they did was fight during the races. Now Pop's..he's made into this big "Exec" @ DEI who appears doesn't share info with the new BUD team, makes sure Tony Jr gets all the new stuff, hangs his nephew out to dry, just like Sr would have wanted him to..am I right here? And the kick in the ass, ripes Jr out in public...yes, if that didn't hurt Jr..it sure as hell would have hurt me. So Jr, so full of him self and self destructing...what are you reading...Jimmy Gordon websites? Jr is trying so hard to hold together what he can and believe me not knowing you, but reading your posting, I don't think you can do half the crap he has on his plate...Francis
As for going to another team...he's not going to leave with out the #8 car...call me stupid, I don't care. But there was an article and you can go to his website and look under CARS, that the #8 car means a great deal to him, because of his greadfather and and the fact that his father started in the 8 and saved it for him.
And people, people, Sr, is gone..as much as we hate to say those words...so no one knows what Sr would say, do or think, except maybe Jr. So lets stop all the Sr would, Sr this. WE know for fact that Sr handpicked the Eury's to watch and take care of his boy, we can say Sr. there. But otherwise...no one knows what Sr thinks at this very damn sec. Don't play that card. My Dad is dead and I hate when some says "Your Dad would say.....about you" And while I'm on a roll...please somewhere deep down in your hearts..stop comparing every single thing Jr does on the track to Sr. he is not this Dad. He's JR...Ralph Dale Eardhardt Jr....he will have his own legacy, not his Dad's. If HE wants to cpmare himself to his Dad that's his right,Sr was his father. We his fans, who ever you are need to respect that. Respect the love he has for this Dad, but stop comparing ever breath he takes to Sr. I'd hate to be compared to everything my parent's accomplished that I haven't...like having children. Let's give the man a break instread of getting the jollies out of kicking him while he's having a rough season. Sorry if anyone is offended...but what can I say. Thanks for letting me vent.
Posted by: anterry8 | Jun 27, 2005 3:16:32 PM
Well i have to say i'm a true Dale Jr fan and always will no matter what the outcome is. And as for Dale doing badly this year well if yall have every watched Nascar for many years, yall know that ever driver goes through this at some point in there career,ex:Dale Sr.,Rusty Wallace,Mark Martin,even Jeff Gordon and that's just to name a few.So what Jr.is going through it will all work out eventually. He does have alot going on right now & he wasn't the one that wanted his uncle&cousin gone, but that's over for right now. He may go to RCR and drive the #3,that's what he would like and even his dad would want that.But you have to think DEI is he's dad's company that he built for his kids,grandkids,etc., so even if he does go i believe he'll still have something to do with DEI, b/c i don't believe he'll let that go.And as for everything going on Teresa has alot to do with all this and Jr. is just stuck in the middle.But as a true and always Loyal fan of Nascar and Jr. i'll support him and other Jr fans should too,cause he'll be back and when he does,anybody that said something bad about him and what he's doing,Just remember Jr.fans told ya so!!!
Posted by: Brandi | Jun 27, 2005 3:02:09 PM
I am not a Jr fan, nor was I a fan of Sr. The old man drove dirty and dangerous, and I don't think the kid is all that either.
That said, in the pre-race segment on Jeff Gordon, they asked about he and Jr neither one being in the chase right now. Jeffy grinned and said that rules would be changed.
Whatever is going on over at DEI is probably more like a soap opera than anything, with all the family fussing. But one thing I think is true, is that Jr isn't about to go drive for anybody else. Whoever is in charge at DEI, be it the grieving widow, or Uncle Tony or somebody new, they are not about to let Mr Moneymaker go anywhere. To let Jr walk and take his popularity and sponser dollars away would just be assinine. It also follows that Jr missing the Chase is a disaster for the Frances and NASCAR as a whole. Its almost like they are REQUIRED to talk about Mr Popularity, and for the first half of the season, as he was struggling, it was tough for them to pay attention to all the worthies. But now that we are down to crunch time, the TV talking heads can sit and moan about how Jr is running out of time. Which is only half a loaf for them; they would much rather make it like last season where every damn Sunday was the "We love Jr" show.
All in all, I almost feel sorry for the kid.
He may in all reality be a really nice guy who is having a tough time in the spotlight, but he and the Jr faithful fans and TV guys get on my last nerve.
I am so hoping to see Michael Waltrip make the race, leaving Jr behind and wait to see what happens next.
Posted by: bluejinx | Jun 27, 2005 2:23:16 PM
Let's face it. Junior and DEI may be better off if he drives for another team and hires a driver to take the 8. It appears that Junior is trying to manage the team and some people just were not meant to do that, especially when his decisions effect the thing he loves most dearly - racing.
While Junior suffers, Kevin Harvick prospers because the team he owns doesn't effect the car he drives. What would upset the apple cart would be to see him take over the 6 next year. Best thing about that would be that all those guys with the 8 tatoos could easily modify them into a 6 and Junior would only have to drive on Nextel-Sprint Cup day. Jack needs an all-star driver and DEI needs a change at the top.
Now I must solve that Israel-Palestine issue.
Posted by: Buddynoel | Jun 27, 2005 2:16:00 PM
I just wish Rusty would do some commercials that the rest of us could see. I really miss the woodchuck.
Posted by: rustyfan | Jun 27, 2005 11:15:24 AM
Rusty does commercials too. He's been doing a lot of advertising in East Tennessee for his car dealerships, and he has Jamie McMurray helping him out. I bet they all do them.
Posted by: tn865linda | Jun 27, 2005 10:37:33 AM
First off, Junior IS overrated. Sure, most of the time he's a good driver, but the only reason he gets half of the attention he does the rest of the time is because of the name.
Secondly. Unless you work for DEI, you have NO idea what's going on over there, or who's running what. You don't personally know these people, so how do you know what type of person they really are?
Junior's having a bad year. End of story. They all go through it at some point or another.
Posted by: Stace | Jun 27, 2005 9:32:14 AM
Ok
Thanks Marty I just sometimes don't like what I see happening to Nascar. As for Jr I like him he's not my driver but god that boy has had alot of shit dropped in his lap and like anyone else it has to be hard on him. So let's ask Patty if she knows what Jr is thinking and feeling.
Posted by: speedracer | Jun 27, 2005 8:17:48 AM
Tim,
As far as Jr being overrated, your talking out of your ass.
Speedracer,
I don't always agree with you, but the scenario that you stated is possible, and would be way cool. Jr, Harvick, Stewart and Burton would make a strong multi-car stable for RCR. I guess we could all dream of that ever happening.
Patty,
Interesting that you know how Teresa is doing emotionally. Let me let you in on a little secret... She is the owner, not the manager of the teams. She doesn't "run" the organization.
Posted by: Marty | Jun 27, 2005 6:24:44 AM
I Think it's time Teresa was trusted by her husband to run DEI and take the best care of the teams. IT IS TIME FOR HER TO PULL HERSELF TOGETHER AND GET THE JOB DONE. IF NOT STEP DOWN AND PUT KELLY EARNHARDT OR SOMEONE WHOSE HEART WOULD BE INTO IT IN CHARGE. TERESA CAN NOT GET OVER HER LOSS AND THAT IS UNDERSTANDABLE.
Posted by: Patty | Jun 27, 2005 1:07:39 AM
I think that Junior is going to do okay.
He is in a rut. His dad had them too, who doesn't?? I think people need to leave him alone, stop making a big deal over nothing..
It'll get better. We ( the fans) will keep having faith in him, like true fans do....
Posted by: Carrie | Jun 27, 2005 12:45:49 AM
Ok folks stick this in your pipe and smoke it.....WHAT would the ramifications be if NASCAR's BRIGHTest stars ie; Dale Jr AND Jeff Gordon DIDN'T make the chase?......why the end result would be unbearable...you need not be a brainwizard in the "France family mafia" to know that WHOLESALE rule changes would be made
Posted by: Captain Fantastic | Jun 27, 2005 12:03:50 AM
OK
I have been saying it for awhile that Jr will leave DEI after this season and join most likely RCR. Both Harvick and Burton will both stay with RCR. Harvick and Jr would be good teammates and would work well together. Jr will drive the # 30.That would be most fitting because of his dad's Number. Now we could also end up with RCR just buying out DEI. DEI is just messed up and with no fix in site. Now with that Jr would still drive the # 8. Plus we could look another direction and that is Tony Stewart jumping ship and also going to RCR.
Tony, Jr. and Harvick are good friends and that would be a great combination. DEI's days are numbered. The writings on the wall so to speak. Plus RCR shared information with DEI for some time after Dale's death and when that stopped so did DEI. But make no mistake where ever Jr goes so will BUD.
RCR will have a multi car race team and Harvick will get someone to draft with and Tony will no longer have an absentee owner.
Posted by: speedracer | Jun 26, 2005 7:50:25 PM
Little tidbit for ya'll.. DEI, RCR, and APR used to work together ALOT up until the '01 season when APR started going down the tubes. DEI and RCR were still working together, but they don't now. Out of curiousity, if anyone could tell me who made THAT decision, I'd like to know, cause it was a mistake for both teams.
Posted by: Adam | Jun 26, 2005 7:42:55 PM
Frances is out to lunch...Mike Daly makes a good point on the R/H buy a title bid...and Tim get over yourself real drivers DO do commercials or we wouldn't have sponsors on cars. The sport is about sponsor exposure and the big bucks. But Jr will be fine and it will work out. Look at Kenseth, a past Champion, nobody seems concerned he's sucking this year.
Posted by: Keith | Jun 26, 2005 2:11:10 PM
I think Jr. just needs someone to kick his butt a little. You know if Sr. was here things would be different. I think RCR racing and DEI should join and make one team. Man would that be great and let Richard run things and help with Jr. That would be what Dale Sr.would have wanted. You would see Dale Jr. winning a lot of races again. Frank
Posted by: Frank Owensby | Jun 26, 2005 2:00:08 PM
From previous post: "JR is a wannabe. 1 word for JR is OVER8ED bottomline. Real drivers win races not do commercials i.e. Rusty Wallace,Mark Martin,and Jeff Gordon" - from tim
Tim,
I don't know what TV you watch, but the only one of those-Rusty Wallace - hasn't done any commercials lately (unless you count the stupid Visa add where he just stands there).
Posted by: rustyfan | Jun 26, 2005 1:16:52 PM
JR is a wannabe. 1 word for JR is OVER8ED bottomline. Real drivers win races not do commercials i.e. Rusty Wallace,Mark Martin,and Jeff Gordon
Posted by: tim | Jun 26, 2005 1:01:14 PM
Anthony,
I would love to see that myself, but for now Jr. is making the best of a tough situation regardless of what the media and his detractors think.
Posted by: Jon | Jun 26, 2005 12:39:53 PM
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