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Most popular driver
The driver of the year voting has begun and the early numbers are out. I read the article on thatsracin.com about the most popular driver award and it confused me, but didn't surprise me. Dale Jr. was leading the way in the voting followed by Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, and Tony Steward. The confusion starts with the number one spot. Let me start off by saying that I have nothing against Jr., I just want to know what makes him so popular. He didn't win rookie of the year a couple years ago, he hasn't won a championship, and so far this year he's struggling. Yet for the past two years, and now this year, he s leading the votes for most popular. I can understand Jeff Gordon being in second. He's won 4 championships and over 50 races. He has earned the respect of the fans and the other drivers around him as being one of the premier drivers. The third and fourth spots i can understand also. When you have the driving styles of Kevin and Tony, you have a love/hate crowd that follows you. Obviously more love than hate according to the polls. So that brings me back to the number one spot. Why so popular. Dale Sr. had a cult like following the same as Jr. has now, but he earned it thru winning on the track and gaining fans. Some how Jr. connects with the crowd and has a following stronger than any other driver, by far. I guess some one has to win the award so it might as well be an Earnhardt.
April 1, 2005 in Race talk | Permalink
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Junior excites the crowd, he's a great guy with a huge heart. It doesn't matter how many wins he has, or championships, or if he's struggling or not. You can understand Harvick being up there, but not Junior? Why don't you just sit down and compare their stats. You use the argument that Jeff is understandably popular because of his wins and championships, yet in the next breath you say that a guy who has won what...4 or 5 races should be more popular than a guy who has won 15? Trent Trent Trent, you are way out of your league here, I wouldn't go any further with this because it's seriously a joke, your whole argument is a joke. I'm not trying to be a bitch here but I will fight fire with fire when someone disses my driver for NO good reason. Are you just jealous because little Ryan ain't so popular? He's a good driver and all..but tell him to get a personality, he might get a few more fans then. Rock on Junior!!
Posted by: Laura | Apr 2, 2005 2:22:28 AM
LeBron James doesn't have any rings and he's pretty popular. Dan Marino was popular and he didn't win any championships. Karl Malone might diagree with the logic you're throwing out.
look, i understand where you're coming from but the problem is that you're equating popularity with accomplishment. you're basically saying that a driver should only be as popular as his results. you're comparing apples and oranges.
if you insist on following this logic then explain two things to me. explain why mark martin seems to be more popular and more attention is being paid to him in his last year than Rusty. AND explain how Bill Elliot won most popular driver all those years over Earnhardt Sr and Jeff Gordon when Bill's accomplishments on-track didn't even begin to compare to Dale's or Jeff's.
Posted by: mayorjimmy | Apr 2, 2005 3:18:44 AM
I don't get it either. He's a dismal interview and doesn't come across as much of a character in those interviews. I have absolutely nothing against Jr., just tired of having him shoved down our throats by the media.
Posted by: Scott | Apr 2, 2005 3:33:35 AM
Yes Scott, because we see so much of Junior these days. We're lucky to get a glimpse of him or Pete Rondeau during practice and qualifying, much less an interview. I see all these articles about Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson, yet Junior is the one who's getting shoved down our throats? For instance, last year with Kasey Kahne...he was the best thing since sliced bread, yet he hasn't won a race. The media didn't shut up about him just the same...people aren't bitching about that though. Continue bitching about Junior just for the sake of bitching about Junior. I don't need to sit here and try to discredit your arguments anymore. You're doing more than a great job of making yourselves look like whining fools. Carry on!!
Posted by: Laura | Apr 2, 2005 4:24:15 AM
Junior is more off-guard and relaxed than other drivers when he is interviewed. He lets people into his life and lets them know how he is really feeling. He's the classic 'guy you would like to have a beer with'. He talks about everyday things like a new grill or whatever. He's accessible and friendly.
Posted by: David | Apr 2, 2005 4:50:20 AM
Trent,
I think Gordon is voted second by shear number of fans that just like a winner. I agree with David that many more fans can associate better with Junior since he is a more down to earth guy and not a guy that just loves the limelight like Gordon does.
I happen to be a Junior fan so I don't have a problem with him in the lead at this point, but so many fans have strong opinions of their favorite driver and it really doesn't matter about how much camera time they get or praise by the media. They will support them no matter what, at least the true fans.
I personally get tired of hearing that this driver is the Next Greatest this or Next Greatest that just because they win a race. It is great to give a driver credit for a win but my God they go way overboard.
Posted by: Jon | Apr 2, 2005 8:19:11 AM
I think most people can relate to Junior. If
you go just on race results then it would be Gordon. But who can relate? I don't own a 100' yaght, or 3 homes, or a Ferrarri. According to Sports Illistrated, Jr. makes more money than Gordon, but he doesn't have that better than thou attitude. Jr. comes across as a small town guy that seems down to earth. I don't know either one of them, but to the average fan that is what they see.
Posted by: joe | Apr 2, 2005 8:38:18 AM
He's popular because of his name, and that's all I got to say about that!
Posted by: Kevin | Apr 2, 2005 9:00:03 AM
Kevin,
I seriously doubt you have a clue what most of juniors fans think. I became a fan of Kevin Harvick after Dale Sr died because he was chosen by Childress to drive the Goodwrench car. I became a Dale Jr. fan when he was in the Busch Series and I just follwed him into the Winston Cup Series.
Posted by: Jon | Apr 2, 2005 9:17:20 AM
2 reasons. His last name. Thats the BIG reason. After SR died people needed another driver to follow so they just went over to Jr. 2nd reason is b\c more people can relate to him. He is a guy who likes to go to clubs and likes to party alot more then some of the other drivers. Yes there are someother drivers who like party, Tony Stewart has been known to party pretty hard but you don't hear much about that like you do with Jr. Jr may not be the best driver out there but i just think more of the younger crowd can relate to him more then some of the other drivers.
Posted by: Melissa | Apr 2, 2005 9:19:32 AM
Like a lot of people are saying, Jr is so popular because he is someone that everyone can relate to. Like Joe said, he does not sit and talk about his three homes, and his ferrari. Junior is also a great driver, I don't think anybody can deny that. I know he has not won a championship and he has not done well this year (so far) but every team goes through a period where they dont do well so I don't see what the big deal is about that. As for Jr being shoved down our throats...what have people been reading/watching? Aside from the media mentioning how tragic this season is gonna be for him (after like 5 or 6 races)not much has been said. Personaly I am tired at having to listen to stuff about Jimmie Johnson...we get it, he is a good driver...move on.
Posted by: Angela | Apr 2, 2005 2:01:04 PM
Jon, you are correct, I don't have a clue what Jr. fans are thinking, cause I can not imagine why people think he is a great driver. I'm not saying he is not a good driver, but everyone in Nextel cup is a good driver.
Posted by: Kevin | Apr 2, 2005 4:14:07 PM
Kevin,
That is your opinion and you are entitled to your opinion. Just like I don't understand why people call Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon great drivers, they are part of really good teams and they have had luck go their way.
Posted by: Jon | Apr 2, 2005 4:38:01 PM
Most of the response in favor of Jr. is saying that he is more down to earth and can relate to the people more. Yeh his interviews suck and yeh he's not the best driver, but he doesnt boost or brag like some of the other drivers do. So why not vote for Kyle Petty or Kenny Wallace. Everyone likes those two guys. There good with interviews, they dont brag, and neither one of them can drive. So why not vote for them. Other people can relate to them and connect with them, so why Jr. There are other drivers that have the same type of good guy, down to earth personalities like Jr., but no one would vote for them. There is nothing Jr. can do to hurt his popularity.
Posted by: Trent | Apr 2, 2005 4:41:54 PM
I think Kenny Wallace has one of the best personalities in NASCAR but he hasn't had the success on the track that his brother Rusty has had.
I don't agree that Junior can't do anything to hurt his popularity, I think Junior is too smart to do what it would take to hurt his popularity. If he ever turned into a Jeff Gordon (arrogant, whiny baby that has to be in the limelight) he would lose many fans.
Posted by: Jon | Apr 2, 2005 5:26:36 PM
Trent, your jealousy of Dale Jr is really shining through..and it's not very becoming.
Posted by: Laura | Apr 2, 2005 5:44:46 PM
I think Kasey Kahne is much better than Dale Jr. and Kasey should win. otherwise Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Jamie McMurray, of Micheal Waltrip. Plus Dale Jr isnt even his real name. his real name is Ralph. What a puky name! Well that is my take
Posted by: Rachel | Apr 2, 2005 6:45:00 PM
Rachel...Kasey is better than Dale Jr? Junior won two races in his rookie season, plus The Winston. How many did Kasey win? I'll give you the Gordon's...but Jamie and Michael..PLEASE! Also, what the hell does Junior's name have to do with anything?!! I wish some people wouldn't just type the first bit of jibberish that pops in their head, without taking a minute to think about it first. I have to wonder sometimes about some people's intelligence, common sense, and reasoning.
Posted by: Laura | Apr 2, 2005 7:00:08 PM
Laura, before you cry any more take a minute to hear me out. I never said i didnt like jr., or made my self sound jealous of him. If you want the truth, I have actually started to like jr. since 2002 when Ryan out drove him to win the Winston. If it was any other driver behind us we might not have won 750,000 dollars that night. So stop trying to make me out as an Earnhardt hater. Do i think he is over rated, of course i do. Do i dislike him, not at all.
Posted by: Trent | Apr 2, 2005 7:49:10 PM
Trent,
Why do you think he is over rated and who is over rating him? I don't call a driver that finished 5th in points last year and has 15 wins in his first 5 seasons. Add to that 2 back to back Busch Series Championships.
Posted by: Jon | Apr 2, 2005 8:49:22 PM
Jr. has accomplished more than Newman yet you act like Newman is a better driver than Jr. People around the track say that Newman is only good when his car is great and is crap when his car is average. His record proves that. Take Harvick as a different example. His cars were crap all year last year and yet he still finished 14th with awful equipment. That's the sign of a talented driver. Newman is only as good as his car. That is the sign of a competent driver, not a really good one. Sounds like Trent is jealous that Jr. actually has a personality unlike that robot Newman. Could he be any more boring? I think not.
Posted by: Troy | Apr 2, 2005 9:14:39 PM
Jr. has done more than newman? yea right.. I remeber last year in vegas Jr's car sucked so he just pulled pits and quit. Any driver could win a restictor plate race in Jr's car.. atleast last year... the only thing JR has is his last name and Bud.. after all that.. he is just a common driver... not really that great.
Posted by: Bill | Apr 2, 2005 9:26:06 PM
Troy,
Ryan won rookie of the year, 8 races in one season, and he won a race with no power steering, I'd say that it's probably not just the car that is behind his successes. Anyway, I bet it'd be pretty hard to be in the top ten in points each season if you're just relying on good equipment rather than talent. Both Ryan and Junior included.
But as far as Ryan being a robot, he's just there to do a job and he's 100% focused on doing it the best he can; not doing interviews and such. Hardley makes him like a robot. Besides, I thought Kenseth was the robot... :)
Posted by: Stephanie | Apr 3, 2005 12:20:42 AM
I'm crying, Trent? Who's the one that started whining about Junior in the first place? I'm gonna send a little email to Jade Gurss and Mike Davis, to pass along word to Dale Jr that Trent Cherry thinks he's overrated and has been whining about it on the internet...I'm sure Junior could use a good laugh.
Posted by: Laura | Apr 3, 2005 6:58:10 AM
Trent, I'm with you entirely, but you're wasting your breath arguing with Jr. fanatics. They aren't subject to trivial, little things like reason and logic. :-D
Its just a given that when any fan poll has Jr. as an option Jr. will win. It doesn't matter if they were voting on who should run the t-shirt concession -- Jr. will win.
I don't understand it -- this 40yo married woman with a family and a college education doesn't relate well to a 30yo with a party lifestyle who can't complete a sentence without at least one "uh ... um" inserted -- but its just a fact of life at the moment.
Posted by: M. B. Voelker | Apr 3, 2005 7:45:59 AM
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