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January 21, 2007
Junior and (step)Mother Teresa
By DAVID GREEN
The saga of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s business and familial relationship with (step)Mother Teresa is all the rage nowadays, as online pundits and fulltime professionals from the conventional media alike do their best impersonations of National Enquirer reporters to provide sensational updates to a salivating public.
Junior should be pretty much accustomed to this sort of thing. After all, while many dismiss his talents as a racing driver, there's no denying his status as a bonafide pop-culture celebrity. And this is what happens to celebrities.
It's also nothing new for Junior to find himself in a controversial role. Ever since he stepped through the window of a short-track street stock, he has found himself scrutinized like few other drivers.
It's probably of little comfort to Junior, but as bizarre as his situation may seem, he's not the only one to have found himself in such a fix. About 28 years ago, a 19-year-old named Kyle Petty became the first third-generation, son-of-a-seven-time-champion to try to make it in NASCAR's big leagues.
Nitpickers will point out that King Richard had won only six of his seven Winston Cup titles when Kyle won that ARCA Daytona 200 in February 1979 and went on to compete in five Cup races. Still, the similarities between Kyle and Junior are obvious.
So, too, is the family racing team plot element. Not long after Kyle began driving Petty Enterprises cars, things began to come unraveled. First, cousin Dale Inman defected (in 1981) and in October 1983, there was the infamous 198th career victory for the King -- the one with the oversized engine and the left-side tires bolted onto the right side of the No. 43. In 1984, Richard would be driving for another team.
Now, Dale Earnhardt Inc. seems to have lost the magic that began to manifest itself when Michael Waltrip and Dale Jr. ran 1-2 in that fateful Daytona 500 in 2001. And surely there is no hotter rumor than the one about Junior leaving to drive somewhere else.
Yes, Petty Enterprises was a venerable, established team, while DEI is a relative upstart in comparison. But the internal strife, and the consequential effects on performance, would seem to be similar.
Both Junior and Kyle found themselves with unparalleled opportunities but also with impossible missions. There's no way either could hope to match their famous fathers' achievements.
Kyle, who always handled comparisons between himself and the King with grace, humor and humility, has found his own niche and his own purpose in life. Here's hoping Junior can, as well.
Of course, he may already have done so. But that wouldn't make for nearly as juicy subject matter, would it?
January 21, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
David: I think we thrive on the controversy.
When Kyle raced back then,he raced under a shadow,where his every move was questioned,by the press and fellow racers.
Jr has been under the huge media blitz that Nascar now enjoys,and that blitz includes a 24/7 following of his every move.
I think the media is playing a too big of a role in what is Jr and what is epected of him.
GREAT POST DAVID
Posted by: Trucker | Jan 21, 2007 11:58:32 AM
I think Junior has established himself quite well, and it is mostly his off-track persona that does it for him. After all, if he wins 75 races and six championships...which would be pretty darn good...he still wouldn't have achieved the success of his father. But he is already more popular than his father ever was, and his marketability (i.e. collectibles), has employed a lot of people.
I do have to take issue with a couple of your points though David. As far as DEI losing its magic, I don't know that they are any less successful than they were in 2001. Daytona was only one race and Junior has finished in the top ten every season since save for 2005. The organization hasn't been terrible and I saw a lot of improvement especially in the #1 team late last year.
The other minor issue is the idea of people dismissing Junior's driving talent. Do you think that's the case? His driving ability may not be proportionate to his popularity, but I don't think that there's any question that he is qualified to race with the best of the best. Just my opinion.
Posted by: Kurt Smith | Jan 21, 2007 9:11:26 PM
So true Richard Petty and Kyle Petty seemed to have made peace with it. Here is hoping that Teresa and Dale Jr can see eye to eye. I just don't think Dale Jr will every give up on being a racer and wanting that championship he is just too competitive and wants to race and be in contention for wins.
DEI has the bones of a much better company and has the resources yet needs the vision on the Motorsports side of things. Right now, if Pops, Steve Hmiel, or Richie had a stroke or had anything happen to them the company is not as deep as HMS to pick up and move on. I just feel they have spread themselves too thin and not covering all the bases.
The difference is that Dale Jr has not given up yet and has at least a decade of racing left. Just going through the paces to still have DEI out there to push Dale's Legacy is not enough. Its taken a long time for Petty Enterprises to finally invest and align themselves with the right partners to run consistently in the 20's every week.
Junior knows that to not perform no matter how much personality you have will over the long run lose you support. They have the ability to do it, I just cannot see him giving up. He has that fire and wants to be considered part of racings best when it is all said and done and leave his own legacy in racing and probably in business.
I am sure Dale Jr is not looking to match his fathers 7 championships but he believes he has got it in him to be a Nextel Champion. After seeing Mark Martin bow out without a championship in the Cup series I am sure he does not want to end his Cup career on the same note. His father cast a big shadow yet he loves racing, loves to compete and want to at least win a championship and be considered for the Hall of Fame.
I just felt that family pressures, and also lack of how to market their motorsport division and just poor overall vision and R&D management and keeping up with the changes killed Pettys growth.
Very few racers are business men and know how to keep up and continue to compete in the racing business year to year.
After starting out so successful with his fathers company I just dont think he will accept anything less since he is bringing in the lion share of the funds. It can be done RCR proved it. Just don't feel he will be satisfied being an also ran.
It is not all about the media. Teresa wants them to make do with what she gives them but in today's Nascar its not enough. The fans, employees, and the drivers want wins and expect DEI to be a top 5 company if they are not it will be very hard to keep the Legacy and get the funding for the Legacy as well as the Motorsport Division. It can be done with funding. Why did it have to take Nascar diagnosing the engine component and finding out there were at the bottom in horsepower for them to take action. Once again lack of vision and bad management, and/or NO R&D. When your drivers and crew chief and are complaining about horsepower for 2 year make an executive decision and find a way to get what they need or you can believe other organizations will. Its a balancing act.
Posted by: RaceFan4Life | Jan 22, 2007 2:43:46 AM
Very good comparrisons David between Kyle and Dale. I couldn't imagine living under the giant shadows cast over either one.
The media is just looking for something for something to serve up because there isn't much action on the track....yet.
COME ON SPEED WEEKS!!!
Posted by: Mark | Jan 22, 2007 8:09:55 AM
I'm going to try a different perspective here. Teresa and Sr. built DEI to what it is. Sr. is gone, and DEI is all she has left of him. I see alot of people bashing her on other blogs, but maybe she is a little bit right in her assessment. 2006 was the first year where Jr. actually showed some leadership when things were bad at the track, he matured alot. Maybe she wants to see that continue before she lets him have more control. She is the owner of the company, she has to write paychecks to alot of people, not just Jr. That being said, Jr. is the face of NASCAR, and him being at DEI helps pay alot of employees. I just know if I were Teresa, I would have had this conversation with Jr. behind closed doors where he could defend himself. He got the rights to his name last year, so maybe he'll get what he needs in this contract. Working for family is never easy, especially when you are in the spotlight.
Posted by: joe | Jan 22, 2007 11:30:12 AM
David, what a different "twist" on a subject that everyone knows about, even if you're not a NASCAR fan.
I was a fan 28 years ago, but since information was not as readily available back then as it is today, I only knew what I heard on MRN or a network telecast. I learned more once I subscribed to "Winston Cup Scene," but that wasn't until the 80's.
I remember Inman leaving, and I also believe Kyle was attempting a singing career. Guess Kyle's "public personality" wasn't as big as Jr.'s.
And for both to be following in their 7-time champion father's footsteps - didn't even think of that.
Great comparison, David. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Shirley | Jan 22, 2007 12:42:11 PM
I agree with Mark in some way, but the main Problem is,,,,Teresa is not much involved in DEI anymore, she is mostly worried about the Legacy & for Show, Not the Racing side. Jr & Kerry, Kelly & Taylor each only own 12% of DEI & Teresa 52%.She faught hand & foot NOT to have JR get the rights to his name.She lost.Now, if she would only realize, the money is, where JR is, she would be better off. Give the shop's what they need & get DEI on top again. There NEVER has been a good relationship there, so treat him fair & DEI will be OK. That's what they want & should have. Dale SR. would have wanted it that way too. Thanks.
Posted by: wildracer | Jan 22, 2007 1:18:18 PM
Thanks to everyone for your comments. There are some good thoughts by Joe and WildRacer, spot-on observations about the media by Trucker, Race4Life and Mark, and some kind words from my buddy Shirley, the Giddy Gator Gal herself.
Kurt, thanks for your input in the debate. My perception of DEI "losing its magic" is based on results of the past six seasons -- 18 victories by three different drivers from 2001 through 2004, with a high of six wins (all by Junior) in '04, but just a single victory in each of the past two seasons. Also, it wasn't that long ago that there was vitually no competition for the DEI cars in plate races; not so the past two seasons.
Through the years, I've been hearing a good bit of criticism of Junior and I still hear and see some of that. Personally, I think the kid has shown a lot better than average talent, with victories on a wide-ranging varieties of tracks. As you pointed out, he could be really, really, really good and still come out a distant second in a comparison to his old man.
Posted by: David Green | Jan 23, 2007 10:09:47 PM
Hey David,
Only your tight lugnuts getting in on this one. Is it possible to be Jr.'d-out before the season starts?
My step-mother said, it'll never work. And by gosh I BELIEVE her.
Have watched countless times for Dale Jr. to step on his tounge about a racing incident. Knowing then, I would have the reason needed to dislike him. Hasn't happend. Ditto Trucker's media comments.
Martin Truex was a few inches, hits & misses from a very good season. Paul Menard will do ok too.
Jr. may need to leave, so he can come back.
Posted by: Larry | Jan 24, 2007 7:49:26 PM
Junior winning 75 races? Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
Oh wait, with the new championship format, NASCAR may be able to manage to "give" him that many wins just to ensure he rises to the top of the points in the Chase. And after he receives the Lucky Dog to get back on the lead lap most every race because of debris cautions.
Posted by: Mary | Jan 25, 2007 10:04:07 AM
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