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NOT LIKE HIS DAD PART 1
Part I: A groove of his own: Junior faces difficult task in making a name for himself.
Roger Kuznia
The Sporting News
The first three years: Who's better?
It's a story Larry McReynolds remembers fondly. Nearly 2 1/2 years ago, a few minutes into the drivers' meeting at California Speedway, McReynolds sees Dale Earnhardt Jr., two or three days of scruff on his face, walk in wearing an untucked Budweiser T-shirt, a baseball cap on backward, baggy blue jeans and tennis shoes.
It's a humorous contrast to the business-casual attire in the room, most people wearing sponsor-emblazoned button-down shirts and khaki pants. McReynolds, then the crew chief for Mike Skinner and now a Fox analyst, remembers seeing the reactions of Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt Sr. as Junior walked to the front of the room and sat down. Wallace looked at Junior, then looked at Senior.
"Finally, Rusty asks Senior, 'Who the hell dresses that boy?'" McReynolds says. "And Senior kind of shook his head like 'Hey, there isn't a thing I can do about it.'"
Though Junior didn't inherit his father's style of dress, he did inherit his father's devoted legion of fans after Senior's death in the 2001 Daytona 500. Along with those fans came the expectations Junior would race as Senior did, displaying the beat-and-bang, do-everything-to-win style for which he became famous.
Most fans would love to see that happen, but Junior understands the irrepressible weight of replacing perhaps the sport's greatest driver and wants no part of it. Yes, he dresses differently and acts differently from his father, but this season he has shown that he also drives differently and still has a lot to learn. In fact, Junior says it's unfair to compare him with his father because Senior was so much better.
"I never told anybody that I was going to be as good as my dad," Junior says. "I've read that a lot, and I appreciate the comparisons, but that has a backlash when you don't run well every week. I just want to drive racecars and make a living doing it."
Junior and his No. 8 team expected to contend for this year's championship, but their performance has been inconsistent, and they face a finish outside the top 10 in points after an eighth-place finish last year. Amid that disappointment, there have been two clear illustrations of how Junior's on-track identity differs from his father's.
First, rewind to May and the final laps of The Winston, the all-star race Junior won as a rookie in 2000. After taking two tires during the final caution period, Junior reeled in race leader Ryan Newman with two laps left. To Junior and the rest of America, it's clear what his dad would have done next -- Senior would have employed his might-makes-right tactics and found a way to victory lane, whether that meant getting a fender underneath Newman to make the pass or wrecking him altogether.
But Junior didn't imitate The Intimidator, to the surprise of many. Junior did make contact with Newman's car but backed off to avoid wrecking him. The No. 8 car finished second after Newman made an incredible save.
"I can't sit here and say I was thinking he was going to wreck Ryan, but I definitely thought he was going to lay on him pretty hard and get him out of shape," McReynolds says. "I guess I was a little surprised that didn't happen, but I think that's another verification of the level of maturity Dale Earnhardt Jr. has reached."
Junior didn't back off to make a statement about stepping outside of his father's shadow; it was just a split-second decision. Though he didn't win, he harbors no regrets about the way things turned out.
"We could do it five times and could've had five different endings," Junior says. "I could've wrecked him. I could've wrecked us both. I could've wrecked myself. It was tough because there was an awful lot of money on the line, and it's always one hell of a celebration to win that race."
Benny Parsons, who was the 1973 Winston Cup champion and is now an analyst for NBC, says Junior's behavior wasn't all that surprising.
"I've watched Junior the last three years, and that just isn't him," Parsons says. "I think he wants to win. Does he want to win as badly as his father? Yeah, probably. But I've never seen the evidence of him going to any extreme to win."
Either way, the level of aggression when it comes to passing drivers is the biggest difference between father and son. Bill Elliott, who has raced against both Earnhardts, says the two drivers have reflected the attitude of their respective eras.
"Dale Jr. is an aggressive driver, and so was his dad," Elliott says. "His dad came up in a different era. His dad always wanted to intimidate everybody. He gained that edge just from intimidation. If you're the guy looking in the mirror in front of Earnhardt, you're thinking, 'What's he going to do?' Where, in today's environment, if that gets out of hand, (NASCAR puts) a stop to that. So to me, it's a different era.
"(Junior is) a great, aggressive driver as far as I'm concerned. I've watched him mature over the last six months or year or so. He's starting to be aggressive when he needs to and be that much calmer when he don't."
Ken Schrader says Junior picks his spots.
"He's actually more calculated than I thought he'd be," Schrader says. "He's aggressive when it's time to be aggressive."
Roger Kuznia
The Sporting News
The first three years: Who's better?
It's a story Larry McReynolds remembers fondly. Nearly 2 1/2 years ago, a few minutes into the drivers' meeting at California Speedway, McReynolds sees Dale Earnhardt Jr., two or three days of scruff on his face, walk in wearing an untucked Budweiser T-shirt, a baseball cap on backward, baggy blue jeans and tennis shoes.
It's a humorous contrast to the business-casual attire in the room, most people wearing sponsor-emblazoned button-down shirts and khaki pants. McReynolds, then the crew chief for Mike Skinner and now a Fox analyst, remembers seeing the reactions of Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt Sr. as Junior walked to the front of the room and sat down. Wallace looked at Junior, then looked at Senior.
"Finally, Rusty asks Senior, 'Who the hell dresses that boy?'" McReynolds says. "And Senior kind of shook his head like 'Hey, there isn't a thing I can do about it.'"
Though Junior didn't inherit his father's style of dress, he did inherit his father's devoted legion of fans after Senior's death in the 2001 Daytona 500. Along with those fans came the expectations Junior would race as Senior did, displaying the beat-and-bang, do-everything-to-win style for which he became famous.
Most fans would love to see that happen, but Junior understands the irrepressible weight of replacing perhaps the sport's greatest driver and wants no part of it. Yes, he dresses differently and acts differently from his father, but this season he has shown that he also drives differently and still has a lot to learn. In fact, Junior says it's unfair to compare him with his father because Senior was so much better.
"I never told anybody that I was going to be as good as my dad," Junior says. "I've read that a lot, and I appreciate the comparisons, but that has a backlash when you don't run well every week. I just want to drive racecars and make a living doing it."
Junior and his No. 8 team expected to contend for this year's championship, but their performance has been inconsistent, and they face a finish outside the top 10 in points after an eighth-place finish last year. Amid that disappointment, there have been two clear illustrations of how Junior's on-track identity differs from his father's.
First, rewind to May and the final laps of The Winston, the all-star race Junior won as a rookie in 2000. After taking two tires during the final caution period, Junior reeled in race leader Ryan Newman with two laps left. To Junior and the rest of America, it's clear what his dad would have done next -- Senior would have employed his might-makes-right tactics and found a way to victory lane, whether that meant getting a fender underneath Newman to make the pass or wrecking him altogether.
But Junior didn't imitate The Intimidator, to the surprise of many. Junior did make contact with Newman's car but backed off to avoid wrecking him. The No. 8 car finished second after Newman made an incredible save.
"I can't sit here and say I was thinking he was going to wreck Ryan, but I definitely thought he was going to lay on him pretty hard and get him out of shape," McReynolds says. "I guess I was a little surprised that didn't happen, but I think that's another verification of the level of maturity Dale Earnhardt Jr. has reached."
Junior didn't back off to make a statement about stepping outside of his father's shadow; it was just a split-second decision. Though he didn't win, he harbors no regrets about the way things turned out.
"We could do it five times and could've had five different endings," Junior says. "I could've wrecked him. I could've wrecked us both. I could've wrecked myself. It was tough because there was an awful lot of money on the line, and it's always one hell of a celebration to win that race."
Benny Parsons, who was the 1973 Winston Cup champion and is now an analyst for NBC, says Junior's behavior wasn't all that surprising.
"I've watched Junior the last three years, and that just isn't him," Parsons says. "I think he wants to win. Does he want to win as badly as his father? Yeah, probably. But I've never seen the evidence of him going to any extreme to win."
Either way, the level of aggression when it comes to passing drivers is the biggest difference between father and son. Bill Elliott, who has raced against both Earnhardts, says the two drivers have reflected the attitude of their respective eras.
"Dale Jr. is an aggressive driver, and so was his dad," Elliott says. "His dad came up in a different era. His dad always wanted to intimidate everybody. He gained that edge just from intimidation. If you're the guy looking in the mirror in front of Earnhardt, you're thinking, 'What's he going to do?' Where, in today's environment, if that gets out of hand, (NASCAR puts) a stop to that. So to me, it's a different era.
"(Junior is) a great, aggressive driver as far as I'm concerned. I've watched him mature over the last six months or year or so. He's starting to be aggressive when he needs to and be that much calmer when he don't."
Ken Schrader says Junior picks his spots.
"He's actually more calculated than I thought he'd be," Schrader says. "He's aggressive when it's time to be aggressive."
Don't hate Dale just because he's beautiful
Folks, I'm as bewildered as Larry McReynolds in a speech class at present.
Marty Smith
Of the numerous stories produced by the season's first two weeks, one intrigues me like none other. It suggests that the stars are whacked plumb out of line, that the devil has purchased a pair of ice skates and that Babe the pig is soon to zoom by outside my airplane window:
Suddenly, it seems many NASCAR fans feel Dale Earnhardt Jr. is over-commercialized, that his on-track performance simply doesn't justify the hype surrounding his life and career.
Hence, the haters have a new target. One of the hottest commodities in the history of the sport has naysayers -- and not just a few, either.
In the minds of some, Junior has become the Creed of NASCAR.
Translation for those not stuck in 1987: Creed was an obscure Tallahassee, Fla., alt/rock band that hit it big at the turn of the millennium, only to have mainstream radio spin their music so often that it became akin to scratching fingernails down a chalkboard for anyone but die-hard fans.
In like manner, the saturation of Junior-related topics in industry media outlets has turned some former allies against him.
Hear this, loud and clear: I am not one of those people, so don't go getting your tighty whities all in a bunch.
To steal a line from my former colleague: Mo' Earnhardt is mo' better. Trying to convince me otherwise would be like persuading Jimmy Spencer to put down a Moon Pie.
In a world of sponsorship-driven, politically correct fluff that makes us all want to gag, Earnhardt sticks to his guns and speaks his mind, consequences be damned.
In a sport that depends on money like none other, his celebrity draws attention from major corporations who had never heard of NASCAR before they saw Junior in Rolling Stone or tooling around his house on MTV.
He's simply good for NASCAR, especially as the sanctioning body continues to chart new waters in an attempt to grow the sport.
Don't believe me? Ask them:
"I think Dale Jr. is one of the most refreshing things that's happened to NASCAR in years and years," said Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president for corporate communications. "I think people might be prone to expect too much of him, too soon.
"I think his real fans and the people how really know him, know he hasn't been racing on these superspeedways that long. I think people have such great expectations out of Dale Jr. that if he doesn't win, they're disappointed.
"That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's not realistic. He's still learning his way around a lot of these tracks, and as most veterans will tell you, it takes a while.
"In the mean time, I think his popularity is absolutely great for the sport, because he has a popularity that not that many of our drivers achieve. He has connected with the fans. I'd say his detractors are probably fans of other drivers."
Certainly so. I can understand why the Mark Martin and Dale Jarrett and Bill Elliott fans out there are tired of seeing, hearing and reading about Junior. Your drivers have paid decades of dues and are out-performing him on the racetrack, but he continues to excel commercially.
Why aren't they in the headlines? Because they're not rock stars, that's why.
It's not Junior's fault Drakkar sought him out and made him look like James Dean in every magazine from here to Bangor, Maine. It's not his fault Playboy dialed him up and asked him he'd like to photograph a trio of identical centerfold sisters.
That said, I feared the backlash. Earnhardt has come so far, so fast, without consistent success behind the wheel of a race car. Most say it's because of his name, that he's ridden his daddy's coattails to fame, that he wouldn't even be in Winston Cup if not for a legendary surname.
If I didn't have it in writing, I wouldn't believe it. For years, any time the subject of my rant turned to Junior, my email inbox was flooded with "atta boys" and "hell yeahs" and "you're the only one who gets it."
Word. I still get it. Here's your proof:
Currently, I am squished into an airplane seat like toothpaste in a tube en route to Vegas, alongside some guy spouting eternal to a pretty lady in the window seat to be certain to catch her shows early in the week, "before all the rednecks show up."
Then, he turns to me and sees the image of Ryan Newman's horrific accident at Daytona that serves as my computer's desktop wallpaper. After his face turned 14 shades of red, he looked at me and said, "Sorry, man. I don't know anything about NASCAR except Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr."
Enough said, buddy.
Marty Smith
Of the numerous stories produced by the season's first two weeks, one intrigues me like none other. It suggests that the stars are whacked plumb out of line, that the devil has purchased a pair of ice skates and that Babe the pig is soon to zoom by outside my airplane window:
Suddenly, it seems many NASCAR fans feel Dale Earnhardt Jr. is over-commercialized, that his on-track performance simply doesn't justify the hype surrounding his life and career.
Hence, the haters have a new target. One of the hottest commodities in the history of the sport has naysayers -- and not just a few, either.
In the minds of some, Junior has become the Creed of NASCAR.
Translation for those not stuck in 1987: Creed was an obscure Tallahassee, Fla., alt/rock band that hit it big at the turn of the millennium, only to have mainstream radio spin their music so often that it became akin to scratching fingernails down a chalkboard for anyone but die-hard fans.
In like manner, the saturation of Junior-related topics in industry media outlets has turned some former allies against him.
Hear this, loud and clear: I am not one of those people, so don't go getting your tighty whities all in a bunch.
To steal a line from my former colleague: Mo' Earnhardt is mo' better. Trying to convince me otherwise would be like persuading Jimmy Spencer to put down a Moon Pie.
In a world of sponsorship-driven, politically correct fluff that makes us all want to gag, Earnhardt sticks to his guns and speaks his mind, consequences be damned.
In a sport that depends on money like none other, his celebrity draws attention from major corporations who had never heard of NASCAR before they saw Junior in Rolling Stone or tooling around his house on MTV.
He's simply good for NASCAR, especially as the sanctioning body continues to chart new waters in an attempt to grow the sport.
Don't believe me? Ask them:
"I think Dale Jr. is one of the most refreshing things that's happened to NASCAR in years and years," said Jim Hunter, NASCAR vice president for corporate communications. "I think people might be prone to expect too much of him, too soon.
"I think his real fans and the people how really know him, know he hasn't been racing on these superspeedways that long. I think people have such great expectations out of Dale Jr. that if he doesn't win, they're disappointed.
"That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's not realistic. He's still learning his way around a lot of these tracks, and as most veterans will tell you, it takes a while.
"In the mean time, I think his popularity is absolutely great for the sport, because he has a popularity that not that many of our drivers achieve. He has connected with the fans. I'd say his detractors are probably fans of other drivers."
Certainly so. I can understand why the Mark Martin and Dale Jarrett and Bill Elliott fans out there are tired of seeing, hearing and reading about Junior. Your drivers have paid decades of dues and are out-performing him on the racetrack, but he continues to excel commercially.
Why aren't they in the headlines? Because they're not rock stars, that's why.
It's not Junior's fault Drakkar sought him out and made him look like James Dean in every magazine from here to Bangor, Maine. It's not his fault Playboy dialed him up and asked him he'd like to photograph a trio of identical centerfold sisters.
That said, I feared the backlash. Earnhardt has come so far, so fast, without consistent success behind the wheel of a race car. Most say it's because of his name, that he's ridden his daddy's coattails to fame, that he wouldn't even be in Winston Cup if not for a legendary surname.
If I didn't have it in writing, I wouldn't believe it. For years, any time the subject of my rant turned to Junior, my email inbox was flooded with "atta boys" and "hell yeahs" and "you're the only one who gets it."
Word. I still get it. Here's your proof:
Currently, I am squished into an airplane seat like toothpaste in a tube en route to Vegas, alongside some guy spouting eternal to a pretty lady in the window seat to be certain to catch her shows early in the week, "before all the rednecks show up."
Then, he turns to me and sees the image of Ryan Newman's horrific accident at Daytona that serves as my computer's desktop wallpaper. After his face turned 14 shades of red, he looked at me and said, "Sorry, man. I don't know anything about NASCAR except Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr."
Enough said, buddy.
LETTER TO TERESA EARNHARDT
Dear Mrs. Earnhardt,
Since it is the holiday season, I thought would take a moment to spread a little holiday cheer on behalf of Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans everywhere. As your recent comments in the Wall Street Journal can attest, holiday cheer is something we're in short supply of these days. So here goes.
Let me start by offering a word of congratulations. Yes that's right.congratulations. When Dale Sr. was killed at Daytona nearly 6 years ago, this wasn't what you had bargained for either, when the company the two of you had built together was dropped into your lap to run. And while Nascar fans lost a hero, we shouldn't forget that you lost a husband and a father for your daughter.
Since that time, DEI has continued to have success. Despite the absence of a Nextel Cup Championship, fans need to remember that there have been back to back Busch Championships courtesy of Martin Truex Jr., 2 more Daytona 500 wins, and 18 Nextel Cup victories (15 from Dale Jr.) in total. You had the guts to part ways with Michael Waltrip at the right time, bring Dale Jr. and Tony Eury Jr. back together, and you currently have three of the most talented drivers in the sport in the DEI stable---with the 2007 addition of Paul Menard providing the perfect compliment to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. In addition, you have created a company that has been faithful to family, something the sport was built on.
Now the critics will say that you have been an absentee owner----the least present in the entire sport. But I am going to take your side here. If you were on the pit box at every race, chances are the criticism would be greater. They'd be licking their chops to ask what you know about pit calls, horsepower, or race trim setups. And I admire the way you've removed yourself from the areas of the business that aren't your expertise inorder to leave the racing details to Richie Gilmore, Tony Eury Sr. and Jr., and technical director Steve Hmiel. This is to your credit not your detriment and you should really be commended for it.
However, earlier this month, you stopped me in my tracks with your biting comments in the Wall Street Journal that questioned the commitment of your stepson Dale Earnhardt Jr., who remains unsigned by DEI following the expiration of his contract at the end of 2007. Despite rumors of a "strained" or sometimes "icy" relationship, I still needed to read and re-read the comments to be sure I wasn't missing something. And sure enough, there were those words, "Right now the ball's in his court to decide on whether he wants to be a NASCAR driver or whether he wants to be a public personality" in plain view! In the recent weeks, your comments have been called everything from "wicked" to "silly", but I am more "puzzled" than anything else regarding why on earth you would take this opportunity to spar publicly with the most successful driver in your company's history, who also happens to be the most popular driver in motorsports and DEI's most important asset.
First off, there is some humor here that shouldn't go unnoticed, and it's quite funny to imagine that you thought you might be able to hire an executive from the entertainment industry (in order to help diversify DEI) and criticize Dale Jr. for his interests and endeavors outside of driving in the same moment. A headline might read-----DEI hires Music Executive Requests Dale Junior Focus Solely on Driving a Race Car? The irony is deafening.
But mostly, I was shocked with the questioning of Dale Jr.'s commitment. For those of us who have been following Dale Jr. since the beginning of his career, this seemed particularly perplexing. This wasn't the season that saw him finish 19th in points or appear disheartened withsub-par race cars. In fact, 2007 appeared to be the season that birthed the most fiercely passionate and dedicated driver of the #8 we have seen to date. From battling back at Martinsville and Charlotte to driving with the flu at Texas and Darlington to wrestling that car with no tires at Atlanta to out duel Matt Kenseth, Junior's drive to earn DEI its first Nextel Cup appeared stronger than ever before. Moreover, Dale Jr. spent more laps on the lead lap than any driver on the circuit this year, and only Jimmie Johnson passed more race cars -----which are hardlysigns of a driver who is lacking in commitment. All of this coupled with the company's apparent restrictor plate resurgence, top 5 finish in the points, and the reunion with cousin Tony Eury Jr. pointed toward the most promising year in the organization's history in 2007. That is until you sucked the air out of the balloon. And the question is simple why?
If it isn't Dale Jr.'s performance on the track, and it isn't related to sponsors (Budweiser was proven to receive more corporate value for their support of Dale Jr. than any sponsor in all of Nascar) off the track, the origin of these comments can only point me to one
conclusion, and it's terribly disappointing. I have done my best to steer my mind away from it, but it now seems inevitable. It has to be jealousy plain and simple.
While Dale Jr. has asserted himself on the track, 2006 will also be the year that Junior really became an independent adult. It all started when he finally earned the rights to his own name, becoming the very last driver in Nascar to do so after a lengthy battle with you. Of course, this is more complicated since he shares the name with his father, and I understand why you are protective of Dale Sr.'s trademark, butit is hard not to understand why Dale Jr. would covet that same opportunity that has been afforded to his peers on the circuit.
This has led to other Junior inspired projects away from DEI like the TV show Back in the Day, his XM Radio Show, the announcement of the $600 million dollar racing complex in Alabama, and the growth of JR Motorsports. And all I can think of is that you want a piece of that pie and are bitter that you aren't getting it.
What is so strange is that Junior is hardly the first driver to branch out from behind the wheel. In fact, Michael Waltrip, Carl Edwards, and Elliot Sadler have regular TV gigs far more time consuming. Cup Champions Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson have weekly radio shows. Many drivers own race tracks. And Kevin Harvick has a thriving Motorsports division separate from RCR. Even more ironic is the fact that Junior appears to be doing exactly what Dale Sr. did with you at his side-----drive his tail off for one organization while simultaneously building his own company side by side. So why the fighting words? Is this just frustration about a contract that remains unsigned?
Contrary to popular belief, I don't think most fans want Dale Jr. to leave DEI. We know he might currently find stronger cars at RCR or deeper pockets at Joe Gibbs Racing, but we haven't forgotten that this was the company the Intimidator built. We still know it is the place that bears his family name, which employs countless relatives, and that the company logo still blazes with the Man in Black thrusting his fists into the air. And while we desperately want to see Dale Jr. hoist that Nextel Cup trophy, we would prefer to see him hoist it here---above the Red Budweiser#8, alongside the Eurys, with Jeff Clark holding the gas can and Steve Hmiel yapping in his ear.
Last week, you plainly stated that the ball is in his court, but that's just a clever play on words. The ball is, of course, in your court, and now more than ever. For starters, it is in your court to, most likely, apologize for your insensitive and baffling remarks and make sure that the Dale Jr. feels coveted by DEI, not the other way around. Dale Jr. has taken the high road in public, but you can be sure the weight of your comments did not fall upon deaf ears.
But it is much more than that. More than anything, the ball is in your court to make sure that DEI has the power under the hood to give its drivers a chance to compete with Hendrick, Rousch, and Gibbs. It is in your court to be sure that DEI has the resources to hire the best personnel to lend to research and the best mechanics to turn those wrenches underneath the cars. And of course, as your last hire suggests, it is in your court to hire top flight executives to help market the DEI brand.
And finally, it is in your court to make certain that DEI's overall commitment to winning is as great as the commitment demonstrated in 2006 by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the entire Budweiser team. Because, if you take the Earnhardt out of DEI it is hard to imagine what's left.
Sincerely,
David Joseph
Since it is the holiday season, I thought would take a moment to spread a little holiday cheer on behalf of Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans everywhere. As your recent comments in the Wall Street Journal can attest, holiday cheer is something we're in short supply of these days. So here goes.
Let me start by offering a word of congratulations. Yes that's right.congratulations. When Dale Sr. was killed at Daytona nearly 6 years ago, this wasn't what you had bargained for either, when the company the two of you had built together was dropped into your lap to run. And while Nascar fans lost a hero, we shouldn't forget that you lost a husband and a father for your daughter.
Since that time, DEI has continued to have success. Despite the absence of a Nextel Cup Championship, fans need to remember that there have been back to back Busch Championships courtesy of Martin Truex Jr., 2 more Daytona 500 wins, and 18 Nextel Cup victories (15 from Dale Jr.) in total. You had the guts to part ways with Michael Waltrip at the right time, bring Dale Jr. and Tony Eury Jr. back together, and you currently have three of the most talented drivers in the sport in the DEI stable---with the 2007 addition of Paul Menard providing the perfect compliment to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Martin Truex Jr. In addition, you have created a company that has been faithful to family, something the sport was built on.
Now the critics will say that you have been an absentee owner----the least present in the entire sport. But I am going to take your side here. If you were on the pit box at every race, chances are the criticism would be greater. They'd be licking their chops to ask what you know about pit calls, horsepower, or race trim setups. And I admire the way you've removed yourself from the areas of the business that aren't your expertise inorder to leave the racing details to Richie Gilmore, Tony Eury Sr. and Jr., and technical director Steve Hmiel. This is to your credit not your detriment and you should really be commended for it.
However, earlier this month, you stopped me in my tracks with your biting comments in the Wall Street Journal that questioned the commitment of your stepson Dale Earnhardt Jr., who remains unsigned by DEI following the expiration of his contract at the end of 2007. Despite rumors of a "strained" or sometimes "icy" relationship, I still needed to read and re-read the comments to be sure I wasn't missing something. And sure enough, there were those words, "Right now the ball's in his court to decide on whether he wants to be a NASCAR driver or whether he wants to be a public personality" in plain view! In the recent weeks, your comments have been called everything from "wicked" to "silly", but I am more "puzzled" than anything else regarding why on earth you would take this opportunity to spar publicly with the most successful driver in your company's history, who also happens to be the most popular driver in motorsports and DEI's most important asset.
First off, there is some humor here that shouldn't go unnoticed, and it's quite funny to imagine that you thought you might be able to hire an executive from the entertainment industry (in order to help diversify DEI) and criticize Dale Jr. for his interests and endeavors outside of driving in the same moment. A headline might read-----DEI hires Music Executive Requests Dale Junior Focus Solely on Driving a Race Car? The irony is deafening.
But mostly, I was shocked with the questioning of Dale Jr.'s commitment. For those of us who have been following Dale Jr. since the beginning of his career, this seemed particularly perplexing. This wasn't the season that saw him finish 19th in points or appear disheartened withsub-par race cars. In fact, 2007 appeared to be the season that birthed the most fiercely passionate and dedicated driver of the #8 we have seen to date. From battling back at Martinsville and Charlotte to driving with the flu at Texas and Darlington to wrestling that car with no tires at Atlanta to out duel Matt Kenseth, Junior's drive to earn DEI its first Nextel Cup appeared stronger than ever before. Moreover, Dale Jr. spent more laps on the lead lap than any driver on the circuit this year, and only Jimmie Johnson passed more race cars -----which are hardlysigns of a driver who is lacking in commitment. All of this coupled with the company's apparent restrictor plate resurgence, top 5 finish in the points, and the reunion with cousin Tony Eury Jr. pointed toward the most promising year in the organization's history in 2007. That is until you sucked the air out of the balloon. And the question is simple why?
If it isn't Dale Jr.'s performance on the track, and it isn't related to sponsors (Budweiser was proven to receive more corporate value for their support of Dale Jr. than any sponsor in all of Nascar) off the track, the origin of these comments can only point me to one
conclusion, and it's terribly disappointing. I have done my best to steer my mind away from it, but it now seems inevitable. It has to be jealousy plain and simple.
While Dale Jr. has asserted himself on the track, 2006 will also be the year that Junior really became an independent adult. It all started when he finally earned the rights to his own name, becoming the very last driver in Nascar to do so after a lengthy battle with you. Of course, this is more complicated since he shares the name with his father, and I understand why you are protective of Dale Sr.'s trademark, butit is hard not to understand why Dale Jr. would covet that same opportunity that has been afforded to his peers on the circuit.
This has led to other Junior inspired projects away from DEI like the TV show Back in the Day, his XM Radio Show, the announcement of the $600 million dollar racing complex in Alabama, and the growth of JR Motorsports. And all I can think of is that you want a piece of that pie and are bitter that you aren't getting it.
What is so strange is that Junior is hardly the first driver to branch out from behind the wheel. In fact, Michael Waltrip, Carl Edwards, and Elliot Sadler have regular TV gigs far more time consuming. Cup Champions Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson have weekly radio shows. Many drivers own race tracks. And Kevin Harvick has a thriving Motorsports division separate from RCR. Even more ironic is the fact that Junior appears to be doing exactly what Dale Sr. did with you at his side-----drive his tail off for one organization while simultaneously building his own company side by side. So why the fighting words? Is this just frustration about a contract that remains unsigned?
Contrary to popular belief, I don't think most fans want Dale Jr. to leave DEI. We know he might currently find stronger cars at RCR or deeper pockets at Joe Gibbs Racing, but we haven't forgotten that this was the company the Intimidator built. We still know it is the place that bears his family name, which employs countless relatives, and that the company logo still blazes with the Man in Black thrusting his fists into the air. And while we desperately want to see Dale Jr. hoist that Nextel Cup trophy, we would prefer to see him hoist it here---above the Red Budweiser#8, alongside the Eurys, with Jeff Clark holding the gas can and Steve Hmiel yapping in his ear.
Last week, you plainly stated that the ball is in his court, but that's just a clever play on words. The ball is, of course, in your court, and now more than ever. For starters, it is in your court to, most likely, apologize for your insensitive and baffling remarks and make sure that the Dale Jr. feels coveted by DEI, not the other way around. Dale Jr. has taken the high road in public, but you can be sure the weight of your comments did not fall upon deaf ears.
But it is much more than that. More than anything, the ball is in your court to make sure that DEI has the power under the hood to give its drivers a chance to compete with Hendrick, Rousch, and Gibbs. It is in your court to be sure that DEI has the resources to hire the best personnel to lend to research and the best mechanics to turn those wrenches underneath the cars. And of course, as your last hire suggests, it is in your court to hire top flight executives to help market the DEI brand.
And finally, it is in your court to make certain that DEI's overall commitment to winning is as great as the commitment demonstrated in 2006 by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the entire Budweiser team. Because, if you take the Earnhardt out of DEI it is hard to imagine what's left.
Sincerely,
David Joseph
The Victory Lap
The Victory Lap
By Lisa Matthis
It's been a long time, since, we last saw that famous car in black,
It was an emotional time for everyone, seeing the 3 back on the track..
I never got to see Dale race, live from up in the stands..
But it was a truly an amazing site to see, pure emotion from the fans.
With your friend Richard behind the wheel, taking it around for three,
To celebrate your Winston Cup Championships, for a final lap of victory
Even did a few burnouts on the front stretch, which, I know you wouldn't do.
But it got a reaction from the crowd, when the smoke came into view.
Under the lights at your home track, an amazing thing occurred
Everyone became a fan of yours, not a single boo was heard.
I shed a tear, with a smile on my face, pure emotion deep in my heart.
As I watched your son, not far behind, continuing to do his part.
Of keeping the tradition of racing alive, in this famous family
The desire is deep, there's fire in his eyes, a Champion we know he'll be.
For the father and son I cheered, together, as the moment went way to fast
His memory lives forever within me, and that night will be in my heart, to last.
The Days of Beer and RoseBuds
The days of wine and roses is an old expression referring to the good times of the past. As I sat watching qualifying today, I reflected on the many good times that the DEI boys have had in the past. Dale, Jr.'s Pepsi 400 win, Michael Waltrip's Daytona 500 wins, Dale Jr.'s 4 wins at Talladega, Michael Waltrip's win at Talladega and popping out of the roof hatch of his Napa Chevy. Notice the theme of the wins here, all restrictor plate track wins. The dynamic duo of DEI were pretty much untouchable when they were hooked up in the draft for a few years. You could even hear the other teams talking on the radio to "block them from hookin' up!" It was well known that the crown prince of plate racing and his dapper Napa sidekick were usually the class of the field, and lessons would be taught. DEI had raised the bar at the plate tracks and the others in NASCAR's premium series were out to go back to school and try to beat the heads of the class.
The pride of the garage mahal was the engine program, headed by Richie Gilmore. Gilmore and his team of motormen (and women) built an engine that not only purred, but was a horsepower producing dream, even with the air that it breathed being restricted. Couple those awesome power plants with the innate and learned abilities of Dale, Jr. and you had a winning combination. There is nothing more exciting to watch than Dale, Jr. pulling out of the draft and passing on his own, sling shotting the competition and making them wonder how he could do that.
Gilmore and the DEI motor department didn't do it all alone. The RAD program, a joint effort of DEI, RCR and Andy Petree Racing was developed from the friendship of the owners of all three race teams. This program worked on those very power plants that made their Chevy's fast. Very, very fast. With the tragic loss of Dale Earnhardt, the program soon after died out, and they all were left to their own devices to build on. Gilmore led the way, obviously, with Jr. and Mikey's successes over the last couple of years.
But today, watching qualifying, and thinking about the things I've seen from pre-season thunder and practicing for the 500 and the Budweiser Shootout, I got to thinking. The defending Daytona 500 champ and the two-time champ struggled. Their practice times showed it. Dale, Jr.'s shootout car wasn't that fast in practice, but drafted well. In the race he had problems, electrical in nature, later to be found out it was a motor problem involving a pesky plug. Today in qualifying, he ended up the worst placing DEI performer, with Michael not too far ahead of him and Martin Truex, Jr. ending up the best of the DEI entries. His most recent interviews have been positive and upbeat. His comments mainly stating that his cars are good in racing and handling, and even better in the draft. He stated before the weekend even began that he "didn't expect to qualify well, but felt strong that the car would race well. We'll just come from the back, eventually," he stated with that classic grin, then adding something about the motor just not seeming to pull the horses it usually did. Has DEI's program really slipped, or have the other teams just met their match?
Has Gilmore's promotion hurt the motor building program or are they still on the same page they have been for years. I can't say that before the first race of the season, I'm ready to throw in the towel, like I've seen some folks out there talking about. I also don't believe that the performance today has anything to do with the driver swap. You knew that it was inevitable, the others would graduate to the level of Gilmore's gang eventually.
In all of this wondering, there is one thing I have noticed that is certain. Dale seems relaxed. His interviews are light hearted, he's chewing gum, smiling and talkative. He seems confident in his new team and crew chief. After all, he did win at Bristol with Pete. He may not win the 500 this year. He may not win a race for a few months. But I believe that he will be consistent, and he will be a "Chase" contender, and by then, the team will have their Bud's lined up in a row and be ready to roll.
The equation may be a bit complicated right now, but the answer will be simple. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will be a winner, a contender and eventually a champion, in due time. And as far as his true fans are concerned, we are like his sponsor. True.
Until next time, go fast, turn left, stay safe, and keep the shiny side up.
The pride of the garage mahal was the engine program, headed by Richie Gilmore. Gilmore and his team of motormen (and women) built an engine that not only purred, but was a horsepower producing dream, even with the air that it breathed being restricted. Couple those awesome power plants with the innate and learned abilities of Dale, Jr. and you had a winning combination. There is nothing more exciting to watch than Dale, Jr. pulling out of the draft and passing on his own, sling shotting the competition and making them wonder how he could do that.
Gilmore and the DEI motor department didn't do it all alone. The RAD program, a joint effort of DEI, RCR and Andy Petree Racing was developed from the friendship of the owners of all three race teams. This program worked on those very power plants that made their Chevy's fast. Very, very fast. With the tragic loss of Dale Earnhardt, the program soon after died out, and they all were left to their own devices to build on. Gilmore led the way, obviously, with Jr. and Mikey's successes over the last couple of years.
But today, watching qualifying, and thinking about the things I've seen from pre-season thunder and practicing for the 500 and the Budweiser Shootout, I got to thinking. The defending Daytona 500 champ and the two-time champ struggled. Their practice times showed it. Dale, Jr.'s shootout car wasn't that fast in practice, but drafted well. In the race he had problems, electrical in nature, later to be found out it was a motor problem involving a pesky plug. Today in qualifying, he ended up the worst placing DEI performer, with Michael not too far ahead of him and Martin Truex, Jr. ending up the best of the DEI entries. His most recent interviews have been positive and upbeat. His comments mainly stating that his cars are good in racing and handling, and even better in the draft. He stated before the weekend even began that he "didn't expect to qualify well, but felt strong that the car would race well. We'll just come from the back, eventually," he stated with that classic grin, then adding something about the motor just not seeming to pull the horses it usually did. Has DEI's program really slipped, or have the other teams just met their match?
Has Gilmore's promotion hurt the motor building program or are they still on the same page they have been for years. I can't say that before the first race of the season, I'm ready to throw in the towel, like I've seen some folks out there talking about. I also don't believe that the performance today has anything to do with the driver swap. You knew that it was inevitable, the others would graduate to the level of Gilmore's gang eventually.
In all of this wondering, there is one thing I have noticed that is certain. Dale seems relaxed. His interviews are light hearted, he's chewing gum, smiling and talkative. He seems confident in his new team and crew chief. After all, he did win at Bristol with Pete. He may not win the 500 this year. He may not win a race for a few months. But I believe that he will be consistent, and he will be a "Chase" contender, and by then, the team will have their Bud's lined up in a row and be ready to roll.
The equation may be a bit complicated right now, but the answer will be simple. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will be a winner, a contender and eventually a champion, in due time. And as far as his true fans are concerned, we are like his sponsor. True.
Until next time, go fast, turn left, stay safe, and keep the shiny side up.
How bad have you got it?
You have all seen those commercials about "how bad do you got it." So that made me start to wonder how badly do I really have it? I didn't take long until I realized (with the help of a counselor.) I GOT IT BAD. It all starts out so innocent you start out with a shirt or two of your favorite driver. Than maybe a magazine or two with them on the cover. Than a die cast or two shoot what kind of fan would you be if you didn't have your driver's racecar sitting on the mantel in the living room.
Then of course on Sunday's you have to skip church. DW and the boys are much more entertaining than the local minister anyway. And, if there isn't racing in heaven who the heck would want to go anyway, sure you might have singing angels and golden gates but, no racing fuel or burning rubber. That just wouldn't be heaven for most race fans.
Next step would be when you convince your husband that the perfect family vacation would be to leave the kids at home and go for a 10 hour drive to the race track and than on to tour all the race shops that the state of North Carolina can hold.
I do have to admit my dog isn't name after Dale Jr but only because I got the dog before Jr started racing. I also don't climb in the car through the window but I did specifically pick out my car to match the color of Jr's and so all those number 8 window decals wouldn't clash. And now that the car is looking like it should be at a local track it is off to the highway. I get behind those semi's and draft like Jr going for the win at Daytona. I will have to admit that I haven't yet tried the bump and run but I am not sure how safe that would be on I 65. And it just might deploy those dang air bags.
Try explaining that to a husband who likes Tony Stewart!! He just might push me down for that. (kidding) I also have a three year old who calls Jr daddy. My husband and him do look kind of similar but I think it might be that there are really more pictures of Jr in the house then my husband. Or maybe she was conceived from one of those many dreams. (I know you all have them.) O well at least she isn't calling Jimmy Spencer daddy right.
Okay well after you win the race on the highway, thanks to the gasman at the local marathon for getting you some track position. It is time to stop at the local home depot to check out lawn mowers. You are only stopping at the home depot because it is a team sponsor and sometimes you just have to get your husband involved so he won't think anything of your addiction. We finally pick the perfect mower. Of course I don't know what brand it is but it is a red one. When you get it home you slap a number 8 decal on it so when you are mowing the infield (or lawn for those that don't understand my addiction) you can dream you are in that Budweiser Monte Carlo just be careful those burn outs wreak havoc on lawn mower tires. Of course when you are done mowing the "lawn" thank the crew and drink a cold one. (Oops don't forget that sponsor).
Well we could go on and on about my addiction to Nascar and Dale Jr. But, the next time you tape a race that you are watching just so you can see it again during the off-season. Or lay a donut on your neighbor's car door for beating you home from work. Or maybe even teach or kids the famous "Gentlemen start your engines" before they learn the alphabet and letting them call you the Shiznits instead of mom and dad. Just remember you too my race fan friend HAVE GOT IT BAD!!!!
Disclaimer: The writer of this article did not really seek a counselor for her
Race related ailment and all is in good fun.
Then of course on Sunday's you have to skip church. DW and the boys are much more entertaining than the local minister anyway. And, if there isn't racing in heaven who the heck would want to go anyway, sure you might have singing angels and golden gates but, no racing fuel or burning rubber. That just wouldn't be heaven for most race fans.
Next step would be when you convince your husband that the perfect family vacation would be to leave the kids at home and go for a 10 hour drive to the race track and than on to tour all the race shops that the state of North Carolina can hold.
I do have to admit my dog isn't name after Dale Jr but only because I got the dog before Jr started racing. I also don't climb in the car through the window but I did specifically pick out my car to match the color of Jr's and so all those number 8 window decals wouldn't clash. And now that the car is looking like it should be at a local track it is off to the highway. I get behind those semi's and draft like Jr going for the win at Daytona. I will have to admit that I haven't yet tried the bump and run but I am not sure how safe that would be on I 65. And it just might deploy those dang air bags.
Try explaining that to a husband who likes Tony Stewart!! He just might push me down for that. (kidding) I also have a three year old who calls Jr daddy. My husband and him do look kind of similar but I think it might be that there are really more pictures of Jr in the house then my husband. Or maybe she was conceived from one of those many dreams. (I know you all have them.) O well at least she isn't calling Jimmy Spencer daddy right.
Okay well after you win the race on the highway, thanks to the gasman at the local marathon for getting you some track position. It is time to stop at the local home depot to check out lawn mowers. You are only stopping at the home depot because it is a team sponsor and sometimes you just have to get your husband involved so he won't think anything of your addiction. We finally pick the perfect mower. Of course I don't know what brand it is but it is a red one. When you get it home you slap a number 8 decal on it so when you are mowing the infield (or lawn for those that don't understand my addiction) you can dream you are in that Budweiser Monte Carlo just be careful those burn outs wreak havoc on lawn mower tires. Of course when you are done mowing the "lawn" thank the crew and drink a cold one. (Oops don't forget that sponsor).
Well we could go on and on about my addiction to Nascar and Dale Jr. But, the next time you tape a race that you are watching just so you can see it again during the off-season. Or lay a donut on your neighbor's car door for beating you home from work. Or maybe even teach or kids the famous "Gentlemen start your engines" before they learn the alphabet and letting them call you the Shiznits instead of mom and dad. Just remember you too my race fan friend HAVE GOT IT BAD!!!!
Disclaimer: The writer of this article did not really seek a counselor for her
Race related ailment and all is in good fun.
DALE JR AND THE FONZ
month or so ago I watched the Happy Days reunion and that got me to thinking about popularity. When you hear the word "popular" in NASCAR, you automatically think of Dale Jr.! Dale Jr. is the Fonzie of NASCAR......He might not drive his #8 Chevy in a leather jacket, but when fans see him in his red Budweiser uniform they know it's time to Rock N' Roll! I mean all Jr. would have to do is snap his fingers and all the Bud girls would be at his side. Now even though Dale Jr. can't hit a jukebox with his fist to play the song of his choice, he can grab ahold of the steering wheel in his Budweiser car and make magic happen!
Fonzie had his own little posse with Richie, Potsy, and Ralph Malph. Jr. has his own little posse called the Dirty Mo posse. There are so many similarities between the Fonz and Dale Jr. that I wouldn't know where to begin. Let's see here....for example, Fonzie worked as a mechanic in his shop and Jr. use to be a mechanic in his Daddy's shop. Jr. and Fonzie are both cooler than....er....heck! Dale Jr. almost became a 2-Time Daytona 500 Champion, but came up alittle short. But as the Fonz would say, don't give up and go for your dreams....which he does! I think a lot of Dale Jr.'s dreams have come true in the past years. He has enjoyed so much, well-deserved success in his racing career. Not only did he win 6 races last season, he won the Most Popular Driver Award for the second straight year! Watch your back Fonzie!!!!
I guess what I am trying to say is that Dale Jr. is a shining star and is OUR shining star! The Fonz could walk into Arnold's and light up the entire place and cause excitement by flashing his smile, and Jr. can light up and entire racetrack with his famous Earnhardt smirk and talent. When it comes down to it at the end of the day, Dale Jr. and Fonzie can go to their homes at night and go to bed knowing that they have a lasting impact on people's lives and are heroes to all their adoring fans! There is probably no better feeling to them than knowing that. To have someone look up to you and respect you is a real honor. So, arriving back at his home in Mooresville, NC from the race track, Dale Jr. can look in the mirror and say AAAAAAAAAaaaa!!!!
Fonzie had his own little posse with Richie, Potsy, and Ralph Malph. Jr. has his own little posse called the Dirty Mo posse. There are so many similarities between the Fonz and Dale Jr. that I wouldn't know where to begin. Let's see here....for example, Fonzie worked as a mechanic in his shop and Jr. use to be a mechanic in his Daddy's shop. Jr. and Fonzie are both cooler than....er....heck! Dale Jr. almost became a 2-Time Daytona 500 Champion, but came up alittle short. But as the Fonz would say, don't give up and go for your dreams....which he does! I think a lot of Dale Jr.'s dreams have come true in the past years. He has enjoyed so much, well-deserved success in his racing career. Not only did he win 6 races last season, he won the Most Popular Driver Award for the second straight year! Watch your back Fonzie!!!!
I guess what I am trying to say is that Dale Jr. is a shining star and is OUR shining star! The Fonz could walk into Arnold's and light up the entire place and cause excitement by flashing his smile, and Jr. can light up and entire racetrack with his famous Earnhardt smirk and talent. When it comes down to it at the end of the day, Dale Jr. and Fonzie can go to their homes at night and go to bed knowing that they have a lasting impact on people's lives and are heroes to all their adoring fans! There is probably no better feeling to them than knowing that. To have someone look up to you and respect you is a real honor. So, arriving back at his home in Mooresville, NC from the race track, Dale Jr. can look in the mirror and say AAAAAAAAAaaaa!!!!
Nascar Poetry Page, by Lisa Matthis
I am so proud of him...
his dad is too I'm sure...
and you know he was watching from up above
at the track that is by the shore....
he stood alone in victory lane
even though there were many near by
you could tell that his focus was not on them
but on that someone special up in the sky.
He raced again on monday morning
trying hard to get to victory lane
to say that an earnhardt has won 43
and put the rest of the field to shame
He is our driver, Dale Jr...
we loved his dad, before he came
and now, we love him just as true
with or without all of the fame
his dad is too I'm sure...
and you know he was watching from up above
at the track that is by the shore....
he stood alone in victory lane
even though there were many near by
you could tell that his focus was not on them
but on that someone special up in the sky.
He raced again on monday morning
trying hard to get to victory lane
to say that an earnhardt has won 43
and put the rest of the field to shame
He is our driver, Dale Jr...
we loved his dad, before he came
and now, we love him just as true
with or without all of the fame
Earnhardt draws adoring Paramount crowd
Earnhardt draws adoring Paramount crowd
By CASEY MCNERTHNEY
SPECIAL TO THE P-I
When Dale Earnhardt Jr. boarded his private flight from Statesville, N.C., on Thursday, Des Moines resident Jim Parke had already left his construction job early to meet him in Seattle at the Paramount.
Parke and more than 2,000 other fans waited in line for "Budweiser's One-Night Stand with Dale Jr.," a laidback question-and-answer session with one of the top drivers in NASCAR.
By the time the opening band took the stage just after 8 p.m., Parke had positioned himself in the front row, leaning against the mosh pit barriers that kept back the sea of fans in red Earnhardt apparel.
To Parke's left was Tammy Lunn, who drove through nearly three hours of traffic from rural Maytown. Pressed to her chest was a framed woodcarving of Earnhardt's late father, a seven-time NASCAR champion.
Lunn fought back tears as she talked of her fondness for Earnhardt. And she patted her heart when she talked of Junior, who's hoping to qualify for the 10-car Chase for the Nextel Cup. After 14 races, Earnhardt is in sixth place with one win and only three finishes worse that 20th.
"He's one of the best, and he's a down-home country boy," said Parke, explaining what made him tattoo Junior's No. 8 on his left bicep. "He wants to be with the fans."
Fans at the Paramount created a ruckus not seen since the Seahawks' NFC championship.
"I don't see why not," Earnhardt said, adding that it's only possible if fans consistently come. "We can't build it and not have it sell out."
After the news conference he was rushed to, Junior went to the Paramount's basement, where a Beatlesesque mob of select ticket holders waited for autographs.
A guy in a business suit waited next to a NASCAR fan who had Earnhardt's No. 8 on everything but his socks. Another dropped his business card, saying that if Earnhardt needed sponsorship money, "I'm your guy."
Even the Budweiser girl next to Earnhardt admitted she maneuvered her way to being next to the face that graced 40 magazine covers in 2004 and was named one of the nations 50 hottest bachelors in this week's People magazine.
"This is sort of normal," said Jade Gurss, Earnhardt's publicist.
Gurss remembers meet-and-greet events after Junior won the 1998 Busch Series Championship when only a few hundred would be waiting.
Then he was the first rookie to win The Winston, NASCAR's all-star race, in 2000 and won the Daytona 500 in 2004 -- six years after his dad's victory.
At Thursday's autograph session, even some VIPs were asked to keep the goliath line moving.
Then Earnhardt, a 31-year-old who looks like he's going on 24, was escorted through a blocked-off stairway to the left of Paramount's stage.
"It makes it easier when Ross (Coleman) is here," he said, sipping a Budweiser with his Budweiser-sponsored bull-riding buddy. "That way I don't get so nervous."
A stagehand gave him a two-minute warning and prepared him for the introduction into the sea of cell phone cameras and flashbulbs.
This morning, Junior is in Sonoma, Calif., preparing for Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350. But Thursday night, his persona was like any other guy there, sipping a beer in a T-shirt and baseball cap.
"That's why we like him," Parke said in the front row. "That's why he's the best racer you'll ever watch."
By CASEY MCNERTHNEY
SPECIAL TO THE P-I
When Dale Earnhardt Jr. boarded his private flight from Statesville, N.C., on Thursday, Des Moines resident Jim Parke had already left his construction job early to meet him in Seattle at the Paramount.
Parke and more than 2,000 other fans waited in line for "Budweiser's One-Night Stand with Dale Jr.," a laidback question-and-answer session with one of the top drivers in NASCAR.
By the time the opening band took the stage just after 8 p.m., Parke had positioned himself in the front row, leaning against the mosh pit barriers that kept back the sea of fans in red Earnhardt apparel.
To Parke's left was Tammy Lunn, who drove through nearly three hours of traffic from rural Maytown. Pressed to her chest was a framed woodcarving of Earnhardt's late father, a seven-time NASCAR champion.
Lunn fought back tears as she talked of her fondness for Earnhardt. And she patted her heart when she talked of Junior, who's hoping to qualify for the 10-car Chase for the Nextel Cup. After 14 races, Earnhardt is in sixth place with one win and only three finishes worse that 20th.
"He's one of the best, and he's a down-home country boy," said Parke, explaining what made him tattoo Junior's No. 8 on his left bicep. "He wants to be with the fans."
Fans at the Paramount created a ruckus not seen since the Seahawks' NFC championship.
"I don't see why not," Earnhardt said, adding that it's only possible if fans consistently come. "We can't build it and not have it sell out."
After the news conference he was rushed to, Junior went to the Paramount's basement, where a Beatlesesque mob of select ticket holders waited for autographs.
A guy in a business suit waited next to a NASCAR fan who had Earnhardt's No. 8 on everything but his socks. Another dropped his business card, saying that if Earnhardt needed sponsorship money, "I'm your guy."
Even the Budweiser girl next to Earnhardt admitted she maneuvered her way to being next to the face that graced 40 magazine covers in 2004 and was named one of the nations 50 hottest bachelors in this week's People magazine.
"This is sort of normal," said Jade Gurss, Earnhardt's publicist.
Gurss remembers meet-and-greet events after Junior won the 1998 Busch Series Championship when only a few hundred would be waiting.
Then he was the first rookie to win The Winston, NASCAR's all-star race, in 2000 and won the Daytona 500 in 2004 -- six years after his dad's victory.
At Thursday's autograph session, even some VIPs were asked to keep the goliath line moving.
Then Earnhardt, a 31-year-old who looks like he's going on 24, was escorted through a blocked-off stairway to the left of Paramount's stage.
"It makes it easier when Ross (Coleman) is here," he said, sipping a Budweiser with his Budweiser-sponsored bull-riding buddy. "That way I don't get so nervous."
A stagehand gave him a two-minute warning and prepared him for the introduction into the sea of cell phone cameras and flashbulbs.
This morning, Junior is in Sonoma, Calif., preparing for Sunday's Dodge/Save Mart 350. But Thursday night, his persona was like any other guy there, sipping a beer in a T-shirt and baseball cap.
"That's why we like him," Parke said in the front row. "That's why he's the best racer you'll ever watch."
