5 Comments
Facebook
Fark
Digg
Reddit
Stumble
Friday, April 8, 2011 | 4:12 p.m.
What were you thinking as Dale Jr. saw his chances of breaking his winless streak crushed by an aggressive Kevin Harvick at Martinsville? You were probably thinking the same thing that went through my mind and the minds of several of my friends: If Dale Jr.’s dad were behind the wheel of the No. 88, he would have roughed up Harvick and taken the win.
It’s natural for anyone who experienced the Dale Earnhardt era to play the comparison game. Fans miss the charisma and dogged determination that set him apart from other drivers of his time—and those fans would like to see someone like that in the sport again. As a result, we can’t help but project those aspirations onto Earnhardt’s son. But is that fair?
No it isn’t. Dale Jr. is not his father—and he shouldn’t try to be and we shouldn’t expect him to be. Dale Jr. would come across as a cheap imitation and a phony if he tried to be a carbon copy of his father. Sure we can sometimes see resemblances to his dad in certain things he does or says, but the driver of the No. 88 is smart to be himself and concentrate on being the type of driver that he is comfortable being.
And you have to look no further than his post-race interview to see how that is the case. After expressing his frustration with not being able to get around Harvick for the win, he stated that he didn’t want to be the bad guy. Obviously his dad would have taken the opportunity to be the bad guy by rattling Harvick’s cage. And although we may have wanted to see Jr. display that killer instinct, that isn’t him. And we have to respect him for that.
Then again, if Dale Jr.’s winless streak continues, he may become hungry enough to find his inner Dale Earnhardt.
So I guess Richard Petty, David Pearson, Bill Elliott, etc... didn't have 'the killer instinct' either because they didn't have to wreck people to win. BTW Dale JR does have his Father's charisma/charm/personality, just doesn't have his driving style.
Dale JR didn't want to dump Harvick for the win because a.)Harvick passed him clean and b.)Kyle Busch wrecked JR to win Richmond in 2008...that's what he meant by the "bad guy" comment. And Dale JR actually said "I didn't want to be the bad guy today but we'll win our share of races..." which means -- I don't have to wreck somebody to win a race. I don't see how anyone could argue that point with the way the 88 team is running this year.
Mr 5-time Jimmie Johnson didn't wreck Harvick on the last lap at California the previous week so I guess he doesn't have the 'killer instinct' either.
Just as Kyle Petty is not a carbon copy of his dad Richard Petty, Dale Jr. has some of his dad in him, but is not a carbon copy. Sure, Even I wish Junior would have tried a little harder (traded more paint) with Harvick, but I think the "win, no matter what" attitude isn't there. Richard Petty won 200 races without a lot of "roughing up", Jimmie Johnson has gotten where he is by being a clean racer. Sure anyone can say "oh yeah, what about..." and mention some incident in one or 2 races that he didn't even win, but Richard Petty and Johnson have proven that rough driving isn't necessary to win a lot (same goes for Jeff Gordon).
Junior will win again, but will likely not challenge his dad's numbers, but like Kyle Petty, he will make his own mark on the sport and be respected for running the way he feels is best for him. There are some of us who found some of Dale Sr's wins tainted by the fact that the only way he won was by wrecking another driver.
Meanwhile, I'm looking for Jimmie to collect at least 3 more cup trophies in his carreer! I don't know if there's any other driver running now (other than Gordon) who even has a shot at 5 cups.
It is too much to ask. He will never be like his father and the game is not the same either.
Sadly, Jr. drives like Paul Lynde talked on Hollywood Squares. Nice guys, kinda' silly, witty. Just what Nascar does not need as it faces its failing sport in a bad economy. Pretty soon, Rockingham will be back on the schedule.
Jr. should be removed from the 88, and go to selling oil changes at Jiffy Lube. Sorry, Rednecks, but he is helping to ruin Nascar. Not a driver like Kyle, just a weenie.
Maybe we should be questioning why Steve Wallace is no Rusty, while we're at it.
At least Dale Jr. has surpassed his daddy's business success, so give the kid some credit where it's due. It's a bit early to tell, but, his nephew Jeffrey may be the next big Earnhardt behind the wheel.