Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- Just a good ole' boy
Posted: Thursday, May 28, 2009
by Nila Smith
Fact and Fiction
Those of you who have read my past articles know that I was led by the hand into stock car racing by my husband, but once I got a taste of it, I've never been able to get enough!
I have a list of drivers that I think highly of, not the least of which is Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman, and Michael Waltrip. And in the last two laps of the race when Kyle Busch is smoking the competition, you catch me screaming my head off for whoever is in second!
I admire Mikey's courage to step out of the box with Toyota , and I'm happy that he has Reutimann on his team now. Though I'm not a fan, I do think the driver holds promise for the future of MWR.
I've added Ryan Newman to my list only since he joined with Tony Stewart, and beyond that I can't say for sure why I like the guy, just that if he's willing to take a chance with Stewart Haus Racing, then I'm willing to take a chance with him.
Now Tony, I like because he's the bad boy. He's hot tempered, out spoken, and doesn't give a hoot whether NASCAR likes what he has to say or not. I admire anyone who stands up and tells it like it is.
Even though NASCAR has put him through the paces for his attitude and he has come out a little more soft spoken and refined, it's still there, that devilish, impish look that tells you one of these days he's gonna blow! And when he does the world will know it.
And, ironically, I like Carl Edwards for the opposite reason. He is a gentleman and a gentle man. He does lose his cool once in a while but where Tony can be an erupting volcano, Edwards is more like steam from the tea kettle.
Generally he blows off a little bit, then later apologizes. He's a good driver, a good sport, and a good son. Recently married, I'm sure he's also a good husband.
And, that brings me to Dale JR.
Not long ago, the hubs and I were visiting with some new friends, and the fellow of the couple said that he had just in the last couple of years become interested in NASCAR.
His story goes that his wife won a big screen TV, and they decided they could add to it an inexpensive surround sound system. He said that the first time he had the opportunity to watch a NASCAR race with the new set up he was hooked.
Well, that's okay, we all have different reasons for why we like things, and I guess the sound of the track on a home entertainment system is as good as any.
But, in our conversation, he asked a question that caused me to stop and think. He asked; "why does everyone love Dale JR so".
Hmmm, why do I love JR? Why is he NASCAR's most loved driver?
It's not because he's a consistent winner at the track that's for sure! So how do we as JR fans defend our choice?
My first thought was, well I like him because he is the son of the Intimidator! Dale Sr. was one of the best of the business and most people will not even attempt to argue with that.
But, I had to stop there. If that was the reason, why am I not fond of JR's half brother Kerry? He too is the son of the Intimidator, he too has attempted to race, and currently his record is no worse than JR's is it?
So, I had to pass on that theory.
Maybe I like the guy because he was running second to SR's third with Mikey Waltrip in the lead the day his dad lost his life on the track.
That was a traumatic event for all of NASCAR, and somewhat poignant. Michael Waltrip was driving a car owned by SR, and in the lead, JR also driving for his father, was running a tight second, and it looked like it would be a close finish for sure. SR was in third, and I know he would have got a kick out of passing them both, just to show them that "the old man" still ruled, but at the same time, it seemed to me as I watched the race that SR was making a tremendous effort to block drivers behind him so his two boys could battle it out undisturbed.
I remember the chills I felt and the tears that were shed when we watched the ambulance leave the track that day, and my husband in a choked voice said; "they aren't running lights. He's gone."
So was it compassion for a son who had lost his dad that made us love JR?
Honestly, I think that for a while that is what held us.
As we watched a young man struggle with the loss of a father, the growth of a career, and a popularity that had to have been a little overwhelming, we rooted for the junior Earnhardt, willing him to become a mirror image of his father.
The thing is he hasn't turned out that way. He is not rough and tough on the track and he doesn't bully his way through the way his dad did. Yet, we all seem to love him.
So, tell me why does this guy have the following of the majority of the NASCAR fans?
Well, I've come to a few of conclusions for myself at least, and I won't be surprised if there are others who have to say, "yep, that might be the reason".
First, JR has always been a struggler.
Those who have followed the Earnhardt family history know that SR's father, Ralph Earnhardt was also a driver, but he never achieved great riches. Dale Sr. struggled to make his way in the race world at the cost of not one but two marriages.
He was completely focused on his career, and as a result, left fatherhood in the background.
The final result, his son Kerry was a stranger to him until the boy reached his late teens.
And while Dale JR was there, he wasn't really seen by his father most of the time.
Now in SR's defense, he was trying to build a better life through his racing, for all of his family, but like so many fathers in that same time period, he thought that work and money were the answers to what does it take to be a good dad.
What it led to though, was a young Dale JR struggling to gain his fathers attention, respect, and ultimately love.
The struggle lasted until early adulthood, when JR's budding racing career gave the two men something in common, and something both could be proud of.
As a Nationwide series driver, JR did very well driving cars owned by his dad, and the bond between father and son grew there.
So, in conclusion of point one, we as Americans tend to favor those who struggle to succeed, the underdogs if you will, and thus we saw Dale JR as the underdog who was struggling to be seen not only by the race world but by his father.
The most tragic part of point one is that JR was nearing the finish line with his dad. He was about to take the checkered flag as a son who could be admired and respected by a father who was bigger than life, but it all came to an end too quickly.
This leads me to point number two. Dale JR has now become NASCAR's favorite son.
When it was discovered that after his passing, Dale SR's third wife, Theresa had inherited most of his estate, I pretty well understood that.
As a second wife myself, I admired SR's consideration of making sure that Theresa was protected. Often times these situations where there are multiple wives and children from each one can leave the third and childless wife out in the cold.
However, I never expected that there would be so little for Dale JR.
There was of course a keen attempt to spin it that Dale and Theresa respected and cared about each other and that JR would be vested in his father's company, but that just never really came to fruition now did it.
In the long run, it boiled down to JR was just another employee, and once again, the son of the Intimidator was looking for respect, and certainly not finding it at home.
In the family dynamic though there was his sister Kelly, whom I believe is the driving force behind JR's enormous popularity. She has a knack for business, knows how to promote her brother and I truly believe has always acted with his best interest at heart. JR believes this also, as he has on numerous occasions given credit to his sister for his financial success.
When JR joined Rick Hendrick's team, there was a statement made that it seemed to be a good match because JR had lost a dad, and Rick had lost a son, and the two men found something in each other that they both needed.
I hope that is true, and I hope that Hendrick will start making some changes that will drive JR back up to the front of the pack. Up to now I've not seen it, and have been greatly disappointed in the would-be father figure albeit team owner.
News coming out of the Hendrick camp this morning says that Hendrick is at least exploring a different route for NASCARS favorite son, and I for one am hopeful, but not optimistic.
The reason I'm not optimistic is that JR treasures family, and even though he and cousin Tony Eury Jr. have had their squabbles, it has been proven that they don't get along as well without each other as they do together.
They tried that separation at DEI, and it didn't work.
I feel protective of JR, like I would my own child, because he's had it rough, and I think he is still searching for recognition and respect from a father figure.
To that end, I may not be alone in the feeling that he is my own kid. Perhaps all of his fans see him as extended family of some sort.
So far then I've theorized about his struggles and the nations desire to adopt him as their own, but I have one last theory that perhaps is the best one of all.
The answer came actually from my husband, when he answered the question posed by our friend; "why does everyone love Dale JR so".
My husband's simple answer was; "Dale JR is just a good ole' boy. He doesn't try to be something he's not, he's just real".
This may be the best explanation of all. The kid is real. He doesn't put on fake expressions, and offer phony explanations of why things are going badly right now.
He doesn't hide his disappointment when he's battled hard for 500 miles, and comes in 32 nd . He doesn't hide his anger when his pit crew drops the ball for him and costs him 10 places in a race where he had been running third before the pit.
He takes responsibility when he screws up on the track or in the pits, and he doesn't whine like a baby when he gets beat.
He takes the blame for a wreck when he deserves it, and he dishes it out with the best of them when he doesn't.
He probably swears a little too much, parties a little too hard, lives a little too loud, but that's one of the things we like about him.
He likes to gander about in the woods, collect old things, and play games. He's a typical boy with toys who puts his name on common things, like candy bars, and Wrangler Jeans.
He is the persona of a well written old country song; "just a good old boy, never meaning no harm."
Perhaps that one line, is the best theory of all as to why, though he's had a rough last couple of years NASCAR fans love him, and cheer for him, and go ape ugly on anyone who tries to put him down.
He's just a good ole' boy, and if he were my son, I'd be darn proud!
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)HI Nila, thank you for this wonderful ride through NASCAR - my sister is a big fan, but I can't get into it. It must be because I am bias toward motocross :-)You have a wonderful gift - I always sense the warmth of your personality in everything I have read so far. So glad you joined us at SearchwarpThanks so much!!
Nila,I see you are bringing us more great information about your favorite 'thing'! Good to hear about 'Jr' because we hear so much about his father, and thanks for sharing it with us.Thanks Ronyae!SR was a racing icon, legend if you will. I really kind of hate the idea that JR is always being measured against him.Kyle Busch put out some rather harsh public statements today about JR, and the firing of the crew chief for the 88 team.Technically Tony Eury Jr. was not fired. He is still with Hendrick, and I think that if the Hendrick team can teach Eury some of their sucessful technological practices, and can groom him into a better crew chief, he will eventually go back to the 88 team. Only time will tell.In the meantime, JR is having to take hits from people like Busch.
Hi Nila.Thank you for writing this informative article. Stock car racing has always been a mystery to me, so now i got a glimpse of how the race is played and the drivers behind this exciting race.Thank you for sharing.Best regards,NenitaThanks!!!It is exciting to me at least.And in case anyone is wondering. Given the opportunity, I'd be behind the wheel of one of those cars so fast it's make your head spin!!
Great job, Nila. I haven't been into Nascar very long, but it was my tiny grandson's little hand that led me there. He has Nascar posters and paraphenalia all over his room. I even wear "Mountain Dew" pj's just for him and he loves it!Great read.SandraSandra good for you, and your little grandson!!!In an interview on Speed last night, Tony Stweart said that he'd had a conversation with Dale JR., where that JR expressed a desire to change his name! The point being, he too gets tired of being compared to his dad, and if he were not Dale JR, tongues wouldn't be waging as badly as they are right now.Stewart said that he told him that if he was going to change his name he should change it to "Mo Money" because truth be told win or no win JR is raking in the dough.His most recent and very popular money maker has been the "Old School" Mountain Dew Paint scheme which he ran May 10th. His car was done exactly like the car driven by now retired Darell Waltrip, in one of the winningest seasons he ever had.Sales of die-cast models, hats, posters you name it, have gone through the roof on that one.
Well, I am not a NASCAR fan. I am opposed to racing in cars of any kind. I am the old fashioned driver who does not believe in fast driving. If you ever drove behind me, I am the one who you had to tailgate or drive around because I was driving too slow. Sorry.
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