Earnhardts?

Question

I figured that would get your attention. Here is a two part question. 1) Why do fans act like the Earnhardts are racing gods? They are only race car drivers. And Junior isn't that good. 2) Why do fans act like it's ok for an Earnhardt to put someone in the wall to win a race, but not anyone else? Senior was referred to as one of the dirtiest drivers in NASCAR. Here is your chance to defend them.

And before anyone asks, Darrell Walltrip said that about Senior at the last race. Referring to how Gordon didn't wreck Johnson to win.

kenfxds-Junior was caught on radio spinning his car on purpose so he wouldn't go a lap down. Not the smartest thing to broadcast.

smart guy- I was watching the race when the announcers were talking about Senior. So, yes, they were talking about him. Directly.

Ps. smart guy- the announcers even joked about what senior would do in the same position. And a lobster dinner wasn't in the description, if you know what I mean.

shaggy- hey retard, apparently you didn't see the races that I have. I've seen a few other drivers admit they did something wrong. Gordon INCLUDED.

joe d- Envy? Not even. I'm trying to figure out why some fans live in the past and look the other way when an Earnhardt screws up. The man is dead, get over it.

Answer 1

I guess I remember things a little differently. Dale Earnhardt Sr. (god rest his soul) was, in my opinion, much less popular when he was alive. When people realized this incredible racing talent was gone he was all of a sudden their favorite driver. There is absolutely no denying his greatness but a LOT of people hated him for his driving style and treatment of/lack of respect for his fellow competitors. Jr. was a naive, kinder and gentler version of Sr and was starting to build a decent fan base before his father's passing. Jr got all of the hardcore Sr fans AND all the newfound fringe fans. I really do like Jr, he's a pretty cool guy that loves to race. The expectations of his fans and their perceptions of his driving ability are what tick me off. It hasn't helped that he has been the focus of the media, at the expense of other drivers getting coverage, since his father died. Not all of that is his fault but this whole majority ownership thing is going to cause more problems with his ability to win races and a possible championship. For as good as his father was you can see a definate decline in his production after he formed DEI. More money in his pocket (like he needs it) also means more time dealing with sponsors and administrative decisions. This ultimately leaves less time to focus on racing. Jr is an above average driver but certainly not in the elite right now. He is not good enough to win with the distractions and headaches of ownership. If he goes somewhere else and concentrates on just driving he might be able to close the deal if he were to get some luck during the chase. In response to the 2nd part of your question I find it odd that Gordon gets more flack for NOT wrecking Johnson than Jr got FOR wrecking a bunch of good cars at the end of the Bud Shootout. He bumped Sadler, in the corner no less, on the final lap of a race he couldn't win or help anybody else win. That boneheaded move was dismissed by his fans because he apologized and admitted it was his fault. Jr's fans are quick to jump on any other driver but can NEVER find fault in him regardless of the circumstances.

Answer 2

Dale Earnhardt was one of the first drivers to parlay his racing career (and his name) into a business beyond the track. He had great marketing behind him. So much so, that the Earnhardt name is as synonomous with autoracing today as Richard Petty's was back in the day.
It's true that Dale Sr. didn't pick up the nickname, "The Intimidator" out of thin air. He was well known for spinning out other drivers to make a pass, even if that ment putting them into the wall. You respected him on the track, because if you didn't, you could very well be the one he wrecked.
However, after a long drought later in his career, he cleaned up his act, and started really performing well, culminating in his Daytona 500 victory that had been eluding him his whole career. And he was racing and winning cleanly, which garnered him even more respect then he had previously.
It's a damn shame he died when he did, because I really believe that he could have reignited his on-track career, and given the younger guys a run for their money even in the era of the Chase.

I think he died a greater driver then when he was in his hayday. And this is coming from an ardent Jeff Gordon fan. Little E has mighty big shoes to fill....

Answer 3

1. I don't believe they are gods, but that they are a good racing team. Although Jr. has had a hard time the last two years since everything happened with him and Tony Jr. This year his STEP mom has been causing a lot of trouble and the new gas change. He makes good decision on the track, but sometimes people end up in the wall. I can't say I have seen the last few races (shame on me) I was moving. Over all they have a history of winning a lot of races and a big fan base. 2. I believe that rubbing is racing but wrecking is wrong. No one should be allowed to wreck another driver on purpose, even thought they do. I understand that the draft or checking up can cause these effects, but it still should be avoided.

Answer 4

Gordon fans, Johnson fans, everyone's fans think their drivers are gods. As do Kobe fans, Manning fans and Jeter fans. Jr is a good driver but not great. Not yet anyway. And he has not shown to be a dirty driver. Sr on the other hand, I guess people just liked the villain in his case. To me he was a great driver but the dirtiest I have ever seen. What always puzzled me was why Nascar let him get away with it. But the answer is obvious. Fans = money.

Answer 5

Fans are fans.It does not matter it it is stock car racing or football-basketball-or wrestling the fans are going to like who they like.Each generation of NASCAR has superstars and eac has want-a-bes and somethat fans think should be.I myself was a fan of Earnhardt Senior but I go back to the Saturday night short tracks watching him.As for Junior well he is Junior I am not a fan of his.
There is no racing Gods even though the picture a few years ago did show Senior-Gordon as GOD's favorite drivers(the picture was in poor taste and was stopped being printed).
To go to a CUP race and sit back and observe the loyalty of the various fans each driver is a racing god.Each driver be it Eahardt,Gordon,Stewart,Johson,Kahne....has their following and each fan likes their driver.
Junior will never be Senior but the fans think he is.
I don't.

Answer 6

I don't think it's ok for drivers to put someone into the wall. Ernhardt Sr. was one of my favorite drivers because the way he raced, he didn't care about winning the championship he just wanted to win every single race. I think he's one of the best drivers the sport has ever seen and he was one of the last hard-nosed old school drivers. Jr. I've never been a big fan of. He just seems like a whiner who had most of his career so far handed to him. He's not the worst driver out there, but I don't think he's a top-10 driver out there, sorry Jr. fans.

Answer 7

I'm a fan of Dale Jr and I sure as heck do not believe that he nor his father nor his grandfather are "racing Gods". Nobody is that powerful. Dale Jr and his family are just like us...human beings, they have their problems and issues the same way that we do. It's just that their problems and issues are told to everybody in the entire world.

The thing that differs Dale Jr from his father is that if Dale Jr causes for a wreck to happen...he will apologize to any and every driver who that affected, he will apologize to his team, his sponsors and to his fans. I remember back in 2005 during a race where Dale Jr caused a wreck that took out Kyle Petty. Dale Jr actually helped Kyle get his car back onto pit road and then he went to Kyle and Kyles team and apologized to them. These days there are only a handful of drivers who will apolgize for wrecking someone and causing a wreck and Dale Jr is one of them!

I began watching Nascar in 2004 but I did know who Dale Sr was. Dale Sr has the reputation as being one of the dirtiest drivers in Nascar because he would punt you outta the way for the win. While Dale Sr was considered to be one of the dirtiest races ON the track...off the track he was a really sweet and gentle man. No driver is perfect on the race track, they all do things that they should not do.

In today's Nascar, the sponsors put a lot of emphasis on winning so sometimes the drivers feel that they have to do whatever it takes to win the race. I don't feel that it's okay for ANYONE to wreck anyone during a race. As all of us Nascar fans know...all it takes is a small tap and a driver can go spinning and wrecking and we all know that Nascar is not the safest sport either. I mean...all it took was a slight tap from Sterling Marlin and we lost Dale Sr.

Anywho...that's the way I see it.

Answer 8

Rick Hendrick is slowing him down on the radio and officials are penalizing him for his emotions. Is Dale Jr. a ticking time bomb? Is he going to be over compressed to the point of showing it all or nothing? Probation is the right call. Not only do I like to learn something about these drivers but they need to learn a thing or two about themselves. I really believe that Smoke and Kyle B. have both learned to hold their horses just a bit before plowing in on other drivers. Even Carl Edwards has seen the demise of his own poor choices. I for one enjoy both the skills and the drama that plays out on the track. I'll take one smack down over two "THE BIG ONE' at Dega" any day. And if you don't know what THE BIG ONE is at Dega you have never seen a race at Talladega. To me it's just red flag action. Big wupee.

Answer 9

Well Gordon fan, it is not ok for anyone to send someone else into the wall to win the race. "Earnhardt's" don't and haven't done that they know how to race. They are only drivers yes, but they are darn good. Sr was not considered the dirtiest driver he was considered the intimidator, maybe you were thinking of someone else. Gordon didn't spin Johnson because it's his teammate, but hey JPM does that.

Answer 10

your a moron... Junior is just about the only driver out there who admits when he makes a mistake and apologizes for it. Oh and the only reason Gordon didn't put Johnson in the wall is because they are teammates, everyone knows if it wasn't a teammate he would have been wrecked