When thinking about this whole Jr going to Hendrick mess, and maybe I'm reading too much into it, but do you think there might be a deeper meaning to all of this? What I mean is, we all know that when Dale Sr. died (rest in peace), most, if not all, of his fans immigrated into Jr.'s fan base making it mostly what it is today. I don't know of many people that will dispute that. We also know that Jr. doesn't want his dad's legacy. He wants to make is own name and become a legend his own way, not ride his dad's coattail on the way to becoming a legend. So all of this got me thinking...with everything Jr. has done of late, do you think he might be trying to rid his fan base of his dad's fans?? He is doing an awful lot that the Sr fans are going absolutely nuts about while the fans that have always been just Jr. fans are, for the most part, ok with. From leaving his dad's team to go to be teammates with a driver (Gordon) that the Sr fans absolutely despise for breathing, to leaving Coke...
2007-07-17 07:37:32 · 15 answers · asked by Sir Bobber 3 in Sports ➔ Auto Racing ➔ NASCAR
for Pepsi, which is apparantly stirring up nothing but trouble from former Sr. fans. I just have to believe that he doesn't want his dad's "hand-me-downs", whether it be sponsors, organizations, or, dare I say, his dad's fans?
Do you think this is legit, or am I way off base?
2007-07-17 07:43:54 · update #1
Are you way off base? Nope you hit the nail on the head. When my friend was dating Jr he and I were talking one day, (Now keep in mind I had never seen his dad race and was a rookie fan at the time) But I asked him in all my innocence, "So do all your fans like you because of your dad?" He took a minute to reply (He was probably shocked I asked such a bold question in regards to his fan base, but like I said I was a rookie and didn't know the significance of what I was asking) and he replied, "You know I guess alot of my fans are because of my daddy, but I got a few of my own fans" Then I told him a lady once told me he was riding on his daddy's coattails, he laughed and said nothing was handed to him by any means but that he wasn't ever going to be able to convince people of that since he was driving for his dad's company. This conversation has played over and over in my mind since he announced leaving DEI and I think he's weeding out the wishy washy fans and making his own legacy! Sometimes you have to up the ante to see who's really in the game with you and who's gonna fold on ya!
I think this is a great question and I'm glad you asked it on Y!A but I understand you're gonna get alot of bashing, which is a shame. I rarely answer about my former semi-relationship to Jr, people either don't believe me or are jealous and throw out alot of hate my way.
PS I would just like to add, I do not think he left DEI for this purpose but I do believe it had a lot to do with his decision to not go with RCR.
2007-07-17 07:42:45 · answer #1 · answered by shortnstoudt 4 · 8⤊ 2⤋
I was a Jr. fan because I was a fan of his dad's as I got to meet Dale sr. twice. When Jr. left DEI I fully understood. And yes it did take courage. But he had his choice and went with hendricks. And he lost a good many fans for doing that though you wouldn't know it to listen to Darell Waltrip. Sure he still has his fans...but he hasn't won a race in over two years. So how good of a driver is he??? I believe he already peaked. But I understand your committment...I am an Elliot Sadler fan and he hasn't won a race in awhile either.
2016-04-01 08:55:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think he necissarily wants to lose fans but i do think he is trying to establlish his own identity. His best way of doing that is by being his own person and making his own decisions. By doing things in a different way then his dad and not just doing what people expect Dale Earnhardt's son to do he is doing more to prove himself as a driver and his own person. Im actually quite proud of the fact that he is stepping away from his dad's image and making tough choices that will benefit him. The emotional struggle of loving your dad and at the same not wanting to be his mirror image has got to be hard enough for him without having fans and everyone else remarking daily and comparing him to his dad.
And for the haters who say he is overrated and a mediocre driver... hopefully this makes you wake up and see his popularity isn't his fault and he isn't asking to be loved just because of his name.
2007-07-17 08:09:59 · answer #3 · answered by kitkat 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Very good, intelligent question! While I am not a Jr. fan per se, I have a tremendous amount of respect for what his father accomplished, as well as for Jr. as a driver. As others have pointed out, Jr. was not handed anything in racing, he had to earn it...did his name help? Undoubtedly, but who among us, given the chance, wouldn't pursue our dream if a door was opened due to our parents?
He has said repeatedly that he feels the need to be his own man and get out from his father's shadow; again, something we all go through in our lives. As to whether or not he is trying to distance himself from his daddy's fans, I don't think so. If that were the case, he wouldn't be doing commercials for Wrangler jeans, since they sponsored Sr.
2007-07-17 07:54:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 8⤊ 1⤋
I don't think you are off base but yes, maybe reading way too much into things.
Life goes on. I don't think Jr. is trying to rid himself of his father's legacy so much as his father wife.
The relationship between him and Theresa seems to have soured and her strangle hold over finances and responsibilities had left him with little choice.
Besides, he is still young and needs to sow his wild oats, so to speak. He is stepping out.
You can't change yesterday but you can change tomarrow.
2007-07-17 17:55:20 · answer #5 · answered by cbsmith300 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
although i believe he will take all his dads fans he can get i think he wants his own fans also he wants to be remembered for more then dale earnhearts son he wants to win races and championship and wants his father to be known as dale earnheart jr's father
2007-07-17 09:26:35 · answer #6 · answered by simone219 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not at all,as you stated he wants his own legacy and the only way to do that is win a championship or two.Jr. caculated and quite rightly that his fans while maybe a tad ticked off would stick with him.The rest of it as they say is just bizzzzness.
2007-07-17 07:43:54 · answer #7 · answered by charlie p 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
I think he's discovering himself, who he is and what he really want's out of life. When you turn 30 years old (or around that age) you take on a different perspective of things.
2007-07-17 07:52:31 · answer #8 · answered by harvicks my man 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
There were few fans before the tragic accident.
2007-07-17 18:07:07 · answer #9 · answered by driver 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Who says he's GOING to be a legend. Last I checked he only had 17 wins, far from Legend status. Not to mention he's 33 years old, with no championships. If thats your idea of legend status, there are plenty of other drivers even more deserving.
2007-07-17 09:48:12 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋