Dale Earnhardt Jr. Not Living Up to His Own Expectations

By: Jacob Wessel

Being a long time NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt fan, it was only right that after he passed that I started to look to Dale Jr. for someone to root for. But instead of him filling his dad’s shoes or at least put forth a good showing in the races. He’s come up short in recent years going out partying and being more worried about the appearance/business side of racing; instead of actually wining races and championships.

He has turned his back on D.E.I.; his fathers race team, turned his back on his step mother and his siblings, instead of after the dismal seasons he’s had since 2001 looking to improve his racing skill. He instead says that unless he has more than 51% ownership of the team he’s gone; thus him singing with his arch rivals Hendrick motor sports. Where he now plays third fiddle to Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson for what not a better chance to win the championship or an extremely better team no he leaves for more money. He has the potential to be a great driver and at the beginning of each season since his dad passed, he made comments about how he has matured. He has learned that from mistakes and will be solely focused on racing and that he will win the championship this year or be no lower than third. But with his performance in years since his dad death he has inconsistently and lackadaisically lost momentum, friends and fans for what more money more endorsements.

Now I’m not saying that’s bad I’m not against people getting their money, but when it takes away from the sport and you see them falter in their skill level and stop being a contender its where I draw the line. And it pains me to say this about Dale but it has to be said, I know its impossible to fill his father’s shoes no one ever will. But with that said it’s not too much to ask to be a contender for a championship, consistently win races. With that said I’ll let the numbers speak for themselves since 2001 he has 15 wins only 78 top five finishes in seven years (remember there are 34-36 races a year.) Most importantly, no championships.

Before 2001 when his dad was still alive finished second in rookie of the year voting in the then Winston cup series won back to back Busch series championships and 15 wins in 3 seasons. So you see where the fall from the top happened. Although it may seem like I don’t like dale jr., he was my favorite driver and I still pull for him because he has a tremendous potential but until he actually puts racing first and focuses solely on wining I’m sorry to say but he’ll just be a rich wasted talent.

Earnhardt Jr: Is he really a stud driver?

By: Ray Dunseith

What? Am I second-guessing an Earnhardt?

That never would have happened if the intimidator were still alive.

But what also would have never happened? His own son turning on the race team that he created. Dale Junior was supposed to inherit Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, and he decided to leave (whether it was because of problems with his step-mother running it or other reason) for Hendrick Motor Sports.

So, it shouldn’t matter what team he’s on if he’s that good of a driver, right? Well, if you ask me, Junior’s true colors are shining through (albeit through the black and green Amped car and not the good old number 8 Budweiser). He’s really not that great of a driver. Or at least he hasn’t really proven it.

Take last race. Yeah, he got second. But in the position he was in going onto lap 5, he could’ve had the race. Carl Edwards out-drove him. His wheels spun out going into the turn and he just couldn’t keep up. He f***ed up, and the one who really suffered from it was his teammate Jeff Gordon who ended up getting into a crash with Kenseth, both of whom could have caught up with Edwards.

Face it Junior. You’re not going to be number one on a team with Jeff Gordon (who might I add is supposed to be the enemy) and Jimmie Johnson (who just came off of winning the then-Nextel Cup Championship).

He’s either going to have to step it up skill-wise big-time or just face the fact that he’s not as great as Senior was and is just an above average driver today, not a Superstar.

Oh well. At least he’s still driving a Chevy (unlike those Joe Gibbs bums).