How’s That Working For You, Junior?
Have you heard of this driver? His NASCAR career started by winning two consecutive Busch Series championships. In his first five years of Cup competition, he won 15 races and he made the top 10 in points three times in that span.
Some of you critics have called him a lot of names, but most folks just call him “Junior.” It’s all too easy to forget what he accomplished early in his career and point his sporadic output over the last four years as evidence he either lost it or never had it.
Here’s my take on the latest move by Hendrick Motorsports to improve his performance: I think Lance Mc Grew has breathed new life into the “88″ and I, for one, would advocate Mr. Hendrick lose the “interim” tag. From the word “Go”, it has become more businesslike on the track. The team is unloading better cars. The race results aren’t there yet, I see better days. coming. The important thing is the bleeding has been stopped, and Lance Mc Grew certainly hasn’t made things worse.
In fact, I’ll predict a Dale Jr. victory before this season is over. In this season of HMS dominance, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have his day in the sun.
The guy can drive. We have too easily forgotten that. It may very well be all the family relationships mixed in with business was not a good combination, plus I have no doubt Earnhardt has been pressing. The adjustment to the CoT has also been difficult. Something tells me a new message from a new messenger will reap dividends. Rome has to be re-built here on brick at a time.
Iowa’s A Winner
For the second week in a row, fans were treated to an outstanding Nationwide
Series race. Back and forth, back and forth- Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch battled over the lead and had the fans on their feet.
I’ll say it again: THIS is what NASCAR needs! I sure didn’t hear about declining attendance here. I don’t think ANYONE is complaining about the quality of racing. It was yet again an example of small town-style, Saturday night racing on the big stage. This is the racing fans love.
It’s high time for a better blend of race tracks. You don’t have to toss all the cookie cutters off the track, let’s just mix it up better and weight the schedule more towards shorter tracks.
If you build it, they will come.
Other Random Thoughts
I can’t help but hope for a race for the championship like we had in 1992, when we something like 5 drivers vying for the Cup, with driver/ owner Alan Kulwicki pulling it out by leading the most laps on the season’s final day. Jimmie Johnson’s sure looking good, but then so is Tony Stewart, Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon for that matter.
The energy with Marty Reid, Randy Lajoie and Rusty Wallace was great Saturday night. I like Reid’s off-the-cuff reactions and hmm, looks like Lajoie and Wallace could make a good “odd couple” pairing. ESPN may have a winning combination with this group.
PHOTO CREDITS- Dale Earnhardt Jr. by aranem, Brad and Busch racing at Iowa by Jonathan Daniel/ Getty Images,
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The Iowa race was standing room only, you don’t get that very often at Nationwide stand-alone event. Heck, you don’t get that…ever.
I will be anxious next year to see if it was a sellout because it was an inaugural event or if it was legit. I am interested to see the truck race there in September.
But in a couple of years, I would imagine there will be a strong argument of adding Iowa to Cup. It has provided outstanding racing in every series that has been there, they added 25,000 season with no problem, it’s a new market, and Iowa is known for great hospitality. We are more then just rednecks that grow corn, LOL!
The Iowa track is a winner. I’ve never seen a better race.
I agree , bring back short track racing, especially where they can race side by side. If you watch the races from the 80s and 90s on espn classic, you really notice thats whats missing today. The drivers battling side by side for several laps. Take away a race or two from cookie cutter tracks and add iowa and bring back north wilkesboro
@Kyle
@Ginger
@Chad. I am in complete agreement. I think today’s racing with the cars the way they are neccessitates a short track renniassance. I love how those tacks give you that “local track” feeling.
Man, you sure hit the nail on the head with your comments about the situation at the 88 team. The results today really show that the “bleeding has stopped”. And boy, can that guy drive!! That was one of the most masterful 26th place (or wherever he finished) jobs of driving I have ever seen. Junior’s future has never looked brighter. I see now why he is the most popular driver and makes all that money. Wonder why some people are always bashing him?
@JR. Gee, judging from this and other comments I get this really odd feeling you don’t like Jr. OK. OK. I’ll concede the wound opened up again yesterday. Nothing like watching your case get totally deconstructed. Still, I stand behind my main points. His career win total puts him right in the same league as Bobby Labonte and Jeff Burton and I honestly don’t think he forgot how to drive.
I can’t tell people who to like. While it would seem that Jimmie should have this level of popularity, he doesn’t.
By the way- I also maintain Lance Mc Grew brings a change of attitude and plus I because he’s NOT family, he’ll perhaps be better listened to than Tony Jr.
Mr. McCoy, putting Junior in the same catagory as Bobby Labonte is an insult to Bobby, who has won a Cup Championship. Comparing him to Jeff Burton is fine and, in fact, helps make my point. Jeff Burton does not make 32 million a year and does not have his name and likeness plastered all over everything being sold. Why does the media continue to promote him as the face of NASCAR? Is he popular because he gets constant promotions? Or is he promoted because he’s popular?
@JR. Let me be clear the last thing I’d want to do is insult any of the drivers involved. As a fan, I’d give nothing more than to see Labonte in victory lane again. Burton is a contributor to the sport in more ways than just behind the wheel. By the same token, you’re making Jr. out to be NASCAR’s Danica Patrick and I think an overview of Earnhardt’s career makes the case he’s more than that.
I want to also make something else clear, tell me JR if I’m wrong- because maybe I’m missing something. This post is the first in some time where I’ve devoted more than a sentence or two to Junior since McGrew’s hiring. I think you’d also have to agree, Jr. has been running cars of late that are better than they had been. Admittedly, his Indy race and Pocono race ended badly. There’s still lots of work to do. Many would agree with your premise that Jr. is insanely popular for a guy who’s resume is a bit short compared to Smoke, JJ, and even Bobby as far as that goes. There are many reasons for his popularity and it has little to do with the media’s coverage of him. Yes, being the son of a legend has a lot to do with it AND there was a time when his career was no such an upward trend it appeared he would be multi-year champion by now.
i am so tired of people only seeing the finishing spots for jr and not the whys or how comes! jr was bounced off the wall twice yesturday by other drivers which made his car terrible. he was running well last week and blew up. at sonoma he was wrecked yet again by someone else. at least he doesn’t blame his team or turn into other cars on pupose giving himself a flat tire like mr arrogant!
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