Thread: Interesting news..........

Tweet

Originally Posted by techinspector1

With the hook set firmly in my jaw, I followed right along to the end.

I was right there with you tech!

Couldn't have been a better finish for one driver tho Smoke isn't my favorite. Unfortunately the boy racer took out half of the field when he tried something dumb.

One blog I read (don't know the bloggers creds tho)has said that Jr might be on his last chance for a good ride this year if things don't pick up.

Originally Posted by IC2

One blog I read (don't know the bloggers creds tho)has said that Jr might be on his last chance for a good ride this year if things don't pick up.

That doesn't seem likely, there's probably a bit of disappointed fan in that. With automaker money disappearing a driver's ability to attract sponsor dollars is way more important than his driving record. According to Forbes, Jr. pulled in $22mil in endorsement income last year, waayy ahead of whomever is in second place (probably Gordon). While that money doesn't go to the team, it probably reflects on what team income potential is. As the shine wears off his career and his fan base gets disgruntled and drifts away those numbers will shrink, but relative to the rest of the field, he's still way ahead in the "magnet for money" race. So "last chance" is probably an overstatement.........for now.

And then there's how Hendrick himself values things/people. I recall we were talking about where Jr. was going to jump back on the now defunct site when he announced his departure from DEI. If I remember correctly I speculated he'd go to Hendrick, and that Mears would be let loose as the weakest sister. Instead it was Busch! My guess would be that his attitude didn't fit the button down Hendrick model. Hendrick probably had a huge amount of "counselling" time invested and was seeing meager return and figured that losing huge potential/talent was better than maintaining a "cancer" in the organization. Just guessing though. As we've seen, the move lit an "I'll show you" fire in Busch that's benefitted Gibbs........and I think Joe has had a lot more experience with prima donna types in football that makes him an ideal manager for jerks like Busch. As fans it's always hard to know what goes on behind the scenes, but then guessing is sport too.

The shame of last night for Jr was that he looked to be getting the handle on the car just before getting plowed by the 00. He and Mc Murray had both gained 10 or 11 spots since the previous yellow and were closing in on the top ten after being mired in mid-field most of the race to that point. Which opens the door for another speculative moment. If Roush is going to be held to a 4 car team for next year, who goes? McMurray is the lowest on the visible performance scale, so it would seem logical he's going to have to go. Does that mean he's going to be picked up by another team? Does Roush set up a "shadow team" arrangement like Hendrick has with Smoke? Or..........??

I personally don't have anything against Junior. He's not on my short list of preferred drivers but I don't feel any hostility toward the man. Heck, different personalities (and differing ways that the drivers conduct themselves) contribute a huge amount to the appeal of the sport.

It has always been that way. Look back at the sport's earliest big names: Junior Johnson, Cale Yarborough, the Allisons, "Fireball" Roberts, "Jaws" Waltrip .......the list goes on and on ........ and you absolutely GOTTA put the name of Dale Earnhardt SENIOR among those at the top of the list!

It's interesting (and annoying) to me that in newspaper articles about NASCAR Junior is always mentioned. Whether he won the race or finished twenty ninth he is always mentioned. More often than not they will say something like "Dale Earnhardt Junior, the sport's most popular driver" or "fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Junior" or some such comment.

Well, I take issue with that. Of course, Junior has his disciples, but I know lots of NASCAR fans and "Dale Jr" bumper stickers aren't on any of their street-racers!


Jim

I have never thought that JR had the right stuff for being a great driver. I have always hoped that he might actually achieve some type of greatness, but never had much faith that he would.

I was hoping by teaming with Truex that JR might improve, but that didn't work nor has Jr improved under Hendricks leadership. I have been a supporter of Smoke's since he began. And I am very please with his performance with his own team. Maybe he should hire JR to drive for his team. JR couldn't do any worse, well I would hope not anyway.