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Posted on 02/06/2007 10:18:26 AM PST by WestCoastGal
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I do not have any inside information but I have picked it up in tidbits of interviews and various articles I have read in the past couple of years. I can also see it's pretty evident on the track where it counts.
Jr. is not focused as much as he needs to be on racing in order to win a championship. Corporate commitments are corporate commitments, I understand that. But the sponsors don't care whether he wins a championship or not, just as long as he and his Wranglers and Budweiser are in the public eye they could care less. But, if Dale, Jr. wants a championship, he is going to have to put his foot down (uh, so to speak...).
Jr. is DEI. He's got the name, he's got the support of a massive fan base. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is in the driver's seat (there I go again, sorry) and he has to recognize that fact. His fans aren't going to shun him if he cuts back on appearances. I would wager that less than 1% of his fans have even seen the guy in person. But they will start drifting away when they realize he's not as committed to winning a championship as they are.
Respectfully, I will stand by my humble opinion.
Of course. LOL
There are many drivers I like, actually most of them! And that's because I am a racing fan. I just asked a Jeff Burton fan to become an IP friend on another board. I also really like Kevin when a lot of folks don't. I like Tony.......awwww there's too many to list. :)
As you also know [I hope] I have defended Jeff on several occasions here at FR for vile, despicable things said that I wouldn't even want to begin to say again.
Actually, now that I think about it there are a lot of fans at the track that have no tact, it's just what this current world has come to. Alcohol being the worst offender!
You said...."But they will start drifting away when they realize he's not as committed to winning a championship as they are"
Let me say this to you........THAT will never happen, you don't know the Earnhardt Nation. :) And if a few do, then they weren't really fans.
Hope you will be here this afternoon for the race.
Oh, I know the "Earnhardt Nation". I was part of that "Earnhardt Nation"... back when it was dressed in black. I was part of it because of ol' Ironhead and what he represented on and off the track. But my respect is something that he earned from me through his action, grit and determination. Not because of his name.
Jr. still has a ways to go. He hasn't earned that.... yet. ;-)
Several wrecks, both Robby Gordon and Casey Mears wrecked their backup cars.
This is BobbyLabonte
This is Mad Dawg Wallace beginning of the wreck.
And Jr's smiling cause he missed all of that.
Cheating scandal hits NASCAR star The Daytona 500 is a wreck before it even gets started. A cheating scandal that had already brought down four teams now has ensnared another -- that of two-time winner Michael Waltrip -- tarnishing NASCAR's signature race and Toyota's highly anticipated debut.
Toyota isn't resting on an [Waltrip] apology. Company officials are expected to send a letter out to all Toyota teams next week stating Waltrip's organization has used two of the company's three strikes. The next team that crosses the line will face the loss of the manufacturer's support.
Lee White, the senior vice president for TRD, said TRD worked with NASCAR throughout the process. "I can honestly tell you from an ethics standpoint and integrity, along with character and honesty, those things are paramount in our company," he said. "We hold ourselves to a high standard and we hold our teams to high standards. We hope we've picked the right ones."(ESPN.com)
The 55 still has to get through one more part of "race" tech this morning. They have been given a grace period, they were due by 11 am ET but didn't make it yet. Not stated how much time they were given to get the car to the room of doom.
PING and I'm sure glad DJ isn't involved in all of that!
The time wasn't given, only that about 6 more areas have to be inspected. They added, if they don't make it, it won't be because these guys arn't trying.
You can bet someone is sweatin' just about now.
Said something like somebody decided to put something in the fuel cell. He implied that he didn't know anything about it.
Do we have your attention, now?
Wow.
OK now I feel bad for him, read this........:(
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Michael Waltrip humbly apologized Thursday for his team's role in NASCAR's biggest cheating scandal, saying he was so embarrassed he almost pulled out of Daytona 500 preparations.
Waltrip, who lost two key crew members Wednesday when NASCAR penalized his team for using a fuel additive, said he had to be talked into racing by his wife and Toyota officials who are seething that Waltrip tainted their Nextel Cup debut.
"I didn't want to damage the integrity of the sport further by going out there and having people think, 'What's he doing out there?"' Waltrip said. "I came real close to not running today."
Waltrip, a two-time Daytona 500 winner, needs to race his way into NASCAR's premier event in a qualifying race Thursday.
After his car failed inspection Sunday, Waltrip said he was devastated when his 9-year-old daughter wondered why her father had cheated.
"That will hurt you pretty bad," Waltrip said. "I'm ready to bear all responsibility for what happened. You can't hurt me any worse than I am right now."
Turn the volume down if you're at work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1pDcf1m2Vo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogSuGiu6tNQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pLKo_x86nY
NAH HE HAS NO Commitment
He just won me over. Class act.
TAKE GOOD NOTES...gotta work!
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