AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > May > 10 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USClock’s ticking on Junior’s career
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mark Bradley
He’s NASCAR’s most popular driver. That’s how Dale Earnhardt Jr. is always identified, and this represents yet another example of how popularity isn’t necessarily a reflection of excellence. Dating to November 2004, Earnhardt has won two Cup races, two of 84. Greg Biffle, who’s rather less renowned, has won nine.
Most everyone who follows the sport regards Teresa Earnhardt as the evil stepmother in the matter of Dale Earnhardt Jr. versus Dale Earnhardt, Inc., but she told a powerful truth to The Wall Street Journal last year. She said her stepson must decide whether he’s going to be a driver or a celebrity. Going 2-for-84 doesn’t say much for his driving.
Conventional wisdom holds that Earnhardt Jr. is better than DEI. He now has the chance to prove it. He can go pick a new employer and show the world he’s more than just the people’s choice. As he told assembled reporters Thursday: “It’s time for me to compete on a consistent basis for championships.”
Junior, as he’s universally known, has always raced best when the tracks are faster and bigger - Daytona and Talladega, the restrictor-plate venues, have been personal playgrounds - but he hasn’t fully mastered the tighter environs that comprise 89 percent of the Nextel Cup schedule. He’s not a tactician on the order of Jeff Gordon or Tony Stewart, which is why Gordon has won four championships and Stewart two and why Earnhardt has never finished higher than third in the points race.
Put simply, Earnhardt hasn’t matured as a racer. He was better in 2004 than he is today. He still has his adoring legions because (a.) he’s the son of racing’s Arnold Palmer, and (b.) because he’s a genuinely nice guy. But championships, as we know, aren’t always claimed by nice guys. (Kurt Busch won in 2004. Case closed.) And Junior is, despite his best efforts to present himself otherwise, no longer a kid. He’s older than Jimmie Johnson, the reigning champ. Heck, he’s only three years younger than Gordon, who has won 77 Cup races to Junior’s 17.
Over time, maybe it grew too hard being Dale Earnhardt’s son driving for Dale Earnhardt’s company. Maybe it was easier to bask in the adulation of the masses than to buckle down and outrace his peers. Maybe it was easier to blame the black widow Teresa when something went wrong than to fault himself for being imprudent. Maybe the separation of Junior and DEI was overdue.
Nobody could watch Earnhardt and his team recently and believe it was a happy marriage. Too much furniture was being rearranged. In 2005 DEI shifted Tony Eury Sr., Junior’s uncle, from crew chief to upper management, and moved Tony Eury Jr., Earnhardt’s cousin and car chief, to Michael Waltrip’s car. Soon Eury Jr. was back with Junior as crew chief, but their partnership has since resulted in only one Cup win.
The trouble with being around so much family in your vocational life is that the folks sometimes forget you’re a pro doing serious work. Instead, they remember you as the goofy kid who spilled the gravy that time at Thanksgiving dinner. Junior needs to put goofiness in his rear-view. Junior, to be blunt, needs to cease being “Junior.”
It could take a while. For the biggest announcement of his driving career, Ralph Dale Earnhardt Jr. sported a shirt both untucked and unbuttoned. Doubtless such sloppiness will be seen as endearing in some precincts, proof that he’s still a good ol’ boy. That, alas, is the point. He’s 32. He should put aside childish things.
On Thursday he recalled his father’s advice: “Be a man, race hard and contend for championships.” It’s time to get cracking on all fronts. It’s time to leave home and make his way in the adult world. It’s time for Little E to grow up.
Permalink | Comments (85) | Post your comment | Categories: Auto Racing, Mark Bradley
Comments
By Wes
May 10, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this
Hey Mark,
Know your s**t before you start spewing it. 10 of Jr’s 17 wins have come on short and intermediate tracks.
By Chris
May 10, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this
So are other drivers who haven’t won as many races as Junior not “grown up”? You talk like he’s Michael Vick. The man shows up every weekend and races hard. He stays out of trouble. If his owner keeps messing with his crew, how is that a reflection on Junior? I thought more of you, Bradley.
You need to grow up.
By chad
May 10, 2007 4:55 PM | Link to this
And the reason he has only won 2 races in the last two seasons is because DEI has taken a step back. Teresa hasn’t put the people in place to keep DEI competitive with RCR and Hendrick. Dale can drive on any track and for you to suggest otherwise is nonsense. While the majority of his wins have occured on restrictor plate tracks, he’s won at Texas, Bristol, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Richmond. If he can win on those tracks, he can certainly win just about any race on the circuit.
By Former Mark Bradley Fan
May 10, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this
Bradley,
I LOATHE rednecks as much as anyone, but you should really stick to basketball and maybe a few baseball columns.
You know little about auto racing, and you’ve just demonstrated it for us all.
Don’t bother ever submitting a resume to The Indianapolis Star unless you’re a Hoosier Basketball alum. You would be laughed out of the building.
Mark Bradley is to racing ignorance what Terence Moore is to racism.
By B
May 10, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this
Mark: You are a freakin idiot. You need to stick to sports you know, or know what you’re writing before you write. You are a joke!!
By Matt_T
May 10, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this
I don’t understand what is immature about wanting to be better. Bottom line DEI isn’t putting competitive cars out there.
He now can move forward and have the resources the other drivers have, including teammates who can help him win.
By LC
May 10, 2007 5:08 PM | Link to this
You appear to be an idiot. Do you watch NASCAR? Have you thought for a minute that maybe Junior hasn’t won but 2 races since 2004 is because DEI is very behind and Teresa stinks as an honor. Look at the winning teams. The owner is very involved and at ALL of the races. Not just one a year. I think Junior made a great decision, although it is sad….it was necessary. Also, who cares what he wears…he is who he is and that is why he is the most popular driver in the sport by a landslide.
By bob
May 10, 2007 5:09 PM | Link to this
Hey Wes, before you jump on Mark you need to check your s**t. 10 wins on intermediate and short tracks, good job. Wow, pure numbers say you’re smart. Consider that the Cup boys race 32 races WITHOUT a restrictor plate a YEAR. He’s been racing full time since 2000 and only has 10 wins in probably 238 races without restrictor plates. He has 7 wins in around 30 chances in restrictor plate races. So, in conclusion, he isn’t the PHENOM everyone thinks he is. He seems really capable of putting his foot to the floor and leaving it there. He’s just plain average, yet very smart for commanding top dollar. It happens when you play off your daddy’s name.
By David Camp
May 10, 2007 5:15 PM | Link to this
DEI is nothing without Jr. I predict that DEI will fold in 2 years without Jr. It is true, with a new owner Jr. needs to put up or shut up.
By Matthew At The SLC
May 10, 2007 5:17 PM | Link to this
Dude, Bradley, you’re making talking out of your butt such a regular occurance that I’m going to start to have to call you Terence Moore. Do you even know ANYTHING about DEI, or racing in general? I know a little, and it seems as if I’m a NASCAR genius when compared to you.
DEI, since Dale’s death, has been a company run on the cheap. They’re about 5 years behind on racing technology because Teresa doesn’t want to spend the money necisary to keep up. Their shop is tiny for a major racing team and compared to what should be their contemporaries. Teresa is running DEI into the ground, and what Junior wanted was majority control of DEI so he could improve the company so he could improve performance on the track. Teresa didn’t want to give him what he should have. Teresa has no business running DEI. Yes, she’s good a marketing and things of that nature. But she has vastly failed as an owner to give her teams a chance to win, let alone finish in the top-10. She never shows up to the races. Jeff Gordon had it right all along… she’s an absentee owner.
She’s like Carl Pohlad or Bill DeWitt, the baseball owners of the Twins and Cardinals who run their teams on the cheap. Yes, every now and again, they’ll get lucky through the draft and the farm system and put a run together of having a decent team. More than likely, they’ll always struggle to win 50% of their games, much like the DEI cars struggle to finish top-10 and top-20.
For you to take Junior to task for this shows just how ignorant you are. He wanted to save DEI, but Teresa’s ego got in the way. Dale has been rolling over in the his grave over the way his widow has run his company into the ground, and I guarantee you, if he is looking down from heaven, he’d be happy his son is getting the hell off that sinking ship, after doing everything he could to save it from it’s idiot captain.
Get a clue, Bradley.
By Mac
May 10, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this
I am very dissaponted that Jr is leaving DEI. When Dale Sr and Teresa started DEI they did it as a team. Teresa had the vision and marketing stratigy to run the company. This was Dale Sr and Teresa’s company. I don’t beleive that it fair for Jr or his sister to to expect Teresa to hand over 51% of anything just because of who your father us. On the other hand it is a two edge sword, Mabey a change would do the whole family as well as DEI some good. One thing is for sure with JR leaving it will start a mad shuffle of team personel and drivers. Should be very intersting to see what unfolds.
By chipdip
May 10, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this
HE,S F—KING OVERATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 17 RACE WINS IN 8 YEARS…0 CUP WINS…yea, he,s a real force on the track…UP THE IRONS!!!!!!!!! MOTORHEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Wes
May 10, 2007 5:25 PM | Link to this
Mark, quit pretending your name is Bob. You don’t win 10 races on short/intermediate tracks by putting your foot to the floor and leaving it there.
By bboy
May 10, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this
Another reason Charllotte was chosen over ATL. Maybe JR should show up with a 3 pc suit. Maybe AJC sports writers should only write about Vick and football. AJC has never supported NASCAR, so why should Brad. When was the last time you purchased a ticket for a race? One thing you can say adout NASCAR they hold their drivers accountable for their actions unlike pro “ballers”. When was the last time Or first time a driver was involved in a bar room brawl, concealed weapon charge, steroids, or drugs? Seems like you just crossed the line…
By Techster
May 10, 2007 5:36 PM | Link to this
Way to go Bradley, I agree with most of what you have said. I’ve been watching NASCAR
By bboy
May 10, 2007 5:37 PM | Link to this
Why do we not see Teresa at the track supporting her drivers? All other owner are there. Mark sorry ‘bout calling you Brad. I would love to see Jr at Joe Gibbs with Tony.
By ptra
May 10, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this
Great article. It is fun reading the responses from Earnhardt fans. They are going to cr@p all over themselves when reading this.
By Rick
May 10, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this
Go for it Dale,Jr. family and business do not mix. D.E.I. needs Jr. but if you do not get along you need to move to new grounds. Dale and the Jr. nation will be fine…….
By tms
May 10, 2007 5:44 PM | Link to this
Bob, You are are a hater. Look at the laps lead before the 2005 “overhaul” when all of his equipment was taken away and all of his top 5 and 10 finishes prior to that. Going to the track and invoking your father’s name does not get you laps lead or wins - they have to be earned and I personally think he has done an outstanding job - in spite of. He is not playing off his father’s name - he is an excellent driver - period. But there are 10 to 15 excellent drivers on the track on any given Saturday or Sunday. Its 20% talent and 80% equipment/hardware (coupled with support etc). If the stars and moon align for any of the 10 to 15 - wins are produced. Remember - not all 15 can win. If one of those 10 t0 15 have a better support system, better back office and equipment - they will get the wins - pure and simple. Jeff Gordon is arguably the best at this moment in time but look at his complaints over the last 2 or 3 years about the nature of his equipment (switched crew chiefs) etc -simply was not winning. But changes were made - more effort and money was thrown at his equipment due to his complaints and look where he is this season. Anyone who knows racing know that having your father’s name in the end does not mean anything. You have to drive the car and race the laps. Dale Jr performs day end and day out. His equipment has not been up to par over the last few seasons. It happens to the best. Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart had some off seasons before his championships, Kurt Bush won and then look at his performance up to now, Jeff Burton had a major slump before his win this year - Dale Jarrett - did not qualify for the last race and Kyle Petty is the king and look at the performance of his cars. If has to be a total package. Dale will win and win big.
By bboy
May 10, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this
For real NASCAR news go to “charlotte.com”
By bboy
May 10, 2007 5:51 PM | Link to this
chip dip, is that as in cow chip
By Chris D'
May 10, 2007 5:55 PM | Link to this
bboy,
Tony Stewart is in a brawl about every other week. There is always some driver whining about something. Get over the NASCAR is holier than though crap.
“steroids, or drugs”
What would a NASCAR driver need steroids for, so he could hold the steering wheel harder or crush beer cans in the winners circle easier? NASCAR drivers don’t do drugs they are just a bunch of drunks. At least they got rid of the cigarette series not that the NEXTEL (excuse for Rednecks to talk loud on their cell phones and take their hands off their pickup truck steering wheel) series is that much better.
By Gordon's a queer
May 10, 2007 5:56 PM | Link to this
Bradley,
Shut your piehole. You’re a complete idiot. What do you know about NASCAR? Jr.’s definitely got to do some racin’ to back up his name, but DEI sure didn’t help him. If DEI was still a force, Martin Truex, Jr., Michael Waltrip and the rest of the current and past DEI drivers would still own the restrictor plate races. However, they don’t still own them, and that’s because DEI (i.e. Teresa) doesn’t care about staying up with the times. Teresa will be left with nothing when Jr. leaves, and I will be laughing. I sure hope he doesn’t join Hendrick, but heck, anything’s better than Teresa.
By Dano
May 10, 2007 6:01 PM | Link to this
Mark, your opinion shows your ignorance of the sport…. Junior is an Icon…. it’s a shame his family doesn’t understand….what will happen to his dad’s business after he leaves…stay tuned Mark…….
By REC
May 10, 2007 6:02 PM | Link to this
Mark, thanks for the laugh.
Do us all a favor, should you ever decide to writing anything else about anyone associated with NASCAR, please reconsider.
Your entire article proves one thing, you know absolutely nothing about auto racing and the NASCAR nation.
But, again, thanks for the laugh. Pretending to be knowledgeable about something that you absolutely nothing about seems to be your forte.
And I’m not even a Junior fan. I just hate stupidity.
Go Smoke!
By Billy
May 10, 2007 6:15 PM | Link to this
I kinda like seeing all the Jr. fans squirm like this. They have no more clue about Jr’s future than he does!
By RamblinLonghorn
May 10, 2007 6:25 PM | Link to this
BOOOO Let’s throw beer cans at him!
morons
By bboy
May 10, 2007 6:27 PM | Link to this
Cris D you and chipdip attended the same party. As usual you missed the point.My dad always told me there was no use arguing with and idiot. I propose that NASCAR drivers are as fit as your “pro ballers”. Drivers spend 3 to 4 hours without a break in a car that reaches over 140 degrees. Can your pro baller handle this with out a break? You are right, this is a “redneck” sport (born in the south for people of the south), so put on your tie, open your self an imported beer, and watch your baller team. I make no excuses for NASCAR fans, but we are loyal, unlike baller fans who boo their team when not winning. The South loves NASCAR, and we don’t care weather you do or not. We just don’t care about you and your opinions su7ck off.
By Chris
May 10, 2007 6:33 PM | Link to this
Billy, you think Junior has no clue about his future? I’m sure he has absolutely no idea what he’s getting into.
I think the guy’s been around the sport a bit too long to make rash decisions with no thought about the future.
Idiot.
And why do you enjoy seeing his fans squirm? Is it because they don’t like your “rainbow warrior”? Or do you just dislike people who are fans of a hardworking, kind, generous guy?
By Michael in Alpharetta
May 10, 2007 6:52 PM | Link to this
Teresa Earnhardt is now the manager of a musuem. “Clean up on aisle 8” ….
By Mountain Man
May 10, 2007 7:11 PM | Link to this
You Go Dale, Jr. I think Mark should stick to writing about something he knows a little about rather than writing a little about something he knows nothing about. Engines are the name of the game. Teresa inherited a million dollar business and has spent very little to keep up with other teams. Like NASA, Dale, Jr. is running every thing that was the cheapest she could find. I hope RCR picks him up and he runs the black three again.
By chipdip
May 10, 2007 7:24 PM | Link to this
dale jr just gave teresa a cleveland steamer.
By chipdip
May 10, 2007 7:27 PM | Link to this
I GOT YOUR PRO BALLERS HANG’N…..FARIES WEAR BOOTS AND YOU GOTTA BELIEVE ME……..
By bboy
May 10, 2007 7:35 PM | Link to this
chipdip, how else would you hold the sheep in place w/o your boots
By Me
May 10, 2007 7:42 PM | Link to this
I’ve been watching NASCAR since the 60’s. Jr seems like a nice guy. He’s an average driver who was in very good equipment for a couple of years. The other teams caught up with them. It happens. Thats racing. Jr and Teresa both have tons of money so neither one of em is gonna be hurting no matter what happens.
By Chris
May 10, 2007 7:59 PM | Link to this
How can you call Junior an “average” driver when there are only 9 drivers in the Nextel Cup with more career victories? These guys have also been racing longer than Junior (Gordon, Martin, the Labonte Bros., etc.)?
That’s a ridiculous statement to make. If someone is in the top 23% of their field (Junior is in the top 10%, but I’m talking simply wins here), you consider them to be average? 1 out of 4 is average? Grow a brain.
By robert
May 10, 2007 8:00 PM | Link to this
My 13 yr. old son asked me, “Dad, is Dale Earnhardt, Jr. the Notre Dame of NASCAR?” I think he nailed it.
By Jeff Gordon's da Man!!
May 10, 2007 8:08 PM | Link to this
Add Daddy Redneck and Jr. Redneck together and they still won’t have as man wins as the king Jeff Gordon when it’s all said and done!!
By Chris
May 10, 2007 8:12 PM | Link to this
If you’re going to call people names, at least use your real one, you punk SOB.
Nice respect for the dead, by the way. “Daddy Redneck”? What a piece of trash. I’m sure your kids hate the fact that you’re their parent. They’ll probably develop severe emotional problems and dress in rainbows.
What an a—hole.
By Buck Cochran in the NW
May 10, 2007 8:12 PM | Link to this
Good column. Wherever he goes, lets see if he can win races. It’s his future to control but why did he wait until the age of 32 to take that control? Jr., just win some races. With who, where or even when, just win.
By Tishman
May 10, 2007 8:13 PM | Link to this
Junior = all show and no go. Like someone said before, he’s the anna kornikova of NASCAR.
By Jeff Gordon's da Man!!
May 10, 2007 8:23 PM | Link to this
Pink Panties Chris? Why don’t you and the rest of Nascar fans admit that Jeff Gordon is the true king of the sport. No one even comes close to Jeff.
By Mountain Man
May 10, 2007 8:41 PM | Link to this
Jeff Gordon? He’s a California wanna be. He climbs into the best equipment at the track and rides like a Sunday driver. And don’t you call the greatest NASCAR driver, ever, Daddy Redneck. He came up the hard way, he earned it. Gordon was born with a silver foot in his mouth.
By Chris
May 10, 2007 8:53 PM | Link to this
Who gives a damn who you think is “King”? You just disrespected a man who died doing what he loved, who was (and still is) an inspiration to millions, by referring to him as “Daddy Redneck.”
I don’t care who you are a fan of. That’s disrespectful do a good man, a good man who is no longer with us. I’d beat the smarta— out of you if only given the chance, you f-in waste of space.
You pitiful excuse for a human being. Yours must be such a petulant existence.
By Jeff Gordon's da Man!!
May 10, 2007 8:55 PM | Link to this
Californians are trend setters and that’s exactly what Jeff Gordon is doing for Nascar.
By Me
May 10, 2007 8:58 PM | Link to this
To the guy who told me to grow a brain. Maybe you ought to take a little of your own advice. Richard Petty won about 175 more races than Jr..give or take a few. There are plenty ahead of Jr on the list. He’s never won at Darlington. You can’t be considered a great driver if you haven’t won there.
By Jeff Gordon's da Man!!
May 10, 2007 8:59 PM | Link to this
I used redneck as a term of endearment you lazy San Franciscan panzy.
By Chris
May 10, 2007 9:05 PM | Link to this
You meant nothing positive by using that term, and your entire quote, when read as one quote, proves this is the case.
You, sir, are a disgusting person, and it depresses me to know that there are people like you out there, who would be so disrespectful to the dead, only to try to further your viewpoint on a particluar racer.
Absolutely dispicable. Let someone make derogatory remarks about the deaths of your loved ones. How will you feel then?
By ptra
May 10, 2007 9:12 PM | Link to this
You necks just don’t get it. This is not about racing, it is about business. Teresa did not want to give up a multi-million dollar business just to keep Jr. as a driver. The fact is she does not even have to have to field a race team. As long as you necks continue to devour all things based on Earnhardt Sr., she will continue to be the head of a multi-million dollar business laughing all the way to the bank. One day she will get tired of playing and will sell the business. Buyers for the business will line up in bunches to get a piece of the Earnhardt name. Then she will make 5 times more money than Jr. could have ever brought the business. Contrary to what you necks want to believe, Teresa is a very good business person.
By Ken Stallings
May 10, 2007 9:19 PM | Link to this
Bradley, there is a widely admired senior member of the sports reporting team at the AJC. His name is Furman Bisher.
Furman Bisher would never had written a column like this one you did. Bisher has too much class than to write such a condescending piece of literary filth.
Dale Earnhardt is a class man, and that is why he is so popular. He speaks well of his fellow drivers and has recently publicly spoken in defense of his father’s main rival, Jeff Gordon. It takes a class man to do that.
Regardless of how many races he may win in the future, Earnhardt is winner in the game of life.
Perhaps if you bothered to learn from Bisher what being a good sports reporter is really all about, you might pull yourself up from this type of gutter-sniping effort!
By Chris
May 10, 2007 9:20 PM | Link to this
Hey ptra, why on Earth would you post on a blog using a derogatory remark against all the other people on that blog?
Take your holier-than-thou butt somewhere else.
By the way, estimates are that the value of DEI will drop around 50% when Junior leaves. Doesn’t sound like good business to me.
By Gerry
May 10, 2007 9:20 PM | Link to this
You people can bash Jeff Gordon all you want, but the truth of the matter is he can drive circles around Dale JR. and he could out drive Sr. as well.So put that in your pipe and smoke it.
By Mountain Man
May 10, 2007 9:21 PM | Link to this
Look. I don’t want to get into a p**sing match. Want to talk about great drivers? How about the Allisons, the Flocks. the Pettys, the Johnsons? They drove good equipment before Papa Bill got into to listening to the whiners like Gordon and Wallace. Now Junior Johnson, there was de man! Ran Aylanta race wide open when he was ahead two laps. Blew his engine but said, well people came to see me race, not ride the rails. He was De Man.
By ptra
May 10, 2007 9:28 PM | Link to this
Ok, Ken;
I have read the article 3 times and I have yet to see the “filth” you are talking about. Is it that Jr. made the announcement dressed like a slob? I don’t see it Ken.
By ptra
May 10, 2007 9:50 PM | Link to this
Hey Neck; Sorry, Chris; Neck is a word. Last time I check the dictionary it was defined as a part of the body. If you consider the word has a different meaning, that is a problem in your own mind, not mine. Let’s take the word blow. I consider that to me a release of air. You probably consider it to have some other meaning in your mind. Here is my point. If she gave Jr. 51% of the business she would only have 49% of the business left. If she loses 50% with Jr. leaving she is still ahead of the game. You point is worthless.
By Gary
May 10, 2007 10:40 PM | Link to this
Dale Jr came into the Cup Series full time in 2000. Since then only 3 drivers have won more races than Dale Jr: Gordon, Johnson, and Stewart. All 3 of them have won a Championship during that time frame. All 3 of them drive for teams whose owner puts alot of $$$$ into the program. Imagine Jr with that kind of program. He could be well up there in wins and a championship. Also there have been 3 other Champions in that time frame who have less wins than Jr, but somehow he is average? Now Teresa is a good businesswoman any real Earnhardt fan would know that. She talked Sr into creating DEI and marketing himself and later turned it into a racing team. However you name one other DEI driver who was more sucessful than Jr? I cant think of one. Not Steve Park, Michael Waltrip, Mike Skinner, Daryl Waltrip, etc… Junior is better than an average driver. His numbers for a 2nd tier team speak for itself. Also his numbers since 2000 speak volumes too. the last 2 years have taken a toll and its time for him to move on. Sr saw this too when he was 32 yrs old. He went on to win 6 more championships and dozens of races before his untimely death. Junior will be fine and oh yeah he is more mature than you know. Maybe Mark needs to “grow up”
By Billy C
May 10, 2007 11:32 PM | Link to this
Good call Mark-agreeeeeeee! The kid needs to grow up.
By RW
May 10, 2007 11:52 PM | Link to this
This is hilarious. I love how many people in here started their posts by calling Bradley an idiot, only to have multiple spelling mistakes in their posts. Boy, just be somewhat critical, (honest) of an Earnhardt and the viciousness comes out. Now, NASCRAP fans, please explain the hatred for Gordon?
By Ryan
May 11, 2007 12:05 AM | Link to this
Give mark a break. Its like nobody here hase ever tried to BS their way through something they obviously know nothing about.
The real story here is that AJC/Cox should be ashamed of themselves for not having a nascar expert/beat writer. Like it or not, Atlanta is one of the hotbeds of Nascar.
Insted we get laughable blogs authored by someone with a name like “Chop Chick” or “Bird Babe”. Yeah thats real credible.
By Soft Jeremy
May 11, 2007 12:40 AM | Link to this
NASCAR makes the the WWE look like Masterpiece Theatre. Take away the drinking, drugs, halter tops, bad light beer and NOBODY would be there.
Save yourself the aggravation of Rednecks, carcinogenic gas fumes, silly Made Up plot lines and just barbecue in your back yard and just ask a halter topped neighbor to drop by.
By RW
May 11, 2007 1:03 AM | Link to this
One more thing, someone mentioned how JR had to earn everything he’s accomplished while Gordon was born with a “silver foot”. Right….JR didn’t have a rich daddy to get him started or anything. lol
By jaa
May 11, 2007 1:05 AM | Link to this
Jr. needs a change. The group that has Gordon and Johnson has a lock on the Nextel Cup. That is the problem with Nascar you have to have an owner dedicated to win at all costs with extra deep pockets. Obviously Jr. was not getting that with DEI. By the way all the AJC sports writers stink. If people stopped buying that garbage paper maybe the editors would make a sweeping change.
By Billy
May 11, 2007 6:10 AM | Link to this
Hey Chris, you call me an idiot, then you cry about somebody calling Jr. and Sr. names. I’ve never disliked Jr. (yes, I’m a Jeff Gordon fan and proud of it!), it’s 90% of Jr.’s arrogant, obnoxious fans that drive me crazy!
By Facts is Facts
May 11, 2007 8:31 AM | Link to this
Any thirty-two year old who answers when someone calls him “Junior” deserves what he gets.
By julia
May 11, 2007 8:56 AM | Link to this
They are all a bunch of rednecks!!
oh isnt teresa like 6mths older than jr any way?
By jay
May 11, 2007 9:06 AM | Link to this
Are you kidding? Do your home work and you will learn that Jr. has won at every kind of track.(less a road course) Come on if Jr. did his job as sloppy as you do yours he would not be the biggest free agent nascar has ever seen.
By Mike
May 11, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this
People, listen to yourselves. This is banter is stupid. This is not about who is the better driver; past, present, or future. This is about a columnist who wrote an article about something he obviously knows absolutely nothing about. Dale Jr. made a mature decision, please explain how this is immature? When I saw the headline and who it was written by, I had to read to see just how deep of a whole Mr. Bradley was going to dig himself. Now that I know, I can ask Mr. Bradley if he understands Chinese. Mark, you can’t be serious with this article, this has to be a parody of some sort. There are a lot of people that have said some very interesting things on this blog, I agree with some and disagree with others. The comments I agree with the most are the ones suggesting that you stick with writing about basketball, football, or baseball. maybe you should seriously condsiider focusing on college volleyball, you have a better chance of BSing your readers on a subject you know nothing about. I think you took on a writing assignment from your editor because it was a popular story at the time and you thought you could make it work. That’s it isn’t it? Admit it Mark. That’s ok you took a risk, just don’t do anything that stupid again. Leave subjects like this to experts who will not show bias just to spin a column, but will do so with accurate knowledge.
By SlimG
May 11, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this
Jealous fools. Junior as he’s called for reasons of respect is just playing his hand. It’s his company anyway at some point in time. Those of you that are upset about Bradley’s column are probably upset about Micheal Vick and Roger Clemens. I bet the majority of these fans( u know who u r)didn’t play sports past the 8th grade. Get a clue! Hey Mark, some valid points but mostly fluff buddy. HOW ABOUT SOME POSITIVES FOR ONCE!
By Morris
May 11, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
Regardless of what some of you brainiacs think of Mark’s NASCAR IQ, the bottom line is that Earnhardt has to put up or shut up now. He won’t have step mom and DEI to blame any longer. No more “Junior”. It’s big boy time.
By Roswell Ed
May 11, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this
Mark this is like shooting fish in a barrel.
Did you get up this morning and say to self, “self how can I pi$$ off the most rednecks with one fell swoop?”
The only thing worse than rednecks driving around in circles is rednecks watching other rednecks drive around in circles.
The worst of the lot is the JR spankers.
By Larry Mac
May 11, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
I think your article proves why this is such a big news story. In your effort to put Dale Jr. in his place you proved why he needed to make the call to leave. We will find out soon enough if it was the company failing or driver error. Dale can drive!
By Roswell Ed
May 11, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this
Maybe Hendricks could hire Jr—-
To be Gordon’s or JJ’s gas guy.
Hell JR’s not half the drive Gred Biffle is and I’d never really heard of Biffle until I read that he was twice the driver JR is and I agree with that arguement.
Maybe JR and Kyle Petty could share a ride. Same skill level from what I can tell.
By William Hamilton
May 11, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this
Why mention Terance Moore. He should not be mentioned about anything concerning NASCAR.
By DCJ
May 11, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this
I am amazed by the amount of “man love” for a mediocre driver. In my opinion, Jr. is the modern day Kyle Petty. In a few short years we will see him tearing up the track in 38th position on a weekly basis. Now that Jr. may be out of his father’s shadow, will he finally come out of the closet?
By Becky
May 11, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this
I’m not that big of a NASCAR fan, but if there’s that much love lost between Dale & the stepmonster, isn’t it better for him to leave?
By Becky
May 11, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
ptra, if you think that Dale was dressed like a slob, I would love to see how you dress..
By DJ
May 11, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this
Perhaps the exit of “Junior” from DEI will enable a qualified black driver to step in and fill the huge chasm between NASCAR and the black community. Or is NASCAR fearful of having healthy competition much like Major League Baseball?
By RW
May 11, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
What self respecting black man would want to race in NASCRAP? He’d get flogged worse than Gordon. You think they’re bad about throwing things on the track AFTER he wins a race? If a black man’s ahead of JR at any point DURING the race, you’d think it was battery day at the old Veteran’s stadium in Philly.
By drpheffer
May 11, 2007 2:16 PM | Link to this
Hey Bark Madley
Why don’t you just stick to writing about your love affair with Mark Richt and UK basketball.
You’re other columns spew too much ignorance
By Race Face
May 11, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this
Hey Bradley, I hope you get the jist of the majority of the emails. If you want to be a NASCAR writer, then you have a lot of work to do. Until you expand your knowledge, please leave it to others to cover todays racing action. I love the line stated earlier: “bradley is to racing ignorance as Terrence Moore is to Racism”, I couldnt have said it better myself.
By Race Face
May 11, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
No NASCAR would be scared of Jessie Jackson and his rainbow push coalistion cronies!!! Can you believe those fools, they really embarrassed themselves this week witht the Braves Fiasco!!
By Tony
May 11, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this
Maybe the Dirty Homo Posse made him leave, cause they were scared Theresa was going to start rubbing all over him.
By mature?
May 11, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this
I keep reading how mature he is and how he is a good ole boy. Well the good “old” boys of this sports did not hold press conferences to announce they are for sale. They did their dealings in private. Again this shows Jr. as a showman. It is about the money not driving. If it was about the driving then he would have made a deal with Childress that would be announced later this year or after the season. Not this spectical of a bidding war that will now begin. I will admit he need to drive for another team just like Kyle Petty did. He does need to lay to rest the demons of he is only this good because of his dad. He is good but not great…if he really was the second coming he would have been in Nascar earlier with another team besides DEI.
By Rapid ROY
May 11, 2007 5:53 PM | Link to this
3 will rise from the ashes and blaze a trail of Victory for the JR. He will put the 24 car into the wall and get as nasty as Smoke on a bad day. Everything the driver of the Rainbow car know he learned from Dale SR., even he admits that. He had no right to pick up that #3 flag and drive it around the track. If I was JR. I would have T-BONED his butt while taking the victory lap.By Terrible Truth
May 11, 2007 5:59 PM | Link to this
Junior is doomed to affliction of Kyle Petty Disease; forever sentenced to ride around in circles somewhere between tenth and twenty-fifth place. But I guess as long you get laid it doesn’t matter does it Lil’ E?