Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. Overrated?
Just like with any driver in NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has fans and haters. Usually, the fans are the one's that followed his father's career. The haters either didn't like his father, or think he got where he is today because of his name.
I've seen heated discussions on this subject many times over the years. Recently, there was one between some of the drivers in the online racing league I run in. The guys of Freedom Motorsports are like a small version of the total NASCAR fan base. You've got the Jr. followers, the Jr. haters, and those that don't really give a crap either way.
The post on the FMS forum started as just an announcement about Dale Jr.'s new number and paint schemes. Almost 40 replies later, it's easy to tell where almost all the league members stand on this subject.
What's In a Name?
Since 1993, I have been a huge Rusty Wallace fan. Would I be following Steve Wallace's career if he wasn't Rusty's son? I doubt it.
When Dale Earnhardt died on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, his fans were lost and needed a place to go. Some went to Kevin Harvick because Harvick took over Dale's car. Most latched onto Dale Jr. because he was the closest thing to his father they had left.
I'm not what you would call a Dale Jr. fan, but I do follow his career and what is happening to him. For me, I think it's because I was one of the millions that watched the 2001 Daytona 500 and saw his father killed. I saw the aftermath. Following Dale Jr. is almost like my way of honoring his father.
Not only do people say Dale Jr. got his fans from his father, but they say he wouldn't be in a car if he wasn't an Earnhardt. My first argument to this, was he put into the Cup Series without earning a spot there? The answer is no. He started at the lower ranks like everyone else. He may have had better equipment, but he still worked his way up. Dale Earnhardt treated his son like his father did with him. If Dale Jr. wanted a ride, he had to earn it.
The second argument, do you see Dale's eldest son Kerry in the Cup Series on a weekly basis? No you don't. This proves, to me anyway, that just having the Earnhardt name doesn't put you into a car.
Earnhardt vs Earnhardt
You can't really compare career statistics between Dale Jr. and his father. Although Dale Sr.'s career is over, he was still in the sport longer than his son has been. But since the two started their Cup Series careers at the age of 24, we can use that to compare. Since this season is incomplete, we'll go back to 2006 for Dale Jr. He was 31 in '06. This will mean using Dale Sr.'s statistics through the 1982 season.
Wins:
Dale Sr.: 7
Dale Jr.: 17
Poles:
Dale Sr.: 5
Dale Jr.: 6
Top 5's:
Dale Sr.: 47
Dale Jr.: 69
Championships:
Dale Sr.: 1
Dale Jr.: 0
If you use these numbers, Dale Jr. has had a better career by the age of 31, other than the big one. The championship. Dale Jr. has yet to win one.
The Media
Does Dale Jr. get more media coverage because he is the son of a legend? Sure he does. Would he still get media coverage based solely on his statistics on the track. Without a doubt. He has 17 wins and a Daytona 500 victory.
Conclusion
Although a high percentage of Dale Jr.'s fan base is because he is the son of Dale Earnhardt, he has earned his place in NASCAR, and he has kept those fans that came to him after his father's death.
Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. overrated? No. His statistics on the track prove that for me.
Published by Robert Rhodes
I am 32 years old and live in Central PA. I have been writing since I was a teen, and have been doing Web Graphics and Web Design for about 10 years. View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentEarnhardt consistently underachieves. He threw his own crew under the bus and went to Hendricks. Even with the most money, nost hype, best team in NASCAR, he still can't win a race. And after he loses, it's never his fault. It's always, "the car was running bad", or blame the pit crew, or other drivers. Not only is he overrated, he's a crybaby.
Jr is over rated he is only popular becasue of his name you can through any idiot into a race car and say his last name is earnhardt he would be one of the most popular drivers even if he never wins a race more people will like him instead of Jeff Gordon
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Thanks for the comments. That was pretty much my point of the article. To point out that Dale Jr. got where he is because he worked for it, not because he is an Earnhardt.
When I see Dale Earnhardt JR. I never think of how he got here. Sure his DAD showed him many things and sure I liked his DAD, but that doesn't enter my mind. That seems like a sterotype to cast more fans than not into this lot. The sport is absolutely exciting and Junior's DAD doesn't turn the wheel for him.