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Photos by ICON Sports Media |
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We all know that 1 + 1 = 2 and 2 + 2 = 4 and by now, unless you live on another planet, Dale Jr. is in a long winless streak and Kyle Bush is the so called, named by me, “King of the Hill” when it comes to racing.
Why does the news media whether it be in your daily sports section of your local newspaper, your favorite TV sports announcer and every race site all over the Internet keep on repeating what we fans already know. You each have ran “old” news about the 18 and 88 into the ground.
I sure won’t say how I feel about some commentators. One in particular who resides in my home state after a transplant from another keeps talking non-stop pre-during and post every Sprint Cup race each weekend about how great Kyle is and how bad Dale JR doing. I truly wish sometimes he would retire. Do I need to name names? I don’t think so.
It would take a NON fan of NASCAR and as I said above or someone living on another planet who never heard of NASCAR not to acknowledge the talent Kyle Bush has behind the wheel of whatever he is driving. We have been known to have Outhouse races here in Tennessee and without a doubt, if Kyle Bush entered, I guarantee you his ‘Outhouse’ would win and the news media would talk it into the ground about how poorly Dale JR’s pit stops were. Kyle Bush seems to have it together along with a super crew chief and over the wall pit crew.
I have friends who turned against Dale JR when he left what use to be his Daddy’s business, DEI. It is my opinion only but in all fairness, he was given no choice but to make a move. He made a move and one that he felt what was best for him. I cannot stand when I think about DEI, what use to be Dale Earnhardt’s dream and the ‘Legacy’ that he built for each of his children conjoined with another racing enterprise. When I hear the words, “Chip and Dale,” it makes me cringe.
To those who turned on Dale JR because of his move to HMS, in my opinion, were not a true fan of his to begin with. I was a fan of his father and would still be if he raced till he retired. That was not mean to be. I along with other fans of the man in the black # 3 went long times without a win but I never once stopped being a fan. A fan can only call themselves a true fan if they stick behind their driver win or lose. That is how I feel about Dale JR. Win or lose, I will wear my 88 National Guard gear to each and every race I go to and if not there, I will wear it on race weekends.
You can write all you want to and you can talk the talk about what is going wrong with Dale JR this year but he is the only one who truly knows why things are just not coming together for him and the team. I read and hear the words, “he is not focused.” Oh well, who could be focused with all he has had thrown at him personally for the last 7 or 8 years or perhaps longer? He is having a bad year and just let it go at that. I just hope he stays off the Internet and avoids reading some of the bull I have been reading.
Now lets talk about the “King of the Hill” who seems to be taking endless bows each race weekend. I’m not a fan of Kyle but that sure does not mean I do not recognize what a bushel full of talent he has when he climbs into the drivers seat. I remember over the years many other drivers had the same kind of winning streaks or seasons full of wins just like Bush. One driver I can think of who is currently running the Sprint Cup circuit is Jeff Gordon. It amazes me that it seems that no one likes a winner. The boos we hear Kyle Bush getting are no different than the boos that Jeff Gordon received.
Have any of you listened post race real carefully lately? The Bush is not getting booed nearly as much as he once was. I guess Jeff felt relieved when the boos he use to get were passed on to Kyle and Mr. Bush won’t be the last to be booed for being a winner.
Now to finally get to my point which will probably end up being ‘pointless’ in the long run. It takes 43 drivers to make a full Sprint Cup race and not just two. It would be nice to read more about each of the drivers whether they are in the top ten or in the bottom ten. Forty three plus turn out for qualifying for each race. It is time that they each are recognized especially the smaller teams with the economy the way it is for each of us. It would be nice to see more coverage FOX on each driver no matter where they are running instead of having to try and keep up with the run of positions across the top of the TV screen.
I have been an editor of a free NASCAR newsletter going on ten years and this year has been the worse so far to try and link articles about more then 2 or 3 drivers. I have thousands of subscribers and every driver out there racing has fans. It would be nice if I could find articles and even blog links about their favorites too.
Oh yeah, before it gets reported all over every form of media available, a news bulletin just came in. “Dale JR probably won’t make the Chase.” It’s not over yet but it looks like he and quite a few other drivers won’t make it. It is obvious to all fans who has a chance and who doesn’t and also, who is pretty much locked into the Chase for the Sprint Cup for 2009.
Oh heck. I just realized that I am guilty as each of you I have criticized above are. I just wrote a commentary about the 88 and 18:) Well, guilty as charged. I had to vent even though it won’t do any good.
Repetitious 88 news gets old is because after years of Over-hyping an Overatted driver, Dale JR. has slowly, and will continue to be exposed as a average at best driver who can sell alot of t-shirts.
I agree with you Becky enough is enough and I know who you are talking about. I wish he would retire he does not need to cut down Jr. and he just did some older drivers too made me really mad.Jr. is a good driver and like you I’m a true fan of Jr. wins or no I will wear his gear any time because I beleive in him. Flora
If the shrub was half the gentleman Jr. is, his wins would go down a lot easier then they now do. Kyle-boy screwed up by showing his b*** the first few wins he got while acting like a spoiled kid that didn’t get all the candy he thouight he deserved at Hendrick’s organization.
Jr. may not be as agressive-and dangerous to be around during the race- as girly boy, at least he shows a good bit of respect to those around him and shows a bit of humility while at it.
Kyle boy [stinks], no matter how many races he might win. He won’t ever measure up to the vast majority of drivers as a man!
Your remark about 41 other drivers besides Jr. and shrub hits the nail on the head!
The Teresa bashing is just as old. Dale Jr is lazy and did not want to have to work at improving DEI so he jumped ship. Look at JRM, as soon as he could he merged with Hendrick so he could lay back. He used to be on the pitbox of the Nationwide 88 all the time, ever since merging with Rick he is nothing but a face/name to sell out.
If repetitious 88 news is getting old, it’s because JR. has been OVER-HYPED and OVERRATED for years. It’s now becoming slowly, and painfully exposed to JR. Nation that JR. is just an average at best driver.
this article hits the nail on the head. I am a MK fan and unless he wins, they don’t talk about him. I have nothing against JR. but his stats do not measure up to his fans. I think Teresa wishes she had kept him. she would have NOTHING w/o Jr and that is proving to be true. He will always be popular, but he may never be the driver his Dad was.
Bush is a punk, pure and simple.
Oh yes, that one commentator’s ad nauseam praising of Busch and his constant bashing of Jr. has caused me to skip pre and post race shows. Your article is right on point, but it will bring the ever present green-eyed Jr. haters out of the woodwork.
I have been a Tony Stewart fan since he was 16 years old. I find myself now pulling for Carl Edward and Kyle Busch. I have been just a luke warm fan of Dale,Jr. but, he appears to be making a lot of mistakes for the professional he is. He also needs to wake up and get a real crew chief.
JR. will not win until Hendrick dumps his crew chief who is highly over rated ! and just perhaps we have all give Jr. more credit as a driver than he deserves.
Just because he is a Earnhardt does not mean he can drive well enough to be a champion in Sprint cup.
I hope JR is informed of these posts, he should read them (if he can) and then realized time to retired. Again retired from the sport as a driver, owner and even a fan – not needed at any track or by anyone. His friends would and should leave all alone at his house. If not then NASCAR should help him along by BANNING him, after all he causes most of the wrecks, dating way the back to 2001.
#1 I am a loyal Junior fan and always will be.
#2 How can any one person be put under the microscope as Junior is each and every race and perform up to everyone else’s standards? No other driver has this much pressure to perform well.
#3 He is not an over-rated driver. He’s having a bad year! Everyone has a bad year, including his dad in the late 90′s. Get over it people!
#4 Dale Junior is a gentleman and Kyle Busch is arrogant.
#5 Dale Junior is not his daddy and will never be his daddy. And I think if Senior was still alive, he wouldn’t want Junior to emulate him.
#6 The broadcast and print media whine on and on and just beat a dead horse in the ground. Leave Junior alone and let him do what he loves best….race!
#7 Mr. Hendrick, if you feel that you’re not providing Junior with the best equipment and people, change it! There’s no way that his car should not perform as well as the #48, #24, and the #5. If his crew chief needs help, get him help. If his crew needs a shake up, do it! You got the big buck advertising with Junior, now use it to keep him competitive.
Is it Jr’s fault he has been over-hyped? I think not. That is a media creation. Is he over rated? I don;t think many were saying that when he was in twinning 2 Busch titles and winning the first 17 races. He has not forgotten how to drive. He has flat out not had the car to beat on most race days.
Junior is a marketing person / Hollywood type dream! He can sell soda, t-shirts (good call, Overra88ted), beer, what have you. Too bad he’s having a bad season. Season? Career. One win in 2008, a fuel mileage deal, not a competitive race, in supposedly the best equipment.
Kyle is talked about because he is a winner. Does he do stupid stuff? Yep. Who doesn’t. Maybe he lets his emotions get the best of him. At least he has emotions. Some drivers are robotic drones. After all, everyone hates a winner