Call me crazy. A dreamer. Out of touch with reality or blinded by perception. But regardless of all the red flags that tell me I should, I just can't bring myself to break up with Dale Junior just yet.To be honest, it's been tempting at times. A smarter fan than me would leave Junior for a Cup driver with more going for him - say a few wins, a spot in the Chase and a Cup team with his name on it. And on the surface, it looks like there's no good reason to stay. After all, the fans of other drivers don't have to suffer the pointed insults, ceaseless speculation and nagging doubts at the hands of the media and their peers.
But at the risk of suffering more hardship, disappointment and yes, even the whispers of my friends, I'm gonna stand by Dale Earnhardt Jr. like Tammy Wynette - at least for a couple more seasons.
Because say what you will about his disappointing performance, Junior is like the boyfriend you just can't turn loose. Sure he may buy you Carhartt for Christmas and use your Lenox champagne flute for a spit cup, but underneath it all lurks some serious potential and the makings of a winner. And you just know - even though your Mama says you're half-cracked and your best friend is begging to set you up with her cousin the doctor - that all Junior needs is better luck next time and the right kind of encouragement to turn things around.
So while the fans of Stewart, Martin and Johnson root their drivers on to a possible championship, this fan is gonna hunker down and cheer her boy on for a win (or at least a couple top five finishes) before Homestead rolls around.
Of course if next season also goes bust, I may seriously have to re-examine my life choices as well as my racing judgment. But I won't worry about that now. 'Cause today I'm just not ready to walk away from Junior - at least not yet.
He's a good man to stand behind. Why is it that people need to have W's to be a fan? Can't you just like a guy cuz you like a guy?? Drivers with less wins still have fans...right? I don't think you should be behind a driver just for his stats alone.
ReplyDeleteIf thats the case then:
ReplyDeleteJohn Andretti, Robby Gordon, Paul Menard, M. Waltrip, David Stremme, Elliot Sadler, Jamie McMurray... I can go on and on ... must not have any fans? Jr's got the IT factor.
I have been a fan of juniors for over 10yrs now, i was there when junior lost his father I held that boy in my heart and prayers. why would i leave him now. its ludicris to even think about it, beside he hasnt done anything wrong, he has been in a slump so what i didnt sign up just to be a fan in the good times i signed up for good or bad, champion or not and i will be a fan until he hangs up his keys for life
ReplyDeletedaleslady88
I wouldn't be a Nascar fan if Nascar didn't have Dale Jr. I started watching and going to MIS in 2001 and haven't missed a race since. I think all of his fans feel the same way about him. We like him for who he is. We are disappointed for him this year, think about how he feels.
ReplyDeleteDale Jr if you ever see this, you still have your core fans right behind you. We ain't goin' nowhere no how.
ReplyDeleteI found an old Columbis, SC newspaper circa 1999 and it was talking about Dale's Daddy going on a tear and winning ten races in a row for RCR.... With "Pop's" on top of the Pit Box, Jr is capable of doing that too.....
ReplyDeleteI have been a fan of Junior for several years and I ain't changing to someone else. He is good people. I don't know about anyone else but I get tired of the same person(s) winning all the time. There are 43 drivers out there and several more that test every week that never even get a chance to run. Dale will make it to the top. People just need to stop BE critical about everything. That in itself is pressure and stress he doesn't need. When he gets before the microphone he speaks from the heart and doesn't sound like he read and memorized what he is going to say from some script. Hang tight people JUNIOR WILL MAKE IT TO THE TOP!!!
ReplyDeleteTo quote another famous country song, I'll "Stand By My Man" too. Here's to better times ahead for the #88.
ReplyDeleteJr. is more than a driver to me, he is family. You don't turn your back on family, at least I don't. I'm sure I have a couple of million people that will agree with me. We have been through some ups and down's but I'm not leaving Jr.. I wouldn't even think about it. I'm hoping he will stay driving as long as I'm living cause there isn't anybody else out there that could touch my heart like he has. Maybe he'll have a son or daughter in the future and...we'll see. The guy just has my heart and that's all there is too it. I don't care how many wins he has but I do want to see him smiling again,so that means wins to him. Take Care all and God Bless.
ReplyDeletei'm not leavin either..jr said he don't need any fair weather fans..he's my guy
ReplyDeleteJust like so many others have said...Jr. is good people with a good heart....down to earth. That's what we like. I, too, will support him til he hangs up his keys.
ReplyDeleteI'm not leaving either. I'm a Junior fan to the end. I've been a Nascar fan for many many years. Pulled for his Dad until Junior started racing. Started pulling for him over his dad. If you can't be true to your man, your not a fan.
ReplyDeleteLet me just reiterate what everyone else seems to say, "Jr is the the man!" Believe me, I've tried to cheer for other drivers when Jr is having one of those "DNF"-kind of days but I just can't. I root for him when he's in the lead, two laps down, 30 laps down or in the garage. I'll be the first to admit (unashamedly!) that my support for Jr goes back to the days when I used to cheer for #3. So, "Here, Here" (with glass raised high) "Go Jr."
ReplyDeleteI a member of Junior Nation and I'm not going anywhere. Jr. is my driver has been and always will be. Just a bad year next year going to be great for us. I get so tried of everyone putting him down just because of his name. Not everyone is a carbon copy of their parents. Jr. is his own man and very honest. We all feel for Jr. We all love him and wish him the best. GO JUNIOR GO 88 TEAM
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