Richard Petty, left, talks with driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., right, during practice for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup series
Food City 500 auto race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn., Saturday, March 20, 2010. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
A little Scripture to start off with, if you don't mind.
In the book of Jude the author writes, "Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh."
In other words, whatever it takes to get someone moving in the right direction.
Yesterday during the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, won by Jimmie Johnson, we saw a bit of that philosophy put into action.
Or at least heard it, providing your scanner didn't melt.
Here's the scene as it played out. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was having a pretty good day, gradually working his way through the field and into the top ten. Things were looking up.
That is, right until NASCAR said his speed entering pit road was up beyond the legal limit. Back of the longest line with you, Dale Jr.
The subsequent radio exchanges between Earnhardt and crew chief Lance McGrew would have made George Carlin tell them to cool it. What did you do to the car on that last stop. Nothing; we just put tires on it. When will NASCAR join the 21st century and come up with a better method of timing speed down pit road. I hear you, bud. The highlight, or lowlight if you will, was when McGrew got on the radio and sternly chided Dale Jr. about not laying down. I can't lay down; this is Bristol came the initial reply, followed by a "I never lay down and don't be saying stuff like that for the whole world to hear." Well, that's sort of what was said. Generously sprinkled throughout these bits of chatter were enough bombs to flatten the Himalayas with sufficient reserves left to level the Rockies. That's the mountains, not a flying squirrel reference.
The Junior Nation, whose protectiveness of their driver makes a mama bear guarding her cubs look like the Chicago Cubs trying to win the pennant, immediately launched into a group tirade on Twitter and elsewhere that brought hell hath no fury like a Dale Jr. fan scorned... er, seething about a slight against Earnhardt to a whole new level. Suffice it to say McGrew was best advised to not stroll by the JR Motorsports souvenir trailer after the race. Or anywhere near anyone wearing anything with the number 88 on it in any location. How dare he talk to Dale Jr. like that!
However...
Whether the cuss-filled chat had anything to do with it is known only to Earnhardt, but from that point on he drove with purpose, clawing his way to a solid top ten finish when he just as easily could have mailed it in for the remainder of the race and rode around in the top twenty. He didn't. It wasn't quite the fast and furious charge of the last lap during this year's Daytona 500. But it was purposeful.
For the past couple of years, more than a few people have wondered what's been wrong with Dale Jr. His driving and demeanor have seemed more like a scared kitten than a shouting lion. This year, while still not oozing with confidence a fire matching the red in his beard has made its presence known at least twice where it counts: on the track.
Isn't that the goal?
No doubt Earnhardt and McGrew will talk about their (ahem) frank discussion during yesterday's race, possibly with Rick Hendrick sitting in to referee if it's required. Regardless, there's been a fire lit in the tail of ol' Rocket 88. If it takes chewing out Dale Jr.'s tail to make it happen, so be it. Might not sit well with his fans, but this is one of those situations where the ends actually do justify the means. It is results the Junior Nation wants most of all. And if the result of days like yesterday is Earnhardt and McGrew embracing in Victory Lane, better believe all will be forgiven and forgotten.
It's good to hear Dale Jr. roar once more. After all, he's now got the mane. Might as well use it.
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