I tried to make this point subtly a few days ago, but sometimes subtle doesn’t work when we are talking about NASCAR and especially when we are talking about the most popular driver in NASCAR today, one Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The problem for me, since I could really care less who actually wins or even does good, is over hyping one driver that routinely fails to perform is bad for the sports. Not so much for guys like me, total NASCAR idiots, and I am guessing most of my readers fall into that category, but for casual NASCAR fans.
Think about it, if a casual NASCAR fan tunes into a race to watch Dale Jr. perform and he is having one of those days where he rides around the track in 20th place while getting no TV time, which happens more often then not these days That casual fan is turning the NASCAR coverage off, because all they know is the hype surrounding Dale Jr., they think he is the best driver out there and should be laps ahead of the competition when he is running round mid pack they realize they are victims of hype, and they stop watching.
Casual fans turning off NASCAR TV coverage is bad for everyone involved. It is bad for sponsors who are looking to expose new people to their products, bad for TV networks who paid a lot of money for the broadcast rights of races, and ultimately bad for team owners as bad rating mean the next TV contract is not as big and they are out more money.
The point I was trying to make the other day and one that I truly believe is that Dale Jr. and Matt Kenseth are both on the same talent level. The rub comes from the over hype of Dale Jr. and the under hype of Kenseth. Kenseth is looked down upon because of the way in which he won his title, by points racing. In fact he is the reason we have the Chase format now, but if we look at Jr.’s and Matt’s career stats we come to find that the only difference in their career is the hype.
Thanks to our good friends over at Racing Reference we can compare drivers to each other. Since Matt and Dale battled each other both in the Nationwide Series, and moved up to Cup in 2000 together their stats are very easy to compare.
Dale has 18 wins, Kenseth 16. Dale has 86 top five finishes, while Matt has 87. The only separation in stats comes with top ten finished where Dale has 136 to Kenseth’s 160. Dale’s average finish is 16.1 while Matt’s is 14.8. Beyond Matt’s Cup title these stars are virtually identical.
Even in the Busch/Nationwide series their stats are very similar. Dale has 18 wins in this series to Kenseth’s 9 but heir top 5 finishes are eerily similar. , Dale having 41 and Kenseth having 44. Their average finish is NASCAR’s number two series are also very close, Dale having an 11.6 average finish to Kenseth’s 10.9.
I like stats because stats don’t lie. In my mind these stats prove that the only difference between these two drivers is the hype. Hype all by itself is bad. Think about how many times we all have gone to see a really bad movie because the hype was good. Look at how many NFL teams make bad draft picks based on the hype of that player.
The hype and constant media circus that follows Dale Jr. around is damaging this sport. It turns off the casual fans and without them this sport has no opportunity to grow. As NASCAR idiots we have to take ourselves out of the equation, cause no matter what they do we are watching, but casual observers and fans only know the hype. In the case of Dale Jr. the hype is far out of proportion of his talent and as a NASCAR driver.
Comments
I guess everyone has their opinion. I'm a Dale Jr. fan, but also like Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart and others. Keep watching Dale Jr. is just getting started with this new team.
Jr has two more wins than Matt. After that, Matt is better in every category other than number of poles, where Jr also has two more. Matt has a championship and Jr does not. When Jr gets his average finish below 15, finishes top 10 in half his races, gets into the chase EVERY year, and wins a championship they will be about the same talent level. So far, advantage clearly to Matt.
As a Junior fan, even I can admit that Junior does receive alot of hype that doesn't necessarily match up to his results thus far. I wouldn't say that popularity should be directly related to performance, though. I think some of Junior's popularity comes from the fact that he often displays more personality than other drivers, even if not all of these displays are positive.
As far as Junior's results go, I agree with Bev... I think you will see improvement in Junior's performance, especially if he and Tony Jr. can learn to work together more efficiently. I do think that Tony Jr. is part of the problem with his performance, be it because of a lack of knowledge on Tony Jr.'s part or just a kink in their chemistry because of the fairly consistent arguing that goes on. Either way, if the performance of the #88 team continues to be below the high standards of Hendrick Motorsports, you can guarantee Rick Hendrick will step in and make some changes.
SORRY BUT DUE TO THE LACK LUSTER OF OTHER RACERS AND POOR SALES NUMBERS EXCEPT FOR JR. THAT SPORT COULD VERY WELL GO GO BELLY UP WITH OUT HIM
I wish everyone would stop trying to make Jr. in to his dad, it is never going to happen. Jr. is a so so driver and will never be any better than he is right now.
i think every thing is abit to much overdone with dale jr. he rides on his fathers name to much
Let's face it, you're part of the problem!...You had to write some stupid article about Junior just to get people to read it. If you had written one just about Matt Kenseth, no one would have read it. It's the off season, and there's really nothing going on..so let's keep talking about the same old dead subject. Junior is the most popular driver for a reason...He has talent, charisma, good looks, personality, and a great family name....All sports depend on people like Junior...NASCAR needs Junior, especially in this bad economy. People like you only see the bad, and not the good. Give the guy a friggen brake, and let's look forward to a great new year, and season. And PLEASE stop beating this dead horse!
Again grab some hits by throwing Jr under the bus, this is OLD. Write something that can stand without a Jr reference. But since you had to go there... Jr has been saddled with poor performance for years because he held on to DEI too long, then when he finally gets smart and jumps ship it is into the piece of junk Car Of Tomorrow. Jr is great at one thing BAD TIMING. How many teams had a handle on the COT in 08? Four teams at best, even Jeff couldn't get a handle on the thing and what about Kyle he had the handle then lost it completely. Jr. will be fine, and would be great right now if he had left DEI a few years ago and not waited for the whole landscape of NASCAR to change around him.
Finally some one else besides me finally has the balls to say what needs to be said about jr. i would like to see him win at least one championship to shut up the earnhardt base and not be known as another Kyle Petty ,jr is good for the sport but more hype then ahy hope
I'm sure that Junior would be thrilled if the press stopped following everything he says or does, and gave him some peace. I'ts not as if he trails reporters around trying to get in the news. And a driver's popularity has little to do with their success on the track. Ken Schrader has a lot of fans, even though it's been years since he won. How big is Kurt Busch's fan base? People choose to support a driver for many reasons. Maybe one of the reasons so many like Jr. is that he is one of the last ties to the 'old school'. Success takes many forms. The attention Jr. gets has more to do with the press itself than with Junior.
I agree with the article. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is essentially NASCAR's version of Danica Patrick. If you take Junior's stats over an extended period of time and compare to current drivers that have been in the series all those years, you can only make an argument that he is 8th best based purely on statistics. So of those 20-25 guys, he's somewhere in the 60-to-70 percentile range.
His fans really harm them. He has half the fanbase cheering for him, and for what? Because of who his dad is? Newsflash Junior Nation, he's not Dale, get over it.
My personal advice to Junior: take a sabbatical from NASCAR, go race in Indycar a couple years.
I disliked his father because he was the dirtiest driver I have ever seen, just plain nasty But JR is a very clean driver and I like that about him, SR would have never let Kyle B get away with taking him out, but JR took it in stride.
I am a Dale Jr. Fan and proud of it. I was also a Dale Sr. Fan and very proud of that. With that being said, call me a bandwagon jumper after Sr.'s death if you want. I remember watching him and his dad race bumper to bumper, and side by side for a win in the IROC series. I knew then that my allegience would shift to Jr. as soon as Dale Sr. was out of racing. Just didn't figure on it happening as soon as it did. Anyone that takes the time to listen to Jr. knows that he knows he is not his dad, will never replace his dad, and doesn't want to replace his dad. For whatever reason, the FANS vote him the most popular driver year in and year out. Funny, Bill Elliott use to get this award every year, but you didn't here anyone complaining then. ENVY is the problem. Take the time to read what Sr. had to say in several books about him on how he brought this young man up in the racing world. Just as he was brought into it. It wasn't by giving him the silver spoon. And if you think it was, you really don't have any idea what you are talking about. There have been many that have come and gone who have strapped into a racecar and did not succeed, but they still had fans. Whether you like him or you don't, get use to it. He will probably be voted the most Popular again for 2009 and many years to come. As stated earlier, his demeanor on and off the track towards his fan base, other drivers and people in general is what makes him the man. Funny how those that don't like him, or are tired of hearing about him, continue to read everything they can on him and then spew their filth, all because their dirver isn't as popular.
It took a balls for you to say that , but you are right on.
I agree that Junior is way over hyped.
I disagree with you saying "No TV time" because he is riding around in 20th position. The camera always finds Junior no matter where he is at and someone in the booth is still talking about him on lap 300 when he crashed out on lap 2.
I don't dislike Dale Jr. I think he is honest and speaks what he truly thinks. I just get tired of it always being about him when there are 42 other drivers on the racetrack.
Dale Earnhardt won 6 of his 7 Championships from the ages of 35 to 44, Dale Jr is 34 and just now getting to the age at which his father started KICKING BUTT!!!
You JR haters have a long 10 years ahead of you!!!
speaking of hype, if you hadn't mentioned JR's name you wouldn't have gotten anyone to read your article or even post a reply, good driver or not he is the most popular driver and one of the few driver's people are willing to pay to watch
Amen, I've been saying this for YEARS. Junior rides on his daddy's coattails and everyone is mislead on what talent in NASCAR really is! He's got nothing on most of these drivers in the Sprint Cup Series.
Josh, you have just turned yourself into the quintessential bad guy. How dare you say anything bad about Jr.
You are, however, correct.
With all of HMS resources at his disposal, he didn't get the job done. One win that he backed into and at least 15 races where his lack of communication skills took a potentially winning car and turned it into a back marker.
The sure sold the hell out T-Shirts though.
jeff: Your right but you forgot one thing matt won rookie of year to.
JOSH: Your right but you forgot one thing matt won rookie of year to.
I think Jr. is overrated by his fans, and underrated by his critics. He's a top 10 driver, no doubt, but he's not the best. The most rabid of fans claim he's his father without some sort of break, but that's not true. The critics say he's average, but he is obviously better than a mid-pack driver. He's a good driver with all of the attention, and he has that attention because he's a great guy. Bill Elliott wasn't leagues ahead of his competition, but people liked him because he was a great guy. What's wrong with Jr. being the next nice guy?
Oh, by the way, if you don't care who wins why are you even writing about racing? Wouldn't that be the fun of it? Ya know, cheering for someone?
I agree 100%!!!
If you take another cut at Juniors Cup wins,I think you'll find that many were on the Superspeedways that require restrictor plate engines. The engines that Junior and a REALLY over rated driver, Michael Waltrip at DEI ran were head and shoulders above the competition. I believe those motors were built by Runt Pittman. Junior and Michael would literally toy with the competition. That is, until Rick Hendrick had enough, made the necessary investments and went on to win a bunch of plate races. Junior IS a great Superspeedway driver,but he and Michael won a lot of races with superior motors. You should also be aware that Junior won all but two of his Cup wins with Tony Eury Sr. as his crew chief. Eury Jr has only two Cup wins in over 100 Races. Junior's fans are a bit over the top,though.
I agree 100% Nascar has tried to make Jr. a big time racer. I have gone to Daytona race for the last time. They can keep my tickets and sell to someone else.
I was a Dale Sr. fan and I'm a Dale Jr. fan, but first and foremost I'm a Nascar Fan. I really enjoy Nascar Racing, every sports has its Dale Jr's. Don't blame Jr. for being such a likeable person, and let the fans cheer for the drivers they like. By the way I also like Kyle Bush, and Tony Stewart.
I followed Jr from his rookie Busch days up until he signed with Hendrick. I do not care for the Hendrick Teams, their drivers or their standing in NASCAR. Jr left DEI to feed his ego with Hendrick. He didin't have faith in his fathers company and bailed like a rat off a sinking ship. I don't think he will ever win a championship. He has a ton of money and he is a advertisers wet dream. On the track he is okay, he is definately not his dad behind the wheel. I spent alot of my own money on Jr/Bud merchandise back in the day, now alot of it has gone to Goodwill or the rag pile. He did what he felt he needed to do to win, but he teamed up with two other jerkoffs as in Jimmy & Jeff. Oh well. May his endeavours continue to earn him $$$. Once a Jr fan, no longer a Jr fan. There are 40 other drivers out there every Cup Race. Hope he doesn't wind up as the Kyle Petty of the Earnhardt legacy.
Earnhart Jr should stick with gocarts because it is obvious he cannot drive a racecar,for years he has had the best of equipment and still cannot win a race unless it is a fuel milage race (Micigan 08). When are people going to wake to the fact he living on his old mans name. He has always had the best money can buy. And I would not put him in the top 20 drivers. Give 20 other drivers what he has and see what they would do.
Joe said: "Dale Earnhardt won 6 of his 7 Championships from the ages of 35 to 44, Dale Jr is 34 and just now getting to the age at which his father started KICKING BUTT!!!
You JR haters have a long 10 years ahead of you!!! "
Jr will not make it ten more years. Mark my word!
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