Television ratings were down last year. Seats were empty, fans complained that the racing was boring.
Why?
Because Dale Earnhardt Junior didn’t win a race; at least according to some.
Arguably NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Junior has suffered through the last few seasons watching while his four Hendrick Motorsports teammates have owned the sport.
But is his lack of on-track performance the reason for NASCAR’s woes of the track?
When a star in any sport suffers through a low time, it may be true that a few people might turn their attention elsewhere, but the fact remains that the sport itself still goes on. Games, or races, are still held and winners are still chosen. And while a star players struggle may be news, the entire sport doesn’t revolve around it, and neither has NASCAR.
Last year Jimmie Johnson made history, Mark Martin made us smile, Tony Stewart showed that guys who want to go their own way can still be competitive and a wild finish at Talladega in the spring were just a few of the highlights. Meanwhile Dale Earnhardt Junior struggled on the sidelines. He lost a crew chief, had executive level meetings to try and figure out what was wrong and still he struggled. But he wasn’t the cause of NASCAR’s woes.
NASCAR has addressed certain areas, less rule enforcement, bigger restrictor plates, spoilers, and more consistent start times.
Earnhardt has made changes as well. With some crew changes, some introspection among the team and a brand new season nearly here, Earnhardt hopes for a turnaround.
But even if Earnhardt doesn’t find success, and if the changes NASCAR made aren’t successful, the woes of last year or this coming year can’t be pinned on one single person. NASCAR is a bigger sport than one single person and always will be.
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Comments
DALE JR IS NOT THE REASON FANS ARE NOT GOING TWO
RACE
JIM
As a Jr fan I would like to see him run better and win again. But the reason I think people are staying away is the cookie cutter car, it's taken more away from the racing than nascar thinks. It's boring.
Thank you thank you thank you. (Not that just because you wrote it..it's so..but it's good to see those words in writing.) I am neither a Junior lover or hater..to me he is just another guy in the field. Albeit, a very popular guy, but a guy who is running mid pack on his best days. Do I think if Junior decided to quit racing after this season NASCAR would close it's doors..NO! Do I think NASCAR thinks they would close their doors if Junior quit after this season...YES! And..that's the problem. NASCAR has banked it's big bucks behind the Earnhardt name..and the perception is they would close..that's not the reality. BUT...if you keep putting all your eggs in one basket...how long before "perception" becomes "reality"? The media is NOT helping this..When ESPN covered the 2009 races..they had a "Pit Crew Challenge" ..and Junior's crew was ALWAYS in second...come on folks...Junior, his pit crew, and his pitting were for the most part a "DISASTER" is that reality or perception?
Aww son, you've got a lot to learn.
The problem with NASCAR is not JR. It is NASCAR iyself namely Brian France and Mike Helton making the worst decisions in the world as it relates to racing weather it is the CHASE or race day calls favoring some drivers over other and idiotic decisions like that of Carl Long. This simply turns people off and that includes potential sponsors who know they will not get fair value on television.
Not just the cookie cutter cars, but the cookie cutter tracks. We need more short tracks. Bring back North Wilkesborro.
Dale Jr is unarguably the most popular driver. There is no debate.
Dale Jr winning would bring a lot more excitement into the sport. Have you ever been to a race when He has won? The atmosphere is far more electric than when any other driver wins. It helps that he goes to victory lane fewer than most of the other drivers that win races. When Dale Jr win's something you can just see the excitement when he talks, because he know's how hard it is to pull off a win. Jimmie Johnson, seems like he is just going through the motions when he wins, because it happens all the time.
The new "have at it" attitude that NASCAR has granted them, will make no difference. It is the sponsors that have the reigns on the drivers personalities. The spoiler won't change much, because spoiler or wing on the car, Jimmie is still going to win the most races.
The chase has to go, it has caused all the points racing that is boring us to death.
As long as they keep points racing there will be boring, long green flag runs, on cookie cutter tracks with the cars all strung out, and the leader 6 seconds out front.
People keep saying that this is a make or break year for Dale Jr. Hell, I think this might be a make or break year for the sactioning body that is NASCAR. I think people are getting sick of the Corporate sponsors that have taken over the sport, the boring races, and the lack of driver personalities. Add that to the COT car's their racing and if we dont see some excitement fans are going to be fed up, in turn sponsors will leave the sport(even though its their own doing that the drivers are boring).
Some excitement is going to need to come from somewhere, and Jr might just be the only source that it can come from.
Not true just because you say so! Earnhardt has a magnetism that no other driver has....and Nascar does NOT have in this day and age. Yes, Nascar will dry up without Junior. Junior represents the KIND of fans Nascar draws. No other driver does.
It is NOT about reason. It is about an emotion Junior can draw out. You CANNOT mandate emotion.
Just more JR. BLAH,...BLAH,...BLAH.....
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