Junior Got Clocked!
There’s an old axiom that says “The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree…” and it’s used to describe how closely a person’s offspring resembles and/or 
acts like their parent. Evidently this isn’t necessarily true in NASCAR. The two 
greatest drivers in the sport were followed by sons who, for whatever reason, have not risen to the same heights. Yes, there are other examples of young drivers with well-known names who have performed very well at the top level of the sport (Dale Jarrett and Davey Allison immediately come to mind), but they are few and far between… This shortfall was excruciatingly evident in yesterday’s finale at Martinsville's Goody's 500. Just for a few moments in time (the final two laps), imagine Dale Earnhardt Sr. was behind the wheel of the 88 Chevrolet instead of Dale Jr. Given everything else being equal, who do you think would have crossed the finish line first? _________
______________________________________________ But what we got was 
Kevin Harvick explaining on the post-race interview how sorry he was to be the bad guy for winning the race and then expressing thanks to Junior for driving clean. This while Junior was apologizing to Kyle Busch for bumping him and then hanging his head in his own interview wishing he had won the clock! _______________________________________________________ Man! It’s been what, almost 100 Cup races since Dale last visited victory lane? _______________________________________________________ I’m thinkin’ the Martinsville crowd 
would have literally gone bonkers if Dale had punted Kevin for the win, I know I would’ve been and I’m not what you’d call even a remote Earnhardt fan… My apologies to you Harvick fans, but that one move for the win by the sport’s most popular driver would have been like a tonic to NASCAR. Junior’s victory in a manner so reminiscent of “The Intimidator” would have been splashed all over the sporting news wires each and every day of the next week. The news would have done wonders for a sport that’s been floundering with fans starving for such a thing… A victory like that would have been remembered for years to come. ________________________________________________________ Yeah, I know. Then we would have been inundated by the whining conspiracy theorists.
There’s an old axiom that says “The fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree…” and it’s used to describe how closely a person’s offspring resembles and/or 
acts like their parent. Evidently this isn’t necessarily true in NASCAR. The two 
greatest drivers in the sport were followed by sons who, for whatever reason, have not risen to the same heights. Yes, there are other examples of young drivers with well-known names who have performed very well at the top level of the sport (Dale Jarrett and Davey Allison immediately come to mind), but they are few and far between… This shortfall was excruciatingly evident in yesterday’s finale at Martinsville's Goody's 500. Just for a few moments in time (the final two laps), imagine Dale Earnhardt Sr. was behind the wheel of the 88 Chevrolet instead of Dale Jr. Given everything else being equal, who do you think would have crossed the finish line first? _________
______________________________________________ But what we got was 
Kevin Harvick explaining on the post-race interview how sorry he was to be the bad guy for winning the race and then expressing thanks to Junior for driving clean. This while Junior was apologizing to Kyle Busch for bumping him and then hanging his head in his own interview wishing he had won the clock! _______________________________________________________ Man! It’s been what, almost 100 Cup races since Dale last visited victory lane? _______________________________________________________ I’m thinkin’ the Martinsville crowd 
would have literally gone bonkers if Dale had punted Kevin for the win, I know I would’ve been and I’m not what you’d call even a remote Earnhardt fan… My apologies to you Harvick fans, but that one move for the win by the sport’s most popular driver would have been like a tonic to NASCAR. Junior’s victory in a manner so reminiscent of “The Intimidator” would have been splashed all over the sporting news wires each and every day of the next week. The news would have done wonders for a sport that’s been floundering with fans starving for such a thing… A victory like that would have been remembered for years to come. ________________________________________________________ Yeah, I know. Then we would have been inundated by the whining conspiracy theorists.
So, what are you saying Dwindy? LOL
ReplyDeleteDale Jr has never been Dale Sr. No one has, so it can't be fair to compare them. Same name is where the similarities end.
ReplyDeleteNASCAR should have thrown a yellow at the end, for a G,W,C finish. Harvick and Jr side-by-side, with Kyle right on Kev's bumper.
I dunno Dwindy - Junyer had a different car when he was beating and passing Kyle and Happy had the fastest car of all three of them. He tried the cross over on Happy - set it up perfect but didnt have the car that could do it.
ReplyDeleteWrecking anyone for the win is not Junyer's style, never has been and never will be. Other than Senior, there has never been any "honor" in winning that way for any of the drivers, and I'd argue that's a good thing. Punting is not racing - I prefer finesse!
Okay everybody...
ReplyDeleteThe idea behind this post is just what you're pointing out. You're preaching to the choir.
I'm just hoping these fine points in Junior's make up will come home to roost in all those rabid Junior fans' minds... He's not a chip off the old block. Far from it and yet the fans are trying to superimpose the father on the son and it's just not going to happen...
You all have to admit that it would have really stirred the pot if Junior had taken out the Bakersfield Basher... (BTW, how'd he get that nickname anyway?).
And another thing... there's always been that punt maneuver in NASCAR. It goes way back to the roots of the sport and you can't tell me the fans don't expect it (heck they want it!) and when it isn't carried out they're disappointed. Like it or not, it's part of the fabric of NASCAR.
True the punt has been around forever but one of the reasons California's finish was so spectacular was precisely because it was a RACE to the finish between three extremely talented drivers not a WRECK to the finish...If Jr would have taken out the Bakersfield Basher the pot would have only been stirred about him having no talent and only able to win it by wrecking Happy. Dont blame Jr one bit for racing clean for the win...
ReplyDeleteHey Dwindy!
ReplyDeleteI LIKE the Bakersfield Basher as a nickname for Kevin Harvick! He drives more like Dale Sr. than Dale Jr. does. Dale Jr. is more of a finesse driver. The crossover move would have been sweet; the only problem is that Dale Jr didn't have the car to pull it off. Jr's speed was dropping off precipitously and Happy was by FAR the fastest car on the track. (In fact, on one of those final 10 laps, Happy recorded the fastest lap by anyone in the ENTIRE RACE.)
As far as the punt, back in the day it was called the chrome horn, when bumpers were solid steel with chrome plating. Good analysis!
Kristen...
ReplyDeleteThe mellow media coverage we're seeing after this weekend's race would have been magnified by a factor of 5 or even 10 if that Intimidator move had been carried out by the sport's most popular star (and his popularity wouldn't have suffered one bit). That's just what NASCAR needs...
Yes good, clean racing is great for established fans, but it's pretty ho-hum for the instant gratification crowd.
"Junior Punts Harvick To Win" would have really been something. It's just not Junior's style and here we are...
LOL jon!
ReplyDeleteThe Basher is a good handle... Did you know Kevin was a pretty fair wrestler in high school? Now there's a sport that breeds self-confidence.
I'm not sure if the coverage you watched analyzed Kevin's pass and the subsequent cross over Junior made, but if you look at it closely, the door was wide open for Jr. to turn Kevin. It was a split second and it almost looked like Dale was going to do it then backed off. If you can, look at how long Kevin's driver side rear panel was right there for the bumping...
Hold on tight jon! I think you may be on a great ride this year!
It would have ben a crowd favorite moment to see Jr. make such a move but he didn't and it surprised me he didn't knowing how much he needed a win. But that is Jr. Can't fault him there.
ReplyDeleteConsidering his past results, coming in second is a great morale booster for the Jr. nation. Perhaps he may well just win a race soon. HE is long overdue for one.
Dwindy, there's still a LOT of racing left. But the 29 team is clicking now, and if they can be the first to make the Chase (and have about 6-8 wins when the Chase starts), they'll be VERY difficult to beat, especially if JJ only has a couple of wins under his belt going into the Chase.
ReplyDeletephotogr...
ReplyDeleteI've been quilty of trying to superimpose the father's racing style on the son too but I came to realize a while back it just wasn't true... And yes, it would have been quite a quake felt around NASCAR if Jr. had pulled off that maneuver for the win.
So when will he next win fair and square?