It seems that 2007 has been
a season of controversy both on and off the track. After recently reading Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Mediocre Driver with a Million Fans by Joe Jacobs on the StockCar Review website, I decided that I should add
my voice to the millions of voices of Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans that were upset by this article.
First off I would ask Mr. Jacobs
and all those that agree with this article to tell me what they think of Matt Kenseth. Would you consider Matt a mediocre
driver? I think that most fans and members of the media would agree that week-in and week-out Matt Kenseth is considered a
threat to win any race. He is a consistent top five finisher, top ten on a really bad day. Kenseth is highly respected
by other drivers, crew chiefs, owners and even the fans that don't pull for him as their favorite driver. I have personally
met Kenseth and he is just as laid back, quiet and easy going as everyone assumes that he is.
On the other hand, I get the
feeling that once he puts that helmet on and climbs inside that car, he transforms (like Underdog in the phone booth) into
a monster. I can nearly see him with a scowl on his face, gritting his teeth as he bears down on the next car that he
is passing. He seems to have many fans that support him but he may never get the attention that he deserves from the
fans simply because he is not one to demand (or command) it.
Yes, I am a member of Junior.
Nation and as far as I am concerned he is the man. I was not a Dale Earnhardt Sr. fan and at the time of his death, I had
not paid a great deal of attention to Earnhardt Jr.But just like most of the
racing world, I was devastated my Dale Sr.’s death. After the death of his dad I decided to pull for Jr. just as
a young man who I felt needed a great deal of support.
As I watched him I saw him
improve as a driver, mature as a person and become as famous as a rock star, I noticed something about him. He went from
being a somewhat shy boy, living in the shadow of a legend to an incredibly mature, thoughtful, intelligent and funny young
man respected by not only his peers but by many that had never paid any attention to racing. He could have walked away,
no one would have held it against him. Instead he decided to take on the challenge of following in those huge footsteps left
by his dad. I think that he not only filled those shoes but he filled those hearts that were left empty and broken.
Maybe he will not be the greatest race car driver, who knows and who cares.
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What I do know that he
is far from mediocre and he does, in fact, have more wins than Matt Kenseth (that was the reason for the comparison,
in case you think I lost track) If you look at the statistics for 2007, he was at the top of the field in most every category. If
he had been given the equipment to finish the race, he would have been in the Chase and most likely would have finished the
season in the top 3. Next year with Hendrick equipment, I expect we will finally see how good Jr. really is. When
history is written, I do not expect Dale Earnhardt Jr. to be listed with "mediocre" beside his name, I expect to see "Champion."
2006 StockCar Review.
