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TonyB
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From The Gaston Gazette
by Monte Dutton
Gazette Sports Reporter
AVONDALE, Ariz. — After winning the Checker 500, Dale Earnhardt Jr. conducted a press conference in the infield media center, which is located behind pit road in the Phoenix International Raceway infield.
One side of the press-conference area is bordered by windows. Early in the question-and-answer session, a young woman walked up to the window and bared a part of her anatomy that is typically concealed by clothing.
A large contingent of the media — and, of course, Junior himself — witnessed the incident, which set off quite the raucous scene.
Earnhardt Jr. waited for the whoops and laughter to subside; then, with a sense of timing that Bob Hope would have envied, leaned into the microphone and said, “The demographic of this sport is changing.”
Meanwhile, the ample young woman was being led away outside.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will almost surely not win the championship — not yet — won his second race of the season. Yet his popularity, at least in terms of readily visible intensity, is something of which this sport has never seen the likes.
One wonders what would happen if Junior won the championship. What if he, not Ryan Newman, had won eight races this year?
Would his fans riot? Would there be dancing in the streets? Would he be elected governor by acclamation? Would he be on the cover of the Rolling Stone?
Oops. That’s happened already.
For the driver himself, it’s a great problem to have … as long as there is some modest level of control. Earnhardt Jr. has penned (with the help of an associate) a bestseller, made videos starred in popular commercials. If he so desired, he could probably become, like Elvis, a movie star. All he lacks is a movie.
Earnhardt said he hadn’t really considered the consequences of his already extraordinary popularity gone stark, raving mad.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’d hate to have to put up with what D.W. (Darrell Waltrip) did when he wasn’t popular. I remember when he got booed to death. I try to stay composed and keep it in perspective.
“I think people cheer for us not because we win or lose; they cheer for us because of who we are. I’m really proud of my fans.”
Mainly, though, through the whole bizarre scene, he just laughed, probably the most when it was suggested that perhaps he owed the young woman outside the window a set of beads.
It was a priceless moment in the life of stock-car racing’s first rock star. One reality he may have to deal with is this: In contrast to most of his peers, it’s unlikely he will ever fly past the limits of his fame. He will never be underrated or underexposed. The best he can hope for is to run it — his popularity and stardom — a good race.
by Monte Dutton
Gazette Sports Reporter
AVONDALE, Ariz. — After winning the Checker 500, Dale Earnhardt Jr. conducted a press conference in the infield media center, which is located behind pit road in the Phoenix International Raceway infield.
One side of the press-conference area is bordered by windows. Early in the question-and-answer session, a young woman walked up to the window and bared a part of her anatomy that is typically concealed by clothing.
A large contingent of the media — and, of course, Junior himself — witnessed the incident, which set off quite the raucous scene.
Earnhardt Jr. waited for the whoops and laughter to subside; then, with a sense of timing that Bob Hope would have envied, leaned into the microphone and said, “The demographic of this sport is changing.”
Meanwhile, the ample young woman was being led away outside.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will almost surely not win the championship — not yet — won his second race of the season. Yet his popularity, at least in terms of readily visible intensity, is something of which this sport has never seen the likes.
One wonders what would happen if Junior won the championship. What if he, not Ryan Newman, had won eight races this year?
Would his fans riot? Would there be dancing in the streets? Would he be elected governor by acclamation? Would he be on the cover of the Rolling Stone?
Oops. That’s happened already.
For the driver himself, it’s a great problem to have … as long as there is some modest level of control. Earnhardt Jr. has penned (with the help of an associate) a bestseller, made videos starred in popular commercials. If he so desired, he could probably become, like Elvis, a movie star. All he lacks is a movie.
Earnhardt said he hadn’t really considered the consequences of his already extraordinary popularity gone stark, raving mad.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’d hate to have to put up with what D.W. (Darrell Waltrip) did when he wasn’t popular. I remember when he got booed to death. I try to stay composed and keep it in perspective.
“I think people cheer for us not because we win or lose; they cheer for us because of who we are. I’m really proud of my fans.”
Mainly, though, through the whole bizarre scene, he just laughed, probably the most when it was suggested that perhaps he owed the young woman outside the window a set of beads.
It was a priceless moment in the life of stock-car racing’s first rock star. One reality he may have to deal with is this: In contrast to most of his peers, it’s unlikely he will ever fly past the limits of his fame. He will never be underrated or underexposed. The best he can hope for is to run it — his popularity and stardom — a good race.
