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An Earnhardt With No Heart, And Little Class
Posted on June 10, 2004
By Ron Thornton
Up in my closet hangs my Dale Earnhardt Junior sweat shirt. My head is often adorned by my Dale Earnhardt cap. Beside my bed is my current book, Junior's "Driver #8." So, why do I think my favorite driver is presently a first class, no class, jerk?
Well, his recently reported comments at a Pepsi promotion at Daytona International Speedway regarding Michael Waltrip's future with DEI sure might have something to do with it. While admitting that Waltrip would like to finish his career with DEI, Earnhardt was quoted as saying "I don't see the chances of that being so good right now. But we haven't made a decision yet." These were not the words of the owner, Teresa Earnhardt, but of the team-mate, albeit one we expect has the ear of his stepmother. The timing of the statements are rather bizarre, considering they came on the heels of Waltrip's second place finish at the Coco Cola 600. "He puts up a good argument for himself. But we need results out of that team,'' says Junior.
Okay, let us forget for a moment that cutting the legs from under your team-mate or employee through a third party is bush league. After a rough start to the season, let us take a look at the performance of that #15 NAPA team, to see if there has been any results as of late. Since Talladega in late April, the team has been the seventh best in Nextel Cup racing. Only Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin, and Jeff Gordon have done better. Not Matt Kenseth. Not Ryan Newman. Not Jamie McMurray, Not Kasey Kahne. Not Rusty Wallace. Not Greg Biffle. If Earnhardt is looking for results out of that team, then I suggest he start looking.
Over the past three races alone, Waltrip has moved from 30th to 20th in the standings, with three top tens. Only Earnhardt and Stewart have been better in that time. In fact, not only has Waltrip had the third best run in points since they took to the track in Richmond, he has been more than 150 points better than Terry Labonte, Newman, Biffle, Gordon, and Sterling Marlin. Still, Junior is looking for results?
Maybe at 41, Waltrip is just like an old mule ready to be taken out behind the shed and shot, if for no other reason than to make room for Busch driver Martin Truex, Jr, which Earnhardt denies, or for some other unfathomable reason. Waltrip's contract does run out after this season and while no one else on the circuit, other than Earnhardt himself, comes even close to the veteran's marketability, maybe Waltrip should move on. Maybe there is some logical reason kicking around in the collective craniums at DEI that might warrant such a move, one that remains a mystery to me.
However, nothing they have rattling around upstairs would condone Earnhardt going public at this time unless he was hoping to ensure that Waltrip, and a few of his fans, hit the road in disgust. If that is the plan, then Junior is executing it with precision, but with little honor.
Posted on June 10, 2004
By Ron Thornton
Up in my closet hangs my Dale Earnhardt Junior sweat shirt. My head is often adorned by my Dale Earnhardt cap. Beside my bed is my current book, Junior's "Driver #8." So, why do I think my favorite driver is presently a first class, no class, jerk?
Well, his recently reported comments at a Pepsi promotion at Daytona International Speedway regarding Michael Waltrip's future with DEI sure might have something to do with it. While admitting that Waltrip would like to finish his career with DEI, Earnhardt was quoted as saying "I don't see the chances of that being so good right now. But we haven't made a decision yet." These were not the words of the owner, Teresa Earnhardt, but of the team-mate, albeit one we expect has the ear of his stepmother. The timing of the statements are rather bizarre, considering they came on the heels of Waltrip's second place finish at the Coco Cola 600. "He puts up a good argument for himself. But we need results out of that team,'' says Junior.
Okay, let us forget for a moment that cutting the legs from under your team-mate or employee through a third party is bush league. After a rough start to the season, let us take a look at the performance of that #15 NAPA team, to see if there has been any results as of late. Since Talladega in late April, the team has been the seventh best in Nextel Cup racing. Only Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte, Mark Martin, and Jeff Gordon have done better. Not Matt Kenseth. Not Ryan Newman. Not Jamie McMurray, Not Kasey Kahne. Not Rusty Wallace. Not Greg Biffle. If Earnhardt is looking for results out of that team, then I suggest he start looking.
Over the past three races alone, Waltrip has moved from 30th to 20th in the standings, with three top tens. Only Earnhardt and Stewart have been better in that time. In fact, not only has Waltrip had the third best run in points since they took to the track in Richmond, he has been more than 150 points better than Terry Labonte, Newman, Biffle, Gordon, and Sterling Marlin. Still, Junior is looking for results?
Maybe at 41, Waltrip is just like an old mule ready to be taken out behind the shed and shot, if for no other reason than to make room for Busch driver Martin Truex, Jr, which Earnhardt denies, or for some other unfathomable reason. Waltrip's contract does run out after this season and while no one else on the circuit, other than Earnhardt himself, comes even close to the veteran's marketability, maybe Waltrip should move on. Maybe there is some logical reason kicking around in the collective craniums at DEI that might warrant such a move, one that remains a mystery to me.
However, nothing they have rattling around upstairs would condone Earnhardt going public at this time unless he was hoping to ensure that Waltrip, and a few of his fans, hit the road in disgust. If that is the plan, then Junior is executing it with precision, but with little honor.
