The new Junior

MRM

MRM

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I am not really to declare Dale Jr. will win the championship this year. But we certainly have a new Junior. I've seen it on TV and have heard those that cover NASCAR say Junior seems happier than he has in a long time. Add to that the piece ESPN did on Junior and Letarte during the pre-race show, some of the comments by both were interesting. The main one that grabbed my attention was Letarte requiring Junior to be at the shop and at the garage area on time with Junior saying he's never been asked to do that in his career.

Junior looks as if he's finally that focused and determined driver many people thought he might be when he moved into Cup all those years ago. As much as I have ragged on Junior all these years and aggravated his fans, it looks like Junior has turned the corner. Better late than never I suppose.
 
Have you seen his new girlfriend? I am sure he is much more "relaxed" these days. ;)
 
I've noticed Jr and Smoke with lady friends lately, two of the most celebrated bachelors in Nascar maybe settling down. Jr does seems more focused, he certainly has been more consistent this year than I can remember in a long time. I think he has a good shot at winning the championship, but it will be tough to beat JJ.
 
Mopardh9 said:
I've noticed Jr and Smoke with lady friends lately, two of the most celebrated bachelors in Nascar maybe settling down. Jr does seems more focused, he certainly has been more consistent this year than I can remember in a long time. I think he has a good shot at winning the championship, but it will be tough to beat JJ.
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That actually made me chuckle.

I can't speak for Jr, but for Tony "settling down" means remembering the girls name the next day so he doesn't have to call her "Bud." :D
 
Smoke14 said:
That actually made me chuckle.

I can't speak for Jr, but for Tony "settling down" means remembering the girls name the next day so he doesn't have to call her "Bud." :D
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I have seen Smoke with the same girl next to him before races now for a few weeks, must be a record for him.
 
Mopardh9 said:
I have seen Smoke with the same girl next to him before races now for a few weeks, must be a record for him.
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There most likely is a reason for this. The bass fisherwoman he dated a while back lasted longer that any other. Tony needed her boat. ;)
 
Junior is doing better, more positive etc... Everything is lovely, birds a sanging, seriously a good story. But same old Jimmie beats Jr during the chase.
 
Greg said:
Junior is doing better, more positive etc... Everything is lovely, birds a sanging, seriously a good story. But same old Jimmie beats Jr during the chase.
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I have to agree here, Junior may be having the best season of his career so far, but I doubt he will be able to out perform guys who manipulate the chase perfectly like team 48 or even 14 after what we saw last year.
 
Fan or not, it's great for the sport that JR is having the year he is. He's completed every lap, won a race at Michigan and is leading the points. I'd like to see him add to the win total this year and with the way he's running I think it's more than possible. I think JR would make a great champion, and with Jeff pretty much out of the cards at this point, I'd be happy seeing him get it this year.
 
JR is focused this year, there is no doubt about that. Does anyone have a pic of his current GF?
 
The new Jr? Ah, if you say so. Seems to be the same guy that I've been rooting for forever. Nice to see all of the new found attention though. :cool:
 
If it were the old points system I'd pick JR to win it all. However there is no way he can keep up with the #48 or the #14(if it goes like last year) in the chase.
 
Stewart Fan said:
If it were the old points system I'd pick JR to win it all. However there is no way he can keep up with the #48 or the #14(if it goes like last year) in the chase.
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So Jimmy and Smoke have been holding back eh ? Not showing their cards ? About to rip off five wins in a row? Okay , the count is on. Let em have it .
 
ted@economy said:
So Jimmy and Smoke have been holding back eh ? Not showing their cards ? About to rip off five wins in a row? Okay , the count is on. Let em have it .
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If you look at the chase run smoke went on last year that could actually be the case...
 
I do think Jr is more confident now than he was a couple of years ago. A driver is more than the face of the team, his example sets a precedent.
Crew members for Stewart and Johnson imo have an edge, or it is easier to believe there working for the man, the driver that can deliver in the clutch. (Brad K is close to that level too).


You can't have a driver who doesn't have his chin up, wkth a winners attitude and grit,
Jr still has to prove that he can take control during the chase, but I do think his team has more to believe in now than they would have had a couple of years ago. Not there yet, but progressing.
 
Mopardh9 said:
I have seen Smoke with the same girl next to him before races now for a few weeks, must be a record for him.
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I got to meet Tony at Eldora two years ago...I said my name and said Hey! and this is Donna. Smoke said "good to meet you man..this is my girl Cindy"

We all shook hands and later my Lady said...since I may need to talk to her later...her name was actually Cathy.
 
Tony1930 said:
I got to meet Tony at Eldora two years ago...I said my name and said Hey! and this is Donna. Smoke said "good to meet you man..this is my girl Cindy"

We all shook hands and later my Lady said...since I may need to talk to her later...her name was actually Cathy.
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ROFL
 
I posted this on another thread. DP the good news is he was walking around the garage and rv lot like he owned the damned place, like he used to do. He has that stride and spark of old back. He just may make it all the way to a cup
 
Johali said:
He has that stride and spark of old back. He just may make it all the way to a cup
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That's about as likely as Snoop Dog changing his name to Snoop Lion. Wait, what? Err, that's about as likely as a new chain of restaurants opening up that were inspired by the Beatles. Wait, what? OK, that's about as likely as the game of badminton becoming the top story of the day in the Olympics. Wait what, are you serious? OK, I give up..... I think you're right. ;)
 
The 'new Jr.' jacks up and works on his own car these days. :cool:

The 'new Jr.' brings his woman to the track these days. :D

The 'new Jr.' finishes 32nd and still retains his points lead these days. :)

Go 'new Jr.'!
drive.gif
 
It was real cool watching him jump out of the car and grab the jack. If he keeps this up, I'll be rooting for him in the chase.
 
FenderBumper said:
It was real cool watching him jump out of the car and grab the jack. If he keeps this up, I'll be rooting for him in the chase.
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Been rooting for him for 3 or 4 years, hate to see any top tier driver go through what he did. :headbang:
 
Johali said:
Been rooting for him for 3 or 4 years, hate to see any top tier driver go through what he did.
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That's the beauty of nascar. There's a choice of 43 guys to root for every weekend. Right now I'm a Kez fan, mainly because I enjoy watching new drivers come up and have success. I can be happy rooting for Jeff Gordon, Jr, Biffle or Matt. I even rooted for Tony late in the chase because he was the one who could beat Carl. I've been waiting for Stenhouse to get to cup, then he'll be the driver I follow most. Drivers are like girl friends. New was always more exciting.
 
dpkimmel2001 said:
Wow..... Do I feel old!
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Remember when JG first showed up in NASCAR 1990? With Bill Davis and we all called him "That Kid"? Every time I hear some one refer to him as an Old Man in NASCAR I kinda cringe.
 
Junyer looked focused last year as well. He could taste victory lane last year and he put in the effort this year to make sure he gets back there. I bet those two races that Harvick got the best of Junyer boosted Junyer's confidence and motivated him to close the deal this year.
 
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