What is it about Dale Earnhardt Jr that made him NASCAR Most Popular Driver 14 times in a row?

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furredracer88

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I don't mean this as a insult or anything but what exactly makes him so loved that he gets voted by the fans most popular driver so may times?
 
He is a big fan of the sport plus somewhat of a crossover personality enough of a redneck to attract old fans and a bit of a headbanger to bring in some new ones in the old days. Also, when your competition has personalities like the Busch brothers and Harvick it can't be hard to win a personality contest.
 
He definitely got a lot of name recognition right off the bat. But he has also sustained the support long since that initial boost.
Call him redneck if it makes you feel better. I have never been bothered by being called one. Some of the best people I know are called rednecks by a few. Dale Jr is good guy, more like a real positive, amd he carrys that attribute in a very natural way. He seems very genuine.

As an aside I am thinking having a good fan club with some good organization helps too.
Not sure why the award is that significant to so many. It nice to have, but it is crumbs when compared to wins and championships. IMO.
 
His Dad....Never have a seen a sport grieve so long....and I really don't think it will ever end. He is a piece of what was taken too soon.
 
In Bill Elliott's day, I believe the MPD voting was done by mail. People were content to spend a few pennies and vote once.

I recall today's 'Most Popular Driver' vote is conducted on a web site that allows someone to vote daily. Maybe Jr.s fans vote repeatedly in numbers out of proportion to his actual popularity. Of course, the case could be made that someone with fans that motivated likely is at the top of the popularity scale.
 
Some of the drivers today come across as spoiled,entitled adolescents that I wouldn't tolerate that behavior from my own children.The NASCAR news yesterday was about drivers in a Twitter war,calling each other moron.My 25 year old son said NASCAR drivers need to grow up.He said he's surprised they don't throw temper tantrums when things don't go their way.There was a saying about how you are not judged how you handle success,but how you handle failure.I am impressed how JR. has handled this years problems.
 
darlingtonfan said:
Some of the drivers today come across as spoiled,entitled adolescents.....My 25 year old son said NASCAR drivers need to grow up.....He said he's surprised they don't throw temper tantrums when things don't go their way.
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You've just described KDB
 
His dad helped him... however if dale jr had not carried so much class and have a good attitude towards things he wouldn't have kept the attention he has had this whole time...
 
1. He is a good clean driver
2. He has matured over the years.
3. His interviews. They are not and endless plug for his spnsors.
4. His personality
5. His social presence.
6. He is respected by the other drivers.
7. He is respected by NASCAR.
8. He is respected by the media
9. His dad
10. His dog named Gus.
 
Never thought of myself as a redneck --- but I guess I am since I'm Texan. :D
I was a Big E fan, but have never felt the same about Junior. Oh, I root for him(and several others).
He just seems like an ordinary person living an extraordinary life. He doesn't pretend he's anything other
that what he is --- no pretensions.
 
DIDIT said:
1. He is a good clean driver
2. He has matured over the years.
3. His interviews. They are not and endless plug for his spnsors.
4. His personality
5. His social presence.
6. He is respected by the other drivers.
7. He is respected by NASCAR.
8. He is respected by the media
9. His dad
10. His dog named Gus.
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TexasRaceLady said:
He just seems like an ordinary person living an extraordinary life. He doesn't pretend he's anything other
that what he is --- no pretensions.
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These are the same reasons that I've always liked him and rooted for him to succeed.
 
It's ok to use the term "Redneck" here, which is a derogatory term. So does Jr have any Snow Mexican fans?
 
His dad's fans, the 1999 Budweiser Countdown to E day ( his Winston Cup Debut), Budweiser and Jr just being right for each other in terms of the marketing that got the whole Jr machine rolling ( Budweiser commercials are legendary. The lipstick one is still my favorite one to this day) Mountain Dew and Nationwide commercials were/are humorous, his being the last link left to the old days, and he seems like a genuine down to earth guy
 
I like him for his personality. People can say it's to do with his dad all they want but was Kerry ever this popular? Like I mentioned in the thread about Harvick's comments I have watched Jr far far more than I watched his daddy race. He's just a good likeable dude. Sure he isn't the best driver, nowhere even near the best. But being popular shouldn't have to do with who's the best. Sometimes the best drivers are also the biggest assholes.
 
I am not sure if it was his dad, Dale Sr had his fans but every other fan base despised him or at least wanted to see their driver beat him. I guess he kept fans from the backward hat wearing days it is amazing he drove in half the races last year and still won the award
 
Charlie Spencer said:
In Bill Elliott's day, I believe the MPD voting was done by mail. People were content to spend a few pennies and vote once.

I recall today's 'Most Popular Driver' vote is conducted on a web site that allows someone to vote daily. Maybe Jr.s fans vote repeatedly in numbers out of proportion to his actual popularity. Of course, the case could be made that someone with fans that motivated likely is at the top of the popularity scale.
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Even back in the dark ages of snail mail, Bill Elliott's fan club had a very strong network of people and they emphasized voting for the MPD. Sitting in the stands, it was obvious to anyone with eyes that there were probably 3-4 times more Dale Earnhardt fans in the stands than Elliott fans, but for whatever reason, they never mobilized like Elliott's people did. In the electronic age, the Dale Jr. fanbase websites always had a very strong "get out the vote" message. I know the one major JR forum would remind people each and every day to vote. By comparison, on the major Jeff Gordon forum, it was hardly mentioned. I don't know why these things were the case, but just like in real world politics, those who get out the vote win elections. On the other hand, I have closely followed this sport since 1981, have had several superstars that I have supported, but have never cast a single MPD vote for ANY of them. Go figure.
 
His dad was never the most popular until he died but Jr is completely different from his dad I believe Kyle Busch is more like Sr. than Jr. is. He's a good guy and people would like to see him do better but he does what he can. Had a good career and been a great ambassador for the sport.
 
for what its worth I think dale jr is actually a pretty likable guy aside from his last name. He was asked how he wanted to be remembered and he said something that stuck out to me. He said he wanted to be known as an honest man that treated people honorably and was a good person to work with. basically something to the effect that he wanted to be remembered as a person with very good character and virtue, or something to that effect. I also like the fact that he tries to run his business on a budget and make decisions that makes his company stand on its own. I think dale jr is a pretty decent business man, I think he was well served by his up bringing of having to earn his way up. He does try to know some technical stuff about the cars which I also think it cool. bottom line is, take away the famous last name and just rate him on his accomplishments on the race track only and I think he would still be a popular driver. maybe not the sports most popular driver but still a guy with alot of fans.
 
Dale Jr would be Jeff Burton if he didn't have his last name. Last time I checked that's still pretty good.
 
Simple Fan said:
His dad was never the most popular until he died but Jr is completely different from his dad I believe Kyle Busch is more like Sr. than Jr. is. He's a good guy and people would like to see him do better but he does what he can. Had a good career and been a great ambassador for the sport.
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I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.
 
Charlie Spencer said:
In Bill Elliott's day, I believe the MPD voting was done by mail. People were content to spend a few pennies and vote once.

I recall today's 'Most Popular Driver' vote is conducted on a web site that allows someone to vote daily. Maybe Jr.s fans vote repeatedly in numbers out of proportion to his actual popularity. Of course, the case could be made that someone with fans that motivated likely is at the top of the popularity scale.
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I have an aunt that was a big Bill Elliott fan, she'd send dozens of votes for Bill every year. She'd send votes in other people's name according to my uncle, who was a big Earnhardt Sr fan.
 
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