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Expectations Set Too High For Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Going to drive for the powerhouse team of Hendrick Motorsports with his new number and strong
sponsors was going to be the magic bullet for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008.
With Hendrick winning the most races in 2007 as well as the championship, insert the talent and desire
of Junior into the fold and you have a surefire key to success. Even veterans like Darrell Waltrip stepped
up and said that he would win six races in 2008, but was all of the optimism overlooking one important
point?
What are the realistic expectations for a new driver and team combination to come out of the gate and
perform? Normally a team in that situation would figure on the first ten races being the ‘learning curve‘.
With that in mind, look at the performance of Dale Jr. so far in ‘08. He sits 3rd in points with an average
finish of 11th, 1-pole, 3-top 5’s and 7-top 10’s. He has run up front, led laps and has been in contention
to win several times and while some other teams might use their newness as an excuse they are wanting
more.
High expectations and lofty goals are fine just as long as they go along with a dose of patience. Sure,
the majority of the ‘team’ already existed as far as the cars, the shop and personnel, but the chemistry,
understanding the driver’s needs in the car and working together as one well oiled machine is all new for
the no. 88 team. For them to come right out of the gate and put up the numbers that they have is an
amazing feat.
The pressure to perform and more importantly to win races is evident in Earnhardt’s demeanor. His
words speak of how he is happy about the way they [the team] are performing and that he has taken
pride in making sure the no. 88 car gets a good finish each week, but his expressions and tone of voice
tell a different story. He wants to win.
What he has been able to accomplish so far this season is probably a better barometer of long term
success than short term satisfaction. A win does not make a season for a driver. The way that he is
running is the stuff that championships are made of. Finishing consistently in the top 10 for the first half
of the season and getting a couple of wins in the second half will catapult a driver to the top of the
standings. Especially in a season like the current one where one driver hasn’t established a pattern of
domination such as last year at this time where Jimmie Johnson had already won four times. Even
though Carl Edwards has won three times, a couple of bad finishes and a 100 point penalty has him
mired back tenth in points which opens the door for a consistent driver to have a great season.
Wins are worth their weight in gold, but are even more valuable when coupled with a consistent season.
In this day and age simply running top 5, top 10 every week will not win you the championship, but
neither will wins alone. Remember in 2006 when Kasey Kahne won five races prior to the chase and
almost didn’t make it in. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has arguably the more difficult part of the equation
accomplished, running consistent and the wins will come.
He has though created a monster of sorts when it comes to his need to win over and above what the
obvious reasons are. His criticism last season of his former team DEI and their lacking performance
would look like just hot air if he doesn’t win at Hendrick. This time last season Hendrick drivers had won
an incredible 8 of the first 11 races, so if you are driving for them the excuse no longer exists of lacking
performance. His fans were willing to put aside their dislike of all things Hendrick if it meant some wins for
him and the possibility of winning the championship, not just for a better season though.
Kenny Wallace was quoted as saying during a pre-race show at Richmond that the sport and the ratings
needed Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win and that he was ”the sport”. Whether you take what Kenny says
seriously or not [the latter is usually safer] it just goes to show you the pressure from all sides on Dale to
perform. If indeed the ratings need Junior to win, ticket sales, etc. can anyone imagine that sort of
pressure being put on them? It would be egotistical for Earnhardt to acknowledge Kenny’s statement as
true, but in the back of your mind you have to think that it might be.
Patience, patience, patience. The legions of Earnhardt Nation fans just need to keep in mind that this is
a new team. If Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the no. 88 team are this good as a newly formed group then once
they get beyond their learning curve they are going to be unstoppable. Ironically the only other driver
switch that has come right out of the gate performing better than Earnhardt is Kyle Busch. However,
Kyles ‘wreckers or checkers’ driving style doesn’t lend itself to winning a championship and Junior’s
making sure he at least gets a good finish style does. That is of course if they can keep the two driving
styles away from each other on the track, but that’s a different story.
Going to drive for the powerhouse team of Hendrick Motorsports with his new number and strong
sponsors was going to be the magic bullet for Dale Earnhardt Jr. in 2008.
With Hendrick winning the most races in 2007 as well as the championship, insert the talent and desire
of Junior into the fold and you have a surefire key to success. Even veterans like Darrell Waltrip stepped
up and said that he would win six races in 2008, but was all of the optimism overlooking one important
point?
What are the realistic expectations for a new driver and team combination to come out of the gate and
perform? Normally a team in that situation would figure on the first ten races being the ‘learning curve‘.
With that in mind, look at the performance of Dale Jr. so far in ‘08. He sits 3rd in points with an average
finish of 11th, 1-pole, 3-top 5’s and 7-top 10’s. He has run up front, led laps and has been in contention
to win several times and while some other teams might use their newness as an excuse they are wanting
more.
High expectations and lofty goals are fine just as long as they go along with a dose of patience. Sure,
the majority of the ‘team’ already existed as far as the cars, the shop and personnel, but the chemistry,
understanding the driver’s needs in the car and working together as one well oiled machine is all new for
the no. 88 team. For them to come right out of the gate and put up the numbers that they have is an
amazing feat.
The pressure to perform and more importantly to win races is evident in Earnhardt’s demeanor. His
words speak of how he is happy about the way they [the team] are performing and that he has taken
pride in making sure the no. 88 car gets a good finish each week, but his expressions and tone of voice
tell a different story. He wants to win.
What he has been able to accomplish so far this season is probably a better barometer of long term
success than short term satisfaction. A win does not make a season for a driver. The way that he is
running is the stuff that championships are made of. Finishing consistently in the top 10 for the first half
of the season and getting a couple of wins in the second half will catapult a driver to the top of the
standings. Especially in a season like the current one where one driver hasn’t established a pattern of
domination such as last year at this time where Jimmie Johnson had already won four times. Even
though Carl Edwards has won three times, a couple of bad finishes and a 100 point penalty has him
mired back tenth in points which opens the door for a consistent driver to have a great season.
Wins are worth their weight in gold, but are even more valuable when coupled with a consistent season.
In this day and age simply running top 5, top 10 every week will not win you the championship, but
neither will wins alone. Remember in 2006 when Kasey Kahne won five races prior to the chase and
almost didn’t make it in. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has arguably the more difficult part of the equation
accomplished, running consistent and the wins will come.
He has though created a monster of sorts when it comes to his need to win over and above what the
obvious reasons are. His criticism last season of his former team DEI and their lacking performance
would look like just hot air if he doesn’t win at Hendrick. This time last season Hendrick drivers had won
an incredible 8 of the first 11 races, so if you are driving for them the excuse no longer exists of lacking
performance. His fans were willing to put aside their dislike of all things Hendrick if it meant some wins for
him and the possibility of winning the championship, not just for a better season though.
Kenny Wallace was quoted as saying during a pre-race show at Richmond that the sport and the ratings
needed Dale Earnhardt Jr. to win and that he was ”the sport”. Whether you take what Kenny says
seriously or not [the latter is usually safer] it just goes to show you the pressure from all sides on Dale to
perform. If indeed the ratings need Junior to win, ticket sales, etc. can anyone imagine that sort of
pressure being put on them? It would be egotistical for Earnhardt to acknowledge Kenny’s statement as
true, but in the back of your mind you have to think that it might be.
Patience, patience, patience. The legions of Earnhardt Nation fans just need to keep in mind that this is
a new team. If Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the no. 88 team are this good as a newly formed group then once
they get beyond their learning curve they are going to be unstoppable. Ironically the only other driver
switch that has come right out of the gate performing better than Earnhardt is Kyle Busch. However,
Kyles ‘wreckers or checkers’ driving style doesn’t lend itself to winning a championship and Junior’s
making sure he at least gets a good finish style does. That is of course if they can keep the two driving
styles away from each other on the track, but that’s a different story.
 |
 |
The fans are too impatient for Junior to
win. I think that he is having a great
season and would already have a win if it
wasn't for that idiot Kyle Busch.
Melinda Wiggins, Kansas
win. I think that he is having a great
season and would already have a win if it
wasn't for that idiot Kyle Busch.
Melinda Wiggins, Kansas
If he doesn't get a win soon it's just going
to be a joke. His whole season rides on if
he can win a race driving for Hendrick.
Bowyer got heat for making the chase
without a win last year and if the same
thing happens to Dale Jr. he will get ten
times the criticism.
Joel Komenski, AZ
to be a joke. His whole season rides on if
he can win a race driving for Hendrick.
Bowyer got heat for making the chase
without a win last year and if the same
thing happens to Dale Jr. he will get ten
times the criticism.
Joel Komenski, AZ
| Submit your comments about the story or the topic. Please no rude or defamatory comments. Addressing other poster's comments will be edited if deemed to be insulting or rude. |
 |
The fan's expectations might be set too
high, but Dale Jr. made his bed when he
complained so much about DEI being the
problem with him not winning races.
As your story stated he has no more
excuses.
Bill T., CA
high, but Dale Jr. made his bed when he
complained so much about DEI being the
problem with him not winning races.
As your story stated he has no more
excuses.
Bill T., CA
As obvious as the point to your story is I
have to admit that I never thought about
the fact that the 88 is a new team.
Good article and some good points.
Stan Purdue, FL
have to admit that I never thought about
the fact that the 88 is a new team.
Good article and some good points.
Stan Purdue, FL
When I first saw your headline I figured
you were going to make a bunch of
excuses for junebug, but you kept it open.
You forgot to mention Tony Jr.'s learning
curve too.
Owen Perkins, GA
you were going to make a bunch of
excuses for junebug, but you kept it open.
You forgot to mention Tony Jr.'s learning
curve too.
Owen Perkins, GA
I was wondering if anyone else felt the
same way as I did that he is doing pretty
good for being with a new team. Hendrick
or not its still a new team. Thanks
Debbie Lawton, MI
same way as I did that he is doing pretty
good for being with a new team. Hendrick
or not its still a new team. Thanks
Debbie Lawton, MI
I don't think we will see any driver win as
many races as Jeff Gordon or Jimmie
Johnson did last year for a while with the
new car. The number of wins might not be
so important this season as it has been in
the past. If we see one driver get on a roll
and win 7 or more races I'll change my
opinion, but for right now I will say that Jr.
can win the championship with a couple of
wins. That is of course if he keeps running
consistent the way he has been.
Steven Allmen, WI
many races as Jeff Gordon or Jimmie
Johnson did last year for a while with the
new car. The number of wins might not be
so important this season as it has been in
the past. If we see one driver get on a roll
and win 7 or more races I'll change my
opinion, but for right now I will say that Jr.
can win the championship with a couple of
wins. That is of course if he keeps running
consistent the way he has been.
Steven Allmen, WI
Your point will unfortunately be lost on a
lot of the Dale Jr. fanatics who will only be
happy if he wins every other race and
finishes in the top 5 in the rest.
Daniel R. Atlanta Georgia
(Jr. Fan)
lot of the Dale Jr. fanatics who will only be
happy if he wins every other race and
finishes in the top 5 in the rest.
Daniel R. Atlanta Georgia
(Jr. Fan)
Hopes were high when NASCAR's most popular driver moved to NASCAR's most successful team. And while Earnhardt is having (by far) the best year of
his Cup career, the bitter fact of the matter is that nothing short of winning will do. People expect Junior to win, and Earnhardt fans have grown tired of
having his two-year winless streak rubbed in their faces. Saturday night's tangle with Kyle Busch rubbed more salt in the wound, as a near-certain victory
turned into
yet another in a long line of bitter defeats. Keep the faith, Earnhardt Nation, your day is coming.
Dave Moody, Sirius Speedway
Dave's Blog
his Cup career, the bitter fact of the matter is that nothing short of winning will do. People expect Junior to win, and Earnhardt fans have grown tired of
having his two-year winless streak rubbed in their faces. Saturday night's tangle with Kyle Busch rubbed more salt in the wound, as a near-certain victory
turned into
yet another in a long line of bitter defeats. Keep the faith, Earnhardt Nation, your day is coming.
Dave Moody, Sirius Speedway
Dave's Blog
