For just one moment, Junior Nation was in heaven. It lasted more or less 70 laps. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was everything his fans wanted him to be. He took off at the beginning and moved out to a large lead, but the first pit stop came and though Junior took off again, it wasn’t long until the stronger cars of Tony Stewart, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, and Greg Biffle. Therein lays the problem. In today’s Sprint Cup, there is a definite pecking order, not only between brands and teams, but competitors.
It’s unfortunate that it’s come down to this. Hendrick has Johnson and Gordon. Roush has Edwards and Kenseth, RCR has Kevin Harvick and well, Kevin Harvick, Gibbs has Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, and the Hendrick satellite team has Tony Stewart. That’s nine drivers that will win most of the races. That’s not to take anything away from Junior, Kasey Kahne, Greg Biffle, Jeff Burton, Paul Menard, Joey Logano, and Ryan Newman. It’s just the way it is. From time to time, those guys will win and others like Trevor Bayne will impress, but the truth of the matter is this race comes down to Johnson, Gordon, Edwards, Kenseth, Harvick, Kyle Busch, Hamlin, and Stewart. Most of the races in 2011 were won by these guys. In 2012, Kenseth, Hamlin, and Stewart have won races despite the fact that others appeared to have better cars. On this Sunday, Stewart had no one to challenge him, which must really bother the Hendrick guys since they get their cars and engines from Rick Hendrick. Although Kenseth and Biffle and Junior tried, Tony just drove away.
So here’s the dilemma. How long will fans stay with this sport when it’s so obvious that only nine drivers really have a chance, week after week, at the win? With NASCAR seemingly all aglow with good ratings and an uptick in attendance, it has become apparent that the only thing that will make it last is close racing and guys like Junior and drivers other than the big nine coming through with wins. Last year we had Regan Smith, Trevor Bayne, and David Ragan surprising. The year before, we had Jamie McMurray, but so far no indication that this will happen in 2012. Yes, NASCAR needs for Junior to become successful, and some of those outside of the fabled nine to win, but will it happen? That will be the key to sustaining the good ratings and popularity of the sport.
And for those who want to go back to the 60’s and remember King Richard Petty’s dominance, please remember that he didn’t win every race, and in fact, lots of drivers won races from every manufacturer and every team. Bill Elliott won 11 races in 1985, but Darrell Waltrip won the championship. Cale Yarborough won six races in 1968 and Lee Roy Yarborough won as many in 1969, along with the great run of David Pearson after that. Dale Senior won lots of races, but the others won too. If every race comes down to the nine, I don’t know what will happen to attendance and ratings.
It’s kind of like Dodge introducing a new car on Sunday with no drivers lined up to drive it. If one of the nine doesn’t, what difference does it make?
I will start by saying that I am not a Dale Jr. fan, however do believe that he is a talented driver. I am just curious when the income flow derived by Dale is not going to out weigh the loss of performance from all the other teams. (Gordon,Kayne so far, and Martin the last 2 years) Mr. hendrick cannot continue to rob every possible resource form all the other teams to feed Jr’s needs with no positive results. There is going to be a breaking point and believe this year is it. Hendrick is capable of putting 4 teams in the chase, but will never do so with Dale Jr. in the mix. Just my thoughts.
It’s writers like you who drag the sport down. You don’t go to the track or research the subject, yet write as though you know what you’re talking about. You can’t even get the facts straight. People like you are a liability to Nascar.
I don’t know I mean sure its fine and dandy that he lead early in the race, but he faded in the middle of it and didn’t see much of him afterwards. That would be something they would have to over-come. I am a huge fan of Dale Jr and Kevin Harvick both and in my eyes, I just don’t see much happening this year for Earnhardt. You know, it has been just about 5 years now since is first and only win for Hendrick Motorsports in June of 2008 at Michigan…on fuel mileage no less. For a power-house team like Hendrick Motorsports, winning is something you have to have at that team. There ain’t much of winning from Dale Jr in over 5 years now. You know, Hendrick promised Earnhardt and his fans a moon with a fence around it, and has got nothing but that. Until I start seeing wins, then sure, I say Junior should stay with Hendrick, but there isn’t and its just not clicking…to me, Dale Jr should have truly stayed at Dale Earnhardt Inc. That is what I think, you all can bash on what I’m saying, but if you show me more wins, I’m sticking to my words.
If your not a Jr fan, then why have you left the same dang comment on 2 or 3 other stories already? probably cause no ones writing about Harvick. Get real dude.