Addct2hntng Posted June 2, 2005 Report Share Posted June 2, 2005 June 2, 2005 By C.C. Bell Dale Earnhardt, Jr. finds himself in very foreign territory lately. That of controversy. Oh sure, there’s been controversy concerning Junior since he stepped into a race car, though it generally involved on track incidents, his commercial success, and the occasional holiday adventure, but nothing quite like this. Since the announcement that he and Michael Waltrip would be swapping not only cars but crews and crew chiefs as well, barely a week goes by that the portent of doom isn’t visited on DEI. And though Dale, Jr. is having a difficult time this season, so are a number of teams. Apparently Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch, both former Cup champions who are having equally rough seasons just aren’t as much fun to talk about as the guy who the media has dubbed “the face of NASCAR”. A title I doubt Junior would even agree with. Yes, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is struggling, but if internal problems are plaguing DEI, how is that different from any organization? Simple, it’s family. Working in a family organization is far more complex than if a driver is hired by an organization where he has no roots. There is a specific progression for most who work for a corporation or business usually based on seniority, which leads to advancement, which hopefully leads to the ultimate pay raise. Sure your boss may be certifiable, but he is your boss and you can’t fire him. Then again you’re not likely to hear the old adage, “By God, I changed that boy’s diapers”, and if you did you’d probably immediately call your mother and say, “Um, Mom?” While the same basic structure may exist in a family business, the difference is power. Not the political power that exists in non-familial jobs, but emotional power based on age, experience and the fact that at some point in your life they may have smacked you silly for talking back to them. And it’s far more difficult to deal with since you are forever linked to family. That famous line “What we have here is a failure to communicate” doesn’t even apply to most family businesses since the person who is older just flat out doesn’t want to hear it. They always know better, they’ve always done it this way or that, and many carry a mental image of you -- at say, ten years old. Whether they are right or wrong has nothing to do with most situations since they are simply used to being in the position of being a mentor. If you’ve ever attempted to work in your family business, then you understand. And Dale, Jr. has always worked in the family business. Trust me, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Great driver/crew chief relationships are especially rare today in the sponsor driven, maniacal circus that is NASCAR. Tony Stewart and Greg Zipadelli, Jeff Gordon and Robbie Loomis, Mark Martin and Pat Tryson just to name a few. Pete Rondeau may be a fine crew chief, but in listening to radio transmissions between Pete and Dale, Jr. the word “strident” kept going through my mind. Dale, Jr.’s transmissions were strident as if he were fighting to get his point across. At 190 mph on a race track the last battle you need to engage in is trying to make yourself understood to the one person who should instinctively be able to translate not only what you’re saying but also how you’re saying it. Steve Hmiel was the logical choice as interim crew chief since he’s had experience and has literally been whispering in Dale, Jr.’s ear for several years. Though not as close as Tony Eury, Sr., he’s still family. But should Junior consider driving for someone else and wonder about the wisdom of such a decision, he has no further to look than Dale Earnhardt, Sr. and Richard Childress. Am I advocating Dale, Jr. teaming up with Richard Childress? Not necessarily and definitely not in the number three. But it’s not hard to understand why Dale, Sr. continued to drive for Richard Childress even after DEI was well on it’s way. While Junior is like his father in many ways, he is not his father. But with the death of his father, Dale, Jr. displayed a strength and fortitude that went beyond his age and probably explains why so many of Dale, Sr.’s fans felt comfortable in transferring their loyalty contrary to the standard line that Junior simply “inherited” those fans without “earning” them. It may be that it’s time for Junior to venture out from the known into the unknown and should he decide to do so he needn’t worry. While a brief rupture may occur within the family, the family will always be there only with a newfound respect for each other. At this point in time, whether DEI is in flux or not isn’t the important question. Is Dale Earmhardt, Jr. in flux? That’s the question. He’s shown he can race; he’s shown he can win. He proved he can handle adversity physically and mentally. He knows what it takes to appease the gods of NASCAR and how to take care of his sponsors. Perhaps it’s time for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to find his Richard Childress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James7xChamp3 Posted June 3, 2005 Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 Re: interesting article about dale jr I'm torn on this issue. I love Richard Childress and it sure would be awesome to see Jr. in the #3 car. But Dale Sr. started a great company in DEI and I'd like to see it succeed with Jr. He's just got way to much on his shoulders with the media and the hordes of fans. He needs to be able to concentrate on his driving and crew chief relationship but how the heck can he! Whoever is is crew chief is under constant scrutiny also. That is a tough job. Hopefully things will work out. Right now, he needs to find himself a crew chief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addct2hntng Posted June 3, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 Re: interesting article about dale jr I agree james 100 % Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAbowhunter4life Posted June 3, 2005 Report Share Posted June 3, 2005 Re: interesting article about dale jr Personally, I think his ego got ahead of him as far as as success goes. Had a good year last year, still riding the Earnhardt legacy, figured he had the world in his hand and could do what he wanted. Well, people started quitting, family refused to work for him, then to save face they said Jr. fired all of them, just so it wouldn't tarnish the Earnhardt name. As for the media and what not, he's getting exactly what he wanted. He wanted to be in the lime light, wanted to make a name for DEI, and he is, unfortunately it's a bad name. Jr. needs to swallow his pride, show a little maturity and get his head back on straight, otherwise it's gonna be a fast downward spiral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyderpancake Posted June 4, 2005 Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 Re: interesting article about dale jr How did he get a big ego about success and run people off? They made the changes to improve themselves because they weren't good enough to win championships. That sounds like mature thinking to me. Even though they won 5 races last year, they realized that they had to make some changes to keep DEI strong. If they hadn't, he and the Eury's were bound to have a huge fight one day. I still think it was the right move. As far as the Childress thing, if it weren't for the fact that he would have to leave DEI to race for him, I would love it. But I would hate to see DEI fall apart. However, I think the two teams should start working together, like the Roush-Yates teams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted June 4, 2005 Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 Re: interesting article about dale jr [ QUOTE ] Even though they won 5 races last year [/ QUOTE ] 6. I don't want to see Dale Jr in the 3 GM Goodwrench RCR car. He is not Dale Sr. He's worked hard to be his own man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James7xChamp3 Posted June 4, 2005 Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 Re: interesting article about dale jr I agree Chrud. He is definitely his own man. And one good thing about Jr. is he has no ego. I think it is amazing that a guy so popular seems to be just a regular guy doing his thing......racing, hunting, fishing and partying. I'm not real worried. Heck, his Dad won championships in 90 and 91 then had one of his worse years ever in 92 with 1 win and 11th in points. Richard hired Andy Petree and the team won consecutive championships in 93 and 94. Life is full of ups and downs. Right now, DEI is in a valley, but they'll get back to the top of the mountain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spyderpancake Posted June 4, 2005 Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 Re: interesting article about dale jr Are you sure Chrud? I thought for sure it was 5 races. Anyway, 6 is better! And I completely agree, he does not need to drive the #3 GM Goodwrench car. For one thing, he has his own huge fan base in the 8 Bud car, and I don't think Goodwrench is gonna dump Harvick. I think that Bud will stick with Junior wherever he goes. Maybe if he went to RCR, he could use 6.7, like in the commercial! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted June 4, 2005 Report Share Posted June 4, 2005 Re: interesting article about dale jr Yep, Daytona, Atlanta, Richmond, Bristol, Talladega, Phoenix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
va_strutstopper Posted June 5, 2005 Report Share Posted June 5, 2005 Re: interesting article about dale jr all drivers have rough years ......JR will be back to winning just give him time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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