Thanks Junior
Dale Earnhardt Jr. gave me and everyone else whose father isn’t alive to hand a card, take to dinner or give a hug a reason to celebrate Father’s Day.
“Happy Father’s Day everyone,” the popular driver told a television audience Sunday afternoon from Victory Lane at Michigan International Speedway after winning his first Sprint Cup points race in his last 77 tries.
Winning on Father’s Day had to be extra special.
It comes on a day that has to be one of the hardest for him each year since his dad died near the end of the 2001 Daytona 500.
And it had to lighten the Father’s Day burden for Junior’s team owner, Rick Hendrick, whose son Ricky Hendrick died in a 2004 plane crash.
Thanks again Junior, you made me smile today.
This entry was posted on Sunday, Jun. 15, 2008 at 04:30 PM
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Thanks Jeff,that was well said!
First, let me start by saying I am a "true" NASCAR fanatic, and have been for years (back to when Cale was driving).
I have always said, in my opinion, NASCAR was a "true" athletic sport and drivers were "true" athletes, try having the "average-Joe" do what these death-defying drivers do, not just for one race, but an entire season. However, my opinion was been greatly altered as of yesterdays Michigan "Life-Lock" 400, not my opinion on the latter point, but on the first opinion....THE SPORT.
A sporting outcome is determined on the field, on the court, on the diamond, on the rink, maybe even by the officials (ala Kenseth pit-stop), but NEVER, let me repeat myself in case you missed that last line....NEVER by management or ownership, that would be titled by another name....... maybe....... COLLUSION!!!
Maybe the U.S. Senate should leave Bob Kraft and the Patriots alone and start talking to the France Family.
NASCAR accomplished what it, not only wanted to do, but, what it NEEDED..... to divert the attention of media and fans from the "black-eye" (pardon the pun) of the surprise announcement of the upcoming racial and sexual harassment lawsuit, to the "faux-win", no matter how fixed it was, of the NASCAR "golden-child.
Can someone please explain to me how a driver with so little to claim as accomplishments can garner so much attention by fans and media.... that however is enough for a whole series of article in itself?!?!?!
Way to go NASCAR...... "WAG THE DOG"..... no one does it better than you!!!!!
I have always said, in my opinion, NASCAR was a "true" athletic sport and drivers were "true" athletes, try having the "average-Joe" do what these death-defying drivers do, not just for one race, but an entire season. However, my opinion was been greatly altered as of yesterdays Michigan "Life-Lock" 400, not my opinion on the latter point, but on the first opinion....THE SPORT.
A sporting outcome is determined on the field, on the court, on the diamond, on the rink, maybe even by the officials (ala Kenseth pit-stop), but NEVER, let me repeat myself in case you missed that last line....NEVER by management or ownership, that would be titled by another name....... maybe....... COLLUSION!!!
Maybe the U.S. Senate should leave Bob Kraft and the Patriots alone and start talking to the France Family.
NASCAR accomplished what it, not only wanted to do, but, what it NEEDED..... to divert the attention of media and fans from the "black-eye" (pardon the pun) of the surprise announcement of the upcoming racial and sexual harassment lawsuit, to the "faux-win", no matter how fixed it was, of the NASCAR "golden-child.
Can someone please explain to me how a driver with so little to claim as accomplishments can garner so much attention by fans and media.... that however is enough for a whole series of article in itself?!?!?!
Way to go NASCAR...... "WAG THE DOG"..... no one does it better than you!!!!!
Jeff, my father isn't alive either. Jr's win lifted my spirits mightily.
Jeff, my father isn't alive either. Jr's win lifted my spirits mightily.
At least Hendrick didn't fire him right after he won, like Omar did to Willie.
Thanks Jeff, for your article, his win was extra special to me too. My father past last year and I am a member of Jr. Nation. So it was a sweet victory. A fingernail biter, but sweet. Thanks again.
PS Bama23smoke20
Get over yourself. This person is posting this Crap everywhere. Get over it. I don't like the way Tony has won in the past either but I don't complain and blame it for reasons that don't exist.
PS Bama23smoke20
Get over yourself. This person is posting this Crap everywhere. Get over it. I don't like the way Tony has won in the past either but I don't complain and blame it for reasons that don't exist.
Regarding BAMA23SMOKE20 comments:
COLLUSION you must mean delusions because that is what your experiencing. I don't care if you ran at the first Daytona race on the beach, that doesn't justify your reasoning or make you any smarter than anyone else. Your digging way too deep here. What did Nascar do? Did they call Patrick Carpentier's crew Chief and tell him to wreck his car so Jr could win? Give me a break. That caution actually hurt Jr's chances of winning because the 88 team knew they had enough fuel to make to the finish but not a Green/White checker finish. Yes I agree I'm sure Nascar is welcomed Jr win to take the focus off this racism case but to say it was collusion is absurd. Fanatic is good word because only a fanatic could say Jr's win was planned by Nascar. Oh and to say Jr has no accomplishments is insane, Daytona 500 winner, 5 time Dega winner, 18 career wins vs Matt Kenseth a past cup champion with only 16 career wins. Has Tony Stewart won a Daytona 500? How come? Oh yeah, COLLUSION.
COLLUSION you must mean delusions because that is what your experiencing. I don't care if you ran at the first Daytona race on the beach, that doesn't justify your reasoning or make you any smarter than anyone else. Your digging way too deep here. What did Nascar do? Did they call Patrick Carpentier's crew Chief and tell him to wreck his car so Jr could win? Give me a break. That caution actually hurt Jr's chances of winning because the 88 team knew they had enough fuel to make to the finish but not a Green/White checker finish. Yes I agree I'm sure Nascar is welcomed Jr win to take the focus off this racism case but to say it was collusion is absurd. Fanatic is good word because only a fanatic could say Jr's win was planned by Nascar. Oh and to say Jr has no accomplishments is insane, Daytona 500 winner, 5 time Dega winner, 18 career wins vs Matt Kenseth a past cup champion with only 16 career wins. Has Tony Stewart won a Daytona 500? How come? Oh yeah, COLLUSION.
TWDJR I couldn't have said it better! I think we've all seen Bama's comments on more than one website this week which says to me that he/she has too much time on their hands. I wonder if Junior's win had come on any other day besides Father's Day if there would've been such an uproar from other fans? Ohe yeah, I forgot it was fixed for him to win the Pepsi 400 in July 2001 and to win the Daytona 500 in 2004. Yeah those other 42 drivers just let him win just like this past Sunday! Gimme a break! Get a life Bama! Thanks Jeff for this article cuz there are some of us without our fathers who share that bond wtih Junior, Rick Hendrick and Kyle Petty to either not have our father or a child to say "Happy Father's Day". There's also counltess military families who had to face a Father's Day without a son or daughter or their dad. Maybe Junior's win helped to ease their pain much like he eased mine! Thanks Junior!
Great article Jeff!
Some of you Jr. Nation fans make the rest of us look bad. Get over yourself already.
Some of you Jr. Nation fans make the rest of us look bad. Get over yourself already.
Some Jr Nation fan wrote: There's also counltess military families who had to face a Father's Day without a son or daughter or their dad. Maybe Junior's win helped to ease their pain much like he eased mine!
You've got to be kidding me. Next you'll be saying Jr takes away the sins of the world.
You've got to be kidding me. Next you'll be saying Jr takes away the sins of the world.
Ya know April and anyone else I offended, maybe I should've worded it differently because No Junior can't take away the sins of the world any more than he can take away anyone's pain of losing a father, son, or daughter etc. What I meant to say was maybe for just a scant few minutes on Father's Day that Junior's win brought a tiny smile to someone's broken heart of missing their loved one. My dad & I shared a love of racing so yeah, it brought a sweet memory of him closer to me when Junior won cuz I know he would'be been cheering for him to win too. Sorry for any disrespect that my ealier post brought to anyone. There's nothing any of us here on earth can do to replace the loved ones that we all miss. All we can do is just bring a tiny smile to someone's face and that is what Junior managed to do on Father's Day or at least he did to me. I just get sick of hearing that Junior's wins are always handed to him when he has to work for those wins too just like the other 42 drivers on the track. sorry that my overzealous passion for racing ruled what was typed.
i lost my father 2 years ago FEB 1ST,2006 and this win may me cheer again i was happy for me for jr. for everyone who lost a father. but mostly jr because he needed that win for himself and for mr. hendrick this may sound corny but god bless you jr. i am proud to be a memeber of JR NATION.
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