View Full Version : Dale JR cars
tjettim 02-16-2009, 04:46 PM To all slot car companies.Please do not make any more
Dale JR slot car bodies.The guy is either an alcoholic,on
drugs,or just plain retarded.I will never buy a product
with him on it ever again.
TEAM D.V.S. 02-16-2009, 05:05 PM i will drink to that! :thumbsup:
Dranoel Dragon 02-16-2009, 07:07 PM Many are asking why Jr didn't get a 5 lap penalty, as happened in the Busch race on Saturday. The reason is simple:
Had they penalized Jr like that they would have had to red flag the race for two hours while they cleaned the broken beer bottles off the track.
martybauer31 02-16-2009, 07:17 PM Not being a huge fan of NASCAR, it feels like I am missing something here.... What's the scoop, did something happen during the Daytona?
1976Cordoba 02-16-2009, 07:32 PM Jr. had a run on Brian Vickers on the backstretch and Vickers blocked him. Jr. ran into Vickers and turned him around in front of the field, wrecking about 10 cars.
All the Jr. haters of course jumped on it, nevermind that Vickers wrecked Jr. at Talladega a couple years ago on the last lap.
That's racin' :)
WesJY 02-16-2009, 07:33 PM Not being a huge fan of NASCAR, it feels like I am missing something here.... What's the scoop, did something happen during the Daytona?
yeah you should go to nascar.com and look at the video on what dale jr did to brian vicker that caused alot of accidents.
Wes
martybauer31 02-16-2009, 07:42 PM Yeah, I just went and took a look it..... Not being a fan and having no emotional ties, I could see how people could be pissed off either way. Looked like the block from Vickers came WAY too late and Jr. had too much momentum. That being said, you could also look at it the other way and wonder why Jr. didn't just slow down a bit more and get back in line....
Sounds like there is more to it than that from earlier posts about some prior history....
RiderZ 02-16-2009, 07:54 PM Yeah, I just went and took a look it..... Not being a fan and having no emotional ties, I could see how people could be pissed off either way. Looked like the block from Vickers came WAY too late and Jr. had too much momentum. That being said, you could also look at it the other way and wonder why Jr. didn't just slow down a bit more and get back in line....
Sounds like there is more to it than that from earlier posts about some prior history....
Exactly-I am a huge Nascar & Dale Jr. fan.The block came late and the rest is history. Jr. is a respectable driver.He does'nt wreck people just to gain positions.They were both 1 lap down even though they were both racing for the lucky dog award.As the sayings go- #$^& happens & rubbins' racin':thumbsup:
TK Solver 02-16-2009, 08:34 PM Vickers blocked him but Junior didn't need to come back up into him. The guy in back is usually at fault if there is a wreck. There wasn't enough room to be trying to make a run like that and he should have anticipated that Vickers may try to block. Junior never wrecks anybody on purpose (in his own mind). He wrecks people because he doesn't realize what he's doing...
That was just one of several typical bonehead moves by Junior in that race. He drove past his pit stall and made some ridiculous excuse that half the pit signs were pink so he couldn't tell which was his. He was the only driver to miss his pit stall. Why weren't the other drivers with pink signs similarly confused? Later, he pitted slightly outside his pit stall and got a one lap penalty that ticked him off -- leading to his mindless mistake with Vickers.
This stuff happens with him all the time.
He was entertaining when he was young and he and Michael Waltrip were teammates but he wore me out the past few years. It's disappointing.
RiderZ 02-16-2009, 08:46 PM Vickers blocked him but Junior didn't need to come back up into him. The guy in back is ALWAYS at fault if there is a wreck. There wasn't enough room to be trying to make a run like that and he should have anticipated that Vickers may try to block. Junior never wrecks anybody on purpose (in his own mind). He wrecks people because he doesn't realize what he's doing...
That was just one of several typical bonehead moves by Junior in that race. He drove past his pit stall and made some ridiculous excuse that half the pit signs were pink so he couldn't tell which was his. He was the only driver to miss his pit stall. Why weren't the other drivers with pink signs similarly confused? Later, he pitted slightly outside his pit stall and got a one lap penalty that ticked him off -- leading to his mindless mistake with Vickers.
This stuff happens with him all the time.
Blah,Blah,Blah.Should have-Could have-Would have.Its easy for someone not behind the wheel of an 800HP car going damn near 200 MPH to say what he should have done.I'm out!!!:hat:
Jim Norton 02-16-2009, 08:48 PM Thats right ......5 laps for the Saturday race as penality when 1 car is put into the wall.
Same thing by Dale Jr. on Sunday takes leader and front runners out....no problem.
NASCAR stinks. All they do now is put on a show. So much, that they quickly called the race yesterday with no effort to try and get the remainder in....the track has lights!
I could not even watch it. Yawn once again.
Jim Norton
Huntsville, Alabama
GoodwrenchIntim 02-16-2009, 09:35 PM Exactly-I am a huge Nascar & Dale Jr. fan.The block came late and the rest is history. Jr. is a respectable driver.He does'nt wreck people just to gain positions.They were both 1 lap down even though they were both racing for the lucky dog award.As the sayings go- #$^& happens & rubbins' racin':thumbsup:
A agree Vickers should not have blocked Jr when he had that kinda of run on him. Vickers got what he deserved. Racing that fast that close you DO NOT BRAKE!!!!
Pomfish 02-16-2009, 09:41 PM What fans are Mad about is the inconsistency that Na$crap shows time after time.
I like Jr., don't have an opinion on Vickers.
You could say I have no dog in this fight, as it were
Here is the thing, If... let's say... Robby Gordon caused the exact same wreck, Do you Really think he would not have drawn a penalty?
There is your answer.
And to end that race that quick, the fans at the track were screwed royally just to please Faux Sports.
The Pace Car won that race!
Later,
Keith
HadaSlot 02-16-2009, 09:45 PM There is no need to argue about Dales wrecks. His record speaks for him. Just because his dad drove well doesn't mean he is going to do the same. Anyone that drives knows that you can't pass on a double yellow line and to get to the front of faster cars was ridiculous. He knew it also and did apologize. He couldn't even find his pit stop let alone his place on the track. Good Grief Charlie Brown. Yes, back to the point, I don't want a 88 car.
videojimmy 02-16-2009, 10:29 PM Didn't Dale Sr. also a rep for running people into the wall?
Isn't that how he got his nickname of Intimidator... and didn't people love him for it?
I'm not a serious fan of NASCAR, I have no fav .driver... but I was under the impression that rubbin' was part of the deal.
anyway, the drivers are well compensated... as long as no one gets killed... it's all cool to me.
No offense to anyone
HadaSlot 02-16-2009, 10:47 PM Hey Jimmy, In my 20's I used to talk to Carl Edward's father and watching Carl build his toys like soap box derby cars so I am partial. That's even why I watch to see this guy from a kid to a star. David
ohno50 02-16-2009, 11:30 PM I am going to weight in on this because I have racing experience. I have been to Daytona and raced a sports car there several times and a titanium plate in my neck as a result of crazy situations similar to what caused that wreck. The comment about racing a 800 HP car is right on. Trying to control a car at probably 170-180 when the wreck occurred is extremely difficult. He had the run on Vickers and having been penalized and missing the pit likely were fresh on his mind. Some people call it the 'red mist'.
The difference between the sports car guys and cup guys is we have use of the grass when that kind of thing occurs. You need an exit strategy. If you have seen the 24 hour and coverage at the bus stop then you will understand. I know that were it have happened on the outside of the track then a similar situation may have occurred. But visually it is different. For me to block someone on the outside with the wall looming takes a lot more guts because you know there is a wall there! The double yellow line is not the wall therefore is seen differently. I think that NASCAR should quite screwing with the inside of track and let these guys race. Dale could have gone to the grass, dropped one wheel and either finished the pass or lost just enough momentum to get back in line without having hit his brakes or lifted with kills your momentum.
Typically from a racers standpoint anytime you block someone you are taking the chance that you are going to get tagged. That goes for amateur and professionals as well.
That was racin' but there were bad consequences that affected others. Vickers should understand that. I am sure the Talledega incident wasn't his first Rodeo! As for the others involved the same likely holds true as well.
One last thing. TV does a pretty bad job of really showing the race. There are lots of times when I go to an event that I try and enjoy the races that are going on back in the pack. Sometimes that is where the best wheel to wheel is going on. Try and enjoy racing for what is is. Men and women showing off their talents.
HadaSlot 02-16-2009, 11:39 PM If we can scale them down to any of our favorites and race them like these guys do would be Grranddiosso or some french word. It is cool to see them, meet them, know them, or any other form. Even make up little tracks to be like them. In our own scale. Bumpin JR into my own wall.
NTxSlotCars 02-16-2009, 11:58 PM Yes, ..... a chip off the ol' block. Before Sr was the 'Intimidator' he was 'Ironhead', for the same reasons you guys are mad.
I didn't feel sorry one bit for KY Busch after he punted Jr. at Richmond last year, remember that??
But, everyone seems to be missing the bigger picture here.
The REAL point is that AMP energy drink is WAY better than Red Bull.
It taste better, less filling, and has a longer lasting energy curve.
This may have left Vickers wondering, 'Where are the wings Red Bull is supposed to give me?'
Oh yeah, Scott Speed was wondering the same. (He's the other Red Bull car caught up in the wreck)
Yes, I've been drinking AMP for years before each hockey game. I highly recommend it.
Later, I'm goin down to sign up at the National Guard and pick up some Valvoline.
Rich 88, but really 44
resinmonger 02-17-2009, 12:15 AM NTx Rich for President! :woohoo:
Pete McKay 02-17-2009, 01:39 AM I don't like either Jr. or Vickers but what I saw was Vickers block Jr not only below the yellow line but to the grass. OK, to the yellow line is fine, under the rules you cannot advance your position at Daytona by passing under that line. But Vickers took Jr. to the grass, and Jr. had to get his car back on the track and unfortunately his momentum took him into Vickers rear quarter and crashed 10 cars. But had Jr. lost it in the grass because of Vickers and came back through the tri-oval, how many cars would he have taken out then? Probably just as many.
Jr. is a big name, Vickers isn't. You either like the guy or not. I don't think he's driving like his dad, if he was then he would have just punted Vickers into the infield and it would have been over. But for Vickers to give such a slanted version during his first interview (he has since changed his story) just shows me the guy knew he was wrong. There was a lot of laps left, why block at all? It's not like it's a race back to the stripe. And trying to block in a big pack like that was just stupid.
People are more pissed because of who was crashed out as they are why. My guy won it sitting in the pits, and I'm not mad about that. Had he got crashed out I would have just considered it a bad finish in the first race of the year. There will be others. And believe me, the Vicker-Earnhardt show is just beginning.
AfxToo 02-17-2009, 08:50 AM The thing I noticed most about the event was how HUGE the new Camaro pace car looked next to the NASCARs. That thing is a tank. A fast tank, but still carrying a maximum chunky factor that makes you forget about the nimble Gen 1 Camaro it is supposed to emulate.
Other than the pace car shock and awe, I would say that the best car/driver combination on that given day definitely did not win the event, which is par for the course for the Daytona 500 Show. But at least one of the nicest drivers in NASCAR took home the big prize, so I'm okay with that, I guess. Congrats Matt.
SplitPoster 02-17-2009, 09:19 AM oops, missed the season opening episode of Fox's, "Survivor - Asphalt Island" series! Who got voted off the oval?
Most exciting about this entire thread? There that there is not a single mention of make or model of car - other than the pace car! It is 100% personality! So AMP and Red Bull are more relevant and visible than Ford or Chevy to the TV viewer. Nice! T shirt sales may recover in the second quarter.
I vote NTx and Russ both hold the immunity idol, split ticket.
rodstrguy 02-17-2009, 10:10 AM Please build some JR. cars, I'll still buy them. Vickers was just trying to block, got carried away, then got really carried away. I thought it was a pretty good race, just wish they would switch to "rain tires" and see who the real drivers are if it rains.
coach61 02-17-2009, 10:20 AM Jr has never been a great driver, never will be. Jr wasn't near the grass he had 30 feet of asphalt he could have driven along.. Vivkers overdid it a bit but punting someone at 200 mph is plain stupid but Jr isn't know for his inteligence...I was more peeved off that ten fast cars got taken out bu Jr's bone head move he is suppose to be a vetern he had room.. when he winds up in the wall not breathing like his Daddy someone may realize that spinning someone in the middle of the pack is not cool. till then it just adds fuel to the fire that most Nascar fans are redneck hillbillies.. I'll be honest all I watch it for is the wrecks because it offers very little else...
aelancaster 02-17-2009, 10:23 AM Put em back on dirt a couple of races each season. That WILL seperate the men from the pretty little boys.
tjettim 02-17-2009, 10:33 AM I might buy a JR t-shirt if it says "where's ma pit,
where's ma pit?" Them pink signs have numbers
on them-learn to read!
SplitPoster 02-17-2009, 10:57 AM Put em back on dirt a couple of races each season. That WILL seperate the men from the pretty little boys.
And the popular old guys.... Amen. A variety of tracks and surfaces, and a call for rain tires? Why that would be like .... entertaining and a display of true talent regardless of age, reputation, sponsor commitments or photogenicity. An improvement even with spec cars.
Ditto on the silly double yellow line - artificial lines are generally used to protect pit crew or workers, or to keep drivers away from unusual and significant track hazards - like when a small in-track access cover broke on the front straight at Memphis one time. Marked it (with a cone), alert all drivers it is there, go on. Only penalty is if you hit it and break something, which could be expensive. So with cup racing one can avoid a wreck and incur a severe penalty for taking the safe route? Not a good choice. Makes as much sense as jumping on sidewalks - step on a crack.....
What I haven't seen mentioned is the fact that Junior drove right past his pit on his first pit..duh(he said his pit sign is pink, and now everybody is using pink now). He gets back into the pack and races up about mid pack before he goes into the pits again..pulls in wrong, on the white line, gets a lap penalty for that. Then, conjecture here because I never heard him mention it, probably so frantic from all the catch up from the screw ups, he doesn't know or care that Vickers is ahead of him defending HIS position for the lucky dog, and with the rain coming, Junior blasts Vickers three times and wrecks the field trying frantically to get back on the lead lap. Junior would have been sitting pretty if he had his head on straight and not made those all driver mistakes. Yeah thats racin, but he can't continue to make those kind of mistakes. I am not a Junior hater, but he was the junk of the field at Daytona. Hope this is a wake up call, He can't blame the old DEI for having inferior equipment anymore, this is his second year with Hendrick. Last I heard he was calling out Vickers to have it out in the garage. I think he needs to quit blaming others and look in the mirror for the real problem here.
NTxSlotCars 02-17-2009, 12:31 PM Well guys, who do you think is the most talked about driver on the web, in the paper, on TV, radio, and at every water cooler this morning? Big guess, it's not Matt Kenseth. To say that Jr. AMPed it up and turned the Red Bull car into the wall, or that a Chevy bumped a Toyota to take the lead, like they wish they could do in car sales, is just part of the story. The fault here truly lies with Nascar for trying to recreate history.
Sr. was called "Ironhead" by his peers in a day when it was no big deal to bump someone out of the way. He got that name by crashing more people than everyone else. Add a couple of more championships and then paint the car black and, "WALLA", the "Intimidator" is born. But, what was so intimidating was not really his driving style, but that Nascar would let him get away with it. Ask Darrell Waltrip, ask Rusty Wallace, ask Terry Labonte about Bristol, ask Bobby Hamilton about Rockingham in 97(that one really ticked me off), and the hits just keep on coming. Nascar made him the intimidator because they didn't care if he did it, a fact Tony Stewart has sited many times. Sure, Sr. stepped over the line and got penalized for it from time to time, but that was just to make it look even. It was great marketing by manipulation of the rules.
Now, knowing that Nascar would like to recreate that story in so many unspoken words, and knowing the guy that put you in the infield at Talledega was blocking you, and the guy that put you in the wall at Richmond last year was just behind you somewhere, along with a few other strong cars(not that they really mattered), and that Nascar is filled with a bunch of panty wearing officials and their rules (like having your tire an inch on the paint at a pit stop, or not going under the yellow line to pass), so that a bunch of panty wearing drivers don't mess up their wraps (because no one paints their cars anymore) wouldn't you bump that Red Bull Toyota out of the way? Jr. advanced his spot from 37th to 27th with that bump.
I think it's gonna take more than a couple of dirt tracks to save this series.
Case and points....
The new Home Depot/Lagono "I don't know how to put my pants on" commercial.
(give that guy a wall)
Tony Stewarts geek boy commercial.
(what was he thinking, its only funny if you're 7 years old, and that's not old enough to wear Old Spice)
Kasey Kane's cheesy Allstate commercials, where he's always the victim.
(Do you think if they put those girls in cars at the back of the field, he would go back to the front?)
Steven Wallace's 5 Hour Energy commercial.
(where Rusty is just dying to say, We didnt have to get hopped up to drive our cars back in the day!)
Jimmy Johnson growing a beard to look more like a man.
(and no, he cant do all that stuff, he's not that handy)
and Carl Edwards, drivers used to hunt ducks.
A ZEN GARDEN?????????????????????????????
just my 2 pecos,
Rich
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb6Ox_6Az8I
Kickin it Old School
Jim Norton 02-17-2009, 01:32 PM I was only able to stomach the Daytona show for about 10 minutes. I tuned in about 20 laps before the 100th lap.
The announcers were talking about how everybody was in a pack because the race could be made official after 100 laps due to rain.
So, I thought this might be interesting. But you know, the lead NEVER changed. If they really were racing for that 100th lap should we not have seen lead changes?!
Then, a commercial came on featuring two idiot drivers (who cares) and that was it for me. Besides, I had heard the word "Toyota" more than I could stomach.
Today, its a show. Gone is the engineering, sanctioning a race to see who is the best, building a race car that looks like a Monte Carlo, and drivers hungry to win. If you want to see how much its changed from a race to today's parade hunt down a tape of the Daytona 500 from 25 or so years ago. You will not believe how many times the 3rd turn is used for challenging the leader.
Jim Norton
Huntsville, Alabama
slotcarman12078 02-17-2009, 01:49 PM I'm sorry, but if I had to choose between watching an afternoon of the new Nascar or getting my toenails pulled out..... Well....... Toenails are sooo overrated..
If you want to see how much its changed from a race to today's parade hunt down a tape of the Daytona 500 from 25 or so years ago. You will not believe how many times the 3rd turn is used for challenging the leader.
Jim Norton
Huntsville, Alabama
Guess you missed the end of the 07 and 08 race:)
Gary#8 02-17-2009, 05:22 PM I say put bikini girls in the cars as drivers. Make all of the cars convertables with roll bars and governers so they only go about 50 mph. That would be a show! Oh and rain tires cause everyone likes wet bikini girls driving race cars! Then they won't need the 3 hour prerace show. Local dirt tracks is where it's at nowadays.
TEAM D.V.S. 02-17-2009, 05:24 PM i have to agree NASCRAP let us down with the 500. if they would have started the race when it was supposed to start , we would have had the finish that we should have seen! correct me if i am wrong but dont they finish races during the season on mondays that get rain delayed? why couldnt they do it this time? this is there super bowl and to call the race after 15 minutes of a rain delay is just plain dumb. they say it would take 2/3 hrs to dry the track ,well it was only 7.00pm in florida not midnight. i just dont get it , it was joke to me i was pumped up to watch it then they pulled that crap. i would have to say they are losing fans faster then they are gaining them!
just my 2 cents!!!
1976Cordoba 02-17-2009, 06:55 PM NASCRAP finishes races on Monday if they have to call them before they get to halfway. DW was on Wind Tunnel on SPEED later on Sunday night and it was 10 p.m. there and it was still raining, so I guess the right call was to end it.
Daytona 25 years ago was 1984 -- that was a great race. I think Yarborough sling-shotted DW on the backstretch on the last lap to win the thing for the 2nd year running.
The 500 used to start at about 11:30 a.m. here, so that must be 12:30 in Daytona. If they had done that this year they would have finished all 500 miles. I know it rained a little before the race, but it was mist not all out rain.
Rockingham 1997 pissed me off too, Rich. Also the time when NASCRAP stopped the race so they could 'correct' their penalty to Earnhardt when they accidentally dinged him for a missing lugnut. Not before, or since, have I seen NASCRAP reverse a penalty. Whatever. He was in the title hunt and that move let him ice the title that day . . . think it was also Rockingham.
Double-yellow line is garbage in my opinion -- put a wall down there if you don't want them running in the grass.
If someone makes a Jr. slot car, I'll buy it. I pretty much buy all the slot cars anyway. :wave:
RacerDave 02-17-2009, 07:36 PM I watched a little of the race. I seem to like Nascar less and less every year. All the cars look the same except for the paint jobs. They have turned the series into overly long IROC races. Dave.
Dunk21 02-17-2009, 09:01 PM come on if you watch jr's on board when vicker's blocks him vicker's go's to low and gets sideways himself if jr went below the line to pass he would have to drive down pit road vicker's shouldn't have put himself in that position. And just so that you all know jr did not take out kyle bush jr didn't touch kyle bush from the video its vicker's car that hits him
NTxSlotCars 02-17-2009, 09:37 PM M&M's and Red Bull just don't mix. Oh, and no one paints their cars anymore, they use wraps.
slotcarman12078 02-17-2009, 11:16 PM Sorry Rich.. Trading wraps just doesn't sound right... Hmmm.. I'll trade ya a turkey for a ham wrap??? Nah!!!
rudykizuty 02-18-2009, 07:37 AM Boy, this is a tough crowd.
BIGG-K 02-18-2009, 08:10 AM Man I tried to stay out of this but I can't. Dunk21, you hit it right on the nose. If you look at the in car camera veiw it shows Jr. passing Vickers ABOVE the yellow line and he came down to block LATE. In doing so he hit Jr. almost spinning him. as far as I'm concerned Vickers caused that wreck. And had Darrel Waltrip ( Kyle Bushes pimp daddy) not shot his big @#$ mouth off as usual it would have been just The Big One! why people dont like Jr. Its called Player Hating!
Slotcarjames 02-18-2009, 08:19 AM Question? Which driver started the whole thing? Sad to see the out come but people kill people for less on our highways each day. Good news, everyone will live to race another day.
AfxToo 02-18-2009, 08:45 AM I'd like to see all of the races seriously shortened, for now, to 200 miles with yellows not counting. Maybe go down to 100 miles if that still proves too long. The last 20-25 laps in most races are usually fairly exciting, but the other parts of the race are like watching an old man ride a bus. The longer races aren't proving anything anymore, durability is not really a factor except for the tires, so it's just more beer and souvenir selling time at the track. But at home, once the yard glaciers recede I can rarely afford to spend 4 hours during daylight on a weekend (that's mighty, mighty prime time) watching 43 guys driving around in circles for hours and hours and hoping for a close one at the end. Just get to the good parts sooner and dispense with the lap filler and commentator fluff. If they're going to have a season stretching out over 10 months and expect people to stay plugged in, they need to adapt to the times and better fit into our schedules.
Another option NASCAR should seriously consider in condensing the best 25 minutes from each race into a half-hour TV time slot that gets replayed during prime time the week after the race. If they put it in between Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men I would definately watch it every week, and I'd have a nicer looking lawn.
tjettim 02-18-2009, 11:44 AM Don't forget JR also put Jeff Burton in the wall before the
Vickers incident.There is always an excuse from him for
his many screwups.If it wasn't for his dads last name he
would just be another middle class driver.He will NEVER
be a cup champion,but he will probably kill someone or
himself.
Jim Norton 02-18-2009, 01:21 PM AFXtoo in asking for shortening the race tends to fall into the "entertainment" camp. Sure, its quick, convenient and you still get a winner. But its not racing. Its a two hour tv show.
Years back, building a car which would last 500 miles was just as big a part of the event as finding a driver who could put it across the finish line first.
But engineering seems to no longer be a factor in Nascar. Neither is sanctioning a race, a set of rules or letting race car drivers race. Its a show and a boring one at that.
The best thing that could happen to Nascar is start all over again. Determine a max length, width and height of a car as the only restrictions and lets see what shows up race day............
If the "Alabama Gang" existed today in Nascar it would be the "Alabama Metrosexuals"
Jim Norton
Huntsville, Alabama
resinmonger 02-18-2009, 01:35 PM Disclaimer: I am pounding vicodin for my back so the following ramble may be a little spacy. :freak::drunk:
IMHO, having a famous father can be a real pain for a driver. Sure, a champion dad's name can open doors and opportunities. But there is also an expectation that junior is a true chip off the block and everyone is wanting to see a reincarnation of dad. The open doors and opportunities can come too soon for the son and he is seen as a failure.
Think of the dad's development as a driver. He has no reputation to start with so he has to earn it starting at the bottom rung of racing's development ladder. This is as it should be. If he has skill, he progresses. If he has tons of skill, he progreses at an impressive rate. Since he is earning each step up the ladder, he is generally ready for that next step. He typically doesn't get a chance to get thrown in over his head. Now dad has a son. If he races, the son has pressure to prove he is as good or better than dad. Does the son go through the same learning curve up the ladder. No, he gets some short cuts aong the way. While these skips up the ladder look like killer opportunities, they rob junior of experience. He may get to a point where he is trown in over his head. But he's famous dude's son and he has to suck it up and make the best of it.
Let me give you all a personal, nonracing, example. Did any of you follow in your dad's footsteps? It sucks. My dad had straight A's all through high school. There is a plaque with his name on it at the high school. I went to that school and had teachers who went to school with my dad. If I got a B, these people saw me as a failure. When I got my first C, you'd have thought I was a total retard from the teacher's reaction. I decided that I wasn't going to play a game I had little chance to win. So, I went into track. It was something dad hadn't done. I was desperate to get out of the spot light of comparison. I excelled in track and I was free from comparison to good old dad.
Michael Andretti got a seat at McLaren in F-1. Mario had been World Champion for Lotus. Michael's season was an utter failure. Was he really ready to be a F-1 driver? The results say no. I believe that the Andretti name has gotten Michael as much grief in his career as it has gotten him gain.
So consider this when you judge Dale Jr. No, I am not a big fan of Jr. but I also wouldn't want to have to carry his burden.
:drunk::hat::freak::dude:
NTxSlotCars 02-18-2009, 08:34 PM Well, who could forget Kyle Petty? 7 BIG WC WINS. 7 is a lucky number, but 200 is better. Rez, you make a good point about following footsteps. Your teachers would have run me out of school had I been in your shoes. Rumor has it, and some people speculate that Jr. will never win a championship, when in fact, he has already won 2 championships in the Busch league, and not by default. He has also had success in IROC and other sports car series. So, to say he's a bonehead just isn't true. Every driver makes plenty of mistakes, even the all hallowed Mark Martin, it's just that Jr's mistakes are under a BIG FREAKIN MICROSCOPE. Sure he made some pit mistakes Sunday, but he didn't try running over someone's pit crew be cause he didn't like a move the guy made on the track, and he wasn't flippin off the official for holding him in the box. (can you name the two drivers related to those incidents?) So, there's no need to call in the National Guard over this one. After all, he may not be Sr., but he does have his blood running through his veins. No need to get Amped up over it. He's still getting comfortable in his new ride.
Rich - I wrote this in my Wranglers.
RUSSELL ZACHRY 02-18-2009, 08:41 PM I agree with Jim, I would be happy with the run what cha brung. I hate the cars all looking exactly the same. If you want to run an old superbird, then bring it, mustang, go for it, Impala, sounds good. Oh sorry no toyotas allowed. Asl long as safety rules were followed, then race it.
Russell
1976Cordoba 02-18-2009, 10:26 PM That is why I like SCCA SPEED GT -- you get a variety of cars from the nimble Acuras, Mazdas & Porsches to the brutish V8 Cadillac CTS-V . . . weight handicap them and let the drivers sort it on the racetrack. :thumbsup:
And they look like cars that run on the street (extra bonus).
http://photos.hobbytalk.com/data/500/CadillacCTS-V.jpg
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