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| It's been 4 yrs since Jr. Nation witnessed a burnout in Victory Lane. Four years, same place. Michigan International Speedway Photo Courtesy of Nascar.com |
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| Jr. crosses the finish line at the 2012 Quicken Loans 400 at MIS Photo courtesy of Nascar.com |
Leave it to NASCAR’s current reigning champion and resident
mouthpiece to chime in: "Dale had the fastest
car all day. It's not a national holiday, guys. This morning they were
celebrating his fourth anniversary of his last win, so I guess we're all in a
state of mourning now, because he's broke that string now, so I don't know what
we're all supposed to think."
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| Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the charge to the finish line Photo courtesy of Nascar.com |
Tony....come on, suck it up buttercup. So you didn’t win this one. You had a beyond respectable second place finish. Even if you had, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s hauler STILL would have outsold yours in merchandise!
How can you not get caught up in the royalty and the loyalty
that surrounds Dale Earnhardt Jr?
Following the death of his father Dale Sr. at the Daytona 500 in 2001, I
had to pick a new driver to follow. I chose Jimmie Johnson. He was new, he was
young and most of all, like Dale Sr., he was fearless and could drive the crap
out anything he got behind the wheel of. However, like every other fan in
NASCAR, no matter whom you threw your support and loyalty behind, you still
your heart, hoped for Jr. to win.
After his ordeal with his Step-Monster Teresa Earnhardt and
subsequent departure for DEI, I could
not have been more thrilled to see him hop on board the Hendrick’s Motor Sports
Team. Like everyone else I expected great things to happen for him, but they
just never seemed to pan out. Dale Jr. to this day, regardless if he were to
ever win another race, would still be ranked as NASCAR’s most popular driver.
He is the Crown Prince. He can do no wrong. You have to be at a race, live,
whenever Jr. takes the lead. The thunderous roar and eruption of cheering is
mind blowing in the least, deafing at best. Remember, these are people sporting
numbers of every other driver as well as Jr. fans. It’s NASCAR, its family.
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| Team Earnhardt and the Diet Mountain Dew/National Guard #88 Chevrolet celebrate. Dale Jr.'s girlfriend Amy Reimann pictured above. Photo courtesy of Nascar.com |
When he makes mistakes and cause wrecks, it’s okay, “it’s
just Dale”. You have to love a sport and a fan base that still supports and
cheers on a driver that has not won in four years. He sells more merchandise
than any other driver – ever-except for his Dad. We have all known that he has
the talent, the God given gift of driving. It was nice to finally see him shake
those demons and bring it home for his long suffering team, sponsors, owners
but more importantly, his FANS.
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| Champagne toast for Jr.! Photo courtesy of Nascar.com |
Top ten results are as follows:
Jr. followed by Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle,
Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Clint Bowyer, Juan Montoya, Marcos Ambrose and
Kevin Harvick.
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| Jr. Nation is celebrating tonight! Photo courtesy of Nascar.com |
Overall Sprint Cup current standings are found here:
Agree? Disagree?
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