This Driver Knows

February 4, 2010 by RacingWin
Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr 

Dale Jr Autographed Items

 

One NASCAR Driver Who Knows Where He Stands

Here’s a sign of a driver who doesn’t take himself too seriously – but still knows exactly where he stands in NASCAR.

Today, when one driver was asked if a driver had to win races in order to be recognized as the face of NASCAR, he answered kind of slyly, “apparently not.”

It was Dale Earnhardt Jr who said that. That was today at Daytona’s Media Day, and the media definitely got it.

“Somebody asked me how you get respect, and you get respect by the way you act,” Earnhardt said. “And they asked me if that was in or outside the car. I said that it was all the time, no matter where you’re at. You don’t get mulligans for being an asshole. I try and earn respect when I go do stuff whether that’s inside the car or not.”

So has Earnhardt earned respect. And who in NASCAR has not earned it?

 

 


 

 

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Comments

51 Comments on This Driver Knows

  1. Barb F on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 5:32 pm

    2. How will Junior do this season give me your thoughts.I am a fan so would like to know how others feel.

  2. Mama Donia on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 5:34 pm

    3. Junior is a gentleman regardless of where he is, and everyone should respect him for that. I hope this year will be his great turn around and he can get the monkey off his back, but regardless of where he wins or not, Jr. respects the other driver and they should respect him. Love ya, Junebug, GOOD LUCK and BE SAFE!!!!!!

  3. barbara on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 5:35 pm

    4. I think he is going to do great this year.always a fan

  4. Dawn on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 5:55 pm

    5. Ditto to Mama Donia

  5. John Gee on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 6:00 pm

    6. I heard he does better in even numbered years like this is 2010, for another example the Daytona 500 in 2004.

    So I’d say when his Dad passed away in 01 an odd numbered year he got lucky on the pepsi 400.

    So yeah I think he will do good in 10

  6. bonnie mccoy on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 6:02 pm

    7. DALE JR. YOU ARE THE ONLY REASON ANY OF US WATCH NASCAR YOU ARE THE BEST TO EVER HAPPEN TO NASCAR—WITHOUT YOU THEY HAVE A BUNCH OF WANNA BE……DON’T EVEN HAVE A NAME FOR THEM..BUT THEY SURE THINK THEY ARE SOMETHING K.B SHOULD BE PUT AT THE HUMANE SOCIETY..THREE DAYS AND HES GONE AND THOSE ANNOUCERS THEY ARE SOMETHING ELSE ALWAYS BROWN NOSING…KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK JR YOU ARE A GENTLEMAN…WE ARE NOT IN FEAR TO HAVE OUR KID WATCH YOU…GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO JRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. YOU ARE ALREADY A WINNER….FORGET THE REST…

  7. ron everhart on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 6:12 pm

    8. I hate to see Jr. and a few others in this sport anymore…Some of these guys try to race and pretty much go by the rules, Jr. included….
    There’s so much money involved now that the big money-boys resort to gross cheating to win along with a little pay- off to the powers to be, the races are so predicitable that it’s not even fun to watch anymore; unless of course you enjoy the caliber of entertainment as – — wrestling – - -! ! ! Yes, I said it ,the fix is in, and the level of wholesale cheating is so great that a first grader can fiqure it out…..

  8. John Gee on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 6:41 pm

    9. No Dale Sr is the best that happened to Nascar, Jr 2nd.

  9. Susie Powell on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 6:49 pm

    10. Jr. is a winner, on and off the track! We go to races to watch him!!!! Good luck to you Jr., for a Great 2010 season!!

  10. Mama Donia on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 6:51 pm

    11. I’m beginning to think that a lot of what Ron says is true, it’s not racing anymore, there is tooooo much money involved. I have never liked Brian France, I think he’s only out there for anything and everything he can get.

  11. Deborah on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 6:57 pm

    12. Take Jr out of nascar and see what happens. They may as well get rid of nascar.

  12. clay on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 7:47 pm

    13. I think Dale jr. will do just fine, he always does.The only problem is lady luck doesent like jr. for some reason or another she always slaps him when the going is getting good

  13. Rose on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 7:57 pm

    14. Jr. will always be #1 if he wins or not. I am sure he will do much better in 2010

  14. tcbpat88 on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 8:01 pm

    15. YES YES YES !!! That is only one reason you are his fan..he is a great guy,respect’s his family,friends, drivers & HIS FANS..There is much more to him than just being a driver. His life has showed that to us, when his Dad was killed he steped up did what his family,friends & fans needed, someone to be there to help them understand & get throught those terrible days ahead. With all the pain he was in, he did it & he did it with Class. We were just fans but he was the son. RESPECT: YES he doesnt need to prove anything to anyone anymore,he has done enought..his Dad would be proud of the man he is today.
    GOOD LUCK IN 2010…be safe !

  15. AZomah on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 8:09 pm

    16. That statement is why I have always respected Jr. Looks like he had a good practice today. Loved his interview about his beard. Course I like beards. Deborah, I agree with you.

  16. marcel on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 8:10 pm

    17. JR dropping out of NASCAR, no big deal, Danica has brought more attention to NASCAR in 6 Month then JR. did in the past 3 years.

  17. Mama Donia on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 8:42 pm

    18. AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!!!!!!!!!!

  18. voodoodr on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 9:20 pm

    19. Jr. is going to do great this season. He wa 11th in the first
    shootout pract. and 18th in the second practice today. He
    wasn’t involved in any of the wrecks either. Now that is
    saying something.
    Jr. is a gentleman on and off the track.

  19. Janet on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 10:14 pm

    20. Sure Jr. knows where he stands in this life’s game. He is #1 and he has the fans to prove it. Regardless of what happens, he will always be #l with his fans. Good Lord, don’t you just love him. He is wonderful. I hope he kicks butt this year, just to say he did it. If he doesn’t …..by golly, as you can see, he is still #l with the fans and those who pay the bucks to see Nascar…..

  20. mamadew88 on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 11:01 pm

    21. Just remember the acorn does not fall too far from the oak tree, and Junior is that acorn. He has a personality that others can only wish they had, not like Kyle, Denny or Brian Vickers..

  21. mamadew88 on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 11:03 pm

    22. I AGREE………..

  22. mamadew88 on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 11:17 pm

    23. Not only does Jr. have a great personalty, he is NOT a sore loser like other drivers I can name (and you know who you are). His family comes first as he has taken on the role that his father has bestowed him. I would love to see him find a wonderful woman , marry and have a few Dales to drive for NASCAR some day. He deserves all the happiness that he has worked so hard for.

  23. goldie on Thu, 4th Feb 2010 11:49 pm

    24. Jr. has always shown respect even when he loses and when he is wih his fans, there couldn’t be a better star. He really shows his fans how much he thinks of all of us. You can certainly see that his Dad raised him that way, that no matter how much money you have, it will never replace the people who love you and he has proven himself time and time again. Just look how much love he and his sister have shown to each other and the loyalty they proved admist all the turmoil they wet through just trying to retain what their Dad wanted them to have. He could have made a much bigger fuss over that, but again showed what he is made of. I think we will see a different Jr. this year. We’re pulling for you Jr…..

  24. John Gee on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 12:42 am

    25. Say’s you an 18 fan.

  25. REGAN on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 6:23 am

    26. MARCEL WILL PLEASE GO BACK TO MARS OR WHEREVER IT IS YOU CAME FROM!!!

  26. Tammy on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 6:50 am

    27. Awsome response…could not have said it better myself! May GOD be with Jr. this year and keep him safe. He will win a few this year…I believe in him 100%.

  27. Reno3 on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 7:15 am

    28. I think JR. is a MAN and not a cry baby like most of the drivers out there. He does his job and good or bad he is the same he has never cried or blamed anyone else. He is a man’s man, I am proud to be a JR. fan even on bad day’s, He is just a great person. You can see it in the way he is helping other driver’s. HE does not feel that They might be competition later. He has still been helping other drivers up the rank’s don’t see to many driver’s doing that. He is the man just like his dad !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO DALE GO I think this is your year also !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  28. Doowah on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 7:43 am

    29. Congratulations guys, you made it all the way to the sixth comment before you started whining about Kyle Bush. That has to be some sort of record.

  29. Randy King on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 7:57 am

    30. i agree, “dale sr was the best thing in nascar”… as for jr “he’s the most disppointment driver of nascar…

  30. Randy King on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 8:04 am

    31. if you noticed jr wanted to start in the “back of the field” for the shootout, then he can use that as an excuse when he sux again.. lol

  31. Randy King on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 8:06 am

    32. i wouldn’t watch “nascot” if jr wasn’t racing.. as long there’s a “earnhardt” in the race, i’m watching..

  32. Doowah on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 8:26 am

    33. You people that are always trashing Teressa don’t have any idea what plans his dad had arranged with her about how to handle his estate after his death. Back when JR got old enough to get into raceing his dad didn’t just set him up with all the equipment or money he needed, he made him work it out for himself. It just might be that it was all handled the way SR wanted it to be. Till you know all the facts maybe you should just give her the benefit of the doubt.

  33. Doowah on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 8:38 am

    34. Well Randy there you are again running your mouth. Go find a basketball game to occupy your little brain for a while.

  34. Randy King on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 8:41 am

    35. Jr. is a winner, on and off the track? jr took “25th” in pts last yr, that NOT winning on the track.. that’s totally unacceptable as a jr fan.. his move to hendrick isn’t working out.. thats why i “talk down” jr..

  35. Dave Bowles on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 8:48 am

    36. REGAN, you are right! Marcel is too close to the tree to see the leaves. The only thing with “Drama Danica” is she is controversial. Let’s see her in a “Big” car where fenders get rubbed and see what happens. She can get a knot in her thong which gets her blood up watch her lip stick out.
    Marcel, I’ll bet you watch MSLSD(MSNBC in case you can’t figure it out). Jr. is low profile which is a character trait you do not seem to understand in context. You must be a newbie in this sport. As I said the attention is because of the transition of “Little Hottie Danica” to racing that can get rough. Well seasoned fans know and understand this is just a “fart in a tornado”.
    John Gee may be right, you’re an 18 fan I’ll bet. Find something useful to do on race day, like “pound sand”.

  36. Randy King on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 8:50 am

    37. when jr wins 3 races , i’ll shut my mouth.. btw, i hate basketball.. lol

  37. Tom on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 9:35 am

    38. Jr. is a class act. He shows respect to other drivers, That why I like him.
    I feel he will do much, much better this year, but even if he doesn’t win any races,
    I ll still be his fan because he is a clean driver and very nice to the fans. More than you can say for the other drivers. Looking forward to Daytona 500 and watching Jr. all year. His daddy would be proud of him.

  38. Deborah on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 10:15 am

    39. So if Jr did what you wanted him to do you would like him and stop talking trash about him ? you need to go and get a life.

  39. Deborah on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 10:18 am

    40. I do not watch nascot. I watch nascar.

  40. Arthur Pratt on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 12:48 pm

    41. I think every week they should take turns driving jimmy johnsons car. Jimmy than Jeff than Dale Jr. and keep rotateing.

  41. LADYBLUE on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 12:53 pm

    42. I think Jr does his best all the time. If he wins a race I jump for joy, if he doesn’t I hope he gets a win the next race. For Jr more than myself I want him to have his best year ever in 2010 and I really think it’s comming! Go Jr!

  42. Randy King on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 1:41 pm

    43. teresa was so right when she said ” jr wanted to be a public personality and not a nascar driver”

  43. RacingWin on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 3:57 pm

    44. That is not what Teresa said. Here are her exact words:

    “Right now the ball’s in his court to decide on whether he wants to be a NASCAR driver or whether he wants to be a public personality.”

    She never said Dale Jr did not want to be a NASCAR driver.


    Here’s the full story

  44. Judith Hatton on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 4:06 pm

    45. Randy King needs to stay out of Jr. Nation if he just wants to be a brat. Didn’t your mother teach you not to say anything, if you can’t say something nice.

  45. Randy King on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 4:08 pm

    46. you’re right, but jr is NO racer like his dad. (not even close)

  46. Randy King on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 4:12 pm

    47. i’m a fan of jr and it’s my opinion..

  47. Deborah on Fri, 5th Feb 2010 5:06 pm

    48. You are right Jr is not like his dad cause he is NOT his dad. He is his own man.

  48. Donna on Sat, 6th Feb 2010 12:34 pm

    49. True Jr. fans do not say negative things about him.

  49. marty on Sun, 7th Feb 2010 9:49 am

    50. This is going to be his year- front row for the 500.. Good start !!!

  50. barbara on Wed, 10th Feb 2010 1:25 pm

    51. Hi there! Snowed in????? Yes, Jr is respectful out and inside the car. I feel he is a fun person, wish I knew him better. I also fell he is very friendly with his family not stepmom, don’t know about the sister, but apparently she doesn’t fit in with the rest of them. I love his commercials and HE SPEAKS HIS MIND, GREAT.
    GOOD LUCK THIS SEASON—-TAKE YOUR TIME AND WORK TOGETHER. GRAMMY 67

  51. gregg on Wed, 10th Feb 2010 1:48 pm

    52. i am a fan for life he will be great this season

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