Hendrick Motorsports held a function for sponsors Tuesday night, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. was the only driver who showed up with his shirt hanging out, and the only driver who wore jeans.
But when Junior met the media Wednesday his white Rick Hendrick Motorsports shirt was tucked into his dark pants, his hair carefully gelled and his black shoes shined.
"I got a boss just like you," Junior says. "Me and Rick are keeping score and it’s tied up right now."
Junior likes to wear T-shirts and jeans and a baseball cap. Does it matter? Although there are occasions in which we have to take one for the team – Wednesday was one of them for Earnhardt – clothes shouldn’t matter to anybody but the people that wear them. You reach a certain age and you get to pick out your own clothes all by yourself no matter how you make your living.
It’s 2008 in NASCAR, too.
It will be interesting to watch the Hendrick drivers interact. Who defers? Who takes over? Jimmie Johnson is a star and Jeff Gordon is a star and the new guy, Junior, is a star.
"Working around here, doing things around here, I just try to keep my mouth shut," Junior says Wednesday. "I don’t want to give them the impression I’m trying to steal the limelight when those guys are well-deserving of it."
He says Johnson’s run for a third straight title is the story the media should latch onto. He says that’s a much bigger story than he is. He just wants to fit.
"I want them to be glad I’m here," Junior says. "I want them to be happy to have me as a teammate."
Of course they’re happy. It means there are fewer reporters hovering around them.
Each of the four Hendrick drivers spoke at the same time at the Hendricks complex Tuesday.
At 2:20 p.m., there were six members of the media around Casey Mears, 20 around Johnson, 29 around Gordon and 46 around Junior.
Fifteen minutes later, the numbers were Mears three, Gordon 11, Johnson 16 and Junior 37.
Thats are boy. I agree with him as far as not wanting to out shine them. Hopefully they will remember that Junior didn't ask for all the attention we give him, and that he puts gis pants on the same way they do.
Posted by: Kendria | January 23, 2008 at 11:22 PM
Is Jeff Gordon Getting his nose out of joint because of all the attention Junior is getting?
Posted by: Frances Hodges | January 24, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Why in the world would Jeff Gordon get his nose outta joint? He's had 15 years of too much media attention thrust upon him....and with over 20 reporters hanging on to his every word, he's still getting too much attention. IMO, he's perfectly fine sharing the limelight with June. Being the MOST POPULAR driver doesn't equate to being the BEST driver.
Posted by: Margery | January 24, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Although his son is not a wus this is not Dale Sr who was tough as nails and unashamed of his solid pure blue collar working class roots and small town and a folk hero to hundreds of millions across the nation and planet.
Even Jesus said a prophet is not appreciated in his hometown but he didnt know Earnhardt Sr.
As far as Concord and Cabarrus officials getting run over for their stupdity arrogance and ignorance, it was actually Concord and its little 3 ft munchin big mouth dwarf mayor who you may have seen in the Wizard of Oz. Cabarrus officials were not involved in the initial dupute. Big difference but the former Charlotte Motor Speedway track belonged to Charlottes first suburb outside Meck with Harrisburg for 40 yrs before the city bandits of Concord stole it.
Godfather Bruton who owns 7 big tracks and worth a couple billion is the Founding Father of NASCAR and at 81 yrs old can still kick azz.
One good thing about racing is they dont have taxpayers fund the building of racetracks or dragstrips unless you are a stupid idiot politician who tries to block progress when a guy like Smith is making all 7 track areas in Metro-Charlotte, Ft Worth Texas, northern San Francisco, Las Vegas, Metro-Atlanta, Bristol TN, and New Hampshire many billions annually in free revenue.
The only thing that can mess it up is an idiot politician. Incredible. And in the end these same politicians show no shame and act like they did nothing wrong and even cost taxpayers 100 million for their total stupidity.
.
Posted by: Harrisburg Motor Speedway & Dragstrip | January 25, 2008 at 07:41 AM
Hi Valli Someone's head always has to roll in these satnitious, but everyone knows that winning drivers have winning teams and winning organizations. The 88 team may have been built wrong from the start after Dale Jr. made his move from DEI. Or they're just ill-starred. Lady Luck trumps any garage, any engine, any pit crew. This is a team that has slipped further and further to the back of the pack I think they just need to accept this season is screwed, try out all sorts of things and come out of the gate next year in leading fashion. Like Kurt Busch and Ryan Newman have managed to do this year.
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