The silver lining in the dark cloud that is the daily soap opera entitled "Dale Earnhardt Jr." is that he still can't figure out what all the fuss is about.
But how big has the big gorilla that is JUNIOR become? Driver No. 8 isn't even qualified for this year's Chase for the Nextel Cup, yet he was the 1st driver to hold a press conference at New Hampshire International Speedway this weekend. Even with an impending announcement next week regarding his new sponsor and number, and knowing full well he'd reveal nothing about, a full house gathered with tape recorders and television cameras running.
Not with his name. Not with his current Budweiser sponsorship. Not with the most watched personality in the Nextel Cup Series garage.
But how big has the big gorilla that is JUNIOR become? Driver No. 8 isn't even qualified for this year's Chase for the Nextel Cup, yet he was the 1st driver to hold a press conference at New Hampshire International Speedway this weekend. Even with an impending announcement next week regarding his new sponsor and number, and knowing full well he'd reveal nothing about, a full house gathered with tape recorders and television cameras running.
What for?
Even Earnhardt isn't sure.
"I'm the same person I've always been," said Earnhardt, who continues to be baffled that off-the-cuff comments can turn into national news stories. "I don't know when everybody started taking me so seriously. It's kind of an uncomfortable situation to be in."
Now that Earnhardt is trying to nail down the particulars of a new sponsorship, he said the biggest challenge has been in relaying to his new handlers that he wants to remain the person he's always been.
"The hardest part of working with anyone new, whether sponsors or a PR person, is trying to hone them into how you want them to work," Earnhardt said. "We don't really want to try and re-invent the wheel or have a new attitude with the fan base."
Earnhardt notables:
* On teammate Martin Truex Jr.'s Chase chances: "The way Martin runs, and with his abilities, ... I think he has a better chance (to win) than he even believes he does."
* On Truex not having a teammate in the Chase: "I don't think it makes a difference."
*On Truex taking over as DEI's top driver in 2008: "He needs to be able to lead a race team. He's that talented behind the wheel."
* On last 10 races with DEI: "It satisfies me just being able to get the car in the top-5 and challenge the leaders. That's all I really need. That's fun for me."
2 comments:
I think it's a big change for a lot of people to accept. This is who he was when he was forced to step out of the shadow he was always in. Maybe the fans feel like they helped him get where he is and now they have to do it all over again? I'm not sure. The one thing I am sure about is that Truex will be fine at DEI and will probably excel in ways people don't see - he had JR to teach him like someone taught him - and I think you'll also see JR continue to be good in whatever he does and where every he goes as long as he has the support he needs and requires just like any other big time driver. The world is just too big for one person to shoulder on their own at that level.
I heard Jim Rome ask the same question to Truex. "Does not having a team mate in the chase hurt your chances"? Stupid question. He still has team mates in the race. If anything it puts the focus solely on him at DEIfor the last 10 races. It becomes a matter of his team mates doing what they can (on and off the track) to help him.
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