Will Dale Jr. better his chance?
By Chey1970
@Chey1970 (1186)
United States
5 responses
@lightningd (1039)
• United States
20 Jan 08
Honnestly, I think that moving to HMS was the best chance Dale Jr has to become a cup champion. Rick puts the best cars under his drivers, ALL OF THEM. He truly takes care of his teams. Dale Jr getting a car under him that is capable of not only finishing a race, but winning one is going to better his chances exponentially. The decline in his performance was the lack of cohesiveness within DEI. They didn't put the effort into putting solid motors in all fo their cars. End of story. Theresa kind of shot herself in the foot there.
2 people like this
@buglernan (30)
• United States
27 Jan 08
Yeap, I agree. Theresa made a big mistake letting Jr. walk away. I don't think you will hear much about DEI after the season begins. They just don't have the talent and I don't think they realize, just how much attention Jr. brought to DEI.
1 person likes this
@lightningd (1039)
• United States
27 Jan 08
Exactly!!! DEI 's fan base was Dale SR and Jr. Without either one of them, the majority of fans will move elsewhere. There's so many JR fans, that while they hate Jeff Gordon, they're still gonna end up as HMS fans, especially once they see JR start winning races.
1 person likes this
@odiesman1 (26)
• United States
27 Jan 08
He made the best decision for him, at DEI he was never going to get what he wanted because Theresa was not ever going to give an inch on anything. I feel the Sr built that company for him and his children to be able all to work together and now Theresa has pushed all the Earnhardts out. Not giving Jr the #8 because she wanted to hold onto the merchandising rights was a huge mistake because now the #88 is going to be the big seller not the #8. You are right she shot herself in the foot. Jr. needs and has found an owner who will give him the equipment that will allow him to not only finish but win races.
1 person likes this
@Kenorv (343)
• United States
21 Jan 08
I don't think that his chances are any better with HMS than they are with DEI. He's third on the totem pole at DEI behind Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon. It's going to be awfully tough for Dale Jr. to win a championship when he's only the third best driver on his own team let alone Sprint Cup. Tony Stewart still has at least a few good years left, Denny Hamlin is on the rise and Matt Kenseth is still great. Jr. is going to have have a career year plus hope that Johnson and Gordon have off years to ever win a championship and even that might not be enough with the chase format.
@buglernan (30)
• United States
27 Jan 08
I understand where you are coming from, but HMS will do everything they can to put Jr. in contention. Hendricks would love to have all 4 cars fighting for the championship. Tony Stewart is a good driver, but he needs to learn to control his anger. If he does, he will become a great driver. Denny Hamlin I am not so sure about yet. Denny has lots of potential, but can or will he use it. Look what happen to Ryan Newman. He could of been a great driver too, but he doesn't know how to be consistant. I watched Ryan Newman here at our local race tracks before he moved into nascar. He had many wins, but they were very sporadic. Ryan raced here in Northern Indiana at the South Bend Motor Speedway years before going to nascar.
1 person likes this
@jsitko (1169)
• United States
12 Feb 08
I believe that DEI/Teresa was holding Jr back. He was having issues with his car in almost every race. I do not think that Teresa was giving Jr the things he needed nor the respect he needed. Without Jr, Teresa and DEI will fail.
@buglernan (30)
• United States
27 Jan 08
Jr. made the right choice. You put a good driver with a great team and you will win races. Put a great driver with a great team and win championships!
@huppsterdave5125 (279)
• United States
28 Jan 08
I'll start out by saying I am a Jeff GOrdon fan. I think Dale Jr. has a great chance with Hendrick and his team. They make excellent engines and Jr. is backed by the two best drivers in NASCAR; Jeff Gordon and Jimme Johnson. He also doesn't have to deal with the family issues he had to deal with when he was with DEI. It seems to me that a great weight has been lifted.
1 person likes this
@Chey1970 (1186)
• United States
28 Jan 08
Whoohooo I'm a Jeff Gordon fan too. My husband is a Jr. fan, I have nothing against Jr. I was glad to see the two will be teaming up. Now there won't be so much of a rival between me and hubby.. *laughing* I think Rick Hendrick will do his best to provide Jr. with what he needs.
