Post by dalejrfan on Feb 11, 2006 1:52:55 GMT -5
NASCAR has tried to move on since Dale Earnhardt’s death on Feb. 18, 2001.
It has shown a commitment to safety in making drivers wear HANS devices, installing SAFER barriers and putting an escape hatch on top of cars.
The sport has made strides in diversity, pulls in strong TV ratings and has expanded its legion of fans each year.
Despite all that, one place that still feels void left by Earnhardt - the Nextel Cup garage.
Sure, drivers such as Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., have enjoyed success, both on and off the track, but none of them carry the weight and respect the late Earnhardt had with the drivers.
Earnhardt’s larger than life persona and personalty had an enormous impact in the Cup garage area and has yet to be filled since his death.
“I don’t think anyone has replaced him,” driver Jeff Burton said. “His impact in the sport behind the scenes is well-known by car owners and drivers that were around in that time.”
Former Cup driver and Fox analyst Darrell Waltrip agrees and thinks the racing has a changed a lot since Earnhardt’s death.
Plus, no one seems to be want to have the responsibility and be the one all drivers count on as the sport’s spokesperson or father figure in the garage area.
“I think any older driver would find it different than it was five years ago,” Waltrip said recently.
“There are so many young unmarried and talented drivers in the garage area that march to the beat of a different drummer,” Waltrip said.
The drivers’ mentor
Elliot Sadler remembers the talk he was given by Dale Earnhardt during his rookie season in 1999.
The man known as the Intimidator, pulled Sadler aside and gave him the “Talk” he would give to all rookie drivers entering NASCAR’s top series.
“He pretty much told me to be a gentleman,” Sadler said. “He said ‘We have a lot of kids. This is how you should treat your sponsors and treat your other drivers’. He said you should race them hard and we are a family off the track.”
Sadler said no current driver has replaced him in that way which he thinks has led to some different feelings in the garage area.
“A lot of kids come in the sport with an attitude that I am the new savior of the sport,” the Robert Yates driver said. “Because we haven’t had the talking that we had.”
Burton recalls his talks with Earnhardt, especially during 2000, when the two along with Bobby Labonte were in contention for a title.
Although, Burton admits getting closer to Earnhardt might have been just one of his mind games he would play with other drivers.
“I never had such a good friend then,” Burton said. “Maybe he didn’t like me so much. Maybe he wanted me to think I was his friend.
Labonte went on to win the title, but Burton was grateful for the times he was able to share with him and said Earnhardt’s ability to not let what happens on the race track carry over to what happens away from it.
“He didn’t stomp his feet, cry and pout. He didn’t lose it,” Burton said. “He knew when the race was over it was time to be somebody different.”
Talking to NASCAR
In addition to mentoring, drivers say Earnhardt was the their spokesman to NASCAR’s top officials.
Earnhardt had a repour with NASCAR’s top brass and went to bat when he felt something needed to be changed.
“We always had the voice of drivers to go on and talk with NASCAR,” Sadler said. “Dale had so much common sense and knew a lot. He always had great ideas.
Burton said there is an informal committee with a few of the veterans, who go and talk to NASCAR on behalf of the drivers.
Although, things are done differently now, Earnhardt would make sure he talked with former president Bill France Jr.
“He and Bill Jr. had a good relationship,” Burton said. “As Bill has given more power to more people, that has diminished the impact of having a conversation with Bill Jr.”
Who will take up the slack?
In the last few years, drivers such as Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett and Rusty Wallace have tried to take the mantle.
But Wallace has retired, Martin has only one year left and Jarrett probably has only two years left in his career.
So who is going to take the torch?
Waltrip thinks four-time champion Jeff Gordon is a perfect candidate.
Others say Stewart, the reigning Nextel Cup champ or even Earnhardt’s son, Dale Jr.
But Sadler has a different opinion. He says it’s the responsibility of many instead of just relying on one.
“I think it is tough,” Sadler said. “There will never be another one of him and this is just a special gift he had. I think collectively as drivers we have to have the same presence as one man.”
It has shown a commitment to safety in making drivers wear HANS devices, installing SAFER barriers and putting an escape hatch on top of cars.
The sport has made strides in diversity, pulls in strong TV ratings and has expanded its legion of fans each year.
Despite all that, one place that still feels void left by Earnhardt - the Nextel Cup garage.
Sure, drivers such as Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr., have enjoyed success, both on and off the track, but none of them carry the weight and respect the late Earnhardt had with the drivers.
Earnhardt’s larger than life persona and personalty had an enormous impact in the Cup garage area and has yet to be filled since his death.
“I don’t think anyone has replaced him,” driver Jeff Burton said. “His impact in the sport behind the scenes is well-known by car owners and drivers that were around in that time.”
Former Cup driver and Fox analyst Darrell Waltrip agrees and thinks the racing has a changed a lot since Earnhardt’s death.
Plus, no one seems to be want to have the responsibility and be the one all drivers count on as the sport’s spokesperson or father figure in the garage area.
“I think any older driver would find it different than it was five years ago,” Waltrip said recently.
“There are so many young unmarried and talented drivers in the garage area that march to the beat of a different drummer,” Waltrip said.
The drivers’ mentor
Elliot Sadler remembers the talk he was given by Dale Earnhardt during his rookie season in 1999.
The man known as the Intimidator, pulled Sadler aside and gave him the “Talk” he would give to all rookie drivers entering NASCAR’s top series.
“He pretty much told me to be a gentleman,” Sadler said. “He said ‘We have a lot of kids. This is how you should treat your sponsors and treat your other drivers’. He said you should race them hard and we are a family off the track.”
Sadler said no current driver has replaced him in that way which he thinks has led to some different feelings in the garage area.
“A lot of kids come in the sport with an attitude that I am the new savior of the sport,” the Robert Yates driver said. “Because we haven’t had the talking that we had.”
Burton recalls his talks with Earnhardt, especially during 2000, when the two along with Bobby Labonte were in contention for a title.
Although, Burton admits getting closer to Earnhardt might have been just one of his mind games he would play with other drivers.
“I never had such a good friend then,” Burton said. “Maybe he didn’t like me so much. Maybe he wanted me to think I was his friend.
Labonte went on to win the title, but Burton was grateful for the times he was able to share with him and said Earnhardt’s ability to not let what happens on the race track carry over to what happens away from it.
“He didn’t stomp his feet, cry and pout. He didn’t lose it,” Burton said. “He knew when the race was over it was time to be somebody different.”
Talking to NASCAR
In addition to mentoring, drivers say Earnhardt was the their spokesman to NASCAR’s top officials.
Earnhardt had a repour with NASCAR’s top brass and went to bat when he felt something needed to be changed.
“We always had the voice of drivers to go on and talk with NASCAR,” Sadler said. “Dale had so much common sense and knew a lot. He always had great ideas.
Burton said there is an informal committee with a few of the veterans, who go and talk to NASCAR on behalf of the drivers.
Although, things are done differently now, Earnhardt would make sure he talked with former president Bill France Jr.
“He and Bill Jr. had a good relationship,” Burton said. “As Bill has given more power to more people, that has diminished the impact of having a conversation with Bill Jr.”
Who will take up the slack?
In the last few years, drivers such as Mark Martin, Dale Jarrett and Rusty Wallace have tried to take the mantle.
But Wallace has retired, Martin has only one year left and Jarrett probably has only two years left in his career.
So who is going to take the torch?
Waltrip thinks four-time champion Jeff Gordon is a perfect candidate.
Others say Stewart, the reigning Nextel Cup champ or even Earnhardt’s son, Dale Jr.
But Sadler has a different opinion. He says it’s the responsibility of many instead of just relying on one.
“I think it is tough,” Sadler said. “There will never be another one of him and this is just a special gift he had. I think collectively as drivers we have to have the same presence as one man.”