Post by dalejrfan on Feb 18, 2006 17:32:27 GMT -5
Door closed to another Earnhardt?
Wheeler wonders if rough edges would turn sponsors off
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - When Dale Earnhardt died, NASCAR lost the driver that has been called the sport's Superman, its Elvis Presley and a cross between John Wayne and Clint Eastwood.
Lowe's Motor Speedway president H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler knows there will never be another Dale Earnhardt. But still, he worries that there's a void in the sport that someone needs to fill.
"Earnhardt was the ultimate working man's driver," Wheeler said. "The shrimp boat captains, the backhoe operators, the carpenters and framers -- that's who his people were. They loved him."
Although Wheeler believes NASCAR needs a hero for the common man, he wonders if another driver like Earnhardt -- immensely talented but rough around the edges -- came along today, would he get a ride in the Nextel Cup Series?
"Who drives these cars and what they stand for are real important," Wheeler said. "And it's not that the drivers we have don't stand for all of the right things, but what we need is a guy to come along who has some dirt under his fingernails. And you can't fake it. It has to be real.
"Maybe there's a guy out there right now running on a dirt track that a sponsor might not look at because he doesn't `fit the mold' of what today's driver is expected to be.
"If I had one thing to say to sponsors it would be that they don't have to have that slick, corporate person driving your car. I think the thing I fear the most is that the next Earnhardt who comes along ends up running the rest of his life on some dirt track in Iowa or a dust bowl in south Texas and never gets his shot because he's not slick enough."
Jeremy Mayfield agrees with Wheeler, even though he said he doesn't understand the thinking that might cause that.
"We talk about this corporate image and marketability and all of this," Mayfield said. "What I admired the most about Dale Earnhardt was that he came into this sport and he was who he was.
"He'd talk about hunting or fishing or driving bulldozers. And you look around at the race fans and walk out in the infield, very few of these `marketable' drivers can relate to those people in that infield. But Dale Earnhardt could. Dale Earnhardt was the man, and he had all of these fans. But would he fit that corporate image?"
Dale Jarrett said "replacing" Earnhardt might very well be like "replacing" a Michael Jordan.
"He was willing to carry the weight of this sport on his shoulders," Jarrett said. "I'm not sure that person is out there. Those are pretty big shoes to fill."
Leadership by Committee
Dale Earnhardt was the acknowledged leader in the NASCAR garage before his death in 2001. Today, that role is shared among several drivers. Here's a look at some of those widely considered to be among the sport's current leadership group:
Jeff Burton: People once whispered behind Burton's back that he was more worried about safety than about going fast. Burton has made it his business to learn all he can about making his cars as safe as they can be. "There's an old saying that ignorance is bliss," Burton said. "I think that's an ignorant statement."
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: The heir to the Earnhardt empire and by far today's most popular driver, Earnhardt Jr. can have as much power as he's willing to take as he grows into broader roles with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and NASCAR as a whole.
Jeff Gordon: He's a four-time Cup champion and one of the sport's most visible celebrities. Gordon accepts the fact that he has influence, but said he doesn't think it's his place to lead the way Earnhardt did.
Dale Jarrett: Jarrett and his father, Ned, have both won championships. Both Jarretts have been eloquent spokesmen for their sport, and Dale has displayed the ability to look at the big picture and advocate what's best for the sport.
Mark Martin: Considered a "driver's driver," he's known as one of the sport's cleanest racers. Because his abilities and his character are so widely respected, his opinions carry weight, too.
Kyle Petty: A third-generation driver who endured the loss of his son, Adam, in a 2000 crash, Petty is not afraid to speak out when he sees the need.
Tony Stewart: The two-time champion said he doesn't seek a leadership role, but he doesn't shirk it, either, as evidenced by his strong comments about the dangers of "bump drafting" after last week's Budweiser Shootout
Wheeler wonders if rough edges would turn sponsors off
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - When Dale Earnhardt died, NASCAR lost the driver that has been called the sport's Superman, its Elvis Presley and a cross between John Wayne and Clint Eastwood.
Lowe's Motor Speedway president H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler knows there will never be another Dale Earnhardt. But still, he worries that there's a void in the sport that someone needs to fill.
"Earnhardt was the ultimate working man's driver," Wheeler said. "The shrimp boat captains, the backhoe operators, the carpenters and framers -- that's who his people were. They loved him."
Although Wheeler believes NASCAR needs a hero for the common man, he wonders if another driver like Earnhardt -- immensely talented but rough around the edges -- came along today, would he get a ride in the Nextel Cup Series?
"Who drives these cars and what they stand for are real important," Wheeler said. "And it's not that the drivers we have don't stand for all of the right things, but what we need is a guy to come along who has some dirt under his fingernails. And you can't fake it. It has to be real.
"Maybe there's a guy out there right now running on a dirt track that a sponsor might not look at because he doesn't `fit the mold' of what today's driver is expected to be.
"If I had one thing to say to sponsors it would be that they don't have to have that slick, corporate person driving your car. I think the thing I fear the most is that the next Earnhardt who comes along ends up running the rest of his life on some dirt track in Iowa or a dust bowl in south Texas and never gets his shot because he's not slick enough."
Jeremy Mayfield agrees with Wheeler, even though he said he doesn't understand the thinking that might cause that.
"We talk about this corporate image and marketability and all of this," Mayfield said. "What I admired the most about Dale Earnhardt was that he came into this sport and he was who he was.
"He'd talk about hunting or fishing or driving bulldozers. And you look around at the race fans and walk out in the infield, very few of these `marketable' drivers can relate to those people in that infield. But Dale Earnhardt could. Dale Earnhardt was the man, and he had all of these fans. But would he fit that corporate image?"
Dale Jarrett said "replacing" Earnhardt might very well be like "replacing" a Michael Jordan.
"He was willing to carry the weight of this sport on his shoulders," Jarrett said. "I'm not sure that person is out there. Those are pretty big shoes to fill."
Leadership by Committee
Dale Earnhardt was the acknowledged leader in the NASCAR garage before his death in 2001. Today, that role is shared among several drivers. Here's a look at some of those widely considered to be among the sport's current leadership group:
Jeff Burton: People once whispered behind Burton's back that he was more worried about safety than about going fast. Burton has made it his business to learn all he can about making his cars as safe as they can be. "There's an old saying that ignorance is bliss," Burton said. "I think that's an ignorant statement."
Dale Earnhardt Jr.: The heir to the Earnhardt empire and by far today's most popular driver, Earnhardt Jr. can have as much power as he's willing to take as he grows into broader roles with Dale Earnhardt Inc. and NASCAR as a whole.
Jeff Gordon: He's a four-time Cup champion and one of the sport's most visible celebrities. Gordon accepts the fact that he has influence, but said he doesn't think it's his place to lead the way Earnhardt did.
Dale Jarrett: Jarrett and his father, Ned, have both won championships. Both Jarretts have been eloquent spokesmen for their sport, and Dale has displayed the ability to look at the big picture and advocate what's best for the sport.
Mark Martin: Considered a "driver's driver," he's known as one of the sport's cleanest racers. Because his abilities and his character are so widely respected, his opinions carry weight, too.
Kyle Petty: A third-generation driver who endured the loss of his son, Adam, in a 2000 crash, Petty is not afraid to speak out when he sees the need.
Tony Stewart: The two-time champion said he doesn't seek a leadership role, but he doesn't shirk it, either, as evidenced by his strong comments about the dangers of "bump drafting" after last week's Budweiser Shootout