What is the obsession with Dale Earnhardt Jr. all about?



Dale Earnhardt Jr./Getty Images


Dale Earnhardt Jr.  -  For the life of me I can't figure out why HE is the sport's most popular driver.  I mean, if you actually look at his career stats during his 12 years in the Sprint Cup Series, they're far from overwhelming.  His best Series finish came back in 2003 when he finished 3rd.  In 12 years on the circuit, he has amassed an underwhelming 18 wins, 155 top ten finishes, and has taken the pole position 10 times.  Now you may look at the 155 top tens and think that is impressive, but average them out over a period of 12 years, with 36 races per season and his top ten finish percentage is 35%.  So over two thirds of the time, he finishes in the back of the pack!  Oh, yeah and the most important statistic of them all - Junior hasn't won a race in three years, with his last victory coming in June 2008 in Michigan.  In fact, the only thing that is consistent in his resume is being selected as NASCAR's most popular driver (every year since 2003). 

?????  OK, still not getting it.  It's not like he's that much better looking than every other driver out there, is it?  They all seem to be poster boys that are pretty polished.  I can only assume it is because of his father and the legacy he left on the sport.  But Junior is not his father, he's not even close.  Yet fans cling to the name because they just want to hope against hope that he will someday become the start they are all so desperately hoping for him to become.   And when he had his best chance to win this past weekend in Charlotte, he ran out of gas on the last turn of the last lap.  WOW.  I don't know if that is just bad driving, bad advice from his crew chief, bad strategy or all of the above.  But he fell flat once again, and yet everyone is still singing his praises.  I don't get it, explain it to me.  Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne; every single one of these guys has less time in the sport than Junior, but have more wins, top ten finishes and better season finishes than Junior.  I mean, both Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards have only 7 years on the Sprint Cup circuit, with Busch garnering 21 wins and 104 top ten finishes and Edwards compiling 19 wins and 127 top ten finishes. 

I get loyalty, I truly do.  I'm an Arizona Cardinals Fan for God's sake!  And I'm not saying the guy shouldn't have fans, and that those fans shouldn't be loyal.  Of course they should.  But, typically, the most popular driver is it's best, or a perennial contender for a title.  Not a middle of the pack guy who will never fulfill the overblown expectations that are synonymous with his name.