Quote:
Originally Posted by PonchoV8
Dale Jr. had the best of everything all his life....without earning any of it. The fact that he had a little success was due mostly to the machine he was born into.
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Complete and udder BS!
IF you knew the true story about JR you'd know his father didn't give him anything. He worked for everything he got. He is the opposite of most of the drivers in racing, where their parents devote their lives to their kids racing.
I really like Chase Elliot, but he is a perfect example of a driver who's parent gave them every chance and opportunity to be the best they could be. (and he made the most of it) There are thousands of others just like him that don't have the same talent and won't make it beyond the local levels.
JR talked about after winning two championships in the nationwide series, he was still living in a trailer on his fathers property. He had a curfew and an allowance that barely gave him enough to go out with friends. He also said that he and Kerry had to buy every part for their race cars before hitting the Nationwide series, Dad never paid for anything. They would, on occasion sneak into Dads shop and steal parts without him knowing it.
Those of us that race have all seen Parents that start their kids in Jr Dragster, drag them all over the area racing, move them up at every age level hoping they make it big one day. Sr was oldschool and said many times, if either of them (Dale or Kerry) were going to make it in racing they would do it on their own.
What JR got from his father was the Name, and an immediate fan base. It was up to JR to keep the fans, Kerry never earned the Fans.
IMHO, the one thing that kept JR from being great was his lack of aggression on the track. He drives more like Mark Martin and not enough like his Father. Add in that he almost never blames anyone, and takes responsibility even when it was clear it wasn't his fault, makes him "worthy" in my book.