Dale Reaches Escape Velocity
Some people are prone to making a right turn in life where they should have made a left.<br><br>
While watching the beginning of the next five years of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s life unfold, that old cliché starting clanging in my head like the bells of an old English church after a royal wedding.<br><br>
Let’s make one thing clear very quickly: It’s not my place (or yours) to judge whether Dale has “sold out” the Earnhardt legacy to drive for a rival team.  Contemplating that is an idiotic exercise and a waste of time.<br><br>
As for the wisdom of choosing Hendrick Motorsports as his next employer, there is no doubt Dale made the correct turn (which, in NASCAR, is a left).  Dale wants to win races and championships — Hendrick Motorsports wins races and championships.  It’s truly that simple.<br><br>
Dale also finds himself in comfortable waters as far as guidance goes, which some can argue he hasn’t had since he lost his father in February 2001.  Rick Hendrick is a man to be respected, and Dale admitted he’ll be on a much shorter leash than the one that held him at Dale Earnhardt Inc.<br><br>
If the legendary Dale Jr. lifestyle gets in the way of business, Hendrick will guide Dale back to the winning path.  Some might say his stepmother, Teresa, should have done that at DEI long ago, but that would assume Dale Jr. respects her.  She tried to challenge him through an interview with the Wall Street Journal in December — it didn’t work because it exposed the very core of what’s wrong between Dale Jr. and Teresa.  Neither one respects the other, not really.<br><br>
The more interesting side to the story surrounding Dale’s pending arrival at Hendrick Motorsports is the one swirling around Kyle Busch.  Can it be as simple as what amounts to a swap between Hendrick and DEI? I doubt it, especially with Toyota surely drooling over the possibilities of signing a signature driver.  If you believe Michael Waltrip, Brian Vickers, AJ Allmendinger, Dave Blaney or Dale Jarrett are the true objects of Toyota’s affections, think again.<br><br>
It’s interesting to note that most of the drivers at the Prelude to the Dream charity race last week had cars painted in similar tones to their NEXTEL Cup Series cars — not Kyle Busch.<br><br>
Busch drove a black No. 51 in that race.  Could he have been that clever as to send a signal to the racing world?  Will he admit to doing it if that is what happened?  If so, how hard did he giggle when none of us caught on to the message?<br><br>
The final, and most intriguing, question is how did Busch allow himself to stray from Hendrick’s horsepower?  Surely Hendrick Motorsports paid him enough not to have to worry about a few bucks either way.  If money wasn’t the issue (I know, it usually is), why would he leave the best team in NASCAR?  Has he made a right in life where he should have continued making a left?<br><br>
The questions for Busch and Earnhardt Jr. are sure to number in the thousands in the coming weeks and months, and I can’t say that I’m liking the thought of the Media Day frenzy at Daytona International Speedway next February.<br><br>
Undoubtedly, I’ll be there, as I will for July’s Pepsi 400.  I do have one question for readers, though: If you could ask either of them a question, what would it be?
Posted: 6/13/2007 5:10:00 PM
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