Sign of the Times

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and his sister Kelly weren't all too pleased at Texas Motor Speedway's attempt at humor with their billboard campaign that depicted Junior with Reason No. 88 to have NASCAR fever as "Step Mom."

Ya think?

This whole deal between Junior and DEI is tiresome and ridiculous. The media continues to try and make a story about this rift and truth be told, I've written about it and discussed it on several radio segments so consider me part of the guilty party.

There was such a furor made over the fact that there wasn't any Dale, Jr. stuff on display at DEI during last week's media tour stop it was laughable. It was explained that in order to accomodate the media for a luncheon, some of the historic No. 8 cars were moved out of the showroom.

It was also explained DEI does not have the license or rights to sell anything Dale Jr. or Budweiser-related in its gift shop.

Now while I believe DEI management could have stopped a lot of this he said, he said stuff by pointing out those logical facts from the start, I don't have any problem with the team trying to downplay its past somewhat as it tries to move forward.

I have a friend who went through a divorce and has gotten remarried. I don't remember seeing any photos or memories of the ex at their new house last time I visited.

DEI is trying to move on as is Dale, Jr. himself. They should be allowed to do so.

And note to Texas Motor Speedway, I think the rest of the billboard campaign is as lame as the one the Earnhardt's objected to.

But homor is subjective, or lack of it, is subjective right?

 

 
Posted: 2/1/2008 5:42:00 PM
Comments:
RA when you have dozens of reporters asking you about your stuff being moved out of the DEI showroom what else are you going to do? Secondly, even though DEI wants to move on you still have to look at the big picture. Who has made DEI famous other than Dale Sr? Most of DEI's wins come from Dale Jr, and it is a sad thing to not see some of those wins honored and remember at DEI itself. Hendrick has trophies from the beginning days of the company from drivers that no longer drive for them. In fact, for the amount of fans that DEI has (or had) their showroom is pathetic, tiny, small, and hardly worth a visit.

Pete, it is totally understandable that DEI can't sell Dale Jr. merchandise anymore but that is not what everyone is talking about. What everyone IS talking about, however, is how DEI's lack of a real race museum shows they are more interested in the size of their gift shop than the showing their fans the trophies they earned. At DEI, there is no trophy for Dale Jr or Michael Waltrip's Daytona 500 win, no trophy for Jr's 4th win in a row at Talladega, no trophy on display for Steve Park's victory the weekend after Dale Sr. passed away. It just seems that DEI doesn't honor their past like other race shops do. Unfortunately the recent stories in the news has brought this to the attention of many race fans, but after I visited DEI last fall I could tell that DEI's show room was incredibly pathetic for the history the company has had in the short amount of time it has existed.

It's ok for DEI to want to get away from Dale Jr, but it is impossible for them to expect fans to forget their up and down past. Those that visit DEI should be surrounded by those good memories but instead they would rather still be arrogant and try to act as if Jr or past drivers don't matter to them.

Fortunately for DEI, without Dale Jr they aren't going to have many trophies to put in their lacking number of display cases.
Posted On: 2/1/2008 5:42:00 PM
Well Pete if someone would't of stuck there nose were it should of not been .this open floor issue would of not beenbrought to jr's attention.i think before jr's mouth opened and inserted foot that would of saved a lot of air time and maybe the callers would of been able to bring up something more important.RA
Posted On: 2/1/2008 5:42:00 PM
A tough call...everyone wants everything all ways.   Jr. has only made a lateral move, sideways.  Got rid of the DEI stuff, yet wants it sustainable...must be contracts out there, not our call.  Most concerning....if all he wants is racing and his sister in his life, he's doing very well indeed.    Is this really all he wants?  All only business?  I don't care how he conducts his personal life...just hope he has one.   Just always seems a child,  looking for something....and his sister and business will not do it.  
Posted On: 2/1/2008 5:42:00 PM

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