Kevin Harvick Exposes Why NASCAR No Longer Wants Another Dale Earnhardt

Ex-NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick has shared his thoughts on why there won’t be another superstar like Dale Earnhardt.

Kevin Harvick Exposes Why NASCAR No Longer Wants Another Dale Earnhardt

Dale Earnhardt and Kevin Harvick (Via IMAGO)

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Seven times NASCAR Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt is the biggest superstar the sport has ever seen and it was one of the darkest days for the sport, when he died in an accident on the last lap of 2001 Daytona 500. According to Kevin Harvick, whose career started after Senior’s death, this tragedy made the sport rethink their Superstar policy.

In the last two-decade NASCAR has seen some huge stars such as Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Chase Elliott. But none of them has the level influence in everyday matters of the sport like Dale Sr., as the sanctioning body made sure there isn’t. Kevin Harvick in the recent episode of Happy Hour podcast asserted that the sport has done it deliberately as they don’t want to encounter a situation where the they lose their star that their too depended on.

Yeah, they just don’t want you to. They don’t want you to embarrass them. I think they’re nervous about getting a relationship like they had with Dale Senior. Die and not be involved in the sport anymore. That was dependent upon so much for his opinion to be able to help them navigate the sport.

Kevin Harvick said via Happy Hour podcast.

But the measures NASCAR took to avoid having another mega superstar, by giving everyone else the same chance to be star went too far. Kevin Harvick told his guest Kenny Wallace that racers like the Earnhardt’s, Elliott’s, Wallace’s and Petty’s are pretty rare, as not everyone is capable of being the face of the sport. The stock car racing officials failed to recognize it and is now paying the prize for it, due to lack of true personalities at the moment.

Yeah, I think they went too far. You know, I think that in the end there’s only gonna be so many Dale Earnhardt Seniors, Dale Earnhardt Juniors, Rusty Wallace, Richard Petty, and the type of drivers that can help them navigate the sport, but they tried to make it fair for everybody. Yeah, and it’s just not fair. It is not fair. Not everybody in today’s world was Chase Elliott.

Kevin Harvick added.

Kevin Harvick feels sorry for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

In the same conversation, the future Hall of Famer talked about the massive pressure that likes of Dale Jr. and Chase Elliott has on them. They were expected to match their dads who were legendary racers, which they couldn’t. Even guest Wallace gone through that pressure as his brother Rusty Wallace was a bonified champion of the sport.

Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Via IMAGO)

Yeah, and it’s so difficult. You know, I look at Dale Jr., and Chase Elliott is having the same problem. Everything they do, the expectation is for them to be like their dad. Yeah, and it’s really hard to be yourself, right? Think about it from all the fans that say, “Hey, Rusty did this,” or “Why didn’t you do that?”

Kevin Harvick said.

Alongside the pressure, there is also massive support from the fan base that helps them in a lot of aspects. But there are some negatives to that as well, such as the fact that it is tough for them to live a normal and private life.

I mean, imagine that level. I feel sorry for Dale Jr. sometimes just because of the fact that he’s got a gun for that. I mean, what in the hell? How do you go anywhere? Because he is so freaking popular that you can’t actually go somewhere and have fun all the time.

Kevin Harvick added.

The comments from the veteran seems to be on point, as the lack of privacy is the price Junior and Elliott has pay for their popularity. But even these big sacrifices aren’t giving them the same level of star power such as Dale Earnhardt. There might never be another Dale Sr. unless NASCAR find the right driver and goes all in with PR.

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