“The most overrated driver in NASCAR history, Silver Spoon”- Fans react as Dale Earnhardt Jr. named to NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers
Dale Earnhardt and Ralph Earnhardt were part of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. (credits: NASCAR Xfinity)
NASCAR has announced the induction of Dale Earnhardt Jr., the most renowned NASCAR driver in the sport’s history, to the list of 75 greatest drivers ever. The semi-retired driver and team owner is one of the most influential names in the sport. The NBC commentator and podcast host is also the co-owner of the regional stock car racing series CARS Tour.
Dale Jr., the son of 7 times Cup champions and one of the greatest drivers of all time, if not the greatest, Dale Earnhardt, had a big name to live up to. He failed to match his father’s accomplishments on track but was able to have an impact in the sports community that only a few could ever hope for. The two times Xfinity series champion is still the face of NASCAR in many places where the sport hasn’t been known enough.
Dale Jr. had the best coach and mentored to look up to when he was starting his career, and the surname did help him to stand out from the crowd always. He earned his Cup shot on merit, winning back-to-back Xfinity series titles, was shared the premier stock car racing scene with his father. He overcame the tragic death of Dale Sr. in the 2001 Daytona 500 accident to remain in the sport till retirement from the Cup in 2017, impressing throughout and amassing a record 15 popular driver awards.
He then made a name for himself in the broadcasting scene with NBC and later his podcast production firm Dirty Mo Media. He is also the co-owner of JR Motorsports, one of the top Xfinity sides, which might return to enter the Cup series sooner than later. His wide range of investments on and off the track made him the richest NASCAR driver.
He scored 26 wins in the Cup series, including two Daytona 500s, from 631 starts, 15 of which were from pole. He has scored a top 10 finish in 250 Cup races he started with teams such as DEI and HMS. In the Xfinity series, he has secured 24 wins and 94 Top 10s from 144 starts. He still makes a part-time appearance in the second division with JRM and races in the late model series as well. Dale Jr. has never raced in the Truck series, to the disappointment of many Truck fans.
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Here is how fans reacted to his induction
The Hall of Famer’s induction invited mixed but widely positive reactions from the NASCAR community—the Jr. nation is still celebrating what, for them, is a no-brane induction. At the same time, there are a few fans who feel Dale Jr. doesn’t deserve a spot on the list. While few of the arguments are valid to a certain extent, when the veteran’s influence on the sport on and off the track is factored in, his spot is undeniable.
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Justin P Joy
(4872 Articles Published)