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NASCAR 2009: Still Tight in Turn Two

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by Charlie Turner

I'm Charlie Turner co-host of the syndicated, mostly NASCAR radio show On Pit Row. Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. Oh yeah, Steve is an idiot. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

February 27, 2009 7:19 pm CST 2 Comments

Two weeks into the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season and some of the stars of the sport may start getting a little tight around the collar if they don’t start putting some points on the board. NASCAR’s Top 35 qualifying rule looms like a vulture at a roadkill competition, over teams that struggle early.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Ryan Newman is 33rd, Joe Gibb’s Racing’s Joey Logano sits 37th. And right on the bubble in 35th is NASCAR’s most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr. 

NASCAR Bit’s and Pieces pilot Bruce Simmons and I are getting Tight in Turn Two again this season. My question to Bruce - and you all - is this…

Dale Earnhardt Jr has taken more heat in the last week than in his whole career up to now. Darrell Waltrip seemed to think Junior needed support and even had a ready made bit prepared during the race, that defended Junior and his commitment to racing. Is Dale Earnhardt Jr overrated?

Charlie: The easy answer this week, for many in the NASCAR internet community has been - “Hell yes!” But it isn’t that simple. It depends on who is doing the rating and how high the rater, rated Junior.

Personally, I always had him as no better than the third most talented driver at Hendrick Motorsports. I’d say he is perfroming at just about that level. But based upon conversations I’ve listened to the past few days, many are falling off the bandwagon of the son of a legend. In the past, we’ve had prominent ON PIT ROW guests like Jeff Hammond, Larry McReynolds and Lee Spencer vehemently defend Junior’s ability. But they may no longer be preaching to the choir.

Bruce: There’s a lot of emotion involved when it comes to the son of the Intimidator and people want him to live up to the reputation that they’ve stuck on the pedestal of fandom. No one wants to see him fail, yet, I can’t argue the case you make Charlie.

When I see Jr, I’d like him to do well, but I think he will only do well when a few others may falter or dare I say it, when it rains!

I think the grief we’re seeing from the first 2 weeks are from those more impatient. Sure, he’s had a crap few weeks. Could it possibly be due to lack of practice time at the tracks themselves, or is it one of those seasons already that is just going to be crap luck. How many times have we watched a fan favorite just have a bad set of races from dumb luck like tires, engine parts or wrecks that just keep catching them in their noise?

I’m not sure what kind of year Jr is having yet, because frankly, it’s too early to tell, but right now, there are clouds building on the horizon and like I always say, time will tell!!

That’s what we think. What do you say? Leave us your opinions in the comment section of this post. The head over to Bruce’s blog where Digger is the topic du jour.

Now with Digger seeming to get more air time, I am forced to suffer through these bits of cartoon FOX is shoving down our throats. Why? But what has me wondering is if FOX is worried about their ratings?

Photo credit: Icon Sports Media, Inc

Filed under: Auto Club Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, Joey Logano, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, NASCAR, On Pit Row The Fastest Two Hours on Radio, Sprint Cup Series, Stewart Haas Racing, Top 35 Rule 

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Comments

2 Responses to “NASCAR 2009: Still Tight in Turn Two”

  1. Digger Must Die | Bench Racing With Steve and Charlie on March 1st, 2009 10:49 pm

    [...] NASCAR 2009: Still Tight in Turn Two [...]

  2. DIGGER, Stay In The Fraking Hole, Here In Turn Two | Live NASCAR Racing on March 6th, 2009 12:05 am

    [...] Since C&#104arlie &#119a&#115 &#115o nice to participate &#104ere, &#119e c&#104atte&#100 a little bit over on &#104i&#115 &#115ite about Dale Earn&#104ar&#100t Jr an&#100 if &#104e’&#115 in trouble alrea&#100y, t&#104i&#115 early in t&#104e &#115ea&#115on. See &#119&#104at &#119e &#104ave to &#115ay over on On Pit Row. [...]

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