i agree he is just average...and he is doing better this year, but when all is said and done...he will come out about 11th or 12th and that is average.....so good luck to him i hope he gets it done......

I am kinda new around here, so this won't make me too popular, but I am gonna throw my two cents in anyway...

I agree with the original post, Jr. is NOT what he is cracked up to be, not by a long shot. Has he had a decent season, sure, but is he God's gift to the racing world like everybody acts...HECK NO! Let's face it boys and girls, Jr. isn't, or never will be, the best driver out there.

And like the original poster, I gotta say the media makes it ten times worse. They build up Jr. like he is the best thing to ever hit racing, yet there is no substance behind their words. I get SO sick of every single week hearing "so far this year "Gordon, Stewart and Dale Jr. haven't won, that is the big storyline." Well news flash, it is big news that Gordon and Stewart haven't won, they are probably the two best out there...but Jr?!?! He hasn't won in over TWO YEARS...TWO YEARS! It isn't big news anymore folks!

Anyways..thats my two cents, take it or leave it.

The media talk about him cuz he is the most popular driver. I've never heard any of them say he is the best driver out there. I've never heard any of them say he is "god's gift to racing" The problem here is fans of other drivers don't like how much they talk about him, so they talk about him as if he were talentless. it is not Jr's fault he is so popular. He is a very talented driver, just not the best. Jealousy brings that kinda stuff out of people. it's unfortunate, cuz if he were not named Earnhardt, and wasnt as popular as he is, u people would talk about him, and his talent much differently.

If his name wasn't Earnhardt we wouldn't here about him CONSTANTLY so of course we would feel differently about him. I would just see him as another below average driver. My problem with it is he is pushed down our throats constantly during the races. I know he has alot of fans, but there is also alot of us that are not his fans who would like to hear about others. I would for once like to hear something he did wrong on TV, instead of every situation he is in is somehow not his fault. I mean this is NASCAR not some soap opera where there are "good" and "bad" guys, Jr. isn't some kinda super hero that does no wrong. I would like to STOP hearing before every race "Jr. hasn't won in 73 races, will this be his week, he has a great shot and a great car." I mean lets face it, he hasn't won in 73, probably will go 74, heck even one hundered, it probably is not his week and he probably is NOT gonna win...period. I actually find it hilarious that DW said last year that with Hendrick Jr. would "win the Daytona 500 and atleast 6 races". Well I don't know if anyone is watching but Daytona came and gone and the six races aren't looking to promising. As far as his popularity goes, you are right, he can't help it. Heck, he didn't do a single thing to get it. He has it because of his last name NOT because of any talent he has...and that is my two cents on the matter.

I couldn't agree with you more!!!

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"There's damn good drivers throughout the field, that doesn't gurantee that we're all going to drive in the top 15 every week. It all depends on what kind of car you get on Sunday". Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Your credibility was gone as soon as you said he is "a below average driver" Again, that is just blind hatred! There are no below average drivers in sprint cup!

Dale Sr. once went 59 races without winning, and wasnt even in the top ten in the points. Was he a below average driver too?

To be perfectly honest I think Dale was good, but I think alot of people have him overrated. Not taking anything away from him, just how I feel about it. However, Dale Sr. was a heck of alot better than Jr., I mean if you can't see that there is a major problem. Fact is Jr. has never done anything to make him self be anything above average.

I do have to point out he has a better average with HMS. His cars also withstand the WHOLE race which is something DEI couldn't do for him.
All Sprint Cup drivers are not above average, that is impossible (ie Elliot Sadler, I love him but does he win much?). The thing is the competition is great in the field, and it is very hard to stand out among the field.
It is still my opinion that Jr needs some patience in a race, he needs to lay back and sandbag then come on strong at the end, the power is there.
For the most part I am not judging Jr yet because HMS as a whole isn't top of the line this year to me. I will give Jr another year before I say he is below average or anything else. Poor guy has a lot to live up too.