Earnhardt Jr. - Making a Name for Himself

By: Andy Kondratick
October 7, 2002 - Out of the shadows of a boy a man emerges. His name is Dale Earnhardt Jr. and, as everyone knows, he is the son of the late Dale Earnhardt. When your name is Earnhardt people expect a lot out of you. Dale Jr. seems to know how to handle that stress and has done it very well. Jr. is very proud of his name and the history behind it but can he ever get out from underneath his famous father's past in this sport and make his own name?

Imagine every week your present career is being compared to that of your father. He holds so many records in the sport you compete in, that it seems almost unattainable to match. Tough row to hoe but Little E has started to make his own name known. He has shaken off the Little E tag and is now simply Dale Jr. His season has had its ups and downs but one thing always holds true and that is his fierce desire to prove himself in the eyes of his competitors and the fans. As much of an honor as it is to be Dale Earnhardt's kid, he still wants to have his own presence felt.

This weekend at Talladega he made a great stride in achieving that goal. Dale Jr. picked up his third win in a row at the Superspeedway and twice has won the million-dollar "No Bull Five" bonus. By doing this he surpassed his father in consecutive wins at the track and has tied the great Buddy Baker. However, no one else has ever done that in the modern era of restrictor plate racing. Not even Dale Sr. When Baker got his three wins in a row the cars weren't restricted so really you could say no one but Dale Jr. has ever done that. I know that is pushing it but you know what I mean. Then there is the little fact of the million-dollar bonus two times in a row. How bout that! I don’t think anyone has ever done that. Not that I could find anyway.

He has proven himself to be his own person by his backward-hat-wearing presence at the track and the occasional shout out to the Dirty Moe Posse. Two things you would never catch Earnhardt Sr. doing. Dale Jr. has also proven he is certainly deserving of his ride by his on track performances but I don't know if he can ever shake his attachment to his fathers past. Would he even want to? I think he would. I believe he wants to make his name as big as his dad's or possibly better. When you think about it, Earnhardt Sr. is the guy everyone is shadowed by. Not just Dale Jr. but everyone in this sport right now is trying to reach the same goal. To be just as good as "The Intimidator" if not better. But being that man's son means a bigger price to pay if you fail in that venture.

As much as this win at Talladega changed Dale Jr. and helped him achieve something in the sport of NASCAR his father didn't do, the history of restrictor plate racing can't be changed. His father was the master of restrictor plate racing and the next in line to take his place is none other than his son Dale Earnhardt Jr.

I know Dale Jr. will make his own name in NASCAR. He is well on his way already. Some say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and if there ever was an example of that statement it is the Earnhardts. Ralph made his name and Dale Sr. overcame his shadow to achieve his own greatness in NASCAR and Dale Jr. will do the same. Great job this week Dale and keep on doing what you do best... Race 2 Win!!! This has been one man's opinion.