Are NASCAR fans getting tired of Junior Nation?

Posted on: May 5, 2008 11:56 am

Score: 96

This is not to bash the Junior Nation but after the outcry this weekend and another beer chunking incident at Richmond because of a racing accident I'm wondering if the rest of the NASCAR fans are getting tired of the so called Junior Nation? I ask this because there is a pole on Foxsports asking who was at fault for the wreck Saturday Night, the picks are Junior, Bush, or neither. Surprisingly, out of 319,580 votes as of this writing 87 percent have said the wreck was Juniors fault. Me I voted neither it was a racing accident.

But seeing that vote reminded me of how another driver gained his fame and popularity in this great Sport. In the late 70's a brash young driver was emerging as an outstanding driver. He was bold, brash and everytime he got in front of a camera he let it be known that he was going to whip the competition. He even told COO COO Marlin once that Bristol was his track and not COO COO's even though Marlin was from that area of Tennessee. Of course I'm talking about Darrell Waltrip, but his rise isn't the story, in 1979 the old Alabama Gang was worried that DW would finally win a championship, so they made a pack that they would do what they had to to keep that from happening and a young unknown by the name of Dale Earnhardt won his very first championship. Now Dale was popular because he was from North Carolina and also because he wouldn't back down to DW and his talk, nor his pushing on the track. Well for a few years after 79 Dale was not heard of again but then he teamed with Richard Childress and well you know the rest of his success. DW on the other hand teamed with Junior Johnson and started to win races and dominate the circuit and was so bold that he brought T-shirts to the races to sell to his fans so everyone else could see how popular he was. It became such a big deal in the stands that if you didn't have a DW T-shirt on they you were rooting against him. It didn't matter who won the race to these fans as long as it wasn't DW. After Dale Teamed up with Richard Childress the fans soon learned that Dale was ready to fight fire with fire and he would bump and bang his way to a win too. So a lot of those fans who rooted against DW naturally starting rooting for Dale and wearing his gear. Thus, the popularity of Dale Earnhardt, not because he was considered a great driver when he started out, but because he was a driver that didn't back down to DW and his threats.

Now the question of this blog, are the rest of the NASCAR nation getting so tired of the "NATION" that they are going to start backing anyone that is willing to stand up to the NATION and keep their driver out of victory lane? Could the Dale Junior fans unwittingly be pushing a driver like Kyle Bush to the forefront of NASCAR popularity? I know there are a lot of people who dont' like Kyle, in fact Kyle has very few fans, but he is starting to gain attention and if he is willing to battle Junior for the win and he is not afraid to race him hard and if they both lose then so be it. I think you may see him become a favorite of those who don't like Junior because of the NATION.

Think about it. History does have a way of repeating itself.

Category: Auto Racing

Comments

Add a Comment

Cat09tails Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Jun 27, 2007	Posted on: May 5, 2008 12:31 pm Score: 91 Are NASCAR fans getting tired of Junior Nation? Very interesting commentary, mikeyfan, and I think you're making a valid point. Personally, I think it is kind of a bummer for Jr. to have a percentage of his fan base be so obnoxious. I don't have anything against Jr, but I don't cheer for him either. Really, he's a good driver and seems to be a pretty likeable guy, and it seems that he'd be a natural to cheer for.....but I can't stand the way his fans act. No, I don't mean all of them, because obviously there are Jr. fans out there that are good folks. But the reality is that when a driver has such a high number of fans, even a small percentage acting like prats is very, very noticeable...and a large percentage acting like prats is nearly intolerable. What I see as being the worst outcome of all the can-throwing, seat-cushion-throwing, tantrum-throwing behavior from Jr. fans is that it just supports the "NASCAR-fans-are-ignorant-rednecks" stereotype. I say, if any fan wants to act in that manner, move to Europe and become a soccer fan. --Cat [ Reply to Comment ]
redsoxtdup Reputation: 92 Level: All-Star Since: Jun 22, 2007	Posted on: May 5, 2008 1:13 pm Score: 90 Are NASCAR fans getting tired of Junior Nation? You have point but I don't think history will repeat it self over one aggressive move or accident whatever you want to call it. Kyle has been on the rise because he wins races and starts controversy plan and simple. Reminds me Tony Stewart. Of course people are going to hate Junior Nation why because were one of the largest if not the largest community of fans in NASCAR. Its just like the Cowboys when it come to the NFL. [ Reply to Comment ]
slcmoney Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Mar 7, 2007	Posted on: May 5, 2008 1:22 pm Score: 93 Are NASCAR fans getting tired of Junior Nation? Jr. is not my favorite driver, but I'll take him to win it over Ky Busch any day. Of course I was disappointed when he spun out. But I can honestly say I'm sick of any sports team that thinks its ok to put "nation" after their name. Esp. Boston teams. Or the Raiders. [ Reply to Comment ]
KeyWestCorona Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Jan 7, 2007	Posted on: May 5, 2008 2:02 pm Score: 94 Are NASCAR fans getting tired of Junior Nation? I have to admit to being conflicted as it comes to Junior. Little E has come across to me as a classy guy and a worthy third generation driver. Just like his father tried to step out of the shadow of his father to make a name for himself in racing, so does Junior. The problem he faces is his fans are his fathers fans. His dad may be a legend, but he was also famous for doing whatever it took to win, even if it means putting someone in the wall. I can think of two different occasions that he put Terry Labonte into the wall and ended up winning those races. D.W. was just man enough to be the guy that said to Dale, "You want it rough...fine. Eat the wall, chump." While the old man used to get away with murder on the track, Junior is smooth and races more like a gentleman. Junior Nation is not Junior's fault. His dad attracted the beer drinking hellions as his own back in the day and they will be faithful to #3 by supporting his kid, much to the shagrin of the son to be sure. [ Reply to Comment ]
wackazoa Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Jan 4, 2008	Posted on: May 5, 2008 4:05 pm Score: 90 This comment has been removed. Are NASCAR fans getting tired of Junior Nation?
Lakerguy Reputation: 93 Level: All-Star Since: Mar 18, 2008	Posted on: May 5, 2008 4:41 pm Score: 67 Are NASCAR fans getting tired of Junior Nation? You are so right. That said Jr himself is cool it's a portion of his fans that think he's the greatest of all time. He hasn't won in 2 yrs as we saw Sat. but it does not matter they (not all) still will list him with the champs driving out there. Only 3 drivers have more hat 1 cup J. G., J.J., and T.S. and you still have Kensith and Kurt Bush winning cups but Jr. is No. 1. Sorry got carried away...ya we are tired of it. [ Reply to Comment ]
DDriver80 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Feb 9, 2007	Posted on: May 5, 2008 6:59 pm Score: 94 Are NASCAR fans getting tired of Junior Nation? I'm definitely getting sick of them. Most are huge homers (except some like JB, Frady and a few others), who resort to attacks on other drivers/teams instead of using any such logic whatsoever. Jr. had everything handed to him by his dad, his success, his ride (before he moved to Hendrick), and lots of his fans too. [ Reply to Comment ]
Eo11 Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 21, 2006	Posted on: May 5, 2008 7:52 pm Score: 93 Are NASCAR fans getting tired of Junior Nation? Everybody sees everything different. Had it been another driver fans might have said hard racing, but it was Kyle Busch who seems to wreck somebody every week. I have NO DOUBT Busch wrecked Lil E on purpose. However I also know sometimes 'dems the breaks. Lots of guys have wrecked people to win races, when it happens to Lil E it might be some of his daddy's chickens coming home to roost. The only thing I would suggest is Kyle Busch knew when he decided to tunr right into Lil E, their would be hell to pay. Busch did not care, he never cares that is why he runs his car wide open sliding around turns not given a flip who he wrecks or hits. Kyle Busch is dangerous because not even he knows what the hell he is doing. As far as NASCAR being tired of the Junior Nation there are two ways to look at that too... 1. With out Lil E NASCAR would still be a sixth rung sport battling golf and hockey for #4 in the ratings. With Lil E they have joined into the battle for the top 3 some weeks even beating the NBA and MLB for ratings. Junior is one of the top names in sports marketing fr ANY sport, no other race car driver alive comes close and the number 3 and 4 drivers are retired. (DW and Petty) . NASCAR is lucky to have Lil E and the Juniornation. 2. Sure all the drivers cry about looking up and seeing all those June Bug fans, but would you not take stands full of Lil E fans over stands full of rainblow warriors or Kasey Kahne fans. No offense to those of you that like their racing both are consistent solid drivers. However the 1000s of women who do not know a tire for a stearing wheel annoy me much more than some good ole boys that throw bud cans at an idiot like Kyle Busch. Right? Pick your poison. Rather have a track full of JRNation than some damn euros rooting for a frenchman or something of that nature. If getting pelted with beer cans straightens Busch out and calms him down good, because if that boy does not pull his head out he is going to kill somebody. I doubt that does the trick, but if it does NASCAR fans everywhere should thank the JRnation. [ Reply to Comment ]
mikeyfan1599 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 15, 2006	Posted on: May 5, 2008 8:21 pm Score: 95 Are NASCAR fans getting tired of Junior Nation? E011, all I can say is you look through the same rose colored glasses that the rest of the Nation has at this wreck. If you watch the replay and play it back at the time of the wreck you will see that the 88 initiated the contact. But that is neither here nor there, What I'm getting at is that the rest of the fans of NASCAR will soon be big fans of Kyle because he doesn't care if he has to move Junior to win a race. He will do what he has to do and if that makes the NATION hollar foul then these fans are going to be happy to rub it in. Is this healthy for NASCAR, you bet, NASCAR's rating soared when Dale and DW started squaring off, half the fans wanting to see DW put in the wall, 40 percent wanting to see Dale in the wall and the other 10 percent wanting to see both in the wall. This rivialry helped to spur the popularity of the sport. Now if Kyle takes over the bad guy role and brings in fans who dislike that when Junior loses they throw beer cans on the track then that is more money for NASCAR and better ratings for TV and that is what NASCAR wants. [ Reply to Comment ]
eddonald Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: May 17, 2007	Posted on: May 5, 2008 10:08 pm Score: 91 Are NASCAR fans getting tired of Junior Nation? Mikey, congratulations on your blog. Very insightful. I am not tired of Junior Nation. I expect every JR fan I know qualifies as part of Junior Nation, and we have a great time promoting our own drivers and trading barbs about the other guys ride. There's no fun swapping smack with a guy who isn't truly GUNG HO for his driver. I do, however, think that NASCAR is tired of any segment of fans who want to be jerks. The ones who want to holler obscenities, throw stuff on the track, threaten other fans, urinate in public, puke in the stands. I don't think anybody needs those people, and it's important that this element is policed/corralled/dissuaded, whatever . . . by their peers. If I EVER saw somebody in an orange 20 shirt behaving disgracefully, I would be WAY MORE OFFENDED, and I'd be the first one to confront that person. Fortunately, it has NEVER happened. Nothing even close. In my opinion, somebody like EO11, who thinks Kyle Busch should wind up in a wheelchair. Yeah -- a two-bit moron like THAT -- I am WAY tired of, already! [ Reply to Comment ]