One part of them took a step back and let it all soak in, their man, the man they had watched in his red fire suit for years was moving over to another company and it was a bit more than they were ready to accept…but they did. They watched their man’s face turn from a sullen, worn out, emotional mess into a more relaxed, almost happy smile trying to sneak out kind of glow. Based on knowing that this was making him happy, they accepted his choice and did their best to be happy too, even though it was a little forced when they had trained themselves not to like some of his new teammates during many prior years. But accept it they did, and as soon as Earnhardt’s new gear with his new number and new colors became available they were out there in droves, preparing themselves for a new chapter in their driver’s life and in theirs.
On the other side of the contract, there were the group of Dale Jr.’s fans that all but fell over with disbelief when they heard what their beloved son of their main man, Earnhardt, Sr. was going to do…leave his father’s company. How could he? How could he walk away from Dale Earnhardt, Inc.? It was as if he was severing his relationship with his father, right then and there. And to move over to the “enemies” team…preposterous.
They simply couldn’t support the young man that was walking away from a heritage he was expected to carry on. Sound crazy? Well, it does now, but back in the heat of the moment, it made perfect sense to these dedicated and loyal fans of both father and son.
And now we’re finally into the first season, with the fans realizing Dale, Jr. is at and will be staying at Hendrick Motorsports for many years. His smile is now genuine, not forced or fake. He feels like he is where he needs to be and that he made the right decision.
I’ve been watching the fans as some of the ones that were disappointed beyond words have begun to drift back to supporting the man now dressed in white and green and blue. They can see how much more content with life he has become and how his moments of stress on the track are strictly from what’s happening on the track and not behind the scenes.
In a post race conference interview after the race in Phoenix on Sunday, Jimmie Johnson was asked if he thought Dale Earnhardt, Jr. could have been a threat as he led over 80 laps and stayed up front the majority of the rest of the race.
Johnson responded:
“He led a bunch today. 87 laps. When we were back restarting 14th and I saw the 88 up front, I thought this could be the race for him. Those guys have been all around it, very fast, had a great car today. I know they had some issues yesterday that they were trying to work through. Earlier in the race today I saw them in the mirror coming. I knew it was going to be a factor. Happy for their performance…he's going to be pulling into Victory Lane soon. Those guys have been doing a great job.”
As we near our date with Talladega, the place that is usually a sea of red supporting Earnhardt, Jr… will we see the green and blue covering the grandstands this time around? Has most of the Earnhardt Nation calmed down and come back to don the colors of the man they doubted for just a little while?
Jimmie Johnson said:
“I can tell you, it's been an interesting year because at first the Earnhardt Nation didn't really make any noise at driver intros. Now I hear them kind of cheering for me. I see guys decked out in 88 wishing me luck, where before they were wishing other things and throwing beer cans at me and other stuff (laughter). There's still a few diehards that refuse to I think be a fan of Hendrick or myself or Jeff. But as a whole, you know, there's some respect there, which is good to see. If we have a clean racecar, it will save hopefully some beer can dents when the race is all over with.”
Good work Earnhardt Nation, your man is probably very proud of you for swallowing your doubts and forging on…just as he has.
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