Dale Earnhardt Jr. says selection of his father, Dale Earnhardt, to NASCAR hall compared to a 500 win
By Bob Pockrass - Associate Editor
Friday, October 16, 2009
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is thrilled that his father, Dale Earnhardt, is part of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class.
Mark Sluder
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CONCORD, N.C. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. said that his father would have been just as happy being selected into the NASCAR Hall of Fame as he would have been winning NASCAR’s biggest race.
“That would be like winning the Daytona 500, I’m sure,” Earnhardt Jr. said Friday afternoon.
Dale Earnhardt was one of five people selected Wednesday for the inaugural five-member class along with NASCAR founder Bill France Sr., his son Bill France Jr., and other legendary drivers (and owners) Richard Petty and Junior Johnson. The induction will be May 23, 2010.
Earnhardt won seven titles and 76 races. He died on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.
“I’m real proud of him,” Earnhardt Jr. said prior to practice for the NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. “I’m happy that my father was voted into the hall of fame, and the family, I’m sure, is just as proud, and all the fans have to be really happy about it.”
There had been little debate whether Earnhardt, a seven-time champion along with Petty, should have been selected. But limiting the class to five meant that several of the sports greatest drivers won’t be in the first group inducted.
“You could have done it a million different ways,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “I don’t think what they did was wrong, but there’s a hundred of ways you could have done it. Since it was an inaugural class, they could have let all [25 candidates] of them in since they all got nominated.”
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19 responses to "Dale Earnhardt Jr. says selection of his father, Dale Earnhardt, to NASCAR hall compared to a 500 win". Post a Comment.
dale-jr-is-the-greatest-driver-alive said:
Oct 16, 2009 at 3:30 PMjr man you must be proud i just hope when your day comes too be in their you will have atleast one sprint championship in your pocket but you dont have too long too do so
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbr0412 said:
Oct 16, 2009 at 4:25 PMWe are all proud of your dad and you. He should be right at the top. I will always be a fan. I think your dad would be proud of you and the man you have become.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgthom56978 said:
Oct 16, 2009 at 4:46 PMAgain congraduations. This has to be an appreciation. I miss ole DaleSr on that track. Very proud. Thanks for the memories.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMAMADONIA88 said:
Oct 16, 2009 at 6:02 PMJunior: We are so very proud of your DAD and You. I voted for Dale and Richard to go in for the first group and proud of it. You will be there one day along side your Dad, i'm sure he is really proud of what you have done in life and what kind of man you have become. Love ya, Jr.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportsweetthings88 said:
Oct 16, 2009 at 6:55 PMLook at that big smile on Dale Jr. face. You know Dale Jr. is very proud of his DAD to be in the first group. And Dale Sr. deserved this for what he done in Nascar. And some of us knows Dale Sr. would be very proud of Dale Jr. And I voted for Dale Sr. Love ya Dale Jr.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSS396Chevelle said:
Oct 16, 2009 at 7:13 PMOne thing we know is that Dale wasn't comparing his father to Kyle Busch. Of course Kyle Busch fans think they can compare the two. DUH Wrong.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportbuckshot88 said:
Oct 16, 2009 at 7:39 PMAfter the rough year jr had,this has to be the highlight no doubt! Dale Sr was and still is the best of the best, 7 time champion in a demanding sport! a well deserved honor not only for Dale but for all the inductees!
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» Confirm Abuse Reporthorsekrazytoo said:
Oct 16, 2009 at 8:01 PMYou can see the happiness in your face and hear it in your voice, to see how happy you are of your Dad. I'm sure that there are alot of Dad's that wish that they had that kind of admirations of there sons and the closeness that the 2 of them had(if you look at the picture of them you can see how proud each of them were with each other)How good that is to see between father and son. I'm happy for you JR you've had a rough year but I know that next year you'll be back. Look your Dad a 2 bad years and no one gave up on him. Just like I'm not now or ever will give up on you. Good Luck this weekend. Luv U Jr
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJrsTheMan88 said:
Oct 16, 2009 at 10:08 PMIs'nt it great to see that smile on Dale Jr's face? GO JR #88 AND TEAM!!!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMrWalleye2U said:
Oct 16, 2009 at 10:13 PMThe first race i ever seen i was a Dale Sr and he will always be my favorite driver. Sr was the only reason i watched Nascar. These days i'm lucky to watch maybe a dozen races. The sport isn't as fun as it used to be and is only going to get worse before it gets better.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMrWalleye2U said:
Oct 16, 2009 at 10:19 PMThat race was in 83. He could put a car thru a hole that nobody else even thought about. His last win at Dega in 2000 was on my b-day and none of us could make it thru he next day at work. Just because he is gone doesn't mean we forgot who the sports best driver was.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportipopakeg293388 said:
Oct 16, 2009 at 11:43 PMI thought the world of Dale SR. and still do! My choice to pick up Harvick was because of Dale SR. The best driver of all time, IMO IS,and will alway's be, RICHARD PETTY! Kyle Petty said at one time,if you walk into the stand's,at any race,and ask,who's the best driver, everyone would say Dale SR. Well,he was wrong! I would have loved to have had him ask me that question,ON THE AIR! I took Harvick as a rookie,when Dale SR. was bringing him along! I think Kyle was just afraid to say his Dad,because that's what he thought people would expect him to say!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportHateda88 said:
Oct 17, 2009 at 12:18 AMMaybe you can sneak in there and cover up the SR with a Jr cause that's the only way you'll ever be in there.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportipopakeg293388 said:
Oct 17, 2009 at 12:25 PM# 13 As usual,your post's make no sense! Do you hve any idea what you really hate,I mean, other than yourself?
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgwen_susie388 said:
Oct 17, 2009 at 1:15 PMI am very happy for Dale, Sr. having made it into the first five who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I know the Earnhardt family have to be so proud! I noticed how humble Dale,Jr. was by saying it could have been done a million different ways and all 25 that were nominated could have been put in the Hall of Fame. IPOP, if anyone asked me years ago or even now who the greatest driver of all time was....I will always say Dale, Earnhardt, Sr. :-)
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» Confirm Abuse Reportipopakeg293388 said:
Oct 17, 2009 at 2:00 PMGwen, I love them both,but I met Richard Petty when I was very young! He made me feel like I belonged at the track as much as he did! That was before the rule's got so strict,like they are now! Oh they just did'nt let you waltz in & out but it was easier to get to a driver,especially if they wanted you to! The ole 43 Blue is what I alway's called him,just like THAT BLACK CHEVY! You didn't have to say a name or #, Everyone just knew! I think the reason Petty has the edge(with me) was not only his driving,win's etc. but the fact that I met him at such an early age! He cared then and still doe's about his fan's,just like Dale SR. & JR. You could give him a horse and buggy,and he'd be the man to beat,EVERY RACE! Nascar is gone as is REAL STOCK CAR RACING IMO! Make no mistake My wall's are full of Dale SR. pic's,along with JR. Petty,Harvick and the other's! 16 x 20's are everywhere in this house! I won't post them,for the same reason other's don't! That copyright deal is a joke,just like a restraining order! 9 out of 10 don't respect it! Why should I take,buy,trade etc. picture's just to have someone get them for free! That's B.S. That's the very reason I didn't care about raceshopjen's pic. I don't want or need it! She had the wrong person,(which she found out later)so I just let her vent! If I wanted a pic. from here,it would be a car,or driver,then I would ask for it first! If the person said no,then fine,it doesn't belong to me! D**n this is long! lol, Should have put it in the forum!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Oct 17, 2009 at 3:05 PMCongrats Dale Sr..(and Jr)..I know you must be on cloud 9 to see your Dad get in on the 1st induction of the new Hall. Sr. may be gone in body, but he remains in spirit..and one day you too Jr, will be there, on your own merits..You are still a young man with plenty of racing yet to come..And don't let anyone tell you that time is "not on your side"..just look at Mark!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgwen_susie388 said:
Oct 17, 2009 at 3:59 PMI know IPOP...I am glad you got to meet Richard Petty at a young age. I am sure that had a great impact on you. I also know you are a Sr. and a Dale, Jr. fan as well as Harvick. You know me.... I like to pick and have fun but you have to watch who you try to do that with because some really take everything to heart. I knew I could get by with picking at you, that's why I called you by name. hehe
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» Confirm Abuse ReportHateda88 said:
Nov 15, 2009 at 3:12 AMAs usual IPOPAKEG doesn't understand something. It amazes me how many Jr fans say they don't understand LMAO!!! And sadly it's true cause they can't look past my name or into reality. Maybe I hate Kesolowski did that ever occur to you? No, I know not much occurs to you.
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