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Dale Earnhardt Jr. is heir to the greatest racing family in history. But, he’s much more than just a storied name. He is also NASCAR’s most standard driver, he brings in the most revenue, and he sells more fan gear than any other driver. With credentials like that, you might think he would be at the top of the pack when it comes to racing wins, also, but that isn’t the case, I’m afraid.

In fact, Junior hasn’t won a race in over 2 years and has never won a championship. So, what precisely is it that makes him so popular? This is one of the most mutual questions asked amongst those who aren’t big Junior fans. As a Dale Jr. fan myself, let me answer this for you, from my perspective.

Many people believe that Jr. inherited a lot of fans from his father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., a NASCAR legend, after his father was killed in a racing accident. Some persons think he’s only ordinary because of his last name.

Would he be as standard if his last name wasn’t Earnhardt? Probably not, to be honest, but his last name is a share of his family’s racing legacy. Junior is carrying on that legacy, and there’s not one thing defective with that.

But his last name will only get him so far. While it may be true that Jr. inherited a lot of fans from his father and grandfather, it’s also true that he couldn’t have kept these fans if he didn’t is worthy of them.

If Junior’s last name wasn’t Earnhardt, I’d still be a fan of the guy. But there are other drivers racing today that if their name *was* Earnhardt, I still wouldn’t like them no matter how numerous races they won.

Dale Jr. is usual because he has talent and personality. People are drawn to him. He’s a regular guy who could be your buddy. He’s not polished or effigy conscious. He’s the real deal. He’s not a pretender or a finelooking boy. He has a country boy effigy that guys may relate to and women are attracted to.

He is young, energetic, and good looking (or so I’m told). He has a Southern drawl and a twinkle in his eye. He is a modest and down-to-earth race car driver of the people. He has done a lot for the sport and he is active in charity work, as well, being very generous with his time and money.

He is a good business man and has been very smart with regards to the way he markets himself.

He is a great race car driver. He won 2 Busch championships. That takes a lot of talent. He likewise won numerous big races in the past, such as Daytona and Talladega.

Older fans like him because they liked his father. Middle age fans like him and link him to Budweiser and dirt tracks. The younger crowd likes the fact that he’s single, good-looking, and makes tons of cash driving real fast!

He’s also usual with NASCAR itself, because he fills the seats at the races. They love his popularity and marketability. He brings in more selling sales than any other driver. The bottom line is that Jr. makes cash for NASCAR and they love him for it. Do they want him to win? Yes they do. Because when Jr. wins, every one wins. In fact, it’s been said that you may shut your eyes at a race and tell if Jr. is leading by the roar from the crowd.

Not a bad gig, if you may get it!

That’s one guy’s opinion, worth what you paid for it!

In The Blink Of An Eye Dale Daytona And

There was one lap to go in the 2001 Daytona 500, NASCAR’s most celebrated event. Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were running one-two. Junior’s legendary dad, the driver race fans called “The Intimidator,” was close behind in third, blocking any person who might try to pass. Waltrip couldn’t stop thinking regarding all the times he’d was struggling to stay ahead–and the 462 NASCAR Cup races he’d lost without a single win. He’d been a race-car driver all his adult life, following in the footsteps of his brother Darrell, a three-time NASCAR champion. And his losing streak was getting more painful each race.

But this day, he knew, could be different. He was driving for Dale Earnhardt now, racing as a team with his close friend and mentor. Yet as his car roared toward the finish line, ending that losing streak once and for all, Waltrip had no clue that the greatest triumph of his life could get mired in terrible tragedy.

This is the story of that fateful afternoon in Daytona, a day whose echoes are still heard today. But the story begins years earlier in a little town in Kentucky, with a boy who dreamed of racing cars, a boy who was determined to go from go-karts to the most eminent levels of NASCAR. For the basi time ever, Michael Waltrip tells the full, revealing story of how he got to Daytona, what happened there, and the huge affect it had on so some in the racing world. He reveals for the basi time how his own life changed as he dealt with guilt, faced his grief, and searched for the fortitude to climb into a race car again. It’s an inspiring and powerful story, told with Michael’s trademark humor, honesty, and irreverence. It’s a story of family, fulfillment, and redemption–and well-earned victory in the end.

About the AuthorMichael Waltrip is a two-time Daytona 500 champion, one of only eight drivers to win the race more than once. He is an iron-horse racer–one of three drivers to make more than a thousand NASCAR starts. He appears steadily on This Week in NASCAR on Showtime and other racing shows, and he writes a on a monthly basis column for NASCAR Illustrated. He is founder and co-owner of Michael Waltrip Racing, a three-car NASCAR Sprint Cup racing team.

Most helpful customer reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful.
With “In The Blink of an Eye” Michael Waltrip Proves He Has a Heart and Soul
By Will Estell, Author, Wisdom & Wisecracks for the Aspiring Business Owner
As NASCAR drivers go, Michael Waltrip may not be the most loved or most calm tempered, but he certainly isn’t the least well known or one with nothing to say, and his new book, just out this month, is just as outspoken and full of surprises as the boy from Owensboro, Kentucky himself.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful.
Heartbreaking but a Fun Read
By Arbie
First of all – I laughed (alot) and cried (alot).
I just read “In the Blink of an Eye: Dale, Daytona, and the Day that Changed Everything”. Unbelievably great! Being one half of the brothers Waltrip and being able to tell all the great stories involving all the NASCAR drivers past and present would be enough – but this book tells the story of being there the day Dale Earnhardt died like no other person on earth can.
I didn’t know this, but, in 462 starts Waltrip had never won a race. Then, at the 2001 Daytona, he found himself in a car racing-for the first time-for his really good friend Dale Earnhardt. With 17 laps remaining, Waltrip had the lead and directly behind him were Dale and Junior – father and son. Anyone wanting to get at Waltrip’s lead would have to get past these two. It’s like a movie, just as exciting and just as unreal, but this really happened.
We all know (even non-NASCAR fans) what happened that day in the final laps. No one can ever forget the day that Dale died but reading the story through the eyes of the man who won that race only to find out in Victory Lane about the death of his long time friend is heartbreaking, gut wrenching and the best story I’ve ever read of friendship, triumph and tragedy.
I’ll read this book again because the story is as compelling and more chock full of great NASCAR insider stuff than anything I’ve ever read. I loved the way it was written–Ellis Henican (he also wrote Home Team: Coaching the Saints and New Orleans Back to Life about Sean Payton and how he lead his team to victory after Katrina) really captures the great humor and style that Waltrip displays when he’s on TV. You don’t have to be a Michael Waltrip fan to love this story, but if you are, you are going to want to race out and get this before this year’s Daytona.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful.
Love Him or Hate Him…
By Jordan McAbee
Everyone remembers that day in February 2001 at Daytona. I will never forget the words of an emotional Darrell Waltrip that day: “This is great [referring to his brother's win]. I hope Dale’s okay. I guess he’s alright, isn’t he?”. He wasn’t. The announcement of Dale Earnhardt’s death was just a few hours away. “The Intimidator” died doing what he loved, but love him or hate him you know that it was too early for him to go.

“In The Blink of an Eye” describes Michael Waltrip’s life journey–from the time he was racing go-karts as a teenager to the first win of his Cup career–in an entertaining fashion; he grabs your attention at the beginning and doesn’t let go until the final page. Mikey most likely went through great difficulty in writing this book, but I’m sure every reader (NASCAR fan or not) appreciates his effort and his story. Even though most have done their best to forget that awful day in NASCAR history, this book is a must read for all NASCAR fans and is so well written and gripping that, before you know it, it will be finished–in the blink of an eye.

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