Earnhardt Nation: How many of you jumped on the bandwagon AFTER his death?

Question

I'm not bashing you if you did. I'm just saying, I remember a lot of people NOT liking Earnhardt while he was still alive. I, for one, was not an Earnhardt fan, although I respect him for having been one of the greatest drivers ever.

Answer 1

I have always been The #1 fan of Earnhardt, long before that dredful day at daytona.  

Answer 2

Being a great driver is all it's about. You know? Dale Earnhardt Jr. can't help it for who he is. Have you ever heard of the expression "grandfathered in". Dale Earnhardt Jr. would be the perfect description of how that works. Only in his case it just so happens to be in NASCAR. It's just a cool thing. Some people get uptight, but that's just the way they are anyway. Some people don't even understand motorsports, let alone NASCAR. Those people would just get dizzy trying to watch a race anyway. Come to think of it Junior could be used in defining "bandwagon". I watch a lot of drivers other than Junior, but if Junior wants to be second in points, I can dig it.

Answer 3

It's called showing compassion. There were a lot of people that didn't care for his driving style but most sane people didn't want to see him die and is very aware of the impact he left on this sport (like him or not)...!!!  

Answer 4

I remember my Dad and all my Uncles just hating Dale when he got his first ride.  I however loved to go against the grain.  I have always been a Dale Earnhardt fan.  The more they rooted against him, the more I cheered for him of course till they banned me from watching with them...LOL. Testy, testy guys.  Didn't last long though, they couldn't stand me not being with them & even though I pulled for 'Him' I was allowed back in the pack.  They are why I am so very passionate about NASCAR still today, it runs deep in my family.  My dad and uncles did all come to respect & actually on rare occasions root for him.  His death was hard on all of us.

Dale Earnhardt was my driver right up until the day he passed away. Now he lives forever in my heart.  RIP.

Answer 5

I was a kid back in Earnhardt's prime, and for some reason I never liked him back then(I was even a Jeff Gordon fan, even more strange).

I was never really even a fan of the sport until after he died, so I respect him for his skill now, and I personally think it's a shame I never really got to watch him race.

Answer 6

I have been a Dale Earnhardt fan since I first started watching in 1999. He was the first driver I ever cheered for. I wish I would've been able to see him race longer, but...*sigh* (RIP, Dale!)

Answer 7

I was a fan of Dale Sr. and I always will be.

Answer 8

I Was an Earnhardt Fan Before his Death

Go Dale Jr #88

Answer 9

I was too young to really understand Nascar, that and didn't care at 10 years old. My dad went to the first Brickyard race and brought me back a Dale Sr. die cast 1/64th car. It wasn't until the 1999 season I really started to watch but always remember playing with that black #3 car and he became the car I would always look for. Still not fully caring about Nascar or understanding racing (the rules not the concept), I would only watch when I had nothing to do. Then I started seeing commercials with this driver of the #3 car, about the same time, my dad and uncle started watching races at the house rather than the bar, so I would sit down and watch and learn. Been hooked ever since, haven't missed a race from the 2000 Daytona 500 till now and still counting. Through the end of the 1999 and 2000 season I followed that 3 car around the track as much as the camera shots would allow. Being older now, I realize how much Dale Earnhardt Sr. meant this sport, whether you liked his driving style or not, he earned respect from many for what he did on and off the track. His move or be moved driving style earned him 7 championships to tie him with the King, a feat that probably will stand for many many years to come. He gave his life for this sport, because with his death (and others) it has helped create a safer sport, ask Ryan Newman, Clint Bowyer, Elliott Sadler and Michael Waltrip. Or how about Jerry Nadeau or Sterling Marlin if they didn't have safety things in place because of the lessons learned from the Sr. death would they have suffered a greater injury or even the same fate. Sorry I got into a rant there, but I was fan a (not for a long time) before his death and a fan of the safety equipment his death helped create.  

Answer 10

I always liked Dale. I was there at the race during his crash/death and i know that almost everyone there was crying. And who ever started to become a fan of Jr. or him after his death is not a true fan. im sorry to say. he was a great driver and if you just started liking him then you arent a true fan of NASCAR

Answer 11

I was a fan of Dale Sr. long before his death.   After he died I became a fan of his son. Not that he was a great driver but just wanted to see an Earnhardt on the track.   Well after all this time and Jr.and Hendrick's underhanded treatment of Kyle Busch I lost all respect for Dale JR.  Still miss his dad though.  

Answer 12

I have always been a Earnhardt fan.  Granted I have only been watching Nascar about 4 years prior to his death. ANd when Junior came up ravcing in the Busch series I became a fan of his. TO this day Junior is my number driver.  ANd Earnhardt will ALWAYS be in my heart.

Answer 13

I became a fan after his death but if he was still alive, I'll be honest, I probably wouldn't like him but I have the greatest respect for what he accomplished and he is one of my heroes.

Answer 14

I was an Earnhardt fan before he died. My husband is a Jeff Gordon fan and raceday at our house was always something to look forward to. Sparks would fly! After his death I still liked NASCAR but not with the intensity that I had before. Today I am a Jr fan but I still sport that #3 licence plate on the front of my truck.  

Answer 15

ya im one of the earnhard haters who jumped on the bandwagon after he was killed ya he was a great driver just didnt like his imitating style of banging cars out of his way when he could have passed them cleanly he did have a talent to be able to see the air so he didnt need to race like that i like clean racers rubbin is racing and expect that during a race but almost everyrace he threw the chrome horn to the car in front of him

Answer 16

Well the 2001 Daytona 500 was the first race i sat down and watched all of, and since that was like my first real race. I didn't know any drivers and didn't have a favorite i just decided to route for Dale Jr. As a kind of tribute to Sr.

Answer 17

I was a Dale Sr. fan since 1979 and feel that there will never be anyone who can take his place. I AM NOT, and never will be a Dale Jr. fan. He has never impressed me in the least.