Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Back Off Daddy's Widow

Yes Junior is bummed he isn't getting the #8. Yes he feels for those fans who have tattooed the #8 on their person. But ... he wants everybody to lay off his step-mother, Teresa--the one who made taking the #8 to Hendrick Motorsports impossible:

"I do want to say that I think it's about time we give Teresa a break. She makes the decision on that number because she owns it and as much as I am disappointed and frustrated over the fact that I don't get to keep driving the No. 8, the stuff that I read on the Internet and the stuff that I'm hearing is going on, the remarks about her, directed toward her, I don't think anybody deserves that."

Stuff like "ridiculously spiteful b*tch," and "evil step mom" and remarks like "Teresa Earnhardt should be tarred and feathered. She's acting like an ex-wife rather than a widow."

"If people just take a step back and look, she hasn't done anything intentionally detrimental to me."

Intentional being the key word.

"I've got a good future, I've got a good opportunity in my hands, she's doing what she feels like she needs to do and I just think everybody needs to lay off a little bit. She was married to my daddy and I know he wouldn't be too happy about it, what's going on, what's being said about her. It bothers me a little bit."

Well, when he puts it like that ... it bothers me a little more. I don't think Dale Sr. would be too happy about how things transpired at DEI that led to Junior leaving either. Shouldn't we start there? Isn't that where the instinct to jump in and protect Junior from the actions of the evil step-monster comes in?

In his chat with the media Friday morning, Junior acknowledged that he and Teresa don't understand each other--that she underestimates his determination. Likewise, he doesn't understand everything she does--but he accepts it.

Teresa is a big girl. She could defend her decisions. She doesn't. Save the time she blind-sided Junior with a Wall Street Journal interview questioning his commitment to racing, she doesn't really talk to the media. We are then left to make judgments based on what Junior and Max Siegel tell us. If Teresa was more accessible and forthcoming, maybe it wouldn't be so tempting for the media to throw labels on her.

Junior, on the other hand, wears his heart on the sleeve of his firesuit. And at the end of the day, after everything his daddy's widow has seemingly put him through, he still has a desire to protect her. She is, after all, family. And it's what his daddy would want.

It's more of the kind of behavior that endears fans to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and make him NASCAR's most popular driver--regardless of his performance behind the wheel. But I can't promise that I'll be able to oblige his request, although it should get progressively easier from here on out.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

8-25-2007 @ 11:05AM

Mike said...

Once again Jr shows he is a true gentleman surrounded by idiot fans. Jr could have just sat back and let the "fans" continue to grind away at Theresa, ( she has not done him any favors lately )but no, he comes out and tells the "fans" to back off and leave her alone. That takes guts and that takes class. I am sorry you will probably never win the Cup, but you have just proven you are one of the most respectable gentlemen NASCAR has ever had. Maybe Theresa could take a hint here as well. Jr has just extended the Olive Branch. Perhaps she could reciprocate show a little love to the guy. If there was just some "numerical" way for her to say "thank you". HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM Pretty smart Jr.

blackylocks24 said...

To JR nation Guess JR told you fans huh? How does it feel when your own driver tells yout to SHUT UP and BACK OFF Teresa. lol Jr mad at Jr nation well don't that just take the cake. That was a classy thing JR did even for his stepmother whatever you may think but it is obvious he is worried about his half sister Taylor. So you JR nation gonna back off and shut up and listen to your driver cause he is adamant he dont't like it.

8-25-2007 @ 11:08AM

John said...

No need to put down his fans. I am sure that if the driver you pulled for happened to find himself (possibly herself given the current status of women drivers) in that position you would all put the car owner to task.

8-25-2007 @ 11:09AM

Carl said...

Junior takes the high road. I'm a big a Nascar fan but hate to see the ugly side. Throwing cans on the track because it is 24, ripping Teresa apart because she makes a business decision to keep the 8, Montoya, etc, etc.

So consider this...The Bud 8 minus the great 3 = 5. If Jr. drives the 5 vacated by Kyle at Hendricks - lets all remember the 8 and 3 as the past and accept that changes takes place in life. The 5 is good enough and has a connection to both Earnhardts.

B.A. said...

John is 100% correct. When Jack Roush didn't do backflips to keep Mark Martin and give Mark what he wanted, I was not happy. Wait...I'm still not happy with Mr. Roush.
Since we really don't know what goes on behind close doors, it takes us fans a LOT longer to get over things.

ringojb said...

I think some "fans" are just upset that they now have to start saving money for the tatoo removal surgery they will have to get. PEE on the 8!!

8-25-2007 @ 11:19AM

Don Emerson said...

I have to give Jr credit for stepping up to the plate and trying to set his fans straight. It won't work, but at least he tried. He tried to stop them from throwing beer cans at Talledega, without much success. Bottom line, this was all about business, and not personal feelings or spite, on Teresa's part. Junior is the one who got his feelings hurt, but apparently he's got over it. Maybe it's time for everybody to do as Jr says, back off,cut some slack, and move on. Works for me.

8-25-2007 @ 1:01PM

zethia engquist said...

I think there is another motive behind Teresa's actions on the way she treats Jr and the other children. She feels as if she is the one wo made ghe company and it is hers and she will do what she wants to with it.Or she thinks she is keeping dale alive by all the trail and highways and all that other stuff around. Dale trails? what is that for? then she probably is getting even for haveing to take care of them when they were young.The question is : didn't dale make provisions for his children pertaing to the business in his will. surely he didn't leave them to her mercy' since they didn't really get along whne they were young. She must get lonely at times trying to keep things the way she wants them to be.

Tazman said...

I appreciate and understand Dale's comments but it doesn't change the fact that his step mother is a bitch. Money hungry and the primary reason she married his father. It's a shame when a business set up for his children ended up in the hands of the evil witch. I truly hop DEI falls on it's face.

Megs said...

I still believe it is reverenge towards Junior but it isnt fair to taylor to have to listen to all the things being said about her Mom. But if Dale Sr. was alive it would have never gotten this far......Junior would still be at DEI. It hurts me that Dale Srs' business is going down the tubes.....and Im afraid she will see that after it is too late to save the business. I have lost all my respect for her.Like the article says.......if she reads them....I dont even think she knows reality from fiction now....her stance is'if I dont see it or hear it, then it isnt going on"....teresa open your eyes and wake up....geezzzzz

8-25-2007 @ 1:52PM

buschbrosfan said...

Ah, I like it when Junior makes me happy. It's few and far between...but it's nice when it happens.

Teresa is smart...it's too bad most fans don't get that.

8-25-2007 @ 2:00PM

swelch1992 said...

Jr never wanted to disappoint Daddy when he was alive and he doesn't want to disappoint Daddy now.

8-25-2007 @ 1:48PM

Juice said...

Jr. never wanted to disappoint Daddy when he was alive and he doesn't want to disappoint Daddy now!

8-25-2007 @ 2:11PM

dayna said...

Dale Jr is too nice of a guy to realize Miss Teresa kept his number to PUNISH him for leaving DEI. But to tell his fans, to leave her alone....I'm not letting any man tell me what I can think or say. It was bad enough when he said on TV "I didn't have the guts to tell my fans I knew I wouldn't get the 8". It's amazing his nation just thinks this is the high road and bad behavior and vindictivness should be rewarded with praise? why, cuz your hero says so? Nice to see Mr. Hendrick is already turning him into a PC robot. I feel like boxing up all my 8 cars and sending them to Teresa so she can sell them on EBay to make some more money. I can't support a henpecked man that has to tell others what to do. You need to spend more time with your buddy Tony I think. He might knock some sense back into you and knock that PC bs out of you.

8-25-2007 @ 6:15PM

It would appear that 1)Teresa also will not let any man tell her what to do and 2) this may be Jr's way of trying tell people the rift between the two of them is actually HIS fault. Maybe he is finally ready to admit and accept his role in their lack of a relationship. Maybe he feels guilty that HIS actions have his fans wrongfully hating a person that does not deserve it all. Or, maybe he is just being a nice guy. Who knows, but if you are fan of Jr's, you should lighten up a bit.

8-25-2007 @ 4:25PM

OhPlease said...

The ONLY reason Junior is talking is because of his "Little" sister Taylor. I am sure she is getting guff at school for her Not so nice mommy ;-)
This is between Jr and his stepmother. Unfortuantly kids can be cruel and Taylor is at a very vunerable age (17) I can just imagine the stuff people are saying to her. Taylor is also still in the "mourning" process of her father, and I imagine she worries about her big brother too, hopefully thats the reason Teresa hasn't been around I hope she has been helping Taylor through this tough time.
I lost my father suddenly close to Taylor's age. You cannot imagine the confusion and the pain. I was lucky that it wasn't played out in the media.

8-25-2007 @ 5:19PM

CJ said...

If Jr's upset that people are talking bout Teresa and wants to stop it, then he needs to shut his damn mouth! What did he expect his fans to say after he said at Michigan that she's unreasonable, name her next Mother Teresa? Hey, i made a funny, didnt even mean too! But anyways, if Jr wants people to lay off the name calling of Teresa, then he should start by opening his mouth before he thinks bout the consequences of his words!