Breakthrough year for Jr., but not how you think

If you've even so much as heard of NASCAR, you probably tabbed 2002 as a breakthrough year for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. That has proven true, only in a manner far different than most anticipated.

Entering the year, several so-called experts favored Junior as the man to beat in the championship battle, but his on-track performance has been so-so at best.

	Marty Smith

Inconsistency has plagued him. Lady Luck has shunned him.

Sure, he has as many top-five finishes (five) as points leader Sterling Marlin, and even won at Talladega in April. But the bad -- five finishes of 30th or worse, including four of 35th or worse -- has equalized the good.

After 14 races, Earnhardt has ranked no higher than fifth in the overall standings, and has currently fallen to 14th.

Breakthrough year? How can a 14th-place ranking be considered a breakthrough year for a guy atop so many preseason short lists of title contenders? Especially for a guy that finished eighth a year ago in the unrelenting mess surrounding his father's death?

For a guy scared plumb to death about failure?

Because Junior's "breakthrough" has nothing to do with what goes on in the cockpit. It's about what goes on in the boardroom.

Last weekend at Pocono, Junior was asked his opinion on the myriad rumors surrounding Dale Earnhardt, Inc, namely the speculation that drivers Michael Waltrip and Steve Park were on the proverbial hot seat.

His answer gave rare insight into his new, more proactive attitude, and quelled any doubt that he has assumed a more active role in the day-to-day operation of his father's dream.

	Jr. has one win this season -- at Talladega. Credit: Autostock

It used to be that he wouldn't voice his opinion on such matters, didn't feel he'd earned the right. Now, he's speaking up, taking responsibility as a leader.

"It's been a tough situation over the past several of weeks for us," Junior said following Happy Hour practice last Saturday. "A lot of people, the media and fans, have got a lot more things going on than there really is truth to it.

"We definitely did tell Michael that we were looking at other drivers. His job was in his hands, so to speak. I'm real happy with how he's doing now."

He should be. Waltrip has shined since being informed that his job was in jeopardy, jumping from 27th to 15th in the series point standings since Texas. Park, on the other hand, continues the taxing search for answers.

"It's not going too good right now for Steve," Earnhardt, Jr. said. "They can¹t really get results, of course. It's very easy to point a finger at Steve, and everybody including myself are trying our hardest to really be optimistic about that.

"But we're definitely going to have to look hard at that situation too over the next several months because we've had Steve for two or three years and we haven't had really a full season of him in the car, (in) every race.

"We've just had a lot of misfortune, a lot of injuries, but the thing you worry about is him getting out of your car and going and getting in another car and whipping your butt.

"If we can't make it work, we've got to make a change and nobody is immune to change. I don't care if he's a driver or a crew chief or a tire changer. We've got to do what we've got to do to make the business work."

Spoken like a true business mogul. Above all else, NASCAR is a business, one where performance is everything and the only thing. Junior is hell bent on succeeding, not just for himself, but for all of DEI and the fans that pay to see him.

Don't get me wrong, he'll still drink a cold beer in a heartbeat, but his new focus on the future is quite obvious to everyone around him.

"I think Junior just finally got fed up reading all of the rumors about DEI and decided to set the record straight," said Ty Norris, DEI senior vice president. "I haven't said anything since Richmond because of the way my statements got turned around.

"Junior wants this company to be successful and feels like he can help by getting involved, and his viewpoint is critical. He likes to be involved, and I think you will see more and more of that as the months and years go by."

Though Junior's performance doesn't look pretty on paper, Norris is adamant he's not to be counted out of the hunt just yet.

"Six weeks ago we were a championship contender, sitting fifth in points," Norris said. "Two crashes, a mechanical failure and a bad run later we're fighting for our lives to get in the top-10.

"It changes that quickly. People didn't give up on Tony Stewart when he was 28th in points last year and they better not give up on Junior."

They won't. I have no doubt about that. Suffice to say, Junior's not giving up on them, either.

Note: Marty Smith's columns appear each Thursday on NASCAR.com. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer. You can contact Marty at marty.smith@turner.com.