Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Does NASCAR Need Him to Succeed for the Circuit to Prosper?

Generally in the world of sports, the most historically successful teams are the most popular ones. The New York Yankees, Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Lakers immediately come to mind. In NASCAR, there are two all-time greats currently on the Sprint Cup circuit in Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson.

Interestingly enough, their success hasn’t led to them being the most popular drivers in the sport. Sure, they both have large followings, but the title of most beloved driver undoubtedly belongs to Dale Earnhardt Jr. It’s quite remarkable that Junior has kept his popularity despite not entering victory lane in the past 112 races.

It is often said that sports leagues are at their best when their most popular respective franchise or individual is winning. A perfect example is golfer Tiger Woods. The sport reached new heights during Tiger’s run of dominance, but since his infidelity came to light and injuries started mounting, golf has returned to being a niche sport.

Attendance at most NASCAR events has declined sharply over the past five years, and since it directly coincides with Earnhardt Jr.’s struggles, it is easy to see why some may connect the two. More likely, however, is that the nation’s economic downturn has adversely affected interest in the sport.

Going to a NASCAR race isn’t exactly a cheap venture. When you consider the fact that NASCAR’s biggest fanbase resides in the southern United States and that the South has been hit hardest in terms of the recession, there is a very logical explanation for why interest has waned in NASCAR, and it has nothing to do with the product on the track.

Of course, if Dale Jr. started winning some races, it wouldn’t adversely affect NASCAR. In fact, it would probably increase the interest of some fans. In all honesty, the difference would be quite negligible, though. Normally, having a generationally great driver like Jimmie Johnson dominate would be enough to keep NASCAR’s popularity up, but that hasn’t been the case.

It is obvious that fans have grown tired of Johnson winning all the time, and the only thing that can captivate fans right now, in my opinion, is parity. This could certainly involve Earnhardt Jr. winning, but it would also include any number of drivers having a legitimate chance to win on any given week. As luck would have it, parity seems to be creeping its way back into NASCAR.

Out the 19 races this season, 14 different drivers have won, including three first-time winners. I think the element of surprise is something that NASCAR fans love, and with young drivers like Trevor Bayne, Regan Smith and David Ragan winning races this season, that element has been quite evident.

Also, fans want the year-end races to be exciting and meaningful. The installation of The Chase has certainly helped accomplish that, but with Johnson winning five straight titles, it has been tough to not feel like the past few seasons have been a foregone conclusion. Nothing could be further from the truth this year, though, as there are just 26 points separating first-place Carl Edwards from sixth-place Matt Kenseth.

With a little luck, these jumbled standings should ensure that multiple drivers are in the hunt for the championship come season’s end, rather than just one or two. As great as a dynasty can be in sports, there eventually comes a time when people grow tired of seeing the same team or person win time after time, especially when you aren’t a fan of that particular team or person.

When Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt dominated their respective eras, things were different because they were both widely beloved and respected by NASCAR fans. When it comes to drivers like Johnson and Gordon, they seem to be just as hated as they are liked. This is because Southern fans, who make up a huge chunk of NASCAR fans, are typically loyal to Southern drivers like Dale Earnhardt Jr.

It is no secret that much of Earnhardt Jr.’s popularity stems from his father. Dale Sr. is arguably the most popular driver of all time regardless of circuit. Because of that, Dale Jr. has extremely unrealistic expectations attached to him in a lot of ways. Sure, he has had some success in the past, as he has 18 career wins, and he finished third in the points in 2003, but it isn’t fair to think that he should live up to his father’s greatness.

Even if Dale Jr. became as dominant as his father, which is incredibly unlikely at this point, the novelty would eventually wear off, just as it has with Johnson. Initially, fans were smitten with the novelty of a new, hotshot driver like Johnson, but his winning ways grew old after the first couple championships he won.

NASCAR needs something to help get it out of the doldrums, but a singular dominant driver isn’t it. With the revamped Chase setup the sport seems to heading in the right direction, but it remains to be seen whether this type of parity can be maintained.

Don’t get me wrong, a successful Dale Jr. wouldn’t adversely affect NASCAR in the least. It will take more than one person to restore NASCAR to its former glory. Even if one man was capable of putting the sport on his back, Earnhardt Jr. simply isn’t him. Whether some fans want to admit it or not, Dale Jr. is a slightly above average driver. He just happens to share a last name with somebody who was extraordinary.