Dale Earnhardt Jr. has stated many a time that he's not one for controversy and stirring the pot like his father Dale Earnhardt used to.Thursday at Darlington in preparation for Saturday night's Dodge Challenger, I can bet Junior was trying to just be done with the entire Kyle Busch incident, and said that Busch has a very similar driving style to the elder Earnhardt. Here's the quotes:
"On the racetrack, there may be some comparisons there," Earnhardt Jr. said Thursday. "He's fast ... he's slick, he's aggressive."Hmm. Bold statement, Mr. Earnhardt. Bold.
"That's the way dad raced and Kyle has that same style," Earnhardt Jr. continued. "Very aggressive."
I definitely understand where Junior is coming from in this situation, but it seems a little over dramatic. Is Kyle Busch aggressive? Does trouble to seem follow him? Is controversy nearly a synonym for his name?
Well, because I answered "Yes" to my own three questions, I'm going to have to say that on track, Busch can be very similar. Earnhardt was the only driver that I had even seen race for position in 43rd like he was going for the win.
Busch can do, and has done, the same.
I think Earnhardt Jr. makes a valid description, but after the week of Kyle Busch vs. Dale Jr. comments after their incident at Richmond, I'd like to hear your side. What say you?
Is Kyle Busch the next Dale Earnhardt?
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. His driving style is very similar but there was only ONE INTIMIDATOR............maybe we should call him the ...... BUSCHWACKER ! ! !
Aloha, Brad
Posted at 2:52AM on May 9th 2008 by Brad
2. This is probably the same comment that is going o be said over and over, but, while Kyle may have a similar style, there will only be one Intimidator. I was never really a Dale Sr fan but I always had respect for the man and even more so after his untimely death.
Posted at 7:30AM on May 9th 2008 by racing20guy
3. I am sure this one will endear you to the loyal #3 fans, Geoffrey. The green hoarde is probably wincing as well. Let's just hope for the sake of his two fans, Bernie and Peaches, and his family he does not let his wrecklessness kill him like Dale did.
Kyle is a very good driver and I am sure his driving style is earning him just as many friends on track as Dale had in the early years; none.
MBL
Posted at 8:05AM on May 9th 2008 by Mike
4. Hats off to Jr for telling it like it is. Kyle is cut from the same cloth as Dale Sr, only time will tell if he really measures up. The COT couldn't have come along at a better time, it suits Kyle's driving style to a tee. And no, he doesn't have many friends on the track, but neither did Dale Sr, it goes with the territory. Thanks Kyle, for making this a very interesting season so far. Works for me.....
Posted at 9:40AM on May 9th 2008 by Don Emerson
5. I think Nascar should ban Kyle Busch period. There is alot of drivers in the Nationwide&Truck series that deserves the chance to race in the Nextel Cup not this Little Dumba$$ Punk.I agree someone needs to jerk a knot or two in his butt for sure. And also comparing him to the late Dale Sr. OMG....No F** Way!!!! not even close. He Wishes! I have to say Hendrick definately made a great decision by letting him go. Hopefully Nascar will get the picture.
Posted at 11:28AM on May 9th 2008 by #18GirlyManHater
6.
Kyle Busch is no more "The New Intimidator" than were Jimmy Spencer and Geoff Bodine, the previous two "wild things" on the big circuit. Being reckless may, indeed, be intimidating to others around you, but it is only when - and if - Kyle Busch learns to turn that recklessness into controlled mayhem that he will have earned the title.
Posted at 12:18PM on May 9th 2008 by GGarr10670
7. WHATS WRONG WITH YOU....How Could you even say that???? THERE IS ONLY O N E INTIMIDATOR!!!!!!! DON'T EVEN PUT HIM IN A CLASS WITH DALE!!!
Busch IS JUST AN ARROGANT SMART ALIC!!! WITH NO REGUARD FOR OTHER PEOPLE............
Posted at 12:34PM on May 9th 2008 by John
8. To those of you who are so disgusted by the comparisson of Earnhardt St. to Busch:
What, you think Earnhardt was a nice guy on the track? He was one of the most hated drivers in Racing. Yes, he is well respected now for all that he accomplished and yes, he was an amazing talent on the race track, but his driving style sure did not win him any friends.
The comparisson to Busch is just that, a comparisson. We ALL know that there could never be another Earnhardt Sr. He did afterall change the entire face of racing and brought a whole new set of fans to the sport. The question was is Kyle's driving style similar and will he be the next most hated driver on the circuit for being dangerous and rough? The answer, a resounding YES.
Kim
Posted at 2:32PM on May 9th 2008 by Kim
9. For all of you who say (I'm still scratching my head on this one) Dale Sr had no friends at the track go find a replay of the "98" Daytona 500 that Dale won and look at the reception he got on pit road. You probably go back at least that far dontcha Don?
Ron
Posted at 5:00PM on May 9th 2008 by drgrcr601
10. YES, HE CAN REALLY WELL BE THE NEXT INTIMIDATOR.
KYLE driving style, his aggressiveness, his slicknes,his fast forward driving, his scareless posture is very similar to DALE and RALPH EARNHARDT.
When it comes to integtity, caracter, personality,
comparing DALE/KYLE is a defferent matter.
WE should compare DALE/KYLE,when DALE WAS 23 year old and than we could real compare the persons instead than just the driving.
AT age 20 to 30 DALE RACING was. WALTRIP, GET OUT OF MY WAY OR I'LL WRECK YOU. ASK DARREL WALTRIP OR
JUNIOR JOHNSON and you'll see.
Posted at 5:14PM on May 9th 2008 by anzajoe
11. Joe Anza;
I just finished reading your post on the issue on another blog. I was hoping you would cut and paste it here. You make a very good point to compare 23 year old Kyle to 23 year old Dale. At the end of Dales career he was loved by some, hated by some, but respected by all as Ron Alluded to.
Michael Bishop LeVan
Posted at 5:22PM on May 9th 2008 by Mike
12. Yep you're right anza but racing was much different then (back in the day) when Nascar hardly got a mention. Now with big sponsors and huge money involved we will never go back to that style so it really makes no sense to compare Kyle to Dale Sr except to say he's very aggressive. Would Dale Sr have driven today as he did back then? Maybe but who really knows with totally different circumstances.
Ron
Posted at 5:26PM on May 9th 2008 by drgrcr601
13. You can't really compare the two at age 23, besides being from 2 totally era's Dale Sr. didn't even make his Nascar debut until he was 24 in 1975 and thru 1978 only had 8 starts being 27 years old. By the time Kyle turned 23 he's making million of $ and Dale at age 23 was struggling to feed his wife and Kids.
Aloha, Brad
Posted at 8:29PM on May 9th 2008 by Brad
14. ooops should have been 'different era's'
Posted at 8:30PM on May 9th 2008 by Brad
15. This comparison is a total INSULT to all the Earnhardt fans... Busch is trying to gain attention for himself and going after the person (Jr) who could have won the race. Or is it maybe Busch's way of getting back at Hendricks? The ONLY comparison you can make with Busch, is the beer, and it's crappy to.
PLEASE PLEASE, do not compare this loser to a legend. He needs to pay his dues, and payback is coming, Earnhardt style.
Posted at 10:20PM on May 9th 2008 by Marina
16. The Answer to this is very simple NO! No! and NO.
Posted at 10:47PM on May 9th 2008 by ksue
17. Why mr Miller do you keep smoking all my comments?
Posted at 1:05AM on May 10th 2008 by Peaches
18. No he is not the next Dale SR. But will be so dam close it will be scary.....
Kim he did it again, open mouth and insert FOOT,WHERE'S THAT PR MAN..........LOL
MIKE, glad you remember Bernie & myself as Kyles Only two Fans,If it was not for us who would his fan BASE be?...........lol
Posted at 1:23AM on May 10th 2008 by Peaches
19. MIKE,ROM, BRAD, I replyed to your posts explaining in what ways bush can be compared to dale.It has not been posted and soon after smoked away. It just never got posted at all.I never even got the confirmation e-mail.It has exploded and incinerated in the stratosfere, FOR NO REASON. NOTHING insulting, no attack, nothing nasty was included. Lets hope this one ridges venus/mars.
Posted at 4:31AM on May 10th 2008 by anzaj
20. GEEZ, it did ridge it's destination. Lets try again.
MR MILLER, I been trying to become an apostols or an angel and my blogs are still getting incinerated.
WHY IS SO?.
Posted at 4:39AM on May 10th 2008 by anzajoe