How’s it going?
Dale Jr.: Great. Do I know you? How the hell did you get back here? (Staring ahead at the scrubbed wall.)
We’ve met a few times. First at the PRI Show years ago when you were around 19. Then, I talked to you at a few short Carolina tracks you raced at as you were coming up, and working on your car by yourself. Been reporting on your career since then. (I could tell he tensed up when I said the “R” (eporter) word. Note to self – stop.) I got back here because I got lost.
Dale Jr.: (He wasn’t buying it, much) I think I remember you – you had more hair then, and weren’t so chunky. Same thick glasses, though.
(My opening!) You sure turned the world upside down today. Bet you’re relieved to get it all settled.
Dale Jr.: You bet. Sort of like I’m trying to do now, if you get what I’m sayin’.
Uh, yeah. (Why stop now?) But everyone could tell you really were happier than you’ve been for months. You were grinning ear-to-ear. I’m glad for you. How does it feel?
Dale Jr.: (He zipped up, left his shirttail out, flushed the fixture, stepped back, flashed his off-sided grin, and with both fists pumping in the air, yelled at the top of his lungs.) I’M THE MAC DADDY!
(Now, he scared me.) Whoa. But what about your fans? How are they going to take to your racing with The Evil Hendrick Empire? Jeff Gordon -- The Dupont Devil? Jimmie Johnson --The Low-Down Lowe’s Guy?
Dale Jr.: (Warming up, but calmer.) When I start winning races, my fans will be with me. Gordo is going to be a daddy – that’ll slow him down. Jimmie’s too “good guy” to be
champ every year. My fans know I have to have a car that can win, and I haven’t had that many times in the past couple of years. I’ll have that now, regular. It will be up to me. I’m ready for a championship.
You did throw your DEI engine and chassis guys under the bus a couple of times on nationwide TV. Seemed like they were behind in R&D.
Dale Jr.: Well, l was trying to motivate’em. The driver can only do so much with the car he’s got.
Bet when you toured Hendrick Motorsports you saw they aren’t behind in R&D on their cars.
Dale Jr.: Yeah. It’s like all the other shops are in Kansas and when you go in the Hendrick’s shops you’re in Oz. You are not in Kansas any more, that’s for sure.
How about those people who say you can’t “carry” an ill-handling car like, say Jeff Gordon can? You’re supposed to get equal stuff now.
Dale Jr.: How about I kick your ass! Where do you people get this crap? (Heading to me and the sink.)
(Finished washing and backing up.) Easy, man. Just wondering how it will be on the track with you and Gordon and Jimmie in almost-equal cars.
Dale Jr.: We’ll be racing, just like we do now. I hope it’s not that hard to get me in Victory Lane. You’re done now. (Heading for the door.)
Just one more. Boxers or briefs?
Dale Jr.: (The grin.) Commando!
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