From the Marbles - NASCAR

From the Marbles

Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:52 pm EST

They make it 'cause we buy it: Dale Junior rain gauge

By Jay Busbee

No sport offers up a more bewildering array of souvenir crap memorabilia than NASCAR, and They Make It digs deep into the corners of the Internet to bring all that strangeness to light. Today: garden gear!

The item: The Dale Earnhardt Jr. rain gauge, a mere ten bucks from Sports Nut Shop

The deal: So you're standing out in the rain, and you're wondering, "How much rainfall is collecting here on my beloved petunias? I want to know, but I don't trust everyday rain gauges. I only trust branded Dale Junior products!" And strangely enough, it's rained 88 inches every single day since you've started tracking this. And then you realize that you need to learn how to read the damn thing.

Seriously, though ... a Dale Jr. rain gauge? Really? When you're getting branded garden implements, it's probably time to reexamine your obsession with your favorite driver. (Please note that there are Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart gauges as well.) Really, though, once you get to this point, what's left? Toilet-paper dispensers? Dishwashing gloves? Power strips? What else is left to brand?

The hat tip: TEXaco -- the reader, not the oil company. Got a good tip on a NASCAR product / item / service? Hit us up at jay.busbee@yahoo.com. Go!

Related: They make it cause we buy it

digg delicious
more

50 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. Dog Star 97
    1. Posted by Dog Star 97 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:56 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    It's just 4 inches. HAHAHA
  2. Carol
    2. Posted by Carol Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Well, race fan, it's measuring liquid output, isn't it?
  3. Rhonda R
    3. Posted by Rhonda R Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:20 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Damn... I swear I just bought the Kyle Busch one... call me a fan freak then... I also have sterling silver #18 earings.. and just about everything else I can get my pretty little hands on... ( except for him of course... YET)
    ha ha ha
  4. Maggie D
    4. Posted by Maggie D Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:03 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Can also be used by JR fans to cry into if he doesn't win the cup again.
  5. Shawalla
    5. Posted by Shawalla Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:42 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Only second to the obscurity of your blogs, Jay.
  6. miss priss
    6. Posted by miss priss Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    hahahahahaha Carol - when you said liquid output, I had this naughty thought of a certain fluid filling it. ewwwww I'll go set in the corner now.
  7. kinggeorge
    7. Posted by kinggeorge Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:51 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Sha-wall-a you go somewhere where you appreciate the bloggers talents. We quite like our blog monkey here.
    Rhonda--Haha, our first Kyle pit lizard groupie, well other than JetJack but I don't think he likes him in the same way you do. (I hope) Enjoy your rain gage and don't forget to send Jay a pic of you modeling it. (Like the Price Is Right girls do)
  8. Sam
    8. Posted by Sam Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:02 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Maggie -- Can also be used by JR fans to cry into == IF
  9. Sam
    9. Posted by Sam Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:02 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    AARRRGHHH!!!! stupid html commands... that should read
    Maggie - Can also be used by JR fans to cry into *** IF *** he doesn't win the cup again ?!?!? talk about optimistic! ;b
    (oh spare me the hate mail! I kid because I care.)
  10. art_tidesco
    10. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I don't think a rain guage that measure's just four inches will be much good to anyone in Wales.
    I should be most surprised if any meteorological office would be interested in measurements made with this particular device!
    Being useless might well qualify this item for a place in the museum of modern art in New York however :-)
  11. Doug C
    11. Posted by Doug C Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:16 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I'd buy it.
  12. Willy Doer
    12. Posted by Willy Doer Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    If it won't hold at least 16oz's of fluid, who needs it...and i like jr!
  13. Maggie D
    13. Posted by Maggie D Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:03 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Sam, did I say again? I meant once again. Thanks for pointing that out.
  14. Nascar sucks
    14. Posted by Nascar sucks Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:59 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I watch cars drive around in circles on my street, why watch nascar.
    vroom... vroom
  15. cmeponu2
    15. Posted by cmeponu2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Maggie, Maybe it's like one of those toys that when it gets wet changes colors. That way when the crying gets all the way to the top, you'll clearly see the name Tony Jr.
  16. go88in08
    16. Posted by go88in08 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I think it is a stupid item and some of the comments on here are just as stupid. I became a nascar fan but I am ashamed to show anyone these posts because they mostly shame the fans, if you guys only read before you post maybe you will think twice before submitting your comment. You are the reason I do not read any of these sites but Nascar.com because you guys cannot post stupid comments there. I only came on here today due to boredom at work.
  17. Jay Busbee
    17. Posted by Jay Busbee Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:33 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Actually, "NASCAR sucks," I DO have the right to delete comments. I am your god here. But I can be merciful.
    And Go88, it ain't us that's slapping the "88" on every product known to man. Think about that for a second.
  18. FarmerJ
    18. Posted by FarmerJ Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:14 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    go 88 just glad we could entertain you for a short while, that's why we're all here.
  19. Carol
    19. Posted by Carol Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:19 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    All bow before Senior Blog Mokey! Hail!!
    Priss, don't stay in that corner too long, that WAS what I was inferring, after all...
  20. cmeponu2
    20. Posted by cmeponu2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    WAH WAH WAH NAscar 88 , It's called a sense of humor. I'll sell you one for $88. Why don't you do your job instead of surfing the net.
  21. Tammy
    21. Posted by Tammy Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:55 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    NASCAR Sucks hit one of my nerves, so excuse me while I rant a little bit. (don't worry, I 'll do the short version.)
    The first amendment says CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAW (emphasis added) infringing on the freedom of speech. The 14th amendment extended this to state action as well. As far as I know, neither Jay, nor Yahoo, is either (1) Congress or (2) a sovereign state. It's their boards, they can delete any posts they want and it is NOT an infringement on ANY first amendment right. End of rant.
  22. art_tidesco
    22. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Any one seen my 88 tooth pick ?
  23. art_tidesco
    23. Posted by art_tidesco Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:58 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    Btw is the item above endorsed by Junior or Hendrick ?
    Either way JR would be far better spending his time at the track selling tickets than giving the nod to all this stuff :-)
  24. Bo Nanza
    24. Posted by Bo Nanza Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:30 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    art_tidesco - you might right about JR spending better time at the track, but this is the American way. If people didn't buy the stuff, they wouldn't sell it. I just wonder what country these products are made in.
  25. SportsFan
    25. Posted by SportsFan Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:46 pm EDT

    Report Abuse

    I think Jr. is way ahead of his time. Think about it! How long have there been 88 keys on a piano? Makes you wonder doesn't it.

From the Marbles

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Jay Busbee

From the Marbles is a NASCAR blog edited by Jay Busbee. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
James G., Jay Hart, Carol Fitzgerald, Dennis Tarwood,

Related Photo Gallery

More NASCAR Photos »

Y! Sports Blogs

From the Marbles Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)