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From the Marbles

Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:52 am EST

Wreck of the week: Same old, same old for Junior [Updated]

By Jay Busbee

At some point, you've got to start feeling a little bad for Dale Earnhardt Jr. This has been the most wretched season imaginable for NASCAR's most famous driver. On Sunday, he added to his litany of unfortunate 2009 races as he got loose in Turn 4 at Phoenix and collected some big names in the ensuing wreck, including Tony Stewart and Bobby Labonte. Here, take a look:

On the radio afterward, Tony Stewart snarled, "Dammit! Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a no-talent son of a bitch!" Here, listen in:

That may cause a few hurt feelings and bruised egos. In the end, though, another ugly afternoon for Junior, who's probably going to get out of his car at Homestead when the race is over and just run, run, run away.

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102 Comments

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  1. Brian
    1. Posted by Brian Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:08 am EST

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    Every one is blaming a 2-time Busch Champ and 18 time Cup Series winner...this guy will turn things around when things are right in the #88 camp. He's got the talent, and just alot of bad luck right now! Get 'em at Daytona JR. I'll never give up on ya. Your Friend in Marion IN... Brian James Fair
  2. Rudy88
    2. Posted by Rudy88 Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:31 am EST

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    I have just changed my opinion of TS. Jr is having one hell of a season! (negatively speaking) i think that TS had a hell of a lot of nerve calling JR talentless. The talent is still there, it's, IMO, a mental block that is holding him back, but the ability is still there. I still believe that a little hypnotherapy would do him a world of good.
  3. Jim T.
    3. Posted by Jim T. Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:34 am EST

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    This is gonna be a good one. Roll up your sleeves. How mant Brians are left?
  4. Gators #1 Nuff Said
    4. Posted by Gators #1 Nuff Said Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:42 am EST

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    well as far as no talent goes I don't believe thats the case. However this one was strictly JR and nobody elses fault. Most of the rest of his season is due to bad luck, which is just the way things go. Tony spoke in the heat of the moment, and we all say things we dont mean when we are mad.
  5. Jim T.
    5. Posted by Jim T. Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:44 am EST

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    many....correction
  6. Jim T.
    6. Posted by Jim T. Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:50 am EST

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    Gator- I don't see how Stewart came to that conclusion so quick even if he was mad. It had to be something he has thought about before and when he got mad it came out. I could be wrong.
  7. CARL
    7. Posted by CARL Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:52 am EST

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    Now, THIS is interesting!!! Dollars to donuts says no audio will be found, stewart will deny, deny, deny, and this thing will blow over with minimal PR damage. Why? It seems quite a few nascar fans are a fan of BOTH junior and stewart, but if stewart has in fact called junior out, junior nation will not be happy with big boy.
  8. WARD RUSSELL
    8. Posted by WARD RUSSELL Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:54 am EST

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    I have disliked tony stewart 2 yrs ago when he made comments about other drivers,but tony stewart didnt care to draft with dale jr at talladega did he.dale jr was his buggy then.if i was dale jr i remember thia comment.
  9. RICK C
    9. Posted by RICK C Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:05 am EST

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    I always thought that those two were buds. Sounds like Tony is going to have to start paying for his dinner at Whiskey River.
  10. Willy Doer
    10. Posted by Willy Doer Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:07 am EST

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    A lot of people have said stupid things in the heat of the moment. Tony is no different.
    Still like em' both.
    ( PS....i am sure Tony has never spun out and cost someone else their day.....right?)
  11. CARL
    11. Posted by CARL Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:17 am EST

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    The issue here is not the crash, those happen every race. The issue here is that a very popular driver allegedly branded the most popular driver a "No-talent summamab!tch". Damage control will be in overdrive.
  12. MarkN
    12. Posted by MarkN Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:18 am EST

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    Sorry Rudy but I feel Tony has a lot more experience when it comes to talent than you do.I'll take his word over yours.
  13. Doug D
    13. Posted by Doug D Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:25 am EST

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    Video of Stewart's comment is here:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a78XSz3dmdw
  14. Rudy88
    14. Posted by Rudy88 Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:26 am EST

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    MarkN - I can't argue with that, BUT I have heard tony, with his own mouth, say that Jr is a very talented driver. I'll have to go along with Willy in post #10.
  15. Taryn
    15. Posted by Taryn Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:39 am EST

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    They played Tony's outburst on This Week in Nascar, and yeah he didn't abbreviate. But right before the wreck, Dale's spotter was talking about seeing fluid on the car. And when they got to the pits, they spent forever trying to find the source of an oil leak. Oil leak may have been caused by the wreck of course, but something was coming out before then anyway. But even if that didn't make him slip, he was complaining how terrible the car was all day, it was only a matter of time until it got out from under him.
  16. CARL
    16. Posted by CARL Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:57 am EST

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    Ya know, quite a few drivers receive more than their share of disrespect, even outright hatred, from nascar fans. I have been guilty of such behavior in the past. But after pulling my head out of my arse, I realize that ALL the drivers deserve much respect for having big brass ones. That's what it takes to get out there on that track and do the things they do. So, kudos to you, drivers, for bringing it each and every time.
  17. Jim T.
    17. Posted by Jim T. Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:59 am EST

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    MarkN- wouldn't that be called a "racing mistake"? Just want your opinion.
  18. Brian
    18. Posted by Brian Wed Nov 18, 2009 11:14 am EST

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    Yeah I say it was a heat of the moment comment. Tony is smart enough to know jr. is very talented. Maybe they aren't on good terms right now for other reasons, I don't know...but I do know there'll be plenty of press on Tony's in-car comment...this should be exciting. That's what I'm here for...Excitement.. Dale Sr. had a little talent, don't ya think? Well, the apple don't fall far from the tree, Tony. Keep your emotions in check, because I doubt very seriously Dale Jr. would've ever said something like that about you. I like you both, though. Keep up the great racing... Big fan in Marion, Indiana BRIAN P. S. C'mon Danica, let's see how you handle a 3400lb. stock car! I do think you look great in a bikini. :)
  19. Oliver Klosov
    19. Posted by Oliver Klosov Wed Nov 18, 2009 11:19 am EST

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    As with the Kez/Hamlin issues - it's the end of a long, long season... emotions are a bit out-of-wack due to JJ dominating, others not being where they want to be... and kaboom... termpers flair...
    Now Smoke has been a very good boy this season, and has done alot of good things, dispite the new team and the new pressures... if he'd said this about ANY other driver, not a negative word would have been said... but it's "li'l E" and god knows you can say ANYTHING bad about him, or the cockroaches get all wound up...
    This is what makes the sport fun - even if you aren't fighting for a championship, you can still fight!! ...ask me and jay-bird! : )
  20. Jim T.
    20. Posted by Jim T. Wed Nov 18, 2009 11:32 am EST

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    Brian- #18 Richard Petty's apple fell pretty far from his tree
  21. packerd_00
    21. Posted by packerd_00 Wed Nov 18, 2009 11:41 am EST

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    MarkN-Yeah wasnt it a racing deal.Lol!
    I dont think it was heat of the moment as much as like a drunk guy blurting out what he really feels.
  22. pete
    22. Posted by pete Wed Nov 18, 2009 11:51 am EST

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    I'm surprised no one has said that he was leaking oil. It appears the oil that was leaking was leaking on the side of the car in which the engineers after the wreck had trouble finding but eventually found the source of the leak. After looking at the tires they found oil on the right rear tire which they felt contributed to Jr. getting loose. Apparently no one wants to speak on that.
  23. Richard T
    23. Posted by Richard T Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:02 pm EST

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    Wily, I can think of at least 3 incidents like that since 2005, involving Smoke.
    1.2006 or 2007 Pepsi 400- runs into the back of Denny Hamlin, setting off an early race
    2. 2007 Texas- while running a lap down spins in front of Jr who slows and is immediatly rear-ended by Kyle Busch
    3.2009 Fall Talladega- bounces of wall into Ryan Newman, sending Newman off on his wild ride.
  24. packerd_00
    24. Posted by packerd_00 Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:11 pm EST

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    Willy-I dont know Tony isnt one that normally say things he doesnt mean.
  25. MarkN
    25. Posted by MarkN Wed Nov 18, 2009 12:17 pm EST

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    Jim T yes it was a mistake DUH do you think he meant to spinout in front of the field.
    Packerd was it a racing deal? Yes
    Maybe he ran out of talent but it sure in hell wasn't on purpose so yes it was a racing deal and mistake.
    Just like Matt not making the chase he ran out of talent.
    What was your point?

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