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Sun Nov 09, 2008 9:17 am EST

Rusty Wallace: Dale Jr. not among top four drivers

By Joe Zedalis

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

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Former champion Rusty Wallace says he hasn't seen a big change in Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s performance this year after Earnhardt's move from Dale Earnhardt Inc. to Hendrick Motorsports.

The big change in the move is that Earnhardt made the Chase this season after missing it last year at DEI. Still, after a strong first half, he's struggled. He has three top-10 finishes in the last 16 races.

"Junior's a good driver and he's probably doing what I expected him to do," said Wallace, an analyst for ABC/ESPN. "He's not the greatest driver. Junior is good. When I think of these drivers nowadays, I think of Jeff Gordon, I think of Jimmie Johnson, I think of Carl Edwards, I think of Tony Stewart. Those are the four that just pop in my head.

"Do I look at (Earnhardt) as a top four? I don't look at him as a top four right now. I really thought performance-wise, I personally think he did every bit as good with his old team as he's doing with his new team.

"The only thing that is better is he hasn't broke down this year. Last year, he broke down a lot, blown motors. This year he hasn't had the blown motors and he's higher in the points and he's in the Chase."

Source: Virginian-PilotNew Window

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889 Comments

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  1. SCOOT BIZZLE
    1. Posted by SCOOT BIZZLE Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:08 pm EDT

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    i would take dale jr over rusty wallace anyday.
  2. Matt
    2. Posted by Matt Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

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    Rusty Wallace is a punk. Suprised the ego-maniac did not name himself to the top list.
  3. Big Dawg 62
    3. Posted by Big Dawg 62 Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:48 pm EDT

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    woof!
  4. Rudy88
    4. Posted by Rudy88 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    All of the above!
  5. Todd
    5. Posted by Todd Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:55 pm EDT

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    Truth hurts
  6. sassymama53
    6. Posted by sassymama53 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

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    All you Junior fans crack me up!! He is not his Dad by any stretch of the imagination, are you sure Kyle Busch isn't Dales son? Junior sucks!! Kyle Rocks teeheeeheeee
  7. Sue f
    7. Posted by Sue f Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:52 pm EDT

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    Kyle Busch should get the medal for being the most obnoxious person. He can drive but don't insult Jr's Dad by putting Bush in the same sentence!!!!! Jr just needs to communicate better with crew cheif!
  8. voodew36
    8. Posted by voodew36 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:38 pm EDT

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    im not a rusty fan by any means, but hes right!!! rusty even has a championship but junior boesnt!! WHY? because hes not his dad you freakin idiots!! get over it all of u!! he will never be as good as his dad!!! face the facts and move on!!!!!!!!!!
  9. Big Bufford
    9. Posted by Big Bufford Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:14 pm EDT

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    Your right about Rusty and being and ego thing, but Jr. is having a better year this year than last year, give him some credit. Beside with tony Jr, being his crew chief, is the problem... Jr needs to take more control over decisions of the car at the race tracks. Tony has made some bad mistakes taht have cost Jr, a race or two.. Bifford Out...
  10. fran s
    10. Posted by fran s Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:37 pm EDT

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    If Rusty Wallace is such a good driver why hasn't he tried to give positive information to help Jr? What about his one son how has he faired?
  11. Starsfan
    11. Posted by Starsfan Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:43 pm EDT

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    And how many championships has Jr won? I do beleive Rusty won one in 1989 and had over 205 top 5 finishes with over 50 wins. Numbers Jr can only hope to achieve
    Of the four - Gordon, Johnson, Edwards, or Stewart do you replace with Jr as the top four? He is not a better driver then any of those four, nor is he a better driver then Kyle Busch, Ken Hamlin, Matt Kenseth, or even Biffle. He is a good driver, not great. All that was talked about was how great Jr would be this year with better equipment, but how many wins does he have? All he needs to do is communicate better with his crew chief?? He now takes the place of Dale Jarrett. A good driver that got into NASCAR on his daddy's name and rep and will continue to do so for another10 years, and maybe Jr wil be able to back into a championship the same way Jarrett was able to do, but I wouldn't bet my lunch on it.
  12. rob
    12. Posted by rob Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:44 pm EDT

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    hey rusty SHUT UP. JR is doing just fine.
  13. sdpooh
    13. Posted by sdpooh Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:10 pm EDT

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    Rusty bashers, here are the stats. 55 Wins, 349 top 10's, 36 poles, 1989 Winston Cup Champion, in 1998 called one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers. That gives him the background to rate another driver. JR so far, according to Wikipedia has 18 wins, 133 top 10's and 8 poles. He is up there but not one of the 4 best. Face it Junior Nation, he is not his dad. No matter how much you bad mouth people who are not enamored with JR won't change the fact that he is a good driver, not the best. If his last name was not Earnhardt he would be just another journeyman driving on the circuit. Good but not great. I agree with Rusty on his picks. Steve D pretty much sums up JR.
  14. donna
    14. Posted by donna Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:16 pm EDT

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    dale jr is only driving a car because of his name . hes really done nothing since getting here . junior really does suck.
  15. Rick M
    15. Posted by Rick M Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:26 pm EDT

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    I agree 100% with Rusty. Yes, I am a fan of his.... always have been. However, he is stating that he isn't one the top 4... everyone has to see that. He may have better equipment then at DEI but, that doesn't make a better driver. As pure drivers go, my list would have to include: Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, Tony Stewart and Matt Kenseth.
  16. Lonewolf3212003
    16. Posted by Lonewolf3212003 Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:56 pm EDT

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    Rusty are you running out of BS to Write about?? Get your head out of Rowdies REAR Junior By no means if SR but He is a Good Driver Perhaps He would Do better if He had a mean streak Like SR had OHHHHHHHH CARL wrecking him Rowdie Wrecking Him And the rear ender going into the pits ???Where would he be But Im fair its part of racing the part that He rarely Gets into perhaps He Should But then I wouldnt have the same respect for him . Botom line He May not be a top 4 But He is A 1 on the fan base Go JR Ride Your way and ignore Wallace He is a Morron
  17. Rudy88
    17. Posted by Rudy88 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    Linny - This article has nothing to do with Kyle-can't get going, when the going gets tough-Busch. It's about rusty Wallace and JR, who makes Rusty look like a cold turd that never got warmed over!
  18. kris b
    18. Posted by kris b Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    jr may be number 4 out of hendricks drivers,but in all maybe tenth in all but rudy sir you r still #1, in being a loser
  19. Rudy88
    19. Posted by Rudy88 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    Kris b - and you sir, are number one in nothing!
  20. Miss America
    20. Posted by Miss America Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:53 pm EDT

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    Rusty...you shouldn't have made that comment. psst, psst. I think jr. did alright for his first year with Hendricks. I think the second half (trouble wise) comes from what tony, jr admitted to and that the fact they tried to follow their teammates set-up and it just didn't work.
  21. Miss America
    21. Posted by Miss America Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:53 pm EDT

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    Hi Rudy:
    I see you're getting them straight. That's the way to go :) Go jr!!!!!
  22. Rudy88
    22. Posted by Rudy88 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    MA - Good to see you. I've got Carl today, but I'm rooting for JR.
  23. lawrence g
    23. Posted by lawrence g Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:27 pm EDT

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    rusty wallace is egotistical, but the comments he made about dale jr should be taken as constuctive critisism. he really did not say anything negative about jr. on several occasions i have heard wallace say he is rooting for dale jr. rusty likes junior, and is only telling the truth. junior is not a top 4 driver right now, he could be , butt he is not. as a champion of the sport and a 55 time race winner , i think rusty's opinion counts for something. nasccar illistrated has rusy wallace ranked # 9 of the 60 greatest cup drivers over the last 60 years. dale earnhardt jr. is # 22 kyle bush #39 and carl edwards is #50 why do jr haters always bring dale sr into their insulting comments? have some respect!! dale earnhardt was one of the best drivers this sport will ever know. a fallen hero.
  24. Rudy88
    24. Posted by Rudy88 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    lawrence g - I liked most of your comments. Rusty wallace puts a bad taste in my mouth, but everything else that you said, is right on!

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