Dale Jr. opens up about his grief, growth and new gig in ESPN article
Quote selected text Published May 7th, 2008 in NASCAR News
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has spent the seven years since his father’s death learning how to live without him. In the cover story for ESPN The Magazine, “All Grown Up”, Dale Jr. talks in depth publicly for the first time about the pain of losing his dad, who was killed in a crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001.
Writer Marty Smith reveals that since Junior left the family business, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (and affiliation with Dale Sr.’s third wife Teresa Earnhardt), for NASCAR juggernaut Hendrick Motorsports this season, he’s finally feeling like himself again.
“When my dad died, I was numb, blind. I just kept moving. Going. Doing. It was horrible. The further away from it I get, the more I understand how I went through it.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“I didn’t talk about it because it wasn’t something I wanted to preach. ‘Oh, I lost my Daddy, woe is me, and I gotta go through life without him.’ I didn’t want that message.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
“I ain’t got nothing against her. She might have something against me, I don’t know. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. regarding Teresa Earnhardt, who declined to be interviewed for the story.
“I am striving to be the total package. A mature, dedicated, motivated racecar driver.” – Dale Earnhardt Jr.
ESPN The Magazine was granted exclusive access to Junior’s property and Whiskey River, the replica Wild West town he’s built on his 200 acres of land in North Carolina. The issue is on newsstands Wednesday, May 7.
ESPNthemag.com will exhibit a complementary photo gallery and a “behind the story” by Smith, who lost his own father while writing the piece on Dale Jr.
[Visit ESPNthemag.com for more info]
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As much as I love ESPN, the Mag is mostly junk. I’ll probably pick this issue up, though, just to see the interview with Jr.
dont bother jeff
its right here
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3382132
guest
what a sick person!!!!!
I detect a scorn woman in guest’s post….Or a dude Jr is not sharing his surplus of tail with…..
Jr has his women, Stewart has his cheesy poofs……
hides behind the name guest as well….
I love how he throws all these accusations out there but has NOTHING to back it up
Marty Smith is a good writer, ESPN has kind of left the world of NASCAR over the years for all the other sports so I dont really pick it it up much
Kenneth,
I think this person this”guest” needs to be blocked!!!!!
Sam wrote:
I agree he never has anything good to say
This “guest” is a complete JOKE and should be ignored.
While I have no idea if what Guest said is true or not, I can say as a Guy that if I had as many women throwing themselves at me as Jr does I’d probaly treat them as groupie meat too.
First of all, if there were any truth to what “Guest” has to say, then “Guest” should use his/her name and be accountable for what was said. Being this is not the case—I don’t care if it’s true or not—-it’s not prooven.
As an adult who has also lost a father (1984) as well as a mother (1982) I knew that look in Jr’s eyes in those photos of him walking out of the hospital the night his father died. The “Deer in the headlights look” the numb, auto pilot, zombie like state that brand new bereavement does it us.
I lost my husband one year before the world lost Dale Earnhardt; I’ve worn that same look more times than I’d have ever wanted to…
my prayers were with the Earnhardt family for longer than most would imagine…I wish only the best for Jr and his brothers & sisters…
losing a parent is tough, none of us ever feel old enough to not have a parent to confide in, to be guided by—-and even to rebel against as is our natural need to be indepenant & to show that independence.
Ganjadude wrote:
Thanks for the link… Saved me from buying ESPN the Magazine for one lousy article! Now I just have to find time to read it.
Yes,thanks for the link ganjadude.
Thanks for the link,It’s a ggod article.FOREVER3GODALEJR.!!!
Fingers on strike,Ought to be good article.FOREVER3GODALEJR.!!!
Yea that was a great article. I could not stand to loose my dad, but when that time comes, I hope I can handle it too. Thanks for sharing that link!