Jeff Gordon's Gripe With Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Jr.s Move Was Not A New One

Yesterday at the Michigan race, Jeff Gordon was not having the best of days I guess.  At one point in the race during a restart, Dale Earnhardt Jr. dashed under Jeff going into turn 1 and by the exit of turn 2, Dale Jr. had gotten past Jeff and slid up in front of him.

Jeff's radio chatter then became the focus of the fanfare and media because he said something of the effect to his spotter that Dale Jr. should thank him for not wrecking him after a move like that.

The media caught wind of this one and went with it. They went with it yesterday and they're still doing it today.

I didn't.  Well, not the deed or chatter.  Here, I'm looking at the media response and the interest, I think they're trying to generate.

I'd say a large percentage of NASCAR fans either watch Dale Jr. are fans of Dale Jr or are aware of him in the sport of NASCAR because of who he is.  So this is not a new name, but when he does something, folks are interested.  Media folks are interested because it helps circulation or web hits.

For me, the frustrating part is when the media goes ape-sh** over something, as if it's new.

Sure, Jeff Gordon being upset over Dale Jr.'s slide job on him is new.  But if you've kept a keen eye on Jr. throughout all the races and all the seasons, you know this is nothing new.  In fact when capable, fans have seen Dale Jr. split rows of cars to pass, or dive low and slide up in front of them.  In fact, when Dale has a good car and finds himself needing to pass competitors, it can be pretty exciting.

Jr.'s crew chief, Steve Letarte, said in a radio interview on SiriusXM this morning (The Morning Drive) that he did everything he could to get Dale to the front of the pack at Michigan and that he expected Dale to do his part and get as many spots as possible, whenever possible.

What we was one of those spots.

Letarte also said he's spoken with Gordon, and when Dale and Jeff chat, they'll be fine.  Particularly with going into the newly resurfaced Bristol, this Saturday night.

That's my two cents on Dale Jr. giving Jeff Gordon the slide job at Michigan.  It was nothing new.  It was the victim that was new!

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