NASCAR Chair & CEO Brian France "probably did a little victory dance when Dale Earnhardt Jr. finally took the checkered flag, winning a Sprint Cup race for the first time in four years," according to Jeff Owens of SPORTING NEWS. Earnhardt is "not only NASCAR's biggest star, but also one of its most valuable assets." He is an asset that the organization "needs perhaps more than any other right now." Earnhardt's "immense popularity has a direct result on nearly every facet" of NASCAR. He "sells tickets, he attracts sponsors and he drives TV ratings" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 6/18). BROADCASTING & CABLE's Ben Grossman wrote NASCAR's "dream right now would be for the 88 car of Earnhardt Jr. to start piling up some wins." And the timing "couldn't be any better if he did, as its TV deals are up" in '14 (BROADCASTINGCABLE.com, 6/18).
DRIVEN TO SUCCEED: In L.A., Jim Peltz wrote as NASCAR's "once-soaring popularity had leveled off in recent years, one of the many theories for the pullback was that Earnhardt's legion of fans had grown frustrated with not seeing their driver in contention." Earnhardt's "proven ability to win again, together with his strong title hopes, could give a fresh boost to NASCAR, which is still suffering attendance woes at many tracks and whose television ratings are off about 5% on average this year." NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon said, "You know that when Junior wins it's going to be great for the sport." Peltz noted Earnhardt "routinely receives the loudest ovations during prerace driver introductions, and when his No. 88 Chevrolet takes the lead during a race he triggers cheers from the grandstands that can be heard over the roaring cars" (L.A. TIMES, 6/19). In Cincinnati, Kevin Kelly noted the Kentucky Speedway is "offering an Earnhardt-inspired ticket deal for the June 30 Quaker State 400." Starting at 9am ET today, and "continuing for 88 hours, tickets in the Kentucky Tower will cost $88." The tickets "regularly sell for $110." Ticket buyers also "will receive an Earnhardt T-shirt" (CINCINNATI.com, 6/19). Kentucky Speedway GM Mark Simendinger said that this year's ticket sales "are not yet at the 100,000 mark." Simendinger: "Things are trending up. But we're not there (at 100,000) yet" (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 6/19). Michigan Int'l Speedway President Roger Curtis said, "Let's come out of the closet. This was a signature day for NASCAR. Dale transcends the sport. He is stock car racing's Michael Jordan. We were blessed and honored he broke out of his slump at MIS" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 6/19). Earnhardt's win continues to get press coverage, with two stories in USA TODAY, including one under the header, "Dale Jr. Ringing In The Good Times" (USA TODAY, 6/20).
APPLE DOESN'T FALL FAR... ESPN’s Brad Daugherty said Earnhardt Jr.’s win was “huge for the sport." Daugherty: “We have to look at all of the legions of fans that support and come to his defense over the last four seasons, and a lot of those people are fans of his father … so Dale Earnhardt Jr. gathers and garners those fans through the cultural lineage. So it’s huge for the sport have an iconic figure like Dale Earnhardt Sr., his son being successful means a tremendous amount of eyeballs will be watching as we go into the Chase hoping that Junior can win a championship” (“NASCAR Now,” ESPN2, 6/19).
