So long Dale Jarrett

[SkeeterMark]

After being a fan of DJ's for years (and my wife's main driver) I'm hanging it up. Not because he is moving to Toyota or anything that dumb, but just because of who he has become. DJ was always the gentleman, was a great rep for his sponsor, interviewed well and rarely flew off the handle. Now he is a crabby old man who won't talk to the media and worse than that, won't give an honest effort any more. Maybe he is thinking ahead to next year, maybe he is totally frustrated with Yates, but I had counted on DJ to maintain his own high level of professionalism and deal with all these issues. After all, he should be keeping as high of profile as possible to bring as much PR to MWR/Toyota as possible.

I think this started with the race a couple years ago where he walked back from his car because no rescue vehicles showed up quickly enough. Since then he has had other grumblings, makes a horrible move by blatantly retaliating against Newman at Bristol, and has left the track in a huff without comment on a number of occasions. This may be attributable to the old saying of it's better to not say anything at all, but I think the last straw for me was in the 600 on Sunday night. A lap one incident takes him out of the race and he just up and leaves the track immediately. Folks, this is a 5 hour race and I'm sure that car could have returned to the track and run some more laps. I think he owes it to his team, his sponsor, and his fans to do it. But again we were given no comment, not even a parting shot as he left the track. It just kind of left me with the impression that he doesn't care, so I guess I shouldn't either.

Good luck with your future DJ. We'll miss the old Jarrett.

Mark

[harvey lee]

In defense old DJ,they said he could have brought the car back damaged and not fast.They also stated that they did not want to be a factor in deciding who won the race.

In defense of his actions,I will accept his as we race dirt modifieds and when someone has a damaged car and stays on the track,so many times they will screw up something or someone. Glad he stayed off.

Why should a damaged car change the finish of a race? Class move as far as im concerned.

[OUTDOORNUT]

It seemed like DJ changed a lot after Dale Sr. died. Almost like everyone should now look up to him and listen to whatever he proposed. A position Dale Sr.was in the last 10 years of his career. Dale Jarrett is no Dale Earnhardt Sr. though!

[lawdog]

I think that's quite the over reaction Skeeter...

[SkeeterMark]

Over reaction? I didn't think I was being harsh at all. I pointed out I'm not reacting to a single event, but rather a pattern of behavior over the last couple years. And honestly, when was the last time you saw him interviewed?

I didn't see anything of a quote anywhere about them being able to bring the car back out and I searched all over the internet and listen to XM NASCAR and heard nothing there either. The only quote of any sort came from the in car conversation that said there was a misunderstanding about holding a line, and the explanations of that were only speculation, nothing from DJ, though I think his stand-in crew cheif confirmed that.

I heard a fan at the race describe his departure as immediate on an XM talk show. TV coverage would seem to support this as they were not even quick enough to get a parting shot of him leaving. This leads me to believe he had no idea if the car could, or would be fixed or how fast it might be before he left the track. I'd like to know where that quote can be found and by who and when it was made.

If he was being so heroic as to not impede the other racers, he could have made a comment on that in an interview and come off as being the consumate gentleman like the "old" DJ.

*Edit - Update*

I checked into this a little more, and found nothing of the quote that he did not want to affect the outcome of the race. Claire B. Lang of XM radio reported on Tuesday in her "Dialed In" show that "Dale got out of his car and left the track, and talked to no reporters."

In my opinion, anything commented on or quoted after this point was merely damage control by someone else to cover for DJ's rudeness.

I have no problem with a driver that disappears and makes no comment immediately but rather goes to the trailer and composes himself first, but this was not the case here, and not the first time he's done this.

Sorry, but DJ's behavior is what made me a fan in the first place, and his behavior the last couple years is why I'm much less of one now.

[Uncle Bill]

I'd dump that turncoat for driving a toyota.

He deserves toyota. Old boy probably crapped his pants.

Sure was sweet to see an un-sponsored Chevy whoop on

toyota finest in the truck race !!

[lawdog]

It is a little disheartening now that Toyota is occupying the six top spots in the points there. The other maufacturers are picking up wins, mostly with ringers, making the racing stay exciting, but the points are a joke! This is Toyota and their $$$$$$$$$$$$

[NAPAFISH]

I think there is alot more going on at the Yates camp then we know. I dont think DJ is really happy there nor do I believe Sadler is either. Even if he does not admit it.