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When the Atlanta Journal Constitution asked readers to respond to Dale Earnhardt's "tap" of Terry Labonte's car at the end of last week's NASCAR race in Bristol, Tenn, more than 600 called or sent email letters. The reasoning - and excuses - were passionate on both sides, but a majority favored Earnhardt. Below is a sampling of those opinions.
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Way to go Dale!! We applaud you. "The
Intimidator" is back! It was the last lap
of the race, and all race fans know that anything
goes on the last lap. We don't know what the big deal is. So what he
nudged Terry [Labonte]. Hey, that is just racing at its best. Darlene and John Eades, Duluth, Ga. |
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It is unbelievable that anyone can condone
someone's knocking an opponent out of a contest. How NASCAR's governing body
tolerates Earnhardt's intentionally causing a crash defies belief. That race
should have been given to Labonte. Earnhardt should have been placed last,
and he should have been set down one or two races, like they do
in horse racing. Miles Hossom, Hayesville, N.C. |
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OK, Earnhardt did pop him a little harder
than he wanted. But, I'm sure if you reversed the situation, Labonte
would have done the same thing. Like Robert Duval said in "Days of Thunder":
"That's not bumping you - That's rubbing, and rubbing is racing." Bill Feltman, Lawrenceville, Ga. |
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Earnhardt should have been penalized same
as Nadeau. It's clear that NASCAR makes up it's own rules as they go
along and makes decisions that benefit NASCAR. In this case, NASCAR
made a mistake; they hurt themselves. Keep this up and NASCAR will be like
Roller Derby or pro wrestling. That's when I stop watching. I like a
good clean race. We need more Richard Pettys. Jerry Mills, Stone Mountain Ga. |
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Thunder Valley. Saturday night. Dale
Earnhardt going for the win. What did you expect? Jeff did it to
Rusty last year. It happens almost every year. That's why 140,000+
fans buy tickets to see this race. John Dery Canton, Ga. |
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I would think the last
thing NASCAR would want to see is 100,000 fans booing the winner of a race,
while they and the TV audience wonders why such behavior is condoned
and why there is such uneven and inconsistent enforcement of the rules.
As far as I am concerned, by not penalizing Earnhardt the way [Jerry]
Nadeau was [earlier in the race], NASCAR has taken a huge step backwards
toward the boondocks and the regional "pseudo" sport it was perceived
to be and away from the mainstream and the board room, where it wants
to be. Henceforth, I'll look for NASCAR races and "This Wek in NASCAR" to
follow WCW matches and "Monday Nitro". Wilson C. Howe, Dunwoody, Ga. |
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In the days that Earnhardt dominated the
Winston Cup Series, the rubbing and bumping was a style cheered on
by the fans. I think the name "The Intimidator" says it all...
Being an Earnhardt fan I expected nothing less of him then the
"final love tap." That's what I call racing. Lisa K. Taylor, Snellville, Ga. |
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I've been a racing fan for over 30
years [and] raced myslf at one time, motorcycle racing. And while I
admire [Earnhardt's] ability and his team, in all of sports I don't
think I have ever seen a nastier racer. And if you want to call that
winning, without talent, call it what you want, I just believe he is
a dirty racer and I've always felt that. And he has the talent and
he doesn't need to do that. And this holds true with a couple of other
people in other forms of racing, but I just don't believe he needs
to do what he does. James Schiffgens, Roswell, Ga. |
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To all the sniveling little whiners out there:
Enough already. Dale Earnhardt didn't earn his nickname by being friendly to other drivers.
He has always won more races than friends. If you want a mamby-pamby
driver you can curl up to like a teddy bear at night, go cheer
for Bill Elliott.
Scott Frantz, Dallas, Tx. |
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