August 27th, 2011 | 
Author: To the casual observer, it would seem like the coolest thing in the world to carry the same name as one of the greatest and most beloved NASCAR drivers of all time. It would seem like a chance to follow in the footsteps of Dad and add to the family legacy, to grow the legend of “The Intimidator.”
But Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is finding out that there’s more to it than just picking up where your father left off.
Junior’s commercial success and popularity, in fact, far outpaces anything his father ever accomplished. But to the seasoned NASCAR fan, that’s not what matters. On-track performance was what Dale Sr. was about, and Junior hasn’t come close to matching his performance there.
Dale Sr. won seven Winston Cup series titles, tied with Richard Petty for the most of all time. Petty is the undisputed king of NASCAR. Junior’s best finish in the series, now known as the Sprint Cup, was third overall in 2003. Junior has won 18 Sprint Cup races in his career, which would be incredible for most drivers. But Junior’s daddy won 76 races.
Despite the cash and fame, Junior will always live in The Intimidator’s long shadow.