No, really, serious.
Dale Earnhardt. Jr.’s new adidas JR Nation gear went on sale Friday at the Sports Authority in Daytona, Florida. Before I share these photos with you let me just say that Dale was not actually at the store. It was just the clothes, clothes that will be on sale and available for the foreseeable future. No joke, people camped out. Now, I am a Dale Jr. fan too — I’m already having anxiety attacks about the race tomorrow — but I’m not camping out to buy clothes. However, that being said, I do think it’s cool that there are people out there that are that dedicated and wanted to get the new stuff the second it was available.
Excited NASCAR and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. fans began lining up at 10:30 p.m. outside Sports Authority in Daytona, Fla. on Thursday night, February 14 to be among the first to purchase the new adidas JR Nation fan gear. The adidas JR Nation Gear, which features the same adidas ClimaCool technology that keeps Dale Jr. cool on the track, made its debut in Daytona and is available nationwide. (credit: adidas)
Ron Heintz Jr., from Vancuver, Wash. shows off his new adidas JR Nation fan gear. Heintz Jr. lined up outside Sports Authority in Daytona beginning at 5:00 a.m. Friday, February 15 and was the very first fan to purchase the official adidas JR Nation gear. (credit: adidas)
Oh and one more thing of note:
Throughout the season, new products, including footwear, accessories and other exclusive gear will rollout in conjunction with special events like All-Star in Charlotte this May. To learn more, they can text 88 to adidas (234327) or visit www.sportsauthority.com/88.
UPDATE: And now with video!
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We all know that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the most popular NASCAR drivers today. And now, with his move to Hendrick Motorsports and his win at the Bud Shootout, it seems like all eyes are on him now more than ever, which doesn’t even seem possible but whatever. And it’s not like Dale has been shirking the spotlight lately either. I don’t pretend to know what it’s like to be him but I do know what it’s like to be a fan of his and it’s getting harder everyday to keep track of everything that’s going on. He’s got the new clothing line, the candy bar, new commercials, an entertainment division, and now a new fan club.
The new JR Nation fan club launched yesterday. The club will offer the most dedicated of Dale Jr. fans access to news, contests and the chance to connect with other fans. I might sign up for this just for all the stuff you get in the membership kit. I just bought a new car and I need a new license plate frame.
In honor of the launch, JR Nation is giving new members opportunities to win special prizes during the first 88 hours. From launch at 3:00 pm ET today through 7 a.m. ET on Friday, anyone who purchases a JR Nation membership is entered to win a grand prize 88 year JR Nation membership, an $88 gift card to ShopJRNation.com and a commemorative plaque signed by Dale Jr. All fans who join in the first 88 hours will be eligible for one of several other gift cards for ShopJRNation.com, and every new member will receive a special bonus gift with their 2008 membership kit. Anyone visiting JR Nation during the 88 hour celebration can also register for a free two-week limited access trial to the fan club.
Membership in JR Nation is just $34.88, and will provide full access to JR Nation online including access to exclusive media, contests, members-only message boards and chats, 10 percent off merchandise at ShopJRNation.com, and an annual JR Nation Crew Kit. The exclusive 2008 kit includes a welcome letter from Earnhardt Jr., vinyl banner, license plate frame, decal, zipper pull, collapsible can coolers, soft-sided cooler and membership card all emblazoned with “JR Nation Crew.”
“The new fan club will have cool, interactive features to help give fans a better look into my life both on and off the track,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “The new club will have access to the all-new JR Nation online community that offers the latest announcements, behind-the-scenes multimedia, a members-only message board and chat room, discounts on merchandise at JR Nation and a ton of other features.”
Other Dale Stuff From Around The Web:
– Popular Science disects the technology in Dale Jr.’s new race suit.
– AMP Energy drink commercials: get ‘em while they’re hot.
– The No-Duh Headline of the Week: “A Daytona 500 win for Earnhardt would be huge” (SI.COM)
– Dale’s personal reasons for why having the National Guard as a sponsor means so much. (NASCAR Nuts & Bolts)
There was a poll last year that showed that 29% of NASCAR drivers thought that Athena Barber (Clint Bowyer’s girlfriend at the time) was hotter then their own girlfriend or wife. I think as soon as those guys take a look at Ingrid Vandebosch’s (Jeff Gordon’s wife) photos in the latest Sport Illustrated swimsuit issue they’ll be singing another tune. Her body is ridiculous, especially when you take into consideration that this woman gave birth not that long ago. For more photos of Ingrid check out the photo gallery at SI.com.
Oh and before I forget, IndyCar racer Danica Patrick also graces the pages of the 2008 SI Swimsuit edition.
In other news…
– I knew something was up when I came across Michael Waltrip’s driver page in the NASCAR Media Guide. See, they always list a driver’s marital status and if they’re married they list their wife’s name too. Well when I came across Mikey’s there wasn’t a line for marital status at all. Was it a typo? Turns out it was no mistake at all (I guess), after consulting the website of the queen of NASCAR gossip, I found out that Buffy & Michael are indeed getting a divorce.
– I knew Ashley Judd would make a big impression on NASCAR but I didn’t think it would happen this fast. I mean technically the season hasn’t started yet. Ashley wore a dress to the qualifying sessions for the Daytona 500 on Sunday which is a no-no in NASCAR garage rules. Women can’t wear dresses or open toe shoes. She got the shoes right at least. So now there’s talk of a double-standard. She shouldn’t be allowed to do it, and I’m betting (hoping) that maybe she just didn’t get that memo. With all the talk of this incident floating around the internets I’m sure NASCAR will do or say something.
– Oh, did you hear? Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the Budweiser Shootout on Saturday. Yea, I’m just kinda happy about that. It was a long time coming and it felt great to finally see that team in victory lane. This Sprint Cup season is going to be so much fun.
– So here’s something kinda fun and quirky. A guy named Ryan Parker wrote a song about NASCAR. It’s set to the tune of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start The Fire.” Check it out below!
Ya go and try to do something different and everybody’s a critic. I still don’t know how I feel about it, but at the end of the day it really doesn’t matter. I just think it’s funny that there are message board threads dedicated to this topic and that for the past week the number one search term for people coming to my site has been “Tony Stewart’s Hair.” So if that’s what you came here for, who am I do deny you?
In other news…
– Kurt Busch secured the pole for tomorrow night’s Budweiser Shootout in Daytona. He managed it even though he was sick with the flu. I think this quote from his crew chief Pat Tryson is pretty funny:
“He’s a skinny little dude, but he’s as tough as nails,” Tryson said of Busch late Thursday night. “I told him this morning that his health is the number one priority and after seeing him laying there earlier today, I can’t believe he’s done all they tell me he has since then.”
And now more photos…
(Left to right) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teammates Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch share time together before the Charlotte Media Tour event at Joe Gibbs Racing. (Photo Credit: HHP / Harold Hinson)
(Left to right) Chandra Johnson, President George W. Bush and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson visit for the second consecutive year to celebrate back-to-back championships. (Photo Credit: Mitchell Layton / Getty Images for NASCAR)
(Left to right) Rick Hendrick, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson share a moment during NASCAR’s visit to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Photo Credit: Mitchell Layton / Getty Images for NASCAR)
2007 Daytona 500 winner Kevin harvick gets behind the wheel of the 2008 Daytona 500 pace car in New York City’s Times Square. (Photo Credit: Jonathan Fickies / Getty Images for NASCAR)
Kasey Kahne takes a break during Preseason Thunder testing at California Speedway (Photo Credit: Todd Warshaw/Getty Images for NASCAR)
UPDATE: I’m sorry but I got the dates wrong, the JR Nation apparel will go on sale first on February 15th at the Sports Authority in Daytona, FL.
Thanks to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the folks at adidas I just might start working out again. I could stand to lose a couple LBs.
I’ve been able to check out his new line of adidas JR Nation apparel and I’m totally diggin it. I’ve never been a fan of those classic racing shirts that have ginormous logos, text and tons of colors. I like to keep things simple and subdued. And this line of jackets, sweats and shirts does all of that. Plus the JR Nation colors are orange and black, which also happens to be the colors of my old high school (Go You Mighty Pirates!). All of the items use the adidas ClimaCool system that Dale will be using in his new racing suit. Basically it helps keep moisture away from your body when you sweat to keep you dry and comfortable when you’re huffing and puffing on the field or basement treadmill.
Here are a few of the pieces I’m thinking about purchasing once they go on sale in Junior’s store on the Sports Authority website. Here’s the URL (http://www.sportsauthority.com/88) to the JR Nation homepage, just remember that the page won’t go live until tomorrow, February 8th.
There is stuff for guys too, hoodies, polos, etc. but there’s this baseball jersey too that I think should be a big seller.
So here is the big news I alluded to a few posts ago. I am writing a lifestyle column for the NASCAR licensed magazine Pole Position! It’s called “The Fast and the Fabulous” and it covers the lives of NASCAR drivers and their wives & girlfriends away from the track. Needless to say I am very, very excited about this opportunity. It’s a great chance to reach more readers and to make new connections in the world of NASCAR. I’m looking forward to adding more cool, fun and exclusive content to this site and the magazine.
The magazine is free and 10 issues are published each year. If you’re interested in receiving a copy of this year’s first issue — just in time for the Daytona 500 — go to the Pole Position website (http://www.freeracemag.com). When you get there click on the magazine in the top right hand portion of the site. You can flip through it and preview what the real thing looks like.
