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Stop the insanity Earnhardt tells fans to let up on Marlin
Updated: Friday February 23, 2001 6:14 PM
By Stephen Thomas, CNNSI.com ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Sterling Marlin will obviously be haunted by the events of last Sunday's final lap for a long time, but perhaps now he will finally find a measure of peace in the aftermath. An understandably somber but very composed Dale Earnhardt Jr. sat before reporters Friday at Rockingham and hopefully went a long way toward ending the abuse that has descended upon Marlin since last Sunday's Daytona 500. Because he bumped the No. 3 car before the accident, Marlin has been the target of anger from Earnhardt fans, many of whom hold him entirely responsible for The Intimidator's death. Despite statements from Earnhardt's team owner and assurances from Earnhardt's crew as well, Marlin has suffered all kinds of abuse, including death threats. At Earnhardt's public memorial in Charlotte on Thursday, for his own safety, Marlin was escorted by a state trooper.
Earnhardt Jr.'s gracious performance on Friday just might have changed the game. Slumped before the microphone and wearing a bright orange shirt that clashed with his red baseball cap, he offered a very brief, unscripted statement about the events of the last week. Though brief, Little E's statement was certainly heavy with emotion and significance. After thanking fans and media for allowing him and his team the necessary time and space to grieve, Earnhardt paused before trying to sum up and convey his feelings. He couldn't. "I don't really know what else to say," he said quietly. "Obviously, there are a lot of questions running around in our minds, but we're all trying our best to carry on and maintain the racing program." But Earnhardt saved his most direct and potentially important comments for the subject of Marlin and the firestorm that has swirled about the driver since Sunday. "Any notion, idea or blame, whether it's directed at Sterling Marlin or anyone else, is ridiculous and will not be tolerated," Earnhardt said in reference to his father's accident. "It's incredible some of the things I've heard in the last few days."
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