NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. tweeted out support the other night, as opposition to the Muslim ban. His twitter account boasts almost two million followers. Because Dale Earnhardt Jr. knows that we all come from somewhere originally, and it wasn’t here.
This is significant, not simply because of how large Earnhardt Jr.’s reach is on social media but also because of how well liked he is amongst NASCAR fans.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a third-generation driver in a family forever connected to the sport of stock-car racing, and while his innate ability behind the wheel comes from Earnhardt DNA, his competitive driving style and business savvy are all his own. His common-sense charisma and flair for originality have helped propel him to become one of the most popular figures in sports. Race fans have selected him a record 13 consecutive times as NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver. Earnhardt’s appeal is not limited to loyal race fans, as he has appeared on Harris Interactive’s annual survey of America’s Top 10 Favorite Athletes, frequenting the list with such names as LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning and Derek Jeter.
Most of the replies in the NASCAR hero’s twitter feed have been positive and it’s a good reminder to many that there are all kinds of Americans who we may disagree with who still believe in the rule of law and the dream this country has always promised to anyone and everyone.