The Hendrick teams sure did figure out a good setup though, guess that comes from all the team members.

I do happen to be an Earnhardt fan, however, I also wonder sometimes how he is the most popular driver.... I think it is because of his dad. :? Because it seems like he really does not have that great of driver skill, he is terrible at restarts and usually has trouble navigating lapped traffic, then blames everything on his setup. I don't know, I sometimes wonder myself why I am a fan..... probably because of his dad

Maybe because he'* the #4 on the most wins list in the last 10 years, and he'* not Jeff Gordon, and doesn't have Tony Stewart'* attitude?

Thanks wren, I knew you'd show sooner or later.
I am simply addressing the issue of relativity. He has SO many fans, like he'* a friggin legend or something. He has how many tv and radio shows, I can't drive ANYWHERE without seeing a darn 8 sticker on one'* car, and I can't go into any store and not see some Dale Jr. merchandise. It'* just kind of annoying.
How many fans would he have if his last name was ANYTHING but Earnhardt?
I think the only current driver who has nearly as many fans is Gordon, and he has like 4 times as many wins. Granted, he has more years, but c'mon, Gordon has proven himself.
And, I know plenty of people who agree with my feelings regarding Jr. and his popularity, although we are certainly in the minority.
Again, all I am saying is his popularity is NOWHERE what it would be if he wasn't an Earnhardt.

I'll give you that on Gordon and Stewart, but I think they are both better drivers IMO.

He'* popular because:

1. He proved himself through all the other classes. Late Model, ARCA, 2 Busch championships, and now the #4 spot at the cup level for wins in the last 10 years.

2. He actually has a personality.

3. He'* been succesful despite living and driving in the shadow of his Father, both when he lived and after he died. That was a tremendous obstacle to overcome.

4. Expectations were high, and he lived up to them. NASCAR is 10 times more competitive than when his Father won his 7 championships. If Dale Sr. started as a young cup rookie today, he might not ever win a cup.

Well, perhaps we can agree to disagree.
I'll certainly agree that Nascar is more competitive than in his dad'* day.....
As far as personality, that is one of the reasons I don't like him, but to each thier own. I am by no means stating I am right and you are wrong, just giving my opinion.
While it may have been dificult to live up to the name, I still wonder if he would have had the opportunities if it weren't for the name. Perhaps he would have, we'll never know.

I did come across one thing this morning that I must give him some credit for....

# Dale Jr, gets debris in eye, is ok:
#8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. led at
Martinsville until the rain showers came, causing a 33-minute red flag
period on lap 357. Dale Jr. climbed back into his car as the leader,
but was
showered in debris from a stationary jet track dryer. Some of the
debris
became lodged in Dale Jr'* left eye, but he was able to continue.

That could not have been easy...I wouldn't want to deal with that and he certainly should not have had to.
I got that out of an email from thats racing, not sure if the article was on espn or jayski if you are interested.
Either way, I am by no means criticizing you for your choice of drivers, I am simply stating I get annoyed seeing 8'* everywhere I go. As for as my original post, I did state that if he crosses the line first I would have been okay with that, just didn't want him to win due to a rain delay..(like Waltrip at Daytona, I know you remember that!)
I HATE to see anyone win or lose due to someting other than driving abiltiy (like rian, a wreck, car failure or maybe a piece of asphalt coming out of the track, like happenned to Gordon). I like to see a good clean fight.
Any who, I hope we can handle this like civil gentlemen.....and I hope I have not been disrespectful, that'* not my style.
Let me buy you a drink...pehaps a Bud?

I only drink Bud on Sundays. 36 Sundays a year.

Just checking you on your statistics. Busting on someone for only 17 wins is like saying Lance Armstrong sucks. He only won SEVEN tours, right?

Yeah, but who the h*ll watches grown men ride bicycles?

on the matter of JR. i feel that dale is very much his fathers son. if you watch closely when he'* racing you can see it. but i feel he is also his own man. being Big E'* son is an unfathomable burdon to carry he seems to be holding his own. many drivers are finding it difficult to shine in the shadow of their father (kyle petty) would dale have made it to cup without his father? i don't know. maybe not. somebody got him in the door, but he'* managed to stay there on his own.

lets not forget that dale got into racing largly because of ralph. same with richard petty. if it wasn't for lee. even adam petty for that matter, who was infinatly better than kyle.

touching breifly once more upon the C.O.T. people are being very quick to judge this thing. ooh it'* got a ricer wing. what is this indy cars. c'mon people, can you hear yourselves? it'* something new. of course you aren't going to like it at first. of course it'* going to suck. it'* a new bag of marbles and nobody really has it figured out yet. it really does equalize the playing feild at this point. eveybody knows the same amount of nothing about it. so it'* really in the hands of the drivers.

[rant]

jumping out of your car and yelling i hated it, it sucks (johnson. i can't stand him) isn't helping anybody. you're in nascar'* house you play with what they give you or you go the f--- home. patience is going to be the key here. let them run their races. learn what needs to be learned and make it a driver'* sport again.

[/rant]