Boy, I sure hope that everyone got a chance to see Dale, The Movie.  I watched it on CMT tonight and it was awesome!   It was happy and also sad.  Like hooking up with an old friend.  But then so sad to have to remember that he is gone.  My husband kept teasing me cuz I kept tearing up!

I have to say that it was great to be reminded of what a great guy Dale Sr. was.   We truelly did lose a great man and driver.  He was the Intimidator on the track, but he was Dale off of the track.

It also really makes you mad at what people say about Jr.  It puts things in perspective when you see how lost Jr has been in the years since he lost his dad.  I think he has been courageous in staying strong and focused these last years.  I am glad he is stepping out and starting his own and taking the next step in his career.

Anyway, be sure to take the time to watch the movie.  You get to share his triumphs and the tragedy.  It is nice to feel closer to him again, but sad to be reminded of what a great, caring, dedicated man that we lost.  

Did anyone else think twice after seeing the hat Jr. wore after the Bristol race?  Very seldom do you see him in a hat that wasn't #8 or DEI.  Saturday he wore a blue Michigan hat.  Was that a statement towards Teresa at DEI?  Or was it a hint of his car color next year???  (yes photog, I am grasping at straws, but hey, its fun trying to figure this stuff out!)

I also noticed that when he was "encouraging" his fans to stop giving Teresa a hard time he couldn't look straight into the camera?  Kind of seems like he wasn't real serious about what he was saying! (or feeling)  The personable Dale Jr we are all used to wasn't present during that part of the interview. 

I have heard lots of stuff about Jr driving the #38 next year.  I'm not sure what I think of that number.  I get the meaning- 3 for his dad, 8 for him.  I still liked the thought of 08 in 2008.  Wonder when we will know for sure!!

What are Jr's chances of still making the Chase?  Does anyone besides me still think he has a chance?  I'll be looking forward to hearing from you!

Can you imagine the pressure Jr is under this year?  He had the leaving DEI issue, then came the "who will Jr. race for next year?", then "who will Jr.'s sponsor be?", and last and probably the worst - the I used to call Jr my favorite driver but now I hate him cuz he is going to HMS. 

The guy has had all of this pressure, all of these huge, life-changing decisions, the worry about whether or not his fans will support him and he still climbs into his race car every week and does what he does- drives the wheels off of the car week in and week out.  I think he looks forward to races.  He can do what he loves to do and the only people yapping at him are the ones he loves and trusts.  It is probably the only time Jr gets any peace at all each week.

I think Jr is going to excel next year at HMS.  This is the opportunity he needed - a team and resources to back him up and provide him with a competitive car each and every week.  Next year all he has to concentrate on is driving the car and winning races. 

So give the guy a break, ease off and let him be.  If you think he will succeed (and I do) or if you think he will flop (NOT) the only thing you have to do is bide your time and watch, learn, and listen.  Everything else is just a guessing game and your opinion. 

I think we all analyze everything to death and drive ourselves and everyone else insane.  The simple face is :  Next year Jr will be driving in a race car that will have a color, a number, and a sponsor on it.  It will have a Hendrick motor in it and it will be backed by an owner who comes to the track and wants his teams to win.  Doesn't matter what color, what number, what sponsor.  What matters is Jr will be behind the wheel and driving for the one thing he covets most - A cup championship.  All the rest is just details.

An interesting site is infieldparking.com.  It is a site created by Jr and is like a miniature myspace but for race fans.  Dale Jr. has a blog and profile and if you register you can read what he thinks of the move, his fans, and his sponsor.  It's a way to get a little ways into his mind and see things how he is.  I find it a neat site and informative. 

Is anyone else tired of all the insults on the posts all the time?  The only reasonable person is probably jayhawk67!  I read them, get riled up, and then I am jumping into the talk crap about the other drivers pool.  I think a rivalry is fine, but some of the posts are pretty insane.  It's cool to read other peoples opinions, but my mom always said "opinions are like buttholes, everyones got one and some just stink more than the others."  I'd like to think mine smells like a rose!  I am a pretty enthusiastic fan and feel obligated to stick up for my driver when someone tries to bad-mouth him.  What I need to do is practice patience and restraint (lol), and let my driver do the talking for me.  Since Jr. signed with Hendrick I have thought long and hard about the "Earnhardt's hate Gordon's and vise-versa.  I think I may quit wishing bad luck against Gordon and Johnson.  I'm not going to root FOR them, I'll just act like they don't exist. lol  What I really do want is for Jr. to fit in and win championships.  And if Hendrick can help, if Gordon can help, or if Johnson can help I am all for it.  I can see the Daytona 500 next year... Jr. coming in first being pushed by Johnson and Gordon. lmao!  Anyway, I hope that is how it goes. 

And I've been reading a lot that says Johnson and Gordon should be suspended for the rest of the year because of the COT "infractions" and that is just plain crazy.  I do think that the points should be docked, the crew chief suspended (because he should know everything about the car), and the boys slapped with a fine that Nascar should donate to the Victory Junction Gang or something.  The amount won't hurt the driver or team I am sure.  And I think that the money should be given to something worthwhile. 

And I still think that Jr. should get to keep #8.  DEI can let the number go next year, Hendrick can apply for it, and Nascar can assign it to them.  If they don't (they meaning Theresa and Nascar), then it just seems like people being petty.  (Lol, no pun intended.)  Of course I'd be a little butt-hurt too if I just lost the biggest face in Nascar, so I bet Theresa won't let it go and not only will she piss off a bunch of Jr. fans but also a whole lot of Sr. fans.  I was a fan of Sr. too, but I am going to stop buying Dale Sr. stuff because I am not going to support Theresa.  I am pretty sure that Dale Sr. would have backed Dale Jr. in his decision and let him take the #8, because it was his son.  And Theresa better remember the name of the company- Dale Earnhardt Inc., not Theresa Earnhardt Inc.  I think she has just gotten trapped in her little world and needs a reality check.  I feel bad that DEI will go downhill, but I feel ok in following Jr. to another race team.  Don't we wish Sr. was still here?  Wonder what would have happened with this situation then.