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.