Well, it was a pretty crappy weekend for all of us who are a part of Jr. Nation.  Even though I knew the chances were slim, I still held out hope that my driver would make the chase.  No big deal now I guess.  If Jr. wasn't going to give up, neither was I! 

But, the race played out the way it did and go figure, another engine failure for Jr's car.  You wanna know what really made me upset?  The disappointment in Jr's face during the interview.  I really hated the situation for Jr.  But what can you do?

There is a bright spot though, even through all of this strife that has happened this year.  Once this year is over Dale Jr will be going to a race team that is going to stand by him and give him the equipment he needs to be able to prove himself to all of those people who say he is a mediocre driver. 

As a true blue (red?) Dale Jr. fan it really gets my back up when people bash him and constantly criticize my driver.  There are ten races left, then all of us will know exactly who Dale Jr is and what he can do.  Jr. Nation knows, Rick Hendrick knows, now we will be able to prove to everyone else exactly what a force Dale Earnhardt Jr is.  Look out NASCAR, here we come!!!

I don't really care what number Dale will drive next year.  I really did care a few weeks ago.  But when you think about it, the number is just that -  a number.  What is really important is the guy behind the wheel and the heart that drives him.  I don't think anyone can say that Jr doesn't have heart!  As for the color of the car, and the sponsor, I don't really care either.  No matter what it is, I will be sporting it around for the forseeable future.  I plan on supporting my driver just like I always have.  Hell, if it is a pink Tampax car, I'll be running around with that on my t-shirts.  LOL, (I  hope not)

What I really do care about is the fact that Jr has had to deal with all of this constant scrutiny all year long.  Yes, he chose fame so he chose to have to deal with it.  But as Jr fans, I say that he shouldn't have to deal with it from us anymore.  So I give a call out to all of the Jr fans out there- We should show the same quiet strenght and dignity that Dale has shown us all year and lets give our driver more support than he has ever had.  We should accept the number change and quit asking questions and complaining about everything. 

As for DEI, I think that we should just let it be.  We have already been shown what they think of Dale Jr.  If they can't, or won't, support him then we will.  Lets root on Dale for the rest of the year.  And if you don't think that he will explode out of the blocks come the Daytona 500, you better think again.  I think that this is a turning point (in the right direction) that really needed to happen. 

Dale Jr worries that he doesn't give his fans anything to cheer about.  No, none of us were cheering watching him limp his car to the garage Saturday night, but none of us were booing him either.  All race long he gave it 200%, and that is all that I ask for.  I am just as pleased with my driver as I always have been.  All that I can ask from him is that he give it what he's got.  And that is good enough for me.

I look forward to 2008.  This will be the first year that I can't wait for the season to end.  But that means that we can get on with a new one.  And I think that all of us who support Jr will be happy for the success he is going to have with HMS.  And as for the chase next year, I think we will have our driver there.  And probably many years to come. 

I say we should ease back on the pressure we are inadvertantly putting on our driver.  Lets give him strong support for the rest of the season without questioning every move he makes.  I am sure he will make the right decision for himself, and for us.

The future is looking bright.....