Ok, Homestead is a week away and another Nascar season is winding down.  It's been an interesting year.  Full of questions, anxiety, surprises, "bending" the rules, spats, blown engines, and bad coverage.

I'm thinking that Jimmie Johnson will be a repeat champion in the Nextel Cup.  Gotta get used to saying Sprint Cup now.  I was hoping that Tony would be there to fight for the win.  Then again I was hoping I could be watching Jr bring that red Bud 8 car to the championship.

So what does everyone think of this year?

Exciting or Dull?

Too  much Drama or not enough?

TNT, FOX, or ESPN?

10 drivers in the chase or 12?

Will Jr succeed in the #88 or not?

COT or not to COT

What would you give Nascar for a grade this year?  Has it been a great season, average, or just plain failing?  Pretend you are the teacher and give Nascar as a whole a letter grade.

Me, I think that this year rates MAYBE a C-.  There were a few great races (look at Martin and Harvick's finish at the 500).  But all in all- I found the season to be lackluster, not fun to follow, and the coverage totally sucked.  Of course if you are Johnson or Gordon fan maybe you've had a geat season.  I'd like everyone's opinion about what you think about the sport this year. 

As for all of those empty seats at the races- I'm thinking they should take all of us at the Fox Sports/Nascar site and take us to all those races to fill them seats up. LOL!

I hope next year will be my drivers year!  I want to see the Earnhardt name back up at the top.  But I really hope Nascar uses the off season to reflect upon the problems that have plagued our sport this year.  And maybe come up with some solutions.

Ok guys, lemme hear ya...........

Dale Earnhardt Jr has a lot to prove next year. To himself, his fans, and to DEI. I don't think he will roll over and just give up. Jr is a race car driver. period.

And he does have talent. Does he have talent enough to win a championship? Yes,  I really believe that.  Two back to back Busch titles are testiment to the fact that he can drive.  Heck, this year he just missed the chase and had 5 dnf's due to engine failure.  He runs consistently in the top 15. 

Next year will be a big one for Dale Jr.  He will have a lot of pressure on him to perform well.  He knows that the whole world will be watching and waiting for the first chance to criticize him for his actions.

He will have the best resources there is in the Nascar series.  It is time to "shut up and drive". 

If he makes the chase next year, if he wins the championship, what is next?  What will the world think then?  Will everyone just leave him alone and let him race or do you think that they will find a reason to ####?  Hey, did you know that Dale Jr had a zit on his ####?

What does this guy have to do to prove to the world that he deserves to be where he is?  I'd like to hear from all you Jr-haters.  What would make you happy?  What will make you stop bashing him every chance you get?

I am a fanatic about Jr.  I love anything Earnhardt.  If he wins I am ecstatic, If he loses I feel bad (not because I am mad at him, I feel bad because he wasn't able to do what he is capable of).  I think that Dale is a great person on and off the track.  He is who he is, take it or leave it.  He isn't trying to be someone he isn't. 

In 2008 we will have some of our answers.  I know that if he actually wins the cup in his first year at HMS, all the haters will say he got lucky or it was a fluke.  What does Jr have to do in order to get a break?  It is a sorry state of affairs that there are so many Nascar "fans" (and I use that term lightly) that use their energy talking #### about all drivers but their own.  In a site like this we should be enjoying talking to others and learning what their opinions are.  I can respect a fan who says Kyle Busch is their favorite driver, even though he is my least favorite.  So why is it that so many people can't respect Jr's fans?  Is it because there are so many?

I know, this blog has been a rambling, crazy one.  I have had a long week.  I've just spent the last hour catching up on some of the posts and seeing so many people dog Jr just set me off. 

To those of you who don't like Dale Jr but still respect my opinion, thank you.  You are a valuable part of my Fox sports experience.  To those of you who love to insult me, you suck.

And here's to the weekend!  I hope all of you have a great one and a safe one.  I'll chat back at ya soon!

PS.  If Jayhawk67 or Photog read this- I'd like to say that I've always liked reading your posts, even when they say things I don't agree with.  You are always respectful of everyone and you usually have something of real value to add.

Am I the only one here that is sick of all the nasty, negative people who only come on here to insult drivers and their fans??  People like ladydi and daleurinefart (what sort of person makes up a name like that????  and ladydi is no lady !)  get their kicks off of pi$$ing people off!

All of you REAL Nascar fans go to Infield Parking, www.infieldparking.com and make yourselves a "parking space".  There are forums there where you actually talk about racing without being attacked by morons.  Most everyone leave bright, insightful comments, and don't just sign in to bash someone.  Check it out!!!!!

Ok, we've made it to the Chase.  And bummer, my driver didn't make it.  Oh well, we'll get 'em next year.

So who will be the next Nextel cup champion?  I think that is a good question.  We've got some really good drivers who will be battling it out.  So, is Hendrick gonna pull out a 1-2 finish or will Tony come in and spoil their plans?

That is what I'll be counting on.  I wanna see Tony to take another one for Chevy.  (Sucks he will be driving a Toyota next year. )  I don't think Gordon, Johnson, or Harvick are gonna roll over and let him have it though.  Then there are the Kurt Busch's, Jeff Burton's, Matt Kenseth's  and Carl Edwards that are always consistant who may try to steal the the show.  Then we've got the Martin Truex's and Clint Bowyer's that seem to have snuck in.

And you've got to factor in Dale Jr, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch and all of the other drivers who are gonna want to take home a few wins in 2008.  And they have not much to lose and everything to gain at this point!  Will we see a Chase dominated field? 

I just hope that the Chase isn't won or lost by luck.  I'm hoping for some clean driving, good engines, and hard racing.  You've got three of the best drivers in NASCAR (Gordon, Johnson, and Stewart) who are going to give us a great show.

But,,,..... My pick will be Tony Stewart.  He's coming on strong and he has that winning attitude I love.  He will make you beat him, he won't beat himself.  Plus, the guy always comes on strong in the second half of the season.  It's like a bear coming out of hibernation... better not get in his way!

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.....

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!