As posted on Ben Maller's "NASCAR rumours" bit. Well, actually it's a snippet from the Melbourne Herald but I bet they didn't use that headline.

America's biggest motor sport star, Dale Earnhardt Jr, was the guest of honour at Phillip Island yesterday. Earnhardt is the most popular driver in NASCAR racing and earns more money than the entire V8 Supercar field combined. Sports Illustrated magazine estimated his 2007 earnings at more than $50 million. But unlike the media circus that surrounded David Beckham's recent visit to Australia, Earnhardt was able to slip under the radar. The only people clamouring to meet the racing celebrity were the V8 Supercar drivers and team managers as he walked down pit lane.

I am struggling to see why that headline is warranted to be honest.

Jr said he wanted to go and see a V8 Supercar round while he was is Aussie...in fact, he said he's a fan of it and loved seeing them live. I pointed that out yesterday in my 'Deja Vu' post...but I bet another big part of him being here was to get away from the media scrum that probably follows him around all day. That's the beauty about Australia and New Zealand...we're so far away from everywhere else so we tend to treat superstars as your average Joe.

You want another example? Ok then; David Beckham was in town last week...and he thoroughly enjoyed the fact that he was able to walk around Sydney and Wellington without getting hassled. Yes he said a few people came up and asked for autographs, but that's the measure of how well known he is...but Jr is a NASCAR driver (which isn't a global sport like football is) so what did you expect?

You see, while Marcos Ambrose is doing his best to convert us to NASCAR...though he didn't have to with me since he didn't go over there until two years after I started watching...we already have our own motorsport series where they run 'stock' cars and V8 engines, so why would we bother getting all excited about a bloke who just wanted to have a nice, relaxing two weeks? We're not considered one of the most laid-back countries for nothing you know *rolls eyes*

In a country where Cricket, Tennis, Rugby League and Aussie Rules captures our attention, NASCAR just doesn't cut it and I doubt it ever will. So enjoy your time in Australia, Jr...after the year you've had, you deserve to have a break, mate.