| People are fascinating. I am biased towards the ones | | | | stands out for its lack of performance compared to |
| in auto racing. Let's face it: that is what I surround | | | | the five, twenty-four and forty-eight. |
| myself with, so that is my frame of reference. | | | | A recent crew chief change has legions of Dale's fans |
| Human beings are by far, to me, the most interesting | | | | chopping at the bit for a strong on-track |
| piece of the motorsports puzzle. | | | | improvement. Junior Nation's large membership has |
| In any realm, it is people who make the spark and | | | | had their patience tested. |
| the interest. Politics can be a very dry and clinical | | | | If any of the above details were not part of the |
| topic to study. One can read about laws and policies | | | | story, Dale would not be the center of attention that |
| and crave some caffeine product. But let's read | | | | he is. |
| about how different people with varied beliefs | | | | Kyle Busch entered the sport with another famous |
| interpret and practice our politics and then we have | | | | last name. Busch's older brother Kurt entered |
| some interesting subject matter. | | | | NASCAR's Truck Series in 2000. His move was quick |
| Religion falls into the same category. Pick up a | | | | to the Sprint Cup Series, entering events later that |
| textbook and read a few chapters written centuries | | | | same year. He won the tour's championship in 2004 |
| ago regarding another civilization's beliefs. Good | | | | and was regarded as a top driving talent. His attitude |
| readings if that is what you are into. However the | | | | and personality did not endear himself to fans in the |
| attention commanding material in usually about how | | | | same matter as the third generation Earnhardt racer. |
| citizens can read the same book, yet come to | | | | Kurt had his collection of followers, and his detractors. |
| multiple conclusions about the same written lesson. | | | | Guilt by association was what Kyle had to deal with |
| Switch scenes to our favorite sport we all know and | | | | from the people who did not like his older brother. |
| love and people provide the most captivating topics. | | | | There were some that took an anti-Kyle stance prior |
| Business and machinery help stir the NASCAR pot. | | | | to his ever turning an upper level NASCAR wheel. His |
| Men and women add the spice and flavor. | | | | full time Sprint Cup career began in 2005 with the |
| Week after week, race after race, new chapters are | | | | Hendrick organization. |
| written. No two are exactly alike. In 2009 two men | | | | Some of his attitude and behavior endeared him to |
| stand head and shoulders above the crowd for | | | | his following of fans. It alienated him to others. The |
| attention. They command it from the time the race | | | | younger Busch brother's driving talent became |
| haulers enter speedway grounds late in the week, to | | | | evident to everyone who watched him closely. |
| the time those same haulers are making the long | | | | His personality comes out and appears in bright lights |
| journey down a dark interstate back to some race | | | | most weekends. Controversial moments have drawn |
| shop after completing a weekend's work. | | | | battle lines between Busch supporters and Busch |
| And their time in the world's critical crosshairs was | | | | bashers. "Rowdy" has made comments after near |
| not earned from what they might do, but from what | | | | wins that criticize his crew and other drivers, |
| they already have done. Both drivers have entered | | | | whomever he feels negatively impacted the victory |
| the zone of "what will happen this race?" because of | | | | effort. He does not bite his tongue and says what he |
| what has already occurred. | | | | thinks. |
| Circumstances have brought Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to | | | | Busch's actions, such as his guitar-smash in Nashville, |
| where he is today. He is a man with a tremendous | | | | polarize both media, fans and competitors alike |
| namesake. Second and third generation athletes live | | | | (Photo Credit: Chris Graythen/Getty Images for |
| under a microscope and a heat lamp. Only | | | | NASCAR). |
| unquestioned success brings relief. Ask a Manning | | | | There are observers who praise the fact that a |
| brother. | | | | Sprint Cup driver actually gives his opinion and shows |
| Junior was brought into racing not just as a driver, | | | | emotion, and not just rattles off sponsors and gives |
| but also as a son. He was a late model racer with a | | | | a sound bite whenever a microphone is put in front |
| team his father owned. He was employed as a | | | | of him. Others jump to the other side of the fence |
| then-Busch Series driver by a team his father owned. | | | | and do not like Kyle's style or substance. Witness the |
| He was brought to the Cup level with a team his | | | | differing opinions after the recent Nashville Nationwide |
| father owned. And the day after Dale Earnhardt died | | | | Series guitar-smashing incident. |
| was, very sadly, the news story that garnered the | | | | The cherry on the cake that intertwines the two |
| sport the most attention it ever received. | | | | drivers is the fact that Rick Hendrick had Kyle Busch |
| Front-page headlines about the Earnhardt passing | | | | driving in his group. They agreed to part company |
| were carried in newspapers that absolutely ignored | | | | and move on to other relationships. Busch filled a seat |
| auto racing. NASCAR's most recognizable name was | | | | with Joe Gibbs Racing. The driver chosen to move |
| gone. Millions of fans and non-fans mourned the loss. | | | | under the HMS driver umbrella was Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
| This man was also a father. And one of his sons was | | | | It reads a little like a "Seinfeld" episode, where |
| left to carry the sport's torch whether he was ready | | | | random occurrences often are tied together at the |
| or not. | | | | conclusion of the show. |
| "Big E" was the guy who was introduced in pre-race | | | | Auto racing trade paper op-ed pages and radio call in |
| ceremonies and nobody in the grandstand was using | | | | shows have three topics every week. Dale Earnhardt |
| the seat they paid for. Some cheered. Others booed. | | | | Jr., Kyle Busch, and whatever actually happened on |
| All reacted. His presence was enormous. | | | | the speedway. The first two have their fans and |
| Junior's Nationwide resume shows two championships | | | | detractors wound up. Plenty are eager to wave the |
| and twenty-two race wins. The Cup Series' victory | | | | flag and cheer, or look for the opening to knock the |
| lane has had him as the guest of honor on eighteen | | | | legs out from either. |
| occasions. He resigned from Dale Earnhardt | | | | Something pretty strong has to happen to steal a |
| Incorporated at the 2007 season's conclusion. | | | | piece of the fan's debate. And it has at times. Carl |
| His driving tenure for Hendrick Motorsports began in | | | | Long's penalty is a good example. Carl Edward's |
| 2008, arguably Sprint Cup racing's strongest team. | | | | spectacular crash at the spring Talladega race is |
| The championship car has come from Hendrick's | | | | another. But they are only temporary diversions. |
| effort the past three consecutive years and eight | | | | Eventually the hot topics come back around to our |
| times total since Jeff Gordon's initial crown in 1995. | | | | two lead characters. |
| Joining Hendrick Motorsports was supposed to have | | | | This article is part of that phenomenon. We listen to |
| his best chance of success, but it has not gone | | | | the fans and watch what happens on the racetrack. |
| according to plan | | | | There is no escaping the bench racing topics that |
| Now Junior has his best chance for success being | | | | keep coming up. I wonder what big story will come |
| with a quality racing team. He also is under more | | | | up that will eventually displace our current |
| scrutiny than ever for the same reason, being with a | | | | discussions? I know I will really enjoy watching. |
| quality racing team. So far in 2009 Earnhardt's three | | | | Racing has lots of characters and lots of stories |
| stable mates have won races and are within the top | | | | waiting to happen. I can't wait. |
| ten in the title standings. The number eighty-eight | | | | |