I totally agree with you on all 3 points. I've been a fan of Dales for over 30 years and no one has brought the excitement to NASCAR like Kyle since we lost Dale. I think Dale would have loved Rowdy. I can just see him with that little smart ass smile when someone asked him his opinion of Kyles "rough" driving style. This has been the first season in 7 years that I've totally enjoyed. Kyles more than half way to Jrs. win total and Gibbs is winning big and Hendricks isn't, so it's all good.

On My Way...Dale Dodge Jr.

It's been quite some time, but as (for us parents) Raficki says in the Lion King, "It is time."

Post Jr. win and the rubber settling on the knowledge that the "chase" is nothing short of briliance, we now have a good ol' fashioned rugby scrum!! If Kyle is Darth and Jr. is Luke....pray tell....who is the Obi Wan....right....Mr. Hendrick.

My little 'un....(through proper brain washing) at four years old and prone to color familiarity seems to have latched on to "the 29 car looks pretty"....ah, 4 year old's. In so doing it's been difficult to instruct her on the inherent comparison that the 29 car (in her mind) versus the 88 car may be just like dora is to big bird....my words, not her's.

As for IRL:

Though not for lack of trying.....for week after week...I just don't get it. After comparing the left turn stylings of Nashville (or was it Kentucky) versus the Glen, I am left wanting for the "it" factor.

When Tony Stewart, Monrtyoa Jr., Kyle, et al. take the green flag in a few weeks, Watkins Glen will earn through competitor involvement legitimate interest. As the IRL participants leave the confines of New York we're left to wonder......what is this series for again?

In short:

NASCAR is weak in the knees over its #1 vs. #2 positions....no?

As parents it's no less important to instill a NASCAR tradition to our young' un's than it is to overtly root for the Yankees, Bo-Sox, Lakers, Celtics....keep the personality of our sport pressing forward...no?

While IRL may have participants who excel at throttling back while touching brake to navigate the "chute", our NASCAR drivers are second to none when it comes down to leaving plenty of brake dust in order to stomp on the pedal and through pure guile and will.....the chute...equals the checkered flag. IRL keep pretending you're a sub-set of Europe....NASCAR don't ever forget who you are.....a product of what we demand....the essence of competition.

Good to see Rowdy nation on point.

Buck Fever, you are such a NASCAR elitist...it's lost its charm. Cutler seems to be less open-wheel averse...likely owing to his man crush on Michele Rahal. Bass seems to be Switzerland on this subject.

#2 I completely agree and still shake my head at why ISC refuses to even contemplate converting California to a plate track.

Comparing Kyle Busch to Dale Earnhardt is like comparing Barry Bonds to Hank Aaron. It just doesn't work and shouldn't be done.

you got me again. but I say Nah! Nah on number 3! :)

Kyle busch is like a weed you've killed 3 times with weed be gone. it keeps coming back! :)

Todd, you couldn't have said it better. He'll never see the day that he's like Earnhardt. Wreckless maybe but not The Intimidator.