ENOUGH ALREADY!

It's been quite a while since I last updated my blog. It's not that I haven't had anything interesting to write about - there has. I just haven't had the time. The Bristol race was one thing that was interesting. Everyone else seemed to complain that the changes to the track have literally killed racing there. Personally, I thought that this year's race was one of the better ones they've had. I'm not saying that just because my favorite driver won! Let's face it, it was nice to see a race at Bristol where the pace car didn't lead the most laps! It was also different to see green flag pit stops at that track. It was, overall, one of the best races by far, ever run at Bristol.


At this point, I'm not going to start writing about my absolute disappointment concerning Motorsports Authentics. In short, however, I will make the following comment about the poor quality of their product. I have been a diecast collector for some time and thought there 2007 cars were the worst I have ever seen. I certainly don't think there are worth the price they are selling them for. I did find something, however, that gave me a little hope for the future of diecast collecting. According to the "Pyramid Racing"s web site, Checkered Flag Motorsports, which is, for the most part, the old "Team Caliber", is releasing a Matt Kenseth diecast! If they are still of the same quality and detail as the old Team Caliber, then there's hope.


What has really become annoying recently, for me at least, can be summed up in three words: Dale Earnhardt Junior! First of all, I will say that I am not a fan of this driver, never have been, nor will I ever be. I was never a fan of his Daddy, not even when he drove a Ford for Bud Moore. It really wonder where the so-called "Junior Nation" has come from. Moreover, why have the "Powers-that-be" within NASCAR have such a love affair with this driver? I mean, what has he done? OK, so he was a two-time Busch Series Champion. I guess that gives a bit of credibility to his popularity. Today, however, not many people hold a Busch Championship with much regard. (Take that, Mr. Hapless Harvick!) As a side note, I still think it would be awesome if Carl Edwards not only wins the Busch title this year, but could also get the Cup title too, thus eliminating the arrogance of the Hendrick team! That's something that Harvick couldn't do last year.


Back to Junior - OK, he was two-time Busch Champion. In 2000, however, he moved up to the Cup series, along with Matt Kenseth. It was predicted, at that time, that Junior would become Rookie-Of-The-Year, and then to start winning Championship after Championship. But wait, Junior didn't win the Rookie-Of-The-Year for 2000! Matt Kenseth did! Remember Matt? He drives for Jack Roush. Remember that name: M-a-t-t K-e-n-s-e-t-h. So, 2001 was supposed to be Junior's year! Admittedly, 2001 didn't start out very well for the Earnhardt family with the death of Earnhardt Senior, but Junior Nation still gathered steam! Among the races won by him that year was the very next race at Daytona, and the fall race at Talladega exactly one year after his father's last win there. Still, Junior had no championship. None that year or the following and none in 2003. Wait... who was the 2003 Champion? What was his name again? Matt somebody! Oh ya, Matt Kenseth! How could this be, asked Junior Nation! Our boy is the greatest driver today, just like his Daddy was in his day!


After 2003, NASCAR was so desperate to give Junior a Championship, they even created "The Chase For The Nextel Cup", a concept which at the time, the fans hated, and still do. Junior couldn't pull off a championship in 2004 and didn't even make The Chase in 2005. His last win was at Richmond in 2006, and (surprise!) he missed the Chase again this year. NASCAR even increased the field from ten eligible drivers to twelve,and still Junior is on the outside looking in. What is so sad is the TV coverage lately. Since ESPN took over televising the races, most of the time, one gets the impression that there is only one driver in the race (Guess who?) The broadcast of the California race was absolutely pathetic! This race was all Junior, all the time. With the race at Richmond being the last chance for poor Junior to get into The Chase, I could only imagine what the race broadcast was like. Luckily I didn't have to sit through it. I was there in person! While sitting in the grandstands at Richmond that night, I listened to the MRN broadcast on my scanner. It was refreshing to hear them at least acknowledge there were 43 drivers in the field and not just one - something ESPN has been unable to do this year. Since Junior has missed The Chase, now the Media frenzy has turned to whether Junior can win a race before season's end. Don't hold your breath! After all, could you handle the Media's reaction to a Junior winning a race? Could you handle the expectant cheering from ABC or ESPN, (the ones currently broadcasting the races)? For that matter, could you handle the coverage from other forms of media? Or The-Powers-That-Be at NASCAR? If he ever did win again, I fear that the reaction from France and Helton would be so frightening that it would probably be best reserved for private audiences. What a scary thought!

But wait, there's more...

Earlier this year, all the Media buzz was about the conflict between Junior and his step-mother, Teresa. They seemed forget the Car-Of-Tomorrow and all the cheating scandals, especially with regard to the Hendrick drivers. All the Media wanted to write about was the alleged dispute between Junior and Teresa Earnhardt. Let's face it, if it wasn't for Teresa, there would never have been a Dale Earnhardt Incorporated! Dale Senior certainly didn't have the business sense to run D.E.I. With the media focused on Junior, Teresa and the ownership of the business, did people honestly think that Junior was capable of running this team and partying at the same time? I certainly didn't think so. He is simply not that smart! Next, Junior leaves the safety of D.E.I. and goes straight to Hendrick Motorsports, where he will be the number three driver! Not Number One, as he was at D.E.I., but number three! He will, at least, still have fast cars, albeit illegal ones, but fast none-the-less. He will now have to learn not to push any issues through tech inspection!

On to more publicity and more fighting within D.E.I! Now it's over the Number 8. Junior, and his misguided fans want Teresa to release ownership of the Number 8 to Hendrick. Teresa said no and stood her ground and when said that her late husband started D.E.I with the number 8 and she was keeping it in his memory. Junior and 'Junior Nation' were more than relieved when Ford team owner Robert Yates was 'convinced' by NASCAR to release his number 88 to Hendrick. Junior's problems appear to be over and now, all the Junior nation members have to do is run to the nearest tattoo parlour and get a second number 8 added to their... wherever. Thank you, Brian France!


So what is my point after writing all this? It's simple: ENOUGH ALREADY! I AM SICK OF HEARING ABOUT JUNIOR! In case the media doesn't know it, there are about 48 to 50 other drivers out there, aside from Junior. There is "Temperamental Tony" Stewart , Jimmie "The Cheater" Johnson, or the 'Whiner' who drives the number 24. Mark Martin didn't get nearly the publicity for leaving Roush after 19 years, as Junior did for leaving D.E.I. As for sponsors, there are so many teams right now with sponsorship issues. The media does not seem to care much about other drivers like Greg Biffle or David Reutimann, both of whom have had recent issues with sponsorship. They become, rather, wrapped up in Junior's sponsorship issues that other drivers become insignificant. So long as Junior is getting a new sponsor the media has something to print.

For the last five years, Junior has been voted "Most Popular Driver" by the fans. Rest assured, I wasn't one of those fans! My votes went to Matt Kenseth, the 2003 Cup Champion, and Carl Edwards. Rather than give Junior all the publicity for doing nothing, lets instead, give some attention, and exposure to some of the other drivers who both deserve it and can drive a race car. Drivers like Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards who are both still in the running for the Championship. Or there are "One Problem" Montoya, Greg Biffle, Denny Hamlin, and David Reutimann, just to name a few. They deserve the attention far more than "The Chosen One"!

By the way, even though "The Whiner" in the number 24 now has a commanding lead in the points, I'm still hoping Edwards or Kenseth can still beat this other undeserving driver! If Matt Kenseth was to win his second Cup Title, I think Junior Nation would certainly implode!