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I’ve never been a drinker of the Earnhardt Kool-aid. In fact, I used to joke that I became a Jeff Gordon fan just to yank the chains of Earnhardt Nation. I used get so mad when I’d see people with window stickers of the little boy peeing on the number 24, and just reveled in Gordon’ first three titles, knowing how mad it made the followers of #3. Though I felt bad for his family and fans when he died, I transferred my disdain from The Intimidator to the one known as “Lil ‘E’”.

I really did not follow NASCAR that closely until this year. Still, as an overall sport-aholic, I still knew enough to know that I related better to Gordon’s California upbringing, business-like approach to NASCAR and Christian beliefs than I did of the old-school, “rubbin’s racin’” mentality with beer-guzzling fans like Dale Earnhardt. I also heard the stories of how Earnhardt took out Terry Labonte in a couple of races, and his antics with another one of my favorites, Darrell Waltrip. Knowing this, you can imagine how I felt when Dale Jr. won the Daytona 500 in 2004. “Junior Nation is going to be more obnoxious than ever”, so I thought. I admit I felt no sorrow for some of the struggles he had. I didn’t understand I had followed a path parallel to “those blasted Earnhardt fans.” Just as they tranferred their love from Senior to Junior, I transferred my disdain from Senior to Junior.

Then 2007 happened, heralding the beginning of a more close association with the sport. First, members of my family signed on with Junior Nation. My son (a bit of a bandwagon rider- typical of a 4 year old) liked #8 because of his likeness in the movie “Cars” and even my beloved wife drank the Kool-Aid (a double shot, I think). This is where the conversion in my thinking began to take place.

Yes- like many other women, my wife does have an affinity for how he looks. Now, I have taken notice to the fact that he’s much taller than me, has a head of hair much ruddier than my salt and pepper head, and he’s got a cooler accent. But- there’s more. She became a Junior fan because of his down-to-earth Opie Taylor persona, his flare for a bit of mischief, and most of all, because she wishes for him a chance to break free of his dad’s gargantuan shadow to carve out his own place in racing history. What’s more, I’ve come to notice how accomodating he is to fans and media (no matter how much of a pain the keister they are sometimes), and his genuine love of children and sensitivity to those young ones whose lives will likely be short. He got me there. Having once had a terminally ill younger brother (a victim of Cytstic Fibrosis), I can’t even begin to tell a figure like Dale Earnhardt Jr. how much his kindness impacts lives. I even choke up at the thought of it.

I also watched the movie “Dale” recently, which not only gave me a newfound respect for the “man who could see air”, but also for his son, who will always carry the legend of his dad with him. It’s unavoidable, and he knows it, and in some way you can see he’s embraced it. No matter what Dale Earnhardt, Jr. does, he’ll never be everything his father was. It’s impossible. Dale Jr. is just a different guy, and that doesn’t make him less of a man than Dale Sr. I think it can be said that Junior learned from his father’s mistakes and is a better person for it. If Dale Earnhardt can see Junior from Heaven, I’d venture to say he’s proud of what his son has become.

Regardless of how his stats look compared to his father, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a darn good driver. He has two Busch Series titles to his credit, and 17 wins on the senior circuit. That puts him ahead of Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch. Heck, that puts him close to respected old schoolers like Ricky Rudd and Bobby Labonte. He’s won big races at Daytona and Talladega. More than that, he’s dealt gracefully with a media glare that his father never dreamed of at the age of 32. Yeah, he’s run his car too hard at times, and his driving has annoyed a racer or two, but he’s had some glances of real racing brilliance at times. It makes me wonder how the change of teams will affect his career.

I can now say that my affinity for Dale Earnhardt Junior is only eclipsed by my long-time favorite Jeff Gordon followed by Carl Edwards, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin. Junior’s a good guy and I wish him all the best. Next season, he’ll have the best resources in the business at Hendrick Motor Sports and he’ll still have his cousin and buddy Tony Eury Jr. to scrap with over the radio during the races. Best of all, Junior has plenty of time to carve out a legacy of his own. As I momentarily ponder the passing of my own well-respected and revered father, I relate well to what must pass through Dale Jr.’s mind. If I could call him tonight and convey a word of wisdom, it’d be this: “Remember this- your dad has always been proud of you. You’re not his clone. Be proud to carry the man’s name, but never forget to be what he raised you to be…..the best that you can be, whatever that may look like.”

From one Junior to another, I’m pulling for you. May you race long and successfully.