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Hot 20 – Dover is not Talladega, but it simply oozes the very best of tradition

Sometimes the news is good like it was at Talladega last week. Entertaining races and I loved the Cup guys manning the microphones for the Xfinity race. They were laid back, funny, and in the case of Darrell Wallace, Jr., pretty darn articulate. Michael Waltrip was a pizza delivery boy, and it brought me back to the best NASCAR show ever. I miss Inside Winston Cup, where Waltrip was held in line by Ken Schrader. Allen Bestwick and Johnny Benson tried to keep things moving forward in a loosely sane manner, even as a garbage truck rolled noisily down the alley behind their studio.

Last Saturday, Spencer Gallagher made that announce crew quite giddy as he claimed his first career junior circuit triumph. The 28-year old won it for his team owner, his dad Maury, as the family operation climbed to the top of the mountain. What a wonderful story. So heartwarming. So family orientated. So traditional.

Well, that went for crap in a hurry. Today, young Gallagher is suspended for violating NASCAR’s drug policy. He is now on their quaintly named Road to Recovery Program. Gone is his team’s shot at the Dash 4 Cash money. Gone is his playoff eligibility for this season. It is a good thing dad has rather deep pockets.

On the positive side of things, Amy and Dale Jr. welcomed Isla Rose Earnhardt into the family on Monday. It is way too early to play matchmaker, but His Royal Highness Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge is a fine looking young man. Then again, she is already royalty in our books.

Let us hope Dover brings us another feel-good story, one that might last the week. Dover is no Talladega, but they do have Miles the Monster, in sculpture and trophy form. This is the 50th year the track has hosted a Cup event, starting with Richard Petty’s 1969 win in the inaugural Mason-Dixon 300. The venue marked NASCAR’s return to action after 9-11, a race won by Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Track records for practice and race times over all three national series are held by the likes of Brad Keselowski, Mark Martin, Bill Elliott, Erik Jones, Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney. Jimmie Johnson has won 11 times on that surface.

You might not remember Jody Ridley, who won there in 1981. He might be the only former winner you might not know. Thirty-five drivers have claimed at least one of the 96 contests at Dover. A pair of Allisons won there. Each Busch brother. A couple of Earnhardts. Two guys named Petty. Forty were won by Hall of Famers, 68 by drivers who have laid claim to the Cup championship.

Dover brings us both Miles the Monster and tradition. You can never have enough of either.

Among our Hot 20 we have…

1. KYLE BUSCH – 3 WINS – 447 Pts
When he’s not happy, he’s not smiling.

2. KEVIN HARVICK – 3 WINS – 366 Pts
Smiles when he is happy, smiles when he is not. Beware of the unhappy smile. It is evil.

3. JOEY LOGANO – 1 WIN – 417 Pts
Spotter T.J. Majors helped Junior to victory at Talladega in 2015, and now Logano in 2018.

4. CLINT BOWYER – 1 WIN – 335 Pts
The Fords are flying, the Mustang is on its way, but the rest of the sedan fleet is DOA?

5. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 1 WIN – 303 Pts
Was winless at Dover last year, but claimed the most points (3rd and 4th).

6. AUSTIN DILLON – 1 WIN – 210 Pts
Did he pee himself last week? You would have to ask team interior mechanic Adam Brown.

7. KURT BUSCH – 320 POINTS
Runner-up at Talladega. “I feel like I left that one out on the table.”

8. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 317 POINTS
He really could have used an ice-cream after Sunday’s wreck.

9. DENNY HAMLIN – 314 POINTS
He meant to get back-to-back speeding penalties. He needed the challenge.

10. RYAN BLANEY – 313 POINTS
Last Saturday he was very good for television but absolutely perfect for radio.

11. KYLE LARSON – 280 POINTS
With NASCAR buying ARCA this week, he can now add to his Cup, Xfinity, and Truck tallies.

12. ARIC ALMIROLA – 278 POINTS
Driving a SHR Ford has been sweet for the entire gang.

13. ALEX BOWMAN – 238 POINTS
When a cashier asked him what he thought about Junior retiring, he said his replacement is lame.

14. ERIK JONES – 234 POINTS
Has some points room, but not that much room to repeat what took place last time out.

15. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 230 POINTS
The kid did not take the air out of his sails, but it sure disappeared around that rear fender.

16. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 217 POINTS
Some think all one needs is more cowbell. Kurt Busch needed a bit more Stenhouse.

17. RYAN NEWMAN – 214 POINTS
Close to a playoff spot, a 594 race career, and Spencer Gallagher gets all the headlines?

18. CHASE ELLIOTT – 209 POINTS
Third place finish the best among three Chevrolets in the Top Ten last Sunday.

19. PAUL MENARD – 206 POINTS
Won the second stage last week, yet finished 30th with some fender bending assistance.

20. WILLIAM BYRON – 202 POINTS
Twenty percent fewer tuned in to watch Byron at Talladega than who watched Gordon and Junior last year. That is shocking, even in these times.

May 2, 2018
It’s a girl! Dale Jr., Amy welcome new baby

Staff Report | NASCAR.com

Since announcing a “baby Earnhardt” was on the way in October 2017, Dale Jr. and wife Amy have had the racing community eagerly awaiting the arrival of their baby girl.

And now, the countdown is over.

The happy couple welcomed Isla Rose Earnhardt on April 30, the first child for both, revealing the baby’s birth on Tuesday morning.

She’s finally here! @DaleJr and I are officially parents to a beautiful baby girl, Isla Rose Earnhardt. It feels like a dream. The best dream ever. 💕

— Amy Earnhardt (@AmyEarnhardt) May 1, 2018

Everyone was right. It’s a new beginning. Now everything I do will be for her and Amy. So blessed. https://t.co/D2U0LxCORN

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) May 1, 2018

Dale Jr. has been open about his excitement to enter the fatherhood fraternity throughout the pregnancy. Sharing his thoughts on social media, the former driver has given fans an inside look into the couple’s experience. He even gave updates on the size of the baby throughout the trimesters on Twitter.

RELATED: Drivers send well wishes | How Amy told Dale Jr. she was expecting

The baby was born the day after what would have been Dale Earnhardt’s 67th birthday.

In an interview on the Dan Patrick Show, he talked about how quickly his life has changed since hanging up the fire suit at the end of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

“You’re driving 200 mph last year and now you’re going to try to put a baby seat in a Suburban — what happened to you, Junior,” Patrick quipped at Earnhardt, who laughed.

“I’m becoming a father,” he said.

Earnhardt Jr., who is 43, and Amy wed on New Year’s Eve in 2016.

MORE: Dale and Amy through the years | Dale Jr.: ‘So blessed’

May 1, 2018
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Daytona

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Austin Dillon: Dillon overtook Aric Almirola on Turn 3 of the final lap and captured the Daytona 500 in the No. 3 car made famous by the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr.

“I got a tattoo of the Daytona 500 logo and the word ‘champ’ on my backside,” Dillon said. “I’ve always wanted a tattoo but was afraid of getting one. I guess you could say I finally ‘cracked.’

“While I’m at it, I may get another tattoo that says ‘Richard Childress Racing’ on my lower back. Would that be called a ‘gramp stamp?’”

2. Darrell Wallace Jr.: Wallace, in his first start for Richard Petty Motorsports in the No. 43 car, took second at Daytona.

“Denny Hamlin and I made contact crossing the finish line,” Wallace said, “and I was a little unhappy about it. So I made a crack about Adderall, which is “A Denny Hamlin Dis.” So maybe I need to be treated for ‘ADHD.’”

3. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin started strong at Daytona, qualifying second and leading the first 10 laps. But a one-lap penalty for missing his pit box put him way back in the field before he charged back.

“It was a very exciting race,” Hamlin said. “It got everybody’s blood pumping. I guess you could call this year’s Daytona 500 a ‘stimulant.’

“Okay, I think that’s enough talk about Adderall for the time being. It seems we’ve reached the ‘speed’ limit.”

4. Joey Logano: Logano started fifth and finished fourth in the Daytona 500, giving Ford its top finish.

“I felt confident from the get-go,” Logano said. “Mostly because Matt Kenseth was not in the race, but also because the car was fast.

“Kudos to the Navy Band Southeast for their wonderful rendition of the ‘Star Spangled Banner.’ Fergie should follow their example of the national anthem and not sing it.”

5. Chris Buescher: Buescher survived the carnage at Daytona and left with a strong fifth in the 500.

“Not many people know who I am,” Buescher said. “I’m not what you would call a ‘household name.’ My car, however, is a ‘household product,’ because I’m sponsored by Cottonelle. That’s an odd sponsor for a race car driver, because, of course, you don’t want to be ‘bringing up the rear.’”

6. Paul Menard: Menard finished sixth at Daytona in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford Fusion.

“Michael Waltrip took his famous ‘Grid Walk’ before the race,” Menard said. “I think it’s good for everyone. Michael gets camera time, and people only have to speak with him for five seconds, which is the maximum anyone can tolerate. It’s a win-win.”

7. Ryan Blaney: Blaney led a race-high 118 laps and won Stage 2 on his way to a seventh-place finish in the Daytona 500.

“I made news early this year when I got a haircut and shaved my mustache,” Blaney said. “That’s what’s known in the business as ‘race trim.’”

8. Ryan Newman: Newman started 13th and finished eighth in the Daytona 500.

“Congratulations to Austin Dillon on his big win,” Newman said. “And congratulations to Darrell Wallace Jr., for his runner-up finish, and especially for not being related to Rusty.”

9. Michael McDowell: McDowell finished ninth in the Daytona 500.

“Some people take Adderall,” McDowell said, “and some people have tattoos. Some people are characterized by both. And to those Dale Jr. fans I say, ‘If you’re looking for a new favorite driver, I’m your man.’”

10. Aric Almirola: Almirola had the lead on the final lap at Daytona before he blocked the hard-charging Austin Dillon, and the contact sent Almirola spinning and into the wall. He finished 11th, and took responsibility for the contact.

“I knew Austin had a run on me,” Almirola said, “so I was just trying to block. I don’t blame him for hitting my bumper and sending me into the wall. You could say it was the first of two ‘tattooed backsides’ of the weekend.”

February 20, 2018
Hot 20 – Sunday’s Clash to feature 17 drivers representing 12 championships and 332 Cup wins

The new pre-season opens this Sunday, as those who made last season’s Playoffs or claimed a pole, who has ever claimed a Daytona 500 pole, or who has ever won this event in the past dust off the cobwebs and rev the engines. Now, you may be asking yourself how could this be a “Hot 20″ column with only 17 drivers competing? Well, you have to improvise.

Martin Truex Jr.
Won three poles in 2017. He also picked up a ring at a dinner after the season.

Kyle Busch
Won eight poles in 2017, which seems rather greedy to me.

Kevin Harvick
Keelan is now 5-and-a-half. His NASCAR debut is still at least 15 years away.

Brad Keselowski
Brad has a ring. Kevin has a ring. Kyle has a ring. Martin has a newer ring. Notice a theme?

Chase Elliott
Won nothing last year, except one pole and the hearts of fans looking for a new Pied Piper.

Denny Hamlin
You would have thought that with his last name, Denny would have been the new Pied Piper.

Kyle Larson
You can never have too many Kyles.

Ryan Blaney
…or Ryans.

Jimmie Johnson
Give me a moment and I might come up with a reason he is here. Maybe seven of them.

Austin Dillon
All hat and maybe a few cattle.

Jamie McMurray
Dimples are considered the cutest deformity ever. Jamie has them. So does Duchess Kate.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Available. Need I say more?

Kurt Busch
Another season where all the excitement comes on the track.

Kasey Kahne
New team, a new look.

Ryan Newman
Fortunate that races can be won by a nose, but never by a neck.

Joey Logano
Was encumbered by a win that did not count and a playoff that was not to be.

Erik Jones
Turns 22 in May. Old bastard. He is the last on this list who will be in Sunday’s event.

Matt Kenseth
Had the talent to continue, just not the charisma apparently, so he won’t be driving.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Has the charisma, but to avoid a possible clash at home, he is avoiding the Clash at Daytona.

Mae Thornton
Tied for 20th with the rest of us, my late mother also failed to qualify for the Clash.

As I said…you improvise.

February 7, 2018
Earnhardt Jr. Ends Racing Career with 15th Consecutive MPD Award

DARLINGTON, S.C. – Dale Earnhardt Jr., who retired from full-time competition in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at the conclusion of the 2017 season, has been named the National Motorsports Press Association Most Popular Driver for the 15^th consecutive time.

Earnhardt’s selection was announced Thursday during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards program at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Earnhardt, 43, was named on nearly 68 percent of the votes cast by fans.

The driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports, Earnhardt is one of eight drivers to receive the award on multiple occasions. Only one other driver, Bill Elliott, has won the award more often – Elliott was named the series’ most popular driver 16 times between 1984 and 2002.

Completing the top 10 in this year’s voting were (listed alphabetically): Ryan Blaney (Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 Ford), Kyle Busch (Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota), Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet); Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet), Kasey Kahne (Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet), Matt Kenseth (Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota), Kyle Larson (Chip Ganassi Racing No. 42 Chevrolet), Danica Patrick (Stewart-Haas Racing No. 10 Ford) and Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row Racing No. 78 Toyota).

The Most Popular Driver Award is the only major NASCAR award determined solely by fan vote. It has been presented annually since 1953; the recipients were originally determined by a poll of competitors. It became a fan-driven program in 1984 under the guidance of the NMPA.

Thirty-three drivers received votes for this year’s award.

In addition to hosting the voting platform for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series MPD award, fan votes to determine the Most Popular Driver in the NASCAR XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series were also hosted on NASCAR.com.

Elliott Sadler, who finished second in the XFINITY Series championship battle won the NASCAR XFINITY Series MPD award; Sunoco Rookie of the Year Chase Briscoe was voted Camping World Truck Series MPD by fans.

Sadler and Briscoe will be honored Dec. 9 during NASCAR Champions Week in Charlotte.

NMPA MOST POPULAR DRIVER AWARD

The NMPA Most Popular Driver Award is one of the longest-running awards presented annually by the National Motorsports Press Association. Since 1984, it has been the only major NASCAR award to be determined solely by fan vote.

Year – Recipient

2017 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.                                                       1983 – Bobby Allison

2016 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.                                                       1982 – Bobby Allison

2015 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.                                                       1981 – Bobby Allison

2014 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.                                                       1980 – David Pearson

2013 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.                                                       1979 – David Pearson

2012 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.                                                       1978 – Richard Petty

2011 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.                                                       1977 – Richard Petty

2010 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.                                                       1976 – Richard Petty

2009 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.                                                       1975 – Richard Petty

2008 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.                                                       1974 – Richard Petty

2007 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.                                                       1973 – Bobby Allison

2006 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.                                                       1972 – Bobby Allison

2005 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.                                                       1971 – Bobby Allison

2004 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.                                                       1970 – Richard Petty

2003 – Dale Earnhardt Jr.                                                       1969 – Bobby Isaac

2002 – Bill Elliott                                                                   1968 – Richard Petty

2001 – Dale Earnhardt                                                            1966 – Darel Dieringer

1999 – Bill Elliott                                                                   1965 – Fred Lorenzen

1998 – Bill Elliott                                                                   1964 – Richard Petty

1997 – Bill Elliott                                                                   1963 – Fred Lorenzen

1996 – Bill Elliott                                                                   1962 – Richard Petty

1995 – Bill Elliott                                                                   1961 – Joe Weatherly

1994 – Bill Elliott                                                                   1960 – Rex White

1993 – Bill Elliott                                                                   1959 – Jack Smith

1992 – Bill Elliott                                                                   1958 – Glen Wood

1991 – Bill Elliott                                                                   1957 – Fireball Robert

1990 – Darrell Waltrip            `                                               1956 – Curtis Turner

1989 – Darrell Waltrip                                                            1955 – Tim Flock

1988 – Bill Elliott                                                                   1954 – Lee Petty

1987 – Bill Elliott                                                                   1953 – Lee Petty

1986 – Bill Elliott

1985 – Bill Elliott

1984 – Bill Elliott

November 30, 2017
Hot 20 – Truex is king, Junior is done, and the kids are moving to the big boy table

The cream rose to the top, as the top four accumulated half of the wins between them this season. Four drivers, 18 wins, and now four shared championships.

Next season NASCAR decides its 70th Cup champion, an honor claimed by just 32 men in that time. Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, and Brad Keselowski will be joined by Jimmie Johnson and Kurt Busch as each will seek to add to their trophy cases. A bunch of talent will be bursting out of the gate at Daytona come February to make their own arguments. Rick Hendrick does not make up his roster based on age alone, boasting the elder statesman and the baby in 2018. The 41-year-old seven-time king Johnson will be joined by a new teammate, William Byron, who does not turn 20 until next week.

Nothing says our final four will not be back. Truex had a dominant season, while Busch once again laid claim as being one of the very best in the business. Harvick and Keselowski have not grown any moss, and then there is Chase Elliott, who turns 22 at the end of the month. Another Hendrick driver who will be sporting his father Bill Elliott’s old number, seeking that first career win. Only a fool would bet against that happening.

NASCAR has its issues, to be sure. They cannot figure how to get fans back to the tracks or even how to insist on television crews with the talent to keep us watching, no matter what. However, there is no shortage of storylines for next season. Along with those mentioned, a new generation has emerged. Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney have arrived. Twenty-one-year-old Erik Jones is on the cusp. Next season, 24-year-old Bubba Wallace will drive the iconic Petty blue No. 43, featuring a familiar look for a native son of Alabama, but something rare in NASCAR.

But all that is nearly three months away. In the meantime, we give thanks for the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Matt Kenseth, and Danica Patrick, and wait to see what the future holds in store for them. We await to see what Kurt Busch will be doing next year. Above all else, we salute a very worthy 2017 champion who tops our Hot 20.

1. MARTIN TRUEX JR. – 5040 POINTS – 8 Wins
For the driver, his fiancé, his team owner, and his entire team…this was truly well deserved.

2. KYLE BUSCH – 5035 POINTS – 5 Wins
One position, and possibly one caution, away from holding his own celebration.

3. KEVIN HARVICK – 5033 POINTS – 2 Wins
Handling issues and a debris-induced hole did not help his cause.

4. BRAD KESELOWSKI – 5030 POINTS – 3 Wins
Fears a lack of manufacture parity might mean his Fords will be fried next year.

5. CHASE ELLIOTT – 2377 POINTS
In 2018, the torch passes to the next generation and this is the standard bearer.

6. DENNY HAMLIN – 2353 POINTS – 2 Wins
Learning that the Elliott Bible states, “Do unto others AS they have done unto you.” Let us pray.

7. MATT KENSETH – 2344 POINTS – 1 Win
If this is how Matt goes out, he did it as we would have expected…in style.

8. KYLE LARSON – 2320 POINTS – 4 Wins
The next generation has arrived. After Elliott, Larson is definitely Exhibit “B.”

9. RYAN BLANEY – 2305 POINTS – 1 Win
Exhibit “C” is moving on to join Roger Penske next season.

10. JIMMIE JOHNSON – 2260 POINTS – 3 Wins
Already among NASCAR royalty, he will once again try to rate eight in 2018.

11. AUSTIN DILLON – 2224 POINTS – 1 Win
Just four top 10s and he sits 11th. Nine top 20’s in his last 10 races mean more than I thought.

12. JAMIE MCMURRAY – 2224 POINTS
Seventeen top 10s, and he sits tied with Dillon in the standings. Maybe it is the cowboy hat.

13. RICKY STENHOUSE JR. – 2222 POINTS – 2 Wins
Two wins do not a season make. Well, that statement has been proven to be wrong.

14. KURT BUSCH – 2217 POINTS – 1 Win
What is next?

15. KASEY KAHNE – 2198 POINTS – 1 Win
As Kurt rose Furniture Row to the next rung, can Kasey do the same for Leavine Family Racing?

16. RYAN NEWMAN – 2196 POINTS – 1 Win
Double figures in top 10s in all but two of his seasons, including 13 more this year. Really.

17. JOEY LOGANO – 930 POINTS – 1 Win
Even with a win that meant something, he probably would have been done by Kansas.

18. CLINT BOWYER – 871 POINTS
Things started well enough, then Michigan, Bristol, Darlington, and Richmond happened.

19. ERIK JONES – 863 POINTS
At 21, I guess that would make Jones Exhibit “D”.

20. DANIEL SUAREZ – 777 POINTS
Loved Michigan and Darlington even less than Bowyer did.

21. DALE EARNHARDT JR. – 668 POINTS
Thanks for the memories. It was one hell of a ride.

November 22, 2017
The Final Word – Homestead sees the end of the Junior era, as another Junior wins it all

It was an amazing two weeks. In that time, Kevin Harvick locked his way into the final four, along with Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. We got to see Matt Kenseth win, spoil things for Chase Elliott, and allowed Brad Keselowski to round out our championship contenders. During that time, I was among eight family members enjoying 80 plus degree temperatures in Hawaii.

I know you did not click in to let me reminiscence about our time in paradise, but I do have one question. When did WestJet, what had been a very special, passenger orientated airline, become just like Air Canada? It appears that if you want to fly the friendly skies in comfort these days, you need to be Leonardo DiCaprio winging his way to Europe on a private jet to pick up an environmental award…but I digress.

Less than 24 hours after arriving back to the land of snow and ice, once again I could witness palm trees and 80 plus degree temps under the sunshine as NASCAR wrapped up its season in Homestead, Florida.

Of course, more than four would have our attention. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was in his final race as a full-time driver, though by the end of the second stage he was outside of the top twenty. Danica Patrick will be in the Daytona 500 and the Indianapolis 500 next season, but she failed to make the end of this one when she crashed out. Kenseth’s career might be coming to an end, and after winning last week he concluded this campaign with a top 10 result. As for the next face of the sport, Elliott finished fifth at Homestead, giving in him a top 15 in 10 of his final dozen events. His time is coming, and right soon.

All that was left to decide was the championship, and all four contenders were in the top five heading down the stretch. Keselowski faded to seventh, while Harvick would wrap things up in fourth. That left a duel between Truex and Busch. Truex held the lead as the laps counted down, but Busch had pit strategy working in his favor. Well, he did until his brother Kurt brought out the caution with less than 40 laps remaining.

Busch remained within a second of his rival from that point onward. However, the closest he got was 0.20 seconds…as they crossed the line. Martin Truex Jr. won his eighth of the season, just the 15th of his career, to become the 2017 Cup champion. It is his first, and the first for team owner Barney Visser and Furniture Row Racing out of Denver, Colorado.

It was a satisfying conclusion to the season. As for the broadcast, well, you cannot win them all. In 2007 I was part of another group of family members who flew in to watch the Daytona 500. Harvick beat out Mark Martin at the line while Clint Bowyer ended the race on his lid. It was an amazing experience. We flew in on WestJet, even watching the Duels run live on the television provided for each and every passenger. It was an amazing experience. That was in 2007. Those were the days of “how bad have you got it.” I sure miss those days.

November 20, 2017
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Homestead

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex led the final 51 laps at Homestead and held off Kyle Busch to capture the win at Homestead and his first Monster Energy Cup championship.

“No offense to Joey Gase,” Truex said, “but nice guys don’t finish last, they finish first. I am a nice guy, and as champion, I reserve the right to be called ‘Mister Nice Guy.’”

2. Kyle Busch: Busch finished second at Homestead to Martin Truex Jr., who got the jump on a lap 34 restart and kept Busch at bay for the remainder of the race.

“That race was for all the marbles,” Busch said. “First of all, I wanted to win this race for myself, but I also wanted to win it for my brother Kurt, so I could give him some marbles because he lacks ‘all his marbles.’”

3. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished fourth at Homestead as Martin Truex, Jr. won the race to capture the Monster Energy Cup championship.

“Lost in the shuffle of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s retirement was Danica Patrick’s retirement,” Harvick said. “The only way Danica will be ‘Miss-ed’ is if Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. doesn’t marry her.”

4. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished seventh at Homestead, falling short in his bid to win his second Cup championship.

“I guess I predicted a Toyota championship,” Keselowski said. “I guess at the time I was trying to give ‘constructive criticism,’ but it turned into ‘constructors criticism.’”

5. Chase Elliott: Elliott finished fifth at Homestead, posting his 21st top 10 of the season.

“I’m looking forward to a long offseason,” Elliott said. “I didn’t take long to erase Denny Hamlin from championship contention; it will take much longer to erase him from my memory.”

6. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin started on the pole at Homestead and finished ninth.

“Martin Truex Jr. has a rare quality among NASCAR champions,” Hamlin said. “He has absolutely no enemies. So, I can say for sure he’s friends with Chase Elliott.”

7. Ryan Blaney: Blaney finished a disappointing 29th at Homestead and ended the year ninth in the Monster Energy points standings.

“Homestead was my final race with Wood Brothers Racing,” Blaney said. “I’m moving on to Penske Racing in 2018. This bodes well for my bank account, but not for my love life, because my days with Wood are over.”

8. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth finished eighth in the Ford EcoBoost 400.

“I’m not sure what I’ll be doing in retirement,” Kenseth said. “I am sure it won’t be anything with Carl Edwards.”

9. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson finished 27th at Homestead and completes the season 10th in the points standings.

“With no chance to win the Cup,” Johnson said, “my mind was elsewhere for the duration of the entire race. I guess I was thinking of my seven Cup championships. When you’re Jimmie Johnson, reminiscing is an all day job.”

10. Jamie McMurray: McMurray finished 13th in the Ford EcoBoost 400.

“Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrated his final race by sharing beers with his pit crew,” McMurray said. “As if NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver needed another reason for people to ‘say cheers.’”

November 20, 2017
Dale Earnhardt Jr. – Building a Legacy on his Own Terms

For most of his life, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has walked in the shadow of his famous father. Each victory has been celebrated while every misstep has led to the inevitable comparison to a legacy that is larger than life.

It’s not a path I would have chosen for my son. But Earnhardt embraced it, choosing to follow in his father’s footsteps. As a teenager, he had a clear vision of his future.

During an interview with the late Steve Byrnes in 1990, he said, “I want to be a racecar driver someday. It’s a great sport, I love it to death. It’s all I’ve ever known, racing.”

And, race he did.

In 1998 he won his first race in the Busch Grand National Series driving for his dad’s team. It was his 16th start in the series and as he crossed the finish line, Dale Jr. shared his excitement with his father, saying on the radio, “Daddy, I love you to death.”

His youthful exuberance was contagious, the bond between father and son undeniable. The possibilities, it seemed, were endless.

Earnhardt won back to back XFINITY Series championships in 1998-1999 before heading to the Cup Series full-time in 2000. And then, the unthinkable happened.

In February 2001, his father passed away after an accident on the final lap of the Daytona 500 and everyone looked to his son for comfort. Despite his heartbreak, Dale Jr. did what had to be done. He strapped into his racecar and went back to work, putting his own grief on hold so the healing could begin.

But NASCAR was still hurting, collectively holding their breath and wondering how to move forward after such a significant loss. When they returned to Daytona in July, Dale Jr. again led the way, driving to victory lane in a poignant celebration, and, in that moment, we finally exhaled.

Throughout Earnhardt’s career, we’ve watched him grow into one of the most beloved and respected drivers in NASCAR. He scored 24 victories in the Busch Series and he has claimed 26 victories in the Cup Series, including two Daytona 500s. NASCAR fans have voted for him as the most popular driver for 14 consecutive years and he will more than likely add one more to the total this season.

Though he has never captured the ultimate prize of a Cup Championship, it’s a career that will certainly land him in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Still, there will always be those that hold him to an unattainable standard.

It reminds me of Hank Williams Jr. who knew a few things about being compared to a famous father. In the song, ‘Living Proof’ he sang, “Why just the other night after the show an old drunk came up to me. He says you ain’t as good as your daddy, boy, and you never will be.”

However, no one could ever fill those shoes. His dad’s life cut short, a legend immortalized in time, will never be duplicated. Instead, Dale Jr. has crafted his own unique legacy.

And it extends well beyond the race track. He has left an indelible impression with his charitable contributions, his mentoring of younger drivers and the attention he has brought to concussion awareness.

How do you measure a man’s worth? For Earnhardt, it’s not about the number of trophies but about the quality of his character.

“I hope people just thought I was good and honest and represented the sport well, he recently said. “I hope people that work with me enjoyed working with me, whether it was in the late model ranks or whatever, and I hope the guys I raced against enjoyed racing with me. That’s really all that will matter. Hopefully, I left a good impression. I’ve had a lot of fun.”

In the end, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has done exactly what his father wanted him to do.

His dad was once asked how he kept his son grounded, and said, “He’s seen where we’ve came from, he knows the story. Material things are great but that’s not the important thing in the world. God and family, what people think about you is more important to me. To be able to take what he’s doing and make it work for him for the future but be a nice person as you go. That’s the important thing.”

Earnhardt’s humility, his passion for racing and his innate ability to connect with the fans has made him an invaluable asset to the sport. His impact on NASCAR will live on long after he steps out of a racecar and into a broadcast booth. But his absence from competition will leave a huge void that will be difficult, if not impossible to fill. It’s hard to imagine a NASCAR race without Dale Jr. but one thing is clear. It won’t be the same without him.

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November 15, 2017
NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Phoenix

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex finished third at Phoenix as the field of four was finalized for Homestead.

“I think the consensus is that I’m the favorite to win the Cup,” Truex said. “I totally agree. I’m a big favorite of my odds to win because I like my chances.”

2. Kyle Busch: Busch finished seventh in the Can-Am 500, posting his 21st top 10 of the year.

“Toyota’s have been the strongest cars all season,” Busch said. “And I don’t expect that to change at Homestead. Martin Truex Jr. and I have been dominating races all year with those powerful Japanese engines. You might as well call it ‘Murder On The Orient Express,’ in theaters now.”

3. Kevin Harvick: Harvick finished fifth at Phoenix.

“And then there were four,” Harvick said. “Hopefully, on Sunday at Homestead, I’ll be saying ‘And then there was 4.’”

4. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished 16th and claimed the last of the four spots for the Chase finale at Homestead.

“Luckily,” Keselowski said, “things went my way. Now, ‘my way’ is the highway from Phoenix to Homestead.”

5. Chase Elliott: Elliott finished second at Phoenix, just missing out on qualifying for the finale at Homestead.

“I haven’t won a race all season,” Elliott said. “And that means I haven’t beaten anyone all year, so if you didn’t already know, that makes me no relation to Ezekiel Elliott.”

6. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin was second in Stage 1 and won Stage 2 to put himself in position to advance as the final qualifier for Homestead. But Chase Elliott muscled Hamlin’s No. 11 into the wall with about 50 laps to go, causing a tire rub that resulted in a blown tire that crashed Hamlin out of the race. He finished 35th.

“I guess we’re both a-holes for causing the other to miss qualifying for Homestead,” Hamlin said. “I guess that makes us even.”

7. Ryan Blaney: Blaney won the pole at Phoenix and finished 17th in the Can-Am 500.

“There appears to be a great feud brewing between Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott,” Blaney said. “Will it amount to anything? I doubt it. Not in this age of NASCAR. But I guess there is a chance for physical violence. A champion will be crowned, so there will be a celebration. And you can’t have a celebration without beverages. If that beverage is punch, then I’d say there’s a good chance that ‘punch is thrown.’”

8. Matt Kenseth: Kenseth passed Chase Elliott with nine laps to go to win the Can-Am 500.

“I can certainly understand Chase Elliott’s desire for revenge on Denny Hamlin,” Kenseth said. “I’ve been there, and in this sport, it happens a lot. So, for those of you who think NASCAR lacks enough female representation, just remember, payback’s a ‘bitch.’”

9. Jimmie Johnson: Johnson, needing a win to make the final at Homestead, blew a tire and crashed with 164 laps to go. He finished 39th.

“I think the pressure of winning Cup No. 8 just became too overwhelming,” Johnson said. “So the ‘Weight For 8′ is responsible for the ‘Wait For 8.’”

10. Jamie McMurray: McMurray finished sixth at Phoenix, posting his 17th top 10 of the year.

“The SAFER barrier caught on fire after a burning brake rotor set it ablaze,” McMurray said. “Now, at this time of year in NASCAR, when someone sounds the ‘fire alarm,’ a lot of drivers get nervous.”

November 13, 2017