I was catching up on the volumes of columns and news from when I was out on the road, trying to see how Jr.'s defection from DEI to Hendrick was accepted. Not much has been said so far about the reaction from the fans. Much has been said about Jr. landing in a place that will give him a car to win with, and much has been said about him and Teresa not getting along, but it brings up the question: If you are a fan of Dale Jr. because you were fan of his dad, or even if you were not, you likely see Hendricks, and Gordon in particular as the "anti-christ". Or do you?

Many people HATE Jeff Gordon. I dislike him only mildly. I don't think he is bad guy, just a little guy with no personality that is discernable. He is ....pleasent. He drives the wheels off a race car, but hey, so do a few people. Jimmie Johnson I don't like really either. I don't hate him, but I wont cheer for him NOR Jeff for I just cant get into it. I respect them as guys with skill behind the wheel, but I cheer for Jr. because he is flawed, because he is a great guy, because he has a wild side to him and while he drove for DEI, I saw him as the underdog.

I like Tony Stewart for a lot of the same reasons as Jr. because of his personality flaws. Both are great guys who are often misunderstood. Now Jr. is going to the team that I have spent a lot of time NOT liking. I think Hendrick isn't a bad man, and he has suffered a lot but I dislike the way his team has in a sense ruined what the sport used to be. From what I have read however, he is a family man, he and Jr. have a connection going right back to Ralph Earnhardt being a friend of Hendrick so I guess I am happy for Jr. Not sure how much I will enjoy cheering for him now tho.

Now most of you are not conflicted about any of this. You like who you like and once you dislike someone, that is the end of it. Those who HATE the 24 and 48 likely cheer for the 8. Well, Jr. is sleeping with the enemy after this season, so let the bile out.....

I personally, am on the fence. I still have my number 8 diecast on my desk, and the number 8 towel in the bathroom, and that wont change, but it just wont be the same. It is like finding out that your favourite star with the hometown team that cant afford the payroll to beat the Yankee's just SIGNED with the Yankees. It just aint right ya know?