Dale Earnhardt Jr will begin the 2010 season under the glare of a spotlight. His fan base is known for its almost fanatical loyalty but his detractors are just as vocal. After the worst season of his career, both sides are waiting to see what he does next.

It’s interesting to note how two groups of people can look at the same person or situation and come to two completely different conclusions. Our perceptions are colored by life experiences, emotions and countless other variables. This usually results in heated debate especially when the subject is Dale Jr.

The first thing you’ll hear from many race fans is that Jr is not as good as his Daddy and he never will be. They’ll go on to tell you that he would never have gotten a chance to become a stock car driver if not for his famous father.

This may be true but what does it really mean? Continue reading →