ShareThisDale Earnhardt Jr. is still the coolest kid in class.
Winless on the season and ranked 22nd in Sprint Cup points, "Little E'' is 446 points out of the 12th and final spot in NASCAR's Chase for the Championship. Barring a minor motorsports miracle, that means Earnhardt Jr. will once again be left out of the hunt for a title when the playoffs begin with 10 races to go.
From a popularity standpoint, however, none of that seems to matter.
While someone else will be honored as the series champion in Las Vegas in December it looks as though Driver 88 will be in Sin City as well -- accepting his seventh consecutive Most Popular Driver Award.
Each year the NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association sponsors the MPDA, which is voted on by fans. This week the top vote getters were released and, as usual, Earnhardt Jr. is at the top of the heap.
The remainder of the top 10 consists of Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Michael Waltrip, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson.
Exact totals weren't released, but it's a pretty safe bet that Earnhardt Jr. has a substantial lead. And it's a pretty safe bet he'll still have a substantial lead when the voting ends Nov. 23.
(Actually after Sept. 13 only the top 10 will be eligible to receive additional votes.)
For the six-time people's champ it's heartening to know he doesn't have to worry about fair weather fans. They've been with him from the time he first began competing in what was once known as the Busch Series and today he still receives the lion's share of cheers from Talladega to Chicago.
"I've been fortunate enough to win this award now for the sixth time, and I can tell you it never gets old," said Earnhardt Jr. "I've said it many times before that this award is special because it's the voice of the fans."
Even when he left Dale Earnhardt Inc. for the "evil" Hendrick empire, any backlash was short-lived.
"I think back when I made the decision to go to Hendrick Motorsports, and my biggest concern was whether the fans would support my decision," he said. "They did, and I will always be grateful for that."
NASCAR drivers have become rock stars, and there's no bigger one than Dale Earnhardt Jr. I suppose at first it was the fact that he was the late "The Intimidator's" son that accounted for the appeal, but it's obvious he's stepped out of that shadow and cast one of his own.
Still, the adulation has to be bittersweet.
He has yet to win a Cup crown. And his presence at Hendrick Motorsports has been overshadowed by the success of his teammates.
No doubt he'll be quite happy to receive another title courtesy of the voting booth.
However, he won't be completely happy until -- and unless -- he earns one on the track.
(Contact Scott Adamson of the Anderson Independent-Mail in Anderson, S.C., at adamsons(at)independentmail.com.)
column
