Unless you're a fan, the death of Dale Earnhardt yesterday might seem like just another sad note in an already troubled sport (i.e. three deaths in nine months?). For those of us that are fans, the impact of his death is almost immeasurable. Dale epitomized everything that I love about racing. He was a fierce competitor that you either loved or hated. Even if you hated him, you respected and admired him.

One reporter summed it up best last night when he said that Dale's death was equivalent to Michael Jordan passing away on the court during a basketball game.

On a related note, yesterday's race was one of the best I've seen yet. Who would've thought that Michael Waltrip would win?? The man was 0 for 462 going into yesterday's race. With older brother Darrell Waltrip in the broadcaster's booth (having retired after 20+ seasons of racing) cheering his little brother on, to Michael's tear-filled wish in the Winner's Circle that his dad could've seen him win his first race (their dad died last year),...it was a day that I won't soon forget.

NASCAR is about the only sport left that hasn't been corrupted by the personal ambitions (read: greediness) of it's athletes. It's pure, it's fun...it's racin'.