Conversation: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

RICHMOND, Va. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. is everywhere you look: your television, your gas station, down at the local watering hole. He's even in your coffee cabinet.

	Dale Earnhardt Jr.

It's been that way for years now, and he's finally backing up the hype with consistency on the racetrack. A new patience-pays-points approach has Team Budweiser knocking on the door of the championship points lead. Eleven races into the 2003 Winston Cup Series campaign, just 20 points separates Earnhardt from his good buddy Matt Kenseth, the series points leader.

A championship would only bolster his popularity, which admittedly already scares him at times.

Just before the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond International Raceway, Junior hung out with NASCAR.com's Marty Smith to discuss immeasurable popularity, record times in the oil change line and an humbling trip to visit those who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Used to be you'd stay pretty quiet about burning issues in NASCAR, saying you hadn't yet earned the right to speak up. This year, you've been more vocal. Do you feel like, this year, you're more of an ambassador for Winston Cup racing than in the past?

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I think every year you feel like that. When you're running in the back it's hard to speak your mind, because ain't too many people going to listen to it. But when you're running up front you feel like you're part of that group of people that can really influence NASCAR and the decisions they make.

Does your popularity ever scare you?

Sometimes it does. Sometimes you get in some pretty crazy situations.

What's the craziest fan reaction you've ever experienced?

I don't know. Sometimes you get in some situations at the racetracks where the fans have been having a good time and you get caught in the wrong place at the right time, so to speak. But you just kind of have fun with it, but you've got to be careful.

Earlier this week you visited wounded U.S. troops at Walter Reed Hospital. What was that experience like?

	Credit: Autostock

That was really overwhelming, a real eye opener. You see that stuff on TV and you hear about it, but you can't get quite a good gist of what it's all about until you see it in person and see them guys and talk to them. Hopefully they really enjoyed us being there. We want to thank them for letting us come out there and meet them. It was an honor to meet those people.

You've told me before that you still hold the record for fastest oil change at your Dad's dealership. How quickly could you finish a 24-point inspection and fluid change?

Twenty-four point inspection? Well, just as far as dropping the pan and changing the filter and filling it back up, I can do it in eight seconds. Eight or nine seconds.

Eight or nine seconds? I'm gonna have to start calling you Lane Frost, son.

Not eight seconds. Eight minutes.

You don't change your own oil anymore, do you?

Uh, if I have to I can. But I don't do it, because I don't have to.

Speaking of your Dad, anything in particular make you think of him?

	Credit: Autostock

Yeah, there are some things. It could be winning a race or it could be something bad. It could be, like, Jerry's accident yesterday or it could be winning a race.

Your celebrity has afforded you countless opportunities. Is there anything you still want to do? Anybody you still want to meet?

I don't really have a list, but it does open a lot of doors for you and get you in a lot of cool places and see some cool people. A lot of things come your way, you just pick through them and do what you want to do and don't do the rest.

Some say your Dad handed you everything. That p--- you off?

It don't really p--- me off, because I know better. I know the truth. I kind of got over hearing that s--- when I was in my early 20s. It's not a big deal now.

Some say NASCAR caters to you. That p--- you off?

Naw, that don't make me mad. I've grown up around the sport so it ain't like I'm some kind of diamond in the rough they found. I've been here all my life, so I don't feel like they owe me anything.

Looking for a wife yet?

All the time.

That's got to be kind of hard for you. You can't just go out and meet any ol' chick and say wassup.

Yeah, you just kind of have to let it ride. It'll come to you, I guess.