Welcome back, Waltrip ... yeah NASCAR needs ya (cont'd)

Previous Question of the Week
Who do you think will win the championship at this point?

After extending a week the polling on the question, the results are in; and may I say after the leader I'm a bit surprised.

First of all, it's hard to disagree with Jeff Gordon at the top, however with the bonus points for wins factored in once the Chase starts, I thought Jimmie Johnson would get a little more support.

The number that stood out for me though was Dale Earnhardt Jr. at .8 percent. If nothing else, I thought his fans would just pump up the numbers to support NASCAR's favorite son. In the comments I read it seemed like most of the 8 fans were abandoning ship, which caught me a bit off guard.

Here are some of the best e-mails I received on the subject:

From Chris in Buda, Ill.
Honestly, I think it's going to come down to a Jeff Gordon vs. Jimmie Johnson showdown. My vote is on Gordon, because it'd be the perfect ending to the record-breaking season. Sure, he had a bad outing in the 600, but that won't phase the way his team is running this year. This is Gordon's year to shine.

I would love for it to come down to JG vs. JJ. In fact, imagine if Gordon needs to pass Jimmie on the last laps at Homestead and has the faster car like earlier this year at Martinsville. Does the 24 bump the 48 at that point?

From Laurie in Georgia
I'll go with Kevin Harvick or Jeff Burton. I believe that once the rubber hits the road in the Chase, it will be all that Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson can do to hold on for the ride. This may be the biggest runaway lead in 11 years, but remember, when the Chase starts, everyone is going to be within 50 points plus the bonus.

This is why I can't believe Dale Jr. didn't get more votes in the poll. If he makes the Chase, he's got a legitimate shot.

It's also why I will always keep a private tracker of who the champ would have been under the old system. It seems like we've invented drama for drama's sake rather than truly crowning the champ.

However, it's hard to argue with the excitement generated in the past 10 races.

Question of the Week
What is your take on the Kurt Busch/Tony Stewart feud? (watch video) Who is at fault and where will this all end?

I'm looking forward to the responses I'll get on this one. Remember the best printable answers get published. Include your first name and hometown and send them to my ever-expanding inbox at Beau.Estes@Turner.com.

Have some fun with this one. (Continued)