The passion of fans: Best and worst of e-mails in '07

My hiring by NASCAR.COM roughly one year ago came with a clear warning from my new boss, the indefatigable Duane Cross.

Don't try to answer all the e-mails, he said. Despite whatever good intentions you may harbor to do so, he insisted, it will do nothing but drive you crazy.

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And he was right. After the first few months of trying to keep up, and repeatedly falling hopelessly behind, I had to admit that it was impossible if I was going to A) have any kind of life with my wife and four children, and B) spend the time necessary to actually continue writing and filing in a timely manner the stories I was getting all the e-mails about in the first place.

But I kept up best that I could, and tried to at least read them all. Sometimes I only read a sentence or two. If it was vile and profane, I usually stopped right there and pressed the delete button. If it was rambling, I admit I often gave it only a cursory glance.

When they were well-written, relatively brief and obviously had involved some semblance of deep thought, I tried to answer in like manner. Time, or lack thereof, often prevented this. And for that, I issue a universal apology to all who may have been waiting on an intelligent response.

I learned a few NASCAR basics: nothing stirs up the reading crowd like calling a race at Bristol boring (although nearly 70 percent of the hundreds who e-mailed me to comment on that column agreed with me); except possibly a column that attempts to examine the two distinct sides of Tony Stewart or anything that mentions the late, great Dale Earnhardt and his rock-star son, Dale Jr. These were the subject matters that flooded my e-mail inbox the most in the aftermath of articles that were posted on our Web site, but rarely was anything written that someone didn't respond to in some way -- a true indication of the passion with which NASCAR fans embrace their favorite sport.

Here, then, are some excerpts of the best and worst of the e-mails received in 2007 (last names, when provided, have been removed to protect those who wish to remain at least semi-anonymous):

From Phyllis, there was this reminder that we all have much to be thankful for, as she wrote:

"I just want to take the time the thank you for the great articles over the past season. You have given me the insights I crave and the laughter I sorely need. Despite going through some ugly health issues this year I was able to make the half-race at Pocono and if I could only bottle the smell of the tires and the sound of the engines, I would be a happy camper indeed. ... I was bitten by a spider three times in June of 2006, which is quickly leading to kidney failure. (I want it written on my tombstone -- "Always carry a can of Raid".)

"NASCAR has become the familiar place where I can lose myself. I yell at the television and honk the horn on my stuffed car. I take my stand-up of Mark Martin and shake him at the television. My blood boils over Tony Stewart and Kevin Harvick. I read NASCAR magazines and NASCAR.COM religiously. Who would have thought that a Ukrainian Catholic-educated woman would ever become addicted to NASCAR? I am a strange bird indeed and proud of it."

Well, we're proud to bring a little laughter into your life. Hang in there, Phyllis. (Continued)