Ah, there is nothing like the holidays to bring about the true spirit of goodwill amongst men -- and women.

It reminds me of the goodwill generated by so many race fans toward, well, yours truly during the course of 2008. So many were inspired to write in and tell me what they really thought of the many columns and features that I wrote for NASCAR.COM that I feel compelled, for the second year in a row, to share the best and worst of e-mails received during the calendar year that is about to expire. Last names, even where they were provided (sometimes they are not), have been omitted to protect the innocent.

So here we go with the annual peek into my in-box:

From Paul, whereabouts unknown and not important: "Joe, you are my hero. I have so much respect for you - as a writer and a man. Over the last several years I have watched (Brian) France and (Mike) Helton turn the 'reporting' and discussion of NASCAR events into a 'promote-at-all-costs' mentality that has caused the organization to lose nearly all credibility for me. ... "

Paul went on to explain that he has been disappointed in most of the media for buying into what he sees as this orchestrated perspective. He wrote, "It's been like watching Scientology, or the mafia - "Don't go against the family..."

And finally, he concluded with, "I hope they let you continue to produce your honest and informed opinions. The site would be less without you."

To Paul I can only say that NASCAR does not control what we write on the NASCAR.COM Web site, and we attempt to be as objective as possible. It's true that oftentimes that doesn't sit well with the good folks in Daytona Beach, but it's also true that most of the powers-that-be down there (but unfortunately not all) realize that without objective opinions and down-the-middle reporting, readers would not flock to our site to see what's truly going on in the sport. Oh, and Paul, thanks for the "hero" bit, even if it was a little over the top.

“

Go eat another Twinkie, moron.

”

ANONYMOUS

I began with Paul for good reason -- because it made me feel good during a year when many other e-mailers took a much different approach toward my personal well-being.

There was, for instance, Steve. After I defended NASCAR's decision to award a Talladega victory to Tony Stewart instead of hard-charging rookie Regan Smith in the fall (read more), he wrote: "I don't know what race you were watching or who is padding your wallet to make such comments as you have on this incident. You and (David) Caraviello must have the same optometrist. Bad call and poor vision on your part."

Well, Steve, I must admit that NASCAR.COM colleague David Caraviello and I are on the same company vision plan.

And on the same subject from Rob who lives in Cranbrook in British Columbia, Canada, came this: "That's pure crap that stewart got awarded the win there was room on the inside that's why smith went there, and then when he went there stewart dropped down so he had no choice I hope next time he just wrecks em and it seems nascar just does what they want sometimes, I think they need to be a lot clearer on the rules instead of making them up on their own discretion, if most of the drivers thought it was ok on the last lap it must have been disscussed at the drivers meeting. maybe nascar needs to be clearer but smith got screwed there and I think we all know it."

Rob, do you live in a cave up there? NASCAR is at least as clear about its rules as you are about your punctuation.

And when I made a simple joke or two about the U.S.Presidential race (seriously, folks, they were jokes!), I heard from guys like Christopher, who wrote: "You need to keep your opinions to yourself there, buddy. NASCAR.com is where I go to escape the Presidential race, please don't make stupid un-informed liberal media comments again on NASCAR.com. I will never read your liberal propaganda pieces again. I expect a response."

Christopher, here is my liberal, propaganda opinion response that I get paid to make: Plbbbbtttt!

Some folks were more polite, including Richard from Scotland, Pa., who was writing in about a column promoting the budding driver rivalry between Carl Edwards and Kyle Busch (read more). He began his e-mail with the respectful salutation: "Good day, sir," and then added: "I THINK YOUR THOUGHTS ARE ENTIRELY WRONG!! I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING NASCAR SINCE THE LATE 50s, and I THINK YOUR WRONG. ... I MAY NOT HAVE THE EDUCATION YOU HAVE. I BET YOU PROMOTE THE IRAQ WAR! HEY, IT'S A RIVALRY, RIGHT? I ENJOY THE RACES FOR THE RACES NOT FOR SOMEONE BANGING INTO SOMEONE ELSE, JUST BECAUSE THE GUY HASN'T GROWN UP. IN MOST OTHER RACES, NON-VEHICULAR, PARTICIPANTS ARE DQd OR PENILIZED (sic) FOR INTENTIONALLY INTERFERRING WITH ANOTHER QUEST TO BE THE VICTOR. COURSE, ALL THE NEW ROCK STAR FANS NOW ARE ALL IN FAVOR OF YOUR THINKING."

Joe Menzer and Jimmy Spencer

“

Joe, Having trouble determining who is the biggest tub of blowhard lard, you or Jimmy. But then for all I know you might be twins separated at birth.

”

JON

Richard, I said this last year and I'll say it again to all out there who intend to write in during the 2009 season: PLEASE DO NOT CAPITALIZE ALL YOUR LETTERS IN YOUR E-MAILS! It makes me feel as if you are YELLING AT ME and us new rock-star fans (whatever that means) do not like it! As for my education, hey, I'm proud of getting my degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio during a decade I wish to remain anonymous. But I don't like to wave my BGSU pedigree in folks' faces.

One of the subjects many e-mailers harped on relentlessly all year long was the success being enjoyed by Toyota in all three of NASCAR's top series (read more). This included the anonymous guy who wrote in and said: "Hey numb nuts, do you realize if it wasn't for the luck some of the Toyotas have had lately, they'd have won (even more) races? They're freaking cheating, and it's getting OLD. ... Go eat another Twinkie, moron."

Um, all I can say is that I don't recall having eaten a Twinkie in years (even though my boss, Duane Cross, told me they're now selling deep-fried ones at Bristol). But did you hear they're selling like hotcakes in Japan now?

Herb also checked in on the subject under the simple, but to-the-point heading: "You are stupid." He accused me of attempting to "ram Toyota down" the throats of good American people and insisted "everybody in south Georgia is talking about it." He concluded by warning that he told "the better part of the 350 employees where I work at to tune in to Old Joe the Toyota Man" to see what ol' One Menz had to say next week.

Herb, that's quite a conspiracy theory (but thanks for your efforts to boost readership of my articles). It's hard not to write about a manufacturer when it gets off to the start that Toyota did this year in the Sprint Cup Series. Funny thing is, I don't recall you writing in later in the year when I started writing about how well Rick Hendrick's Chevrolets (read more) and the Fords of Roush Fenway Racing (read more) were doing. Did Old Joe miss something there?

The love I felt from Jon of Haughton, La., was immeasurable after he obviously was moved by a question-and-answer piece I did with former driver Jimmy Spencer, now a television analyst (read more). Jon wrote: "Joe, Having trouble determining who is the biggest tub of blowhard lard, you or Jimmy. But then for all I know you might be twins separated at birth, both of whom have singularly uninspiring careers! Keep up the good work, though; it beats reading about Obama and Hillary, but not by much!

Dangit, and I thought I was much more handsome than Jimmy.

And then there was William, from parts unknown (obviously along a river deep in the woods somewhere), who responded to a column in which I called Kyle Busch NASCAR's version of Happy Gilmore (read more): "Yeah, Busch is NASCAR's version of Happy Gilmore. ... kind of like, you are NASCAR.com's version of Bobby from Deliverance. Excuse me while I take a Joe and wipe my Menzer."

Pretty clever, William. And so who did you play in that epic film?

Finally, there was this inspiring little diddy from Mike, who wrote of yours truly: "You are a retard. You should quit writing NASCAR articles before someone fires you. If you new who a real NASCAR fan is you'd write differently."

Hey, I'm still relatively knew to the sport. And also, the politically correct phrase these days is "mentally handicapped." I thought you new that!

Can we now get back to Paul at the beginning of the column, please?

The opinions expressed are solely of the writer.