The best and worst from readers, and it's only July

Why wait until the end of the year to have all the fun when at least half of it can be had right now?

Yes, we're talking the best and (mostly) worst of e-mails to grace the ol' inbox. Usually we save all of them for the end of the year.

But we're just past the halfway point of the NASCAR season and the inbox is overflowing with comments from folks who are infuriated about something or -- gasp! -- actually offered praise and encouragement. When the inbox total reached 544 messages in the wake of the latest article written on the subject of He Who Shall Not Be Named Here in this 88-free column, it seemed the right time to print of a few of the better ones (along with some tongue-in-cheek editorial comments that hopefully will be taken that way).

New attitude?

Kyle Busch admitted a new attitude may help his team in the big picture. And he quickly got a chance to test the theory.

• Attitude change may help
• Indy trouble drops Busch
• Video: Busch hits the wall

Last names have been removed to protect the innocent or even the guilty who simply assumed their venomous e-mails would never be reprinted.

Let's start off with Todd from Wisconsin, or as he wrote "from the 14th state-in-waiting for a NASCAR date." (Wisconsin may have dropped further down the list after there appeared to be a little snafu involving those who operate the Milwaukee Mile giving NASCAR their pre-determined fair cut of the gate in a timely manner following the most recent Nationwide Series race there).

Joe, your columns always leave me either laughing, or nodding in agreement, or sometimes both. I'd love to sit down with you and a case of beer someday. Maybe Tony Stewart could come by with an additional case of Schlitz. Keep up the great work.
Sincerely, Todd

Todd, how did you know I was a beer drinker? Yes, it's true that I recently tested positive for Coors Light. I even asked to be retested a day later so I could test positive again. How about I get in touch with Tony's people and see if we can make this happen, maybe after the crowd thins out following the next Prelude to the Dream at Stewart's beloved Eldora Speedway, where he seems most at ease (at least after an event is over)?

Todd wasn't the only positive, proactive thinker in the bunch. Keri from Southern Maryland also wrote in the wake of the last best-and-worst e-mail column around the first of the year:

Hi Joe, I don't think I have ever responded to an online article but yours today particularly cracked me up! I am amazed that people respond to your articles with such venom!! We can't all agree all the time ... I guess some of your readers fail to see the point behind opinions!! People are talking and writing so you must be doing something right!!

Well, she got that right. People certainly have been talking and writing. That included many who like to weigh in on the subject of one Kyle Busch. Love him or hate him -- and there doesn't seem to be many in between -- but he certainly stirs up the emotions and opinions of the fans out there. (Continued)