When "Fahrenheit 9/11" debuted a couple weeks ago, it drew support from some unlikely camps, including, most improbably, NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt Jr., who took his crew to see the film. "Hey, it'll be a good bonding experience no matter what your political belief," Earnhardt told ESPN's Chris Myers. "It's a good thing as an American to go see."
Now, for those who know how heavily Bush has been courting so-called NASCAR dads, this is certainly a surprise.
So what's Dale's deal?
Well, the latest buzz in NASCAR is that Dale's fueding with teammate Michael Waltrip. As reported by Michael's brother Darrel, a Fox Sports Analyst, the teammates had a falling out last February for "SOME ODD REASON." (Capitalization added)
Possibly idle speculation, but last February Waltrip participated in an ongoing online chat series hosted on the White House website. The series is billed as a Q and A with "administration officials and friends of the White House." Michael, presumably, falls in the latter category.
Among other gems (I really encourage you to read it, it's hysterical), when asked who he thought was the president's favorite driver, Waltrip demurred: "I think I am the President’s favorite driver."
Could it be that Dale Earnhardt Jr. was so jealous of the president's affections for his teammate, that he turned away from the Republican party? Is his ringing endorsement of Moore's anti-Bush film political activism or… just the latest broadside in a fued that could tear NASCAR apart?
I scour the Internet. You decide.