Rusty Reckons: Happy Dale Earnhardt Day!

Rusty and all the folks at HHR would like to wish you a very intimidating Dale Earnhardt Day. Today, the man who forever changed the face of racing would have been 60. Something tells ole Rusty he's spent the last 10 years happily turning laps at the big race track in the sky. So, be sure to make an extra left turn or two on your drive home today in tribute.

-- Rusty

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Rusty Reckons: Breakfast Advice; "Eat Your Wheaties, Jr!"

As we head into NASCAR's All Star weekend, Wheaties has announced that Dale Earnhardt will be featured once again on the front of its famous box of bran cereal goodness. This will be the second time the Intimidator's face will great cereal lovers the country over. It's been scheduled to coincide with with Sr.'s induction into the first class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It's also notable coming during the middle of his son's long winless drought. Maybe Jr. could be more like his dad on the track if he ate his Wheaties. Rusty's not sure, but it's sure worth a shot.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Wheaties' Neck Just Got a Little Redder

Wheaties today unveiled a special-edition Dale Earnhardt commemorative box, "honoring his legendary career and celebrating his induction into the Hall of Fame."

An accompanying release notes:

Earnhardt’s record-tying seven championships, along with 76 wins and incredible fan popularity helped propel him into this latest “Breakfast of Champions” honor.

Earnhardt becomes the first stock car driver to be featured on the Wheaties box twice. He first appeared on a series of boxes in 1997 when he raced a Wheaties paint scheme in the All-Star event that same year. And, now Wheaties honors his competitive spirit and champion attitude in connection with his induction.

What jumps out at me more than anything is Earnhardt's image on the box.


At the risk of pissing off NASCAR nation (including HHR's own Rusty), the man known as "The Intimidator" looks as if the only thing he could intimidate is a bathroom stall. That said, it would not shock me if this become the most sought-after cereal box in the history of the Walmart.

Follow us on Twitter@HHReynolds or Click Here to get HHR in your inbox.

Martha vs. Dale

Martha Stewart visit led to removal of Earnhardt flags

Wait a second, in Kannapolis, NC, the birthplace and home of the greatest racecar driver of all time, Dale Earnhardt; a town situated in the center of NASCAR country, Martha Stewart is somehow more important than the Intimidator?

Did Rusty and his cohorts at HHR miss some big press release announcing that Martha Stewart, who's apparently studying to be an nuclear physicist, is a more revered figure than Dale Sr?

"Last week, city workers took down flags honoring Earnhardt after an official at Murdock's real estate company and a local tourism official said some were dirty and torn and might upset a Murdock guest [Martha Stewart]"

I reckon it's good that folks are trying to impress outsiders, part of that whole southern hospitality thing. But geez, don't take down banners honoring God's driver in his hometown. Just don't make no lick of sense!

Rusty's Review on CMT's "Dale"

Now, y'all will have to pardon the typos in this post, cause I'm writing this with 3 fingers held silently in the air. I'm doing so in memory to the greatest man to ever drive a race car, not to mention the best race car driver ever!!!!

I'm talking about Dale Earnhardt, and after having recently watched the new documentary, Dale, I'm feely insanely inspired. Inspired for what, I'm not sure. I take the metro to work, so it's not like I can pretend I'm on the high banks of Daletona every day. But I'm inspired.

This recent documentary puts anything else ever done on the Intimidator to shame. In the words of his son, "awwwwhhsome". Dale had it all, the rivalry with Waltrip, battles with his daddy, the pass in the grass, and even his tragic death. It was in depth like I've never seen before. Even June-bug said it was in depth, and he lived it for crying out loud.

Y'all, if you only watch 2 hours of television between now and next Juvember, watch Dale. CMT will be running it continuously I'm sure. Catch it. Even if you aren't a NASCAR fan, even if you can't even spell Dale, you should watch it. But if you can't spell Dale, you probably couldn't operate a remote, so get some adult supervision first, but I digress.

As we approach the last race before the chase, this weekend in Richmond. And with my boy, driver of the #8, needing a divine intervention to make the chase, I'm feeling inspired. I can only hope ole June-bug's feeling the same way. If anything can do it, though. Dale's gonna be it!!!