I want to say from the outset that I don't like Jeff Gordon. I have no real use for him. I would say that he's a great race car driver, but I think it's more accurate to say I think he's a very good driver on a great team in a juggernaut of an organization.

Yesterday, on what would have been Dale Earnhardt's 56th birthday, Jeff Gordon won his 77th Cup Series race. The significance here is that the win broke the tie between Gordon and Dale Sr. on the all-time wins list. Not only was it Dale's birthday, but it was at a track that Dale owned. No one, I mean no one, drove Talladega like Dale did. In a class move, Gordon credited Dale Sr. with teaching him everything he knows about winning at the rural Alabama superspeedway. I'm not sure teaching was the right word, it was more like schooling - I think that's what they call it when someone just dominates you on the field (or in this case the track).

The fans, red-blooded Earnhardt fans that they are out there, ignored pleas from Dale Jr. and NASCAR and threw beer cans and various other kinds of debris onto the track as Gordon celebrated his win. Dale Jr. had suggested they throw toiletpaper instead of cans and bottles. Video indicates only one fan actually followed his advice.

Some observations:

1. There are two types of Nascar fans and it all centers on how a person feels about Jeff Gordon. In the south, he generally gets a rough reception. Lucky for him the sport is popular everywhere now and they don't just race in the south anymore.
2. Throwing cans and bottles onto the track is stupid, even if you don't like the guy. A more appropriate way to deal with your frustration toward Jeff Gordon (or any other driver) is to play one of the NASCAR games on PS2 (or your console of choice) and on the last lap, using the Total Team Control feature (which allows you to switch out of your car into the car of a teammate, thus not jeopardizing your run to the title) take Jeff out on the last lap. No one gets hurt, it's a great thing.
3. While restrictor-plate racing is exciting I hate the fact that they can't run the last 5 laps without multiple caution flags. I really don't think Gordon would have won if the caution with 5 to go hadn't come out, it was a scramble at that point and he went to the front too soon. Dale Jr. had enough car to move back to the front as soon as he got some help (from Harvick or Stewart or his teammate Truex Jr.).

So there's your NASCAR update. Jeff Gordon, rah, rah, who cares! While under the old point system (pre-chase) he would be running away with things, come September that 200-point lead is going to be gone and there will be 11 drivers in striking distance. Get it all out of your system now, Jeff, when it comes down to it, Jimmie will dump you like he did Casey Mears (also a teammate) yesterday and let's be honest, you can't do it without him.