By Allen Gregory
Sports Writer / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: January 11, 2008

The hype began weeks ago for the 50th running of the Daytona 500.
In fact, the Feb. 17 Sprint Cup race has been billed as “most anticipated event in racing history’’ by track officials.
For various reasons, this longtime NASCAR follower is less than enthralled. And may fans, mostly the old-guard types, feel the same way.
The top levels of stock car racing once actually had room for the little guy, both in the pits and the stands. Now, it takes big bucks to compete and attend races.
Friday’s announcement that Morgan-McClure Motorsports was ceasing operations may have been inevitable, but it was still more bad news for a sport that struggled with lackluster television ratings and empty seats last year.
Some NASCAR pundits, mostly those sappy-happy TV types who are nothing more than cheerleaders, point to the flood of open-wheel drivers as proof that NASCAR is booming.
Really now? How many of you southern fans give a hoot about Dario or Juan Pablo.
NASCAR was built on the backs of renegades such as Dale Earnhardt and David Pearson.
Those guys had character and were totally fearless. No cutesy public relations guru could tame them.
These days, every Sprint Cup driver looks alike and sounds alike. 
There are very few independent teams. Big money and multicar teams rule.
It’s a familiar, and even old story.
Watching Dale Earnhardt Jr. compete for the elite Hendrick Motorsports group will be fascinating, but it’s hard to get excited about this sport right now.
Sorry, Daytona.