Dale Earnhardt Jr. has made a statement. Too bad it has nothing to do with Victory Lane. You see by announcing today that he will drive the number 88 car next year, made familiar by Dale Jarrett at Robert Yates Racing the last few years, he not only saved his fans from having to get their tattoos removed (now they'll just add another ocho) but he also traded in the alcohol for the sugar substance. And both can be addicting.

Budweiser has made a living (and a killing) off of Little E the last few years. Their image fit The Intimidator's Kid perfectly... he was a hard-charging party boy from the South who put everybody around him at ease. The perfect pitch-man for the target audience. Now, he'll move from the after-hours crowd to the after-school crowd... nothing says teenager like a little Mountain Dew to wash down the brain cells after school lets out. It worked for me for years!

How will it go over? We'll have to wait and see... but to his credit Little E is playing the part well. He's seems genuinely excited about this move, and his new deals, but I can guarantee you one thing... his fan base won't soon trade in their frosty beverages for the Dew on race day. Or any day for that matter. And to think pretty-boy Kasey Kahne, Bud's new man, barely looks old enough to drink. It should be interesting to say the least...

My only take is this... whether you Do the Dew or say This Bud's For You... neither one of them will contend for a title anytime soon. The facts are just the facts.

Christian