Dale Jr. and J. Cole Cover 'ESPN The Magazine's' Music Issue, Represent N.C.

Two of North Carolina's brightest stars and proudest natives have united -- and met for the first time -- for the new issue of ESPN The Magazine. In the sports mag's Music Issue (dated February 2, but hitting newsstands today), you'll find NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr., who reps Mooresville, and hip-hop star J. Cole, who's always shouting out his hometown of Fayetteville.

Junior and Cole are featured on one of two covers of ESPN The Magazine's Music Issue (the other features music star Katy Perry and NFL star J.J. Watt). Credit: ESPN

Says Junior on meeting Cole, which all started from a shoutout the rapper gave the racer in a song:

"You pull for a guy because of the local connection. Normally, on the rare chance that a celebrity comes to my property, I get real nervous. But I wasn't nervous with him, because I knew this looks just like his backyard. It's a connection, a North Carolina connection, and he reps North Carolina in his music, and he's proud of where he's from and bringing recognition to Fayetteville. I'm proud of North Carolina too."

It's a great interview with the N.C. duo, "Dale Earnhardt Jr. and J. Cole: The Perfect Strangers."

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The Big 4-0 for No. 88 a.k.a. Dale Jr. a.k.a. Junior from Mooresville; and It's Been Reason for Me to Celebrate

I had the privilege of writing about Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s newest milestone for the October issue of Charlotte magazine. Titled "Junior Turns 40," it's about, well, Junior turning 40 years old. But if you've gotten the chance to read the eight-page feature (the print issue came out about three weeks ago, the story went online two weeks ago), then you know the story is about much more than a birthday. It's about how much Dale Jr. means to this area (he's got a bar at the EpiCentre, his dad's got a roller coaster at Carowinds, to put each of them mildly), how much this area means to him (he still resides in his hometown of Mooresville), and sprinkled in between are anecdotes about how he's worth $300 million, has his name attached to more brands than Disney, and has been the most popular driver for more years than you have fingers.

Photo by Logan Cyrus for Charlotte magazine.

But if you've paid close attention to the story, then you've also realized that it's both a reflection of how Junior has grown and evolved over the years, just as any of us hope we are as we reach our 30th, 40th, 50th birthdays, etc.; and how the Charlotte area, including Mooresville, has grown and evolved with him. And, as the story illustrates, he's such a down-to-earth, humble person, that he'll even stop outside of his favorite hometown pizza joint to help a lady whose car won't start.

Since the story came out, I've received some of the most flattering feedback I've ever gotten during my career as a writer. One of the best came in the form of a tweet from Dale Jr.'s sister, Kelley Earnhardt:

@Hendrick88Team @CharlotteMag @DaleJr honestly best article I've ever read

— Kelley Earnhardt (@EarnhardtKelley) September 24, 2014

And I've received several emails from readers, expressing how much they enjoyed the story. Here are a couple:

Great work on the Dale Jr. piece. I really liked the ending about the billboard. Among many great insights, this was the best: "For years, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was famous because of his father. But time does funny things, and now that he’s older, the shift is apparent: These youngsters standing in front of the car only know who Senior is because they know who Junior is." I'm fairly certain every NASCAR writer is going to write a "Dale Jr. is 40" piece and frankly they shouldn't bother after this one.

I wanted to take the time to say I thoroughly enjoyed the recent article you authored about Dale Earnhardt Jr. Given his iconic stature, there is no shortage of articles about Dale, but there is a shortage of well written or insightful articles. I found yours to be both. You touched upon so many facets and nuances that I believe others miss, or dismiss, in their attempts to grab headlines or create them with their words.

Okay, enough of my victory lap (pun intended).

Now, Junior's big day is upon us. His birthday is this Friday, October 10, the day before he competes in the Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, his hometown track. My guess is that what he wants most for his birthday is to win the race Saturday night, to put himself in better contention to win the 2014 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup (the championship), which would be his first.

But he's probably been celebrating all week. According to a post on Whisky River's Facebook page, there was a surprise party for him Monday night:

Post by Whisky River CLT.

And even Dale Jr. shared a photo from the private party:

This is what a @mattgood @twentyonepilots combo will deliver. #Epic40th pic.twitter.com/jt9VNMK51I

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) October 7, 2014

On Thursday, his girlfriend Amy Reimann is competing in the Better Half Dash, the annual fundraising competition in which the wives and girlfriends of several NASCAR drivers, crew chiefs, and team owners drive race cars. You can bet Dale Jr. will be there to cheer on his better half. And on Saturday afternoon, the speedway is throwing the Dale Jr. Birthday Pit Party.

And just imagine all of the celebrations we aren't privy to! Though, Dale Jr. has revealed some of his gifts on Twitter, @DaleJr.

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Welcome Back, Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Bobcats officially became the Charlotte Hornets yesterday, returning the name of the city's original NBA team after being gone for 12 years. Many of you have been keeping up with this transition that's been in the works for the past year; some of you haven't; I have relatives living in other parts of the country who never realized the Hornets even left Charlotte. Well the name is back, and while I had my doubts in the past, I bee-lieve the excitement from the fans will bode well for the franchise this upcoming season and beyond.

New Hornets signage at Time Warner Cable Arena in Uptown. Credit: @CBJnewsroom

Here are a few things you should know, according to the Charlotte Hornets' official announcement yesterday:

• The team has secured all of the important online Hornets domains: hornets.com, facebook.com/hornets, twitter.com/hornets, instagram.com/hornets, google.com/+hornets.
• The new-look Hugo the Hornet mascot debuts June 5.
• On June 9, the franchise will officially launch its renamed charitable foundation (formerly known as Cats Care) and will spend that day volunteering on beautification projects at Hornets Nest Elementary School.
• The new purple and teal team uniforms will be unveiled on June 19.
• On June 26, the new playing floor will be revealed at Time Warner Cable Arena, just hours before the Hornets participate in the NBA Draft (the team has the ninth overall pick).
• The Charlotte Hornets will return to action July 11-21 at the 2014 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.

Also, as I'd previously blogged, the newly named Charlotte Honey Bees dance team (twitter.com/thehoneybees, instagram.com/thehoneybees) is holding auditions June 7.

Credit: Hornets

The Hornets also received a lot of love on social media from several of the city's other sports' professional athletes, including Dale Earnhardt Jr. (a nostalgic tweet) and Cam Newton (a swagged out Instagram video).

The Charlotte Hornets are back...again...for a third time. #BuzzCity pic.twitter.com/Nzn2vL2xTp
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) May 20, 2014

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Apparently, the 'Greatest Weekend Ever' Can Be Had in Charlotte and on Lake Norman

Great Clips is holding a contest offering a chance to experience what the world's largest hair salon chain has dubbed the Greatest Weekend Ever. It's a weekend for four in the Charlotte area with NASCAR star drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kasey Kahne, centered on Dale Jr.'s house on Lake Norman (both guys have homes--mansions, really--in Mooresville).

Credit: Great Clips

Here's the contest in a nutshell:

The winner and three friends will "fly to Charlotte with your buddies and stay at Dale Jr.’s lake house. Swim, relax and chow down. We’re going to throw a finger-lickin’ BBQ party in your honor with Dale Jr., Kasey Kahne and more of the Great Clips racing crew. You and your friends will [also] get VIP passes to two Darlington races so you can see each race from the best seats possible." And to top it off, the winner will also receive a 2014 Chevy Silverado.

The coolest thing, as I've said previously, is the thought that Dale Jr. lives like this all the time. I would even venture to say that he really does have mermaids in his swimming pool. He's a rock star who doesn't play music (at least not professionally, though there is a band named after him) but drives fast cars for a living (a major living). He recently won the Most Popular Driver Award for the 11th consecutive year, presented by the National Motorsports Press Association.

Visit http://bit.ly/GreatestWeekend for complete Greatest Weekend Ever contest details and to enter.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. Shows How He Really Does In 'This Is How We Dew' Commercial

I'm going to tell you something you already know: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a rock star in NASCAR.

But despite being the most popular and most endorsed/highly paid driver in the sport, Dale Jr. doesn't seem to publicly embrace his rock star status much. He's usually mild-mannered and soft spoken in pre- and post-race interviews. He doesn't do social media or go out of his way to get attention--you never read about him in tabloids or gossip websites. And even when I've seen him out and about around Charlotte, he's usually low-key and not rolling with a large entourage. Yet, he's always in your face because he doesn't shy away from lucrative product and brand endorsements, and launching his own ventures like potato chips, nightclubs (Whisky River is opening a location soon at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport), and Earnhardt Outdoors with his siblings (which is currently asking for your ideas for new outdoor products, like for hunting, fishing, camping, etc.).

Finally, of all the television commercials Dale Jr. has appeared in, his new one for Mountain Dew showcases his rock star lifestyle.

The "Living Portrait of Dale Earnhardt Jr." commercial started airing on TV at the beginning of the month, and I saw it repeatedly over the weekend. It's the latest promotion in Mountain Dew's "This Is How We Dew" campaign, which this installment features moving "portraits" of three of the soda brand's celebrity endorsers. The other two guys featured are snowboarder Danny Davis and skateboarder Paul Rodriguez. You can see all three commercials at mountaindew.com/portraits.

Dale Jr.'s living portrait shows him sitting in victory lane on a throne made of engine parts, surrounded by members of his pit crew (not sure if those are the actual pit guys) who are spraying Mountain Dew in the air in celebration, along with hot chicks waving checkered flags and country music star Brantley Gilbert jamming away on his guitar (though that's not his music you hear playing). In the background, you'll also notice his No. 88 car, the Whisky River logo, lights and seating from a racetrack, and two people doing stunts on four-wheelers (not sure of the tie-in with that part).

It's an all-around cool, 30-second ad, including the use of the song "Hot Fire" by Crash Kings. But as several commenters on the YouTube video have pointed out, and I certainly agree with, the concept of the commercial looks a lot like the visual techniques used in Kanye West's 2010 video for "Power" (See, another reason why Ye is the greatest of all-time. #KanyeVoice).

Unfortunately, the commercial strays a little from Dale Jr.'s reputation, by virtue of facts. The visual is set in victory lane at a racetrack, as I pointed out. But if you follow NASCAR, then you know that Junior has won only one NASCAR Sprint Cup series race in the last five years, and that victory came more than a year ago in June 2012 (that's one win in about 200 races). By comparison, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson has won four races this season alone. In terms of the standings, Dale Jr.'s had a pretty good season, currently ranked seventh and with five top-five finishes. With only two races remaining in the regular season schedule, he's almost a shoe-in to make the Chase, NASCAR's playoffs.

Win or lose, he's still a rock star.

In other Dale Jr. news, he'll appear on the next episode of Fast N' Loud on Discovery. The show is about a couple of car experts who go around the country searching for rare classic cars to restore. Dale Jr. is a known car buff, so I assume in the episode, which airs on Monday, September 2, at 9 p.m., that we'll see the show's crew coming to Dale Jr.'s Mooresville home and/or race shop to get one of his cars.

1 week until an all new #FastNLoud with #DaleJr. Don't miss it! @JRMotorsports #NASCAR @GasMonkeyGarage pic.twitter.com/t8gCOmIWvm
— Discovery US (@Discovery) August 26, 2013

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Dale Jr.'s Making Chips (Potato and Money)

There are several slang terms that represent money and/or a person who's making it. Many of them use food references, like: eatin', caked up, dough, cheese/cheddar, bread, and chips. Well, there aren't too many people out here today making chips like Dale Earnhardt Jr. Last month, Forbes ranked him as the highest-paid NASCAR driver for the fifth-consecutive year. And you don't even have to know much about NASCAR to know that Dale Jr. makes a lot of money away from the racetrack. You likely see the Mooresville resident frequently starring in national TV commercials endorsing products and companies, or you see products bearing his name in stores. The latter is what happened to me tonight.

Credit: My Windows Phone

I made a trip to Bi-Lo tonight and stumbled upon a display case of "Dale Jr Foods" potato chips. I had no idea Dale Jr. had gotten into the snack game. Once I got home and did a little Googling, I learned that this food venture with KLN Family Brands, a Minnesota-based company, was announced in January. And that the first products, to have begun hitting stores in February or March, would be four flavors of potato chips: Crispy Original, Carolina Barbecue, Creole & Green Onion, and Zesty Jalapeno.

Interestingly enough, tonight I saw three of those four in the store, but the Carolina Barbecue was missing. My assumption is that's the flavor Charlotteans have been snatching up first, out of curiosity if nothing else. Curiosity is what led me to buy two bags--one each of the original and jalapeno. I haven't tasted them yet, though. 

NASCAR drivers' names and faces on products is common. Heck, their race cars and driving suits are the opposite with brand logos all over them, so sponsorships and endorsements literally fund the sport. But Dale Jr. appears to be taking it a step further because "Dale Jr Foods" sounds like an entire division of a company in which we will eventually see other food products. But hey, if his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon can successfully sell wine, then why not?

UPDATE 4/18/13: I tried Dale Jr.'s potato chips today, both the Crispy Original and Zesty Jalapeno flavors. They kind of remind me of Wise brand potato chips, but Dale Jr.'s are crispier/crunchier, which is very important to me in a chip. I was particularly impressed with the jalapeno flavor. I'm interested in tasting the Carolina Barbecue now. The Dale Jr. name is what will lead people to giving the chips a shot, but I can't say that I plan on breaking away from my regimen of Lay's, Utz, and Cape Cod.

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World's 100 Highest-Paid Athletes—8 Charlotte Ballers

Forbes has published its annual list of The World's 100 Highest-Paid Athletes, ranking sports figures based on the money they've raked in over the last 12 months, between June 2011 and June 2012. Boxers take the top two spots: Floyd Mayweather Jr. at No. 1 with $85 million and the guy people have been wanting him to fight for two years now, Manny Pacquiao, at No. 2 with $62 million. Rounding out the top five are Tiger Woods at No. 3 with $59.4 million, LeBron James at No. 4 with $53 million, and Roger Federer at No. 5 at $52.7 million.

Forbes explains that the earning figures it compiled include salaries, bonuses, prize money, appearance fees, licensing, and endorsement income. So there are a number of ways athletes become filthy rich. All of Mayweather's $85 mil came from what he made in the ring, considering he owns his own fight promotion company, while $45 mil of Federer's $52.7 mil came from endorsements, so he made most of his fortune away from the court.

The business magazine also points out that 30 NFL players made the list of 100 highest-paid athletes, which is more than any other sport, but an anomaly this year because many NFL players, it reports, had bonuses delayed until the summer of 2011 that normally would have been paid in March due to the NFL lockout. Plus, several players had their 2012 salaries converted into signing bonuses and paid out in March to alleviate team’s salary cap issues. As a result, of those high-earning NFLers, four are Carolina Panthers: defensive end Charles Johnson at No. 15 with $34.4 million, linebacker Jon Beason at No. 56 with $21.4 million, running back DeAngelo Williams at No. 66 with $19.9 million, and center Ryan Kalil at No. 71 with $19.4 million (the NFL's highest paid center).

Charles Johnson, photographed with a kid at his football camp last week, is the highest paid athlete in Charlotte over the past year and No. 15 in the world. Credit: @randywattson

Also in relation to Charlotte, there are four NASCAR drivers on the list who call this area home. Dale Earnhardt Jr. at No. 23 with $28.2 million (making him NASCAR's top-earning driver thanks largely to $15 million in endorsements), Jeff Gordon at No. 42 with $23.6 million ($10 million in endorsements), Tony Stewart at No. 47 with $22.3 million ($7 million in endorsements), and Jimmie Johnson at No. 53 with $21.5 million ($7 million in endorsements). It's also worth noting that three of these four drivers, with the exception of Stewart, are a part of the Hendrick Motorsports team.

So, there are a total of eight Charlotte-area athletes on the list via the Panthers and NASCAR (but no Charlotte Bobcats). As I often say, there's a lot of money in this town.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr.: The Dark Knight Rises

Dale Earnhardt Jr. as The Dark Knight? Nah, he's too nice of a guy. But that won't stop him from driving his No. 88 Chevrolet in a special paint scheme this weekend, inspired by The Dark Knight Rises, the third and final installment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy (in theaters July 20). NASCAR is the king of sports marketing, and Dale Jr. is its prince, continuing to be one of the most sponsored and endorsed drivers, just as he has been for more than a decade in NASCAR's top series.

One of Dale Jr.'s top sponsors is Diet Mountain Dew (www.dewcrew.com), which shares naming rights on his car with the U.S. National Guard. Mountain Dew has a large partnership with The Dark Knight Rises--beginning Monday you'll be able to purchase Mountain Dew Dark Berry, a limited-time-only flavor, as well as special 16-ounce cans of Mountain Dew that feature the bat symbol (dewgothamcity.com). The day before, this Sunday, Dale Jr. will drive The Dark Knight Rises-themed car at the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway (noon on TNT).

He actually unveiled the car two and a half weeks ago at the Hendrick Motorsports Fan Fest, which took place during Charlotte's race weeks. The blacked-out racecar features the Bat Shield on the hood, and Batman and Bane, Gotham City’s newest villain, on either side. In this video below, you can watch how the car was wrapped at Hendrick.

Points-wise, Dale Jr. is having a great season, currently in second place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings, thanks to five top-five finishes and 11 top-10s this season. At this rate, he's a shoe-in to make the Chase this fall, but he continues to drive under a dark cloud, having not won a race in four years. In fact, the last time he took home the checkered flag in a Sprint Cup race was June 15, 2008 at Michigan International Speedway, the same track he's competing at this weekend. Sunday is not only race day, it's also Father's Day, and since he'll forever be known as his father's son, this would be the perfect time for him to end his 143-race winless streak. The late, great Dale Sr., of course, was known as The Intimidator and drove his black No. 3 Chevrolet for several years. With Dale Jr. driving a black Chevy on Father's Day, perhaps he can channel the spirit of his dad's winning ways--and The Dark Knight Rises to victory.

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See Shaq Vs. Dale Jr. This Wednesday

Shaquille O’Neal will race Dale Earnhardt Jr. this Wednesday, June 23 for his upcoming season of Shaq Vs. The reality competition show that debuted last year returns for a second season, and Shaq continues to go head to head with some of the professional sports world’s elite.

Shaq will hop into a stock car and race Dale Jr. at Concord Speedway. The two stars will negotiate the terms of the race the day of.

The public is invited to attend this event, which has free admission and will be taped by ABC. The gates at the speedway will open at 1 p.m. and the event will begin at 4 p.m. Please note that no cameras, phones of any kind, or recording devices will be allowed inside—so forget about trying to capture video to post on YouTube or photos to tweet.

Shaq doesn’t have a good record going against pros from other sports, losing last season to Michael Phelps, Albert Pujols, and Oscar de la Hoya, among others, but it’s usually entertaining to watch. And what should be a spectacle itself is his 7’1 frame fitting inside the tight confines of a race car (not to mention he’s north of 325 pounds). Season two of Shaq Vs. begins airing in August on ABC.

Click here for more details on the event.

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'Hendrick Motorsports Story' Airs Tonight on Showtime

Tonight at 10:30 p.m. on Showtime you can see the full-length version of Together: The Hendrick Motorsports Story. The two-hour documentary, which is narrated by Tom Cruise, takes you through the history of the multi-championship-winning, Charlotte/Concord-based NASCAR team that was founded by Rick Hendrick. From the early days of single driver Geoff Bodine to the dynasty Hendrick has built that currently includes Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Mark Martin, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Two years ago, I wrote a feature for Charlotte magazine about Hendrick Motorsports being the most dominant team in all of sports: "All in the Family."

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The Chase for Danica

Several sports news outlets, including ESPN and Sports Illustrated, have reported over the last couple of days that IndyCar Series star Danica Patrick has been meeting with Charlotte-area based NASCAR teams. Team owners Rick Hendrick and Micheal Waltrip have confirmed meeting with Patrick, who would be highly coveted because of the lucrative sponsorships and endorsement deals she brings to a sport that is fueled by corporate dollars. Hendrick, who usually gets the drivers he wants, says he would like to place Patrick in the JR Motorsports team that is co-owned by him and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

It's been widely speculated that she will race part-time in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2010, around her IndyCar season. The IndyCar season ends this weekend, and if I was a betting man I'd say we'll see her in Charlotte next week leading up to next weekend's NASCAR Banking 500 at Lowe's Motor Speedway. It makes perfect sense because that race is considered a homecoming for many of the NASCAR drivers who live in the area, which means they would be on hand to try to woo her to their respective teams. Patrick, who finished third in this year's Indianapolis 500, would be a huge spectator draw at NASCAR races.

Oh, and in case you forgot, she models too.

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What the Article Didn't Tell You About NC Music Factory

Charlotte Observer reporter Sarah Aarthun wrote an in-depth article for yesterday's paper on the new venues opening at the NC Music Factory ("New uptown entertainment complex takes next big step"). Aarthun does her homework by not only chronicling the development at the complex, but she also details the impact two new music venues opening there--Uptown Amphitheatre and Fillmore Charlotte--might have on other local live music venues. The article mentions the setbacks the developers Rick and Noah Lazes have faced during the last few years in turning the massive old textile mill into an entertainment complex. But it stops short of making one very important point that I'm going to make here: It's too late for the NC Music Factory to fully become what the developers envision because it's taken too long to come to fruition, so the EpiCentre became what the NC Music Factory was supposed to be.

Two music venues are opening this month at NC Music Factory.

The EpiCentre has become the center of nightlife in Uptown.

This is just my opinion based on what I've seen with this project since I moved here nearly four years ago. I believe the Lazeses are working hard and it's apparent that they've invested a lot of money, plus I want to see the Music Factory succeed because it will make Charlotte an even more exciting place. But here's the reason for my views. One of the first articles I wrote for Charlotte magazine included an interview with Noah about the Music Factory. He took me on a tour of the complex and it was clear that there was a lot of work to be done. This was in August 2005. He was telling me about all of these great things that were going to be opening "next summer." He was naming a lot of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs and while I don't remember the names of most of them, I'm pretty sure I remember him mentioning Dale Earnhardt Jr. If any of you've been to the EpiCentre then you know that Dale Jr. opened Whisky River there in April 2008, the first nightlife venue to open at the new Uptown entertainment complex. I believe this is one of the places Aarthun is referring to when she mentions in the article that "In recent years, potential tenants have chosen to open elsewhere, unwilling to wait for completion of the development." But the article doesn't say who those potential tenants were.

The tour Lazes gave me nearly four years ago could've been a tour for the planned EpiCentre, in terms of the types of venues that were being talked about going there. I don't know who had their plans first, but Lazes was already a couple of years into construction before Afshin Ghazi even had the old Charlotte Convention Center torn down so he could build the EpiCentre on the land. As the saying goes, it's not how you start but how you finish. And today, the EpiCentre is one of the most talked about and envied entertainment complexes in the Southeast.

Lazes has faced a lot of scrutiny and has had his share of doubters over the years, and I guess you could say that I'm doing the same here. But I'll also point out that Ghazi had his share of nonbelievers, too. I interviewed him for a quick update on the EpiCentre for the January 2008 issue of Charlotte magazine ("End Coming") and talked about how he was proving his naysayers wrong. The main difference between the developments with Lazes and Ghazi, though, is that about three years after breaking ground with construction, Ghazi had the EpiCentre filled with more than 20 restaurants, bars, nightclubs, a movie theater, bowling alley, and hotel. Lazes has only opened office space, a music rehearsal hall, a nightclub, and now, this month, two live music venues after about six years of construction at the Music Factory. Plus, Lazes is trying to forge ahead in the midst of an economic recession--the Music Factory's website lists Butter Lounge, Crobar, and Wet Willie's among the venues that are scheduled to "begin opening in 2009." I would be surprised if any of those actually opened this year.

The NC Music Factory will eventually take shape, but I doubt if as originally planned. Then--with it and the EpiCentre--we'll have to see if Charlotte can support two visions of the same dream.

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NASCAR's Most Valuable Teams

As it does each year, Forbes released its list of NASCAR's most valuable teams yesterday. It comes as no surprise that each of the top ten teams is based in the Charlotte area, but if you've never seen this annual list before you might be surprised to see how much these teams are worth. Actually, it's really all about the top two.

Hendrick Motorsports--home to Gordon, Johnson, Earnhardt Jr., and Martin--is ranked number one for the umpteenth consecutive year, with an estimated value of $350 million (a 4 percent increase from last year). Roush Fenway Racing is valued at $270 million, but that's a 14 percent decrease. Beyond them, no other team is even close to $200 million.


Even though the article points out NASCAR's declining TV ratings and what has become obvious--the negative effect this economic recession is having on the sport, largely because of lost sponsorships--it reveals that the rich (teams) keep getting richer: "Fighting for a bigger slice of a shrinking pie have been the sport's most valuable teams, which continue to consolidate power at the top of the Sprint Cup Series standings. To date, all 13 races have been won by five of the sport's most valuable teams."

Click here to read the full article.

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Events for the Week: May 18-24

Your best weekly list for parties, nightlife, social, and cultural events in Charlotte. This isn’t intended to be a complete list of everything that's going on, but instead are the events GPT recommends.

Weeklong

May 19-24
Oprah Winfrey Presents The Color Purple
It’s your chance to see this award-winning “musical about love.” Tue.-Thu., 7:30 p.m.; Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 and 7:30 p.m. A limited number of tickets are still available, $35-$125. Belk Theater, Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, 130 N. Tryon St. www.blumenthalcenter.org.

May 21-23
Food Lion Speed Street
This annual festival takes over the streets of Uptown for three days in celebration of race week. You’ll find plenty of food and drinks form vendors, NASCAR driver appearances (Kyle Busch, Mark Martin, Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch, Jeff Burton, Richard Petty, and more), and several live musical performances headlined by Bell Biv Devoe, Rodney Atkins, Lifehouse, Gavin DeGraw, and Clint Black. Visit website for schedule. Free. Uptown, between Tryon and Brevard streets and Fourth and Eighth streets. www.600festival.com.

May 21-23
SpeedCentre
The EpiCentre is getting in on the action this year in celebration of this weekend’s NASCAR race. Although it is essentially copying off of Speed Street (live music and driver appearances, but they’re having Dale Earnhardt Jr.), you can enjoy this replica at the EpiCentre’s most popular nightspots: Suite, Whisky River, StrikeCity, BlackFinn, Pavilion, and Penthouse. Visit website for schedule. Free. EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St. www.speedcentrecharlotte.com.

Tuesday, May 19

Touch One Tuesdays (weekly event)
Come and enjoy open mic poetry and live music. Hosted by Filmore, with DJ Flemingo on the turntables. Presented by Touch One Productions. 9 p.m. $10 ($5 with college ID). Wine Up, 3306 N. Davidson St. www.wine-up.com.

Wednesday, May 20

Changing Times...Changing Minds
The topic of this month's community conversation and cocktail reception is "Providing and Paying for Infrastructure: The Impact of Growth on Communities." Local experts will discuss how to handle both existing demand and future growth. Panelists include Todd Mansfield, chairman and CEO of Crosland; Ned Curran, president and CEO of The Bissell Companies; and Danny Pleasant, director of the Charlotte Department of Transportation; moderated by Dr. Steven Ott, professor and director of the Center for Real Estate at UNC Charlotte. 6 p.m. Free. Levine Museum of the New South, 200 E. Seventh St. www.museumofthenewsouth.org.

Pop Life (weekly event)
It’s the most popular social networking event on a Wednesday night. Starts after work but runs past midnight. Music this week by DJ DR. Presented by Creative Loafing and The Sol Kitchen. 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Free. Apostrophe Lounge, 1440 S. Tryon St. www.apostrophelounge.com.

Trivia Night
It’s the kickoff of trivia night at this south Charlotte restaurant and bar, hosted by Larken Egleston. Test your general knowledge and compete for prizes like buckets of beer and gift cards. Plus it’s Wednesday, which means half-price bottles of wine. 8-11 p.m. Free. The Tavern On Park, 1600 Woodlawn Rd. www.thetavernonpark.com.

Thursday, May 21

Cufflinks and Cocktails
Presented by Charlotte’s Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity alumni, this event is held at a different bar each month. Come mingle with a group of well-dressed professionals, from 20- to 40-somethings. Drink and appetizer specials will be served. 6-10 p.m. Free. Blue Restaurant and Bar, 214 N. Tryon St. (corner of Fifth and College streets). www.cufflinksandcocktails.com.

Pre-Charlotte Fashion Week Industry Night
Come meet the new spokes models of Charlotte Fashion Week 2009, talk with show producers, designers, models, and photographers. All industry professionals welcome. Live music. 6 p.m. Free. Apostrophe Lounge, 1440 S. Tryon St. www.charlottencfashionweek.com.

Crips and Bloods: Made In America
See a screening of this provocative film about gang life, narrated by Forest Whitaker. Following the film will be a discussion about Charlotte’s increase in gang membership among young people and how you can get involved in our community gang prevention coalition, Gang of One. Presented by GenerationEngage. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. Johnson C. Smith University, Biddle Hall, 100 Beatties Ford Rd. www.generationengage.org/state/chltt.

Friday, May 22

Barack and Curtis: Manhood, Power, and Respect
This short film examines the contrasting styles of manhood exhibited by President Barack Obama and rapper/entertainment mogul Curtis Jackson aka 50 Cent. Two other short films will be shown, I Am Sean Bell and Reflections. Presented by Reel Soul Cinema. 7 p.m. $8. Afro-American Cultural Center, 401 N. Myers St. www.aacc-charlotte.org.

Summer Nights
Come dressed to impress at this party that’s sure to be live from the bar to the patio and look for many of Charlotte’s movers and shakers among the mostly 30-and-older crowd (25-and-up are welcomed). Music by DJ Daddy D. Presented by Digital Divas. 10 p.m. $10 in advance, more at the door. Sunset Club, 1820 South Blvd. www.digitaldivasevents.com.

Saturday, May 23

Coca-Cola 600
It’s NASCAR’s longest race of the season and one of the most exciting as many of the drivers compete in front of the home crowd. The 50th running of this race also provides plenty of pre-race entertainment as they pay tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces during Memorial Day weekend. 5:45 p.m. $10-$125. Lowe’s Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Pkwy. South, Concord. www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.

Chateau Noir Presents Destination
This elegant affair will feature a five course wine dinner prepared by Chateau Noir's Executive Chef Jay, along with live jazz by 5th and York, a cigar lounge, and after-dinner entertainment consisting of music by DJ Peace Parker and poetry by Concrete Generation. 7 p.m.-2 a.m.: dinner service, 8-10:30 p.m.; after-dinner entertainment, 11 p.m.-2 a.m. $95 for singles, $165 for couples. The Orchard House, 5125 Hamby Branch Rd. Concord. www.orchardhousenc.com or www.noirlife.com.

Sunday, May 24

Pre-Memorial Day List Party
To show appreciation to its supporters, Six Figure Entertainment is letting members of its email list in free until 11:30. Music by DJ Flemingo. 9:30 p.m. Visit website to join the list. Loft 1523, 1523 Elizabeth Ave. www.sixfigureentertainment.com.

The McCafé Experience
McDonald’s brings Dwele to town as part of this national touring event. 10 p.m. $15 in advance. Cans Bar and Canteen, 500 W. Fifth St. www.365black.com/365black/mccafe.jsp or www.ez-tixx.com.

A Night in XS
The popular promoters of “premium professional nightlife” are throwing a party featuring bongo players and belly dancers in addition to your favorite hip-hop and R&B spun by DJs. Presented by Inner Circle Events. 10 p.m. $15 in advance, more at the door. Cosmo’s Café, 300 N. College St. www.innercircleevents.com.

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Events for the Week: May 11-17

Your best weekly list for parties, nightlife, social, and cultural events in Charlotte. This isn’t intended to be a complete list of everything that's going on, but instead are the events GPT recommends.

Tuesday, May 12

United Way Young Leaders Breakfast
“The Economic Crisis and Its Impact on the Charlotte Community” is the topic of this first event in the United Way Young Leaders Breakfast Seminar Series. The keynote speaker is Matthew Martin, senior vice president of the Charlotte Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. 7:30-9 a.m. $7. AT&T, first floor auditorium, 300 S. Brevard St. www.uwyl.org.

The Equation of Entrepreneurship with Omar Tyree
The bestselling author introduces and signs his new book, The Equation: Applying the 4 Indisputable Components of Business Success. Hors d’oeuvres will be served. Sponsored by the Charlotte Black Chamber of Commerce. 7-9 p.m. $10. Blake Hotel, 555 S. McDowell St. www.cmbcc.org or www.omartyree.com.

Wednesday, May 13

NASCAR Rev’d Up
It’s a free event for race fans, celebrating the 25th running of the NASCAR Sprint Cup All Star race this weekend. 4-6:30 p.m.: Interactive displays, show cars, and giveaways. 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Performance by Simplified. 7:30-8:30 p.m.: NASCAR driver appearances. 8:30-10 p.m.: Headlining band O.A.R. perform. Uptown Charlotte, corner of Third and Mint Streets. www.nascar.com/promos/allstar.

Pop Life (weekly event)
It’s the most popular social networking event on a Wednesday night. Starts after work but runs past midnight. Music by select DJs. Presented by Creative Loafing and The Sol Kitchen. 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Free. Apostrophe Lounge, 1440 S. Tryon St. www.apostrophelounge.com.

Thursday, May 14

Alive After Five (weekly event)
The newly combined Alive After Five is now at its new home, the EpiCentre. Enjoy live music by this week’s bands, Deja Vu and Satisfaction (Rolling Stones tribute band). Both levels will be rocking and there’ll be plenty of drinks from cash bars scattered throughout. Wristbands get you into Blackfinn, Whisky River, Suite, and StrikeCity. 5-9:30 p.m. Free. The EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade St. www.aliveafterfiveatepicentre.com.

Chocolate and Wine Tasting
Girl Talk Foundation, Inc. presents its annual fundraiser. Proceeds benefit programs to help young girls. In addition to featuring great wine and chocolates, the event will also offer a silent auction, music, and celebrity guests. 5:30-8:30 p.m. $40. Morton’s Steakhouse, 227 W. Trade St. www.girltalkfoundationinc.com.

Best Of the Best Awards
Charlotte magazine presents its annual BOB Awards at this event, which coincides with its May issue. Meet some of the winners chosen as the best in shopping, dining, nightlife, sports, and more. Admission gets you food samplings from winning restaurants, complimentary cocktails, a bid number for the silent auction, and you're treated to live music performances. 6-9 p.m. $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Circle Court at SouthPark Mall, 4400 Sharon Rd. www.charlottemagazine.com.

NASCAR Pit Crew Challenge
This annual pre-All Star Race event gives you the chance to see pit crews compete head to head for the fastest pit times. 7 p.m. $15-$25. Time Warner Cable Arena, 333 E. Trade St. www.pitcrewchallenge.com.

RSVP Thursdays with Jamal Woolard
The rapper known as Gravy who starred in Notorious last year at the Notorious B.I.G. hosts this party tonight. Free food and drink specials. Music by Power 98’s Danny Diaz. 8 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Free before 11 p.m. if you RSVP to decor.rsvpthursday@gmail.com. Décor 1202, 1202 Charlottetowne Ave. www.decor1202.com.

Snoop Dogg
The Doggfather performs his biggest hits. 8 p.m. $38 and up. Amos’ Southend. 1423 S. Tryon St. www.amossouthend.com.

Friday, May 15

Friday Afterwork Rendezvous (weekly event)
End your workweek on a high note at this networking party, held at a different venue each week. Enjoy drink and appetizer specials and live music by electric violinist Ken Ford. A DJ spins afterwards. Presented by Talk of the Town. 6-11 p.m. Free. Utopia Restaurant, 10210 Berkeley Place Dr. www.utopianc.com.

SlamCharlotte Poetry Slam
Witness Charlotte’s own two-time defending national championship team of spoken word poets (2007 and 2008 winners) do what they do best at this monthly event. SlamCharlotte’s current Slammaster, Bluz, is the 13th ranked individual poet in the world. Show contains adult language and content. 8 p.m. $10. McGlohon Theatre, 345 North College St. www.blumenthalcenter.org.

Drinks @ Kiss
This monthly cocktail mixer attracts great crowds to one of the city’s trendiest lounges. Featuring $3 Kiss shots, $5 apple martinis, and $5 pinot noir. DJ DR will be playing the best in R&B, hip-hop, and reggae. 9:30 p.m. Free before 10:30 p.m. with RSVP. $10 and up after. Kiss Lounge, 204 W. Woodlawn Rd. www.mingleberry.com/drinks.

Saturday, May 16

For Sisters Only
This 10th annual event is the largest, annual African-American entertainment and empowerment expo in the Carolinas, featuring musical performances, shopping, speakers, financial seminars, cooking demonstrations, and more. CNN commentator Donna Brazile will be the keynote speaker. Performances by Case, Mary Mary, K'Jon, Urban Mystic, and Ginuwine. Presented by V101.9 and Power 98. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Blake Hotel, 555 S. McDowell St. www.v1019.com.

AACC Art Auction and Fundraiser
The Afro-American Cultural Center hosts its annual fundraiser and silent auction, featuring 50 works by Charlotte artist Nellie Ashford as well as the works of other artists. Refreshments will be served. 2-6 p.m. Free. Afro-American Cultural Center, 401 N. Myers St. www.aacc-charlotte.org.

NASCAR Sprint Cup All-Star Race
This annual all-star competition features a unique four-part format that produces the sport’s most intense race. Only the top drivers are eligible to compete, with the winner guaranteed at least $1 million. 7:30 p.m. $10-$75. Lowe’s Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Pkwy. South, Concord. www.lowesmotorspeedway.com.

PlayDate Charlotte
Charlotte has joined the network of more than 30 cities that offer this alternative to typical partying and nightclubbing. It premiered last month to a sellout crowd. Enjoy music and drinks while playing card games, checkers, dominoes, Connect Four, Twister, Monopoly, and more. 9 p.m.-2 a.m. $10. Venue 301, 301 E. Ninth St. www.playdatecharlotte.com.

Rick Ross
The Boss (or bawwsse as he says it) celebrates his new album, Deeper Than Rap. Music by DJ Buttafingerz and hosted by No Limit Larry. 10 p.m. Cost varies. Club Ice, 300 E. Stonewall St. www.clubicenc.com.

Sunday, May 17

Chocolate Sundays
Touted as “a sexy soiree geared strictly towards Charlotte’s young, astute professionals,” this event gives you a great opportunity to unwind on a Sunday night. Proper dress is required (sexy preferred). Presented by Savoir Faire and Jane Doe Marketing. 8 p.m.-midnight. PJ’s Coffee & Lounge, 210 E. Trade St. (inside the EpiCentre). www.savoirfairemarketing.com.

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Dale Jr. Has Another New Product

I just saw this TV commercial for Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s new motorcycle figurine collection. When it first came on, I thought actual motorcycles were being sold. But these models are about eight inches long. Dale Jr. continues to be the ultimate product endorser ("The Future of Dale Jr.'s Camaro?") and it seems like I'm seeing him in more commercials and advertisements than ever ("Dale Jr.'s Got Bank").



NASCAR is hurting from the economy, but Jr.'s not. Some of the other race car drivers, who win far more races than Jr., have to be ticked. I can't think of any other sport where the guy who makes the most money and receives the most endorsements isn't the best in his field. I'm not knocking Jr.--he always comes across as being very humble and I believe he's working hard on the track--but he isn't even a top-ten driver. He finished 12th in last season's Chase and he's currently 16th in the standings after six races this season.

But Dale Jr. will continue to be the most popular driver in NASCAR for several years to come. And now you fans can add another piece of memorabilia to your collection. Visit www.dalejrbike.com for more on the motorcycle figurines.

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Dale Jr.'s Got Bank

Nascar.com writer Raygan Swan has written a great article that details just how popular Dale Earnhardt Jr. is and how that translates into big bucks. Below are a few standout excerpts, with the most astonishing being that he controls 40 percent of the marketplace. For one driver, that's insane! NASCAR may be feeling the pinch from this economic recession, but if you're riding with Junior you're sitting pretty.

• Earnhardt's face is virtually on every purchasable product in America from candy bars to clothing. Be it a Dale Jr. binky or a Dale Jr. garden accessory, the selection is so vast you could furnish your entire house with his likeness. He controls 40 percent of the marketplace for licensed product sales for NASCAR drivers and sold at least 20 million units last year.
• Now, Earnhardt is expanding his portfolio into assets he knows will be around long after he retires from racing. Among the first has been Whisky River, Earnhardt's signature nightclub that opened last spring. "It's more successful than I anticipated by three or four times. I had a pretty good idea where I felt like I was going to be but it just quadrupled," Earnhardt said of the club's overnight popularity in Charlotte's uptown.
• Earnhardt also has real estate interests. Besides owning a company, he also has partnerships in two tracks: one in Paducah, Ky., and another in Mobile County, Ala. The Alabama Motorsports Park is under construction and boasts three racing venues: a road course, a karting track and an oval track that's being branded "A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speedway." Gates at the 2,400-acre complex are expected to be fully operational by 2011.

Click here to read the full article, "Passion of Dale Jr. Fosters Sweeping Business Empire."

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My First Time: StrikeCity

Last night my homeboy Lenny and I attended the grand opening of StrikeCity at EpiCentre. I'm not going to spend too much time describing StrikeCity here but to let you know that it's a bowling alley on steroids and you should check it out.

StrikeCity has more TVs than you can count--I can assure you've never seen more projection screens and plasmas in one place. That makes me think it will become just as popular as a sports bar as it will a bowling alley. The place was packed when we got there a little after 8 p.m. We managed to snag a seat at one of the bars, which was perfect for us to watch the Boston Celtics-Detroit Pistons game (Celtics guard Ray Allen is from our high school). I ordered a drink and the chicken Parmesan sandwich with fries, and my food arrived in five minutes. I knew that StrikeCity had a partnership with Libretto's Pizza next door but I didn't expect my food to get there so quickly and so hot.

So we're sitting at the bar along the front counter, and the side counter of the L-shaped bar extends into one of the bowling alley's private rooms. We could see directly into the room's lounge area, but we couldn't see the private lanes that were around the corner. While chomping on my sandwich in between glancing up at the game, who do I see standing five feet away from me as he walks up to the bar? None other than Dale Earnhardt Jr. himself.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the bar. I didn't bring my digital camera, so all I could muster were these camera phone pics.

I've met Dale Jr. a couple of times before at NASCAR races and media events, but this is the first time I've ever seen him out in a social setting. He was classic Jr.--collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up and blue jeans (couldn't tell you if they were Wrangler's, though). It was him and his crew, including several attractive women, hanging in the private room. I saw a couple of his homeys motion for hot chicks to come around from our side on over to their side. Hey, that's one of the primary roles of members of an entourage. Man Law.

And I must say, not only was the food excellent, but so was the service. Our bartenders were Jack and Jill, two hotties in their own right (short for Jackie and Jillian, if I remember correctly). I asked Jill to recommend a drink and she told me I should have the Mighty Mouse. I'd never heard of it but she made it of 151 Absolut, Amaretto, 99 Bananas, orange juice, pineapple juice, and Sprite. I now think I have a new favorite drink.

Jill, left, and Jack are bartenders at StrikeCity.

This was my second night in a row hanging at EpiCentre. Lenny was in town for a couple of days and when I have friends visiting I usually end up going out more than I would ordinarily. Plus, this happened to be a week when I had tickets/invites to a couple of events. Thursday night we went to the Swatches & Scotches event at Suite. It was to introduce the launching of Astor & Black Custom Clothiers in Charlotte. That was the swatches reference; the scotches was the free samples of scotch. We stayed there for a couple of hours then went to Mez for dinner, the trendy restaurant that's connected to Epicentre Theaters. Mez was crowded, too, as was PJ's Coffee & Lounge, which we only popped into for a minute before heading home.

It's going to be interesting to see how the EpiCentre continues to transform nightlife in uptown Charlotte. I think StrikeCity was the last major opening for the massive entertainment complex. If you haven't been to EpiCentre yet, you have to see it for yourself. It's like an outlet mall of restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, with a few shops and the Aloft Hotel sprinkled in between.

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The Future of Dale Jr.'s Camaro?

General Motors recently announced that it would be delaying the start of production of the 2010 Chevy Camaro by one month. The start date is now scheduled for March 16 and GM expects the first cars to be ready by late spring. The completely redesigned Camaro was a big hit at auto shows last year, and it's been reported that more than 10,000 people are on the waiting list to purchase them once they begin arriving at dealerships. It's presumable that the terrible state the U.S. car companies are in, in this case GM, is what's caused the delay.

But GM needs to get the Camaro out as soon as possible. This is a car they have that people actually want to buy, and a Chevy at that. I'm sure it'll debut eventually, but I'm now wondering what will come of the Chevrolet Camaro Dale Earnhardt Jr. Concept car that premiered at the SEMA Show last fall. The popular NASCAR driver, who is known for driving his own 1972 Camaro around Kannapolis and Mooresville, partnered with GM on the design and tricked out the new Camaro by lowering it, putting on bigger tires and custom rims (21 inches), flipping the paint scheme, and customizing the interior including upgrading the sound system. And under the hood there's added horsepower.

If Dale Jr. is nothing else, he's an iconic brand. I bet GM would sell thousands of this model just off his name. They need to put one on display outside Whisky River and let the young guys get a look at it.

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