The chatter USED to start down here around late October. Around mid / late January, you'd start seeing "24" or "3" flags and others, hanging on houses. Local TV and Radio Sports outlets would be buzzing about it. The 2-3 days prior, here in Jacksonville, you'd see cars on I-10, 295, or I-95 (ESPECIALLY) flying flags of their favorite driver's number. The last few years?? I have seen NOTHING?? Yesterday, I honestly forgot the race was on till me and my Wife went into a BBQ Restaurant and it was on a TV........That NOBODY even glanced at. I looked up and saw a rather bad wreck happening but not a word from anyone in the restaurant. And lemme tell ya...We live on the Westside of Jacksonville (ALWAYS known for NASCAR fans) Heck, I even hear more chatter about HOCKEY than I do NASCAR. As an outsider, I will always say Earnhardt's death was the start of a RAPID downfall.
