Obviously, without the name, he wouldn't have had the privileges that he has enjoyed but he has shown himself to be a pretty decent driver. Not at his dad's level but among the current drivers only Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon (in his prime) are.
I have come to like Junior. I once disliked him but I came to realize that I really disliked his obnoxious fans and that Dale Junior himself seems a nice guy. I'd be happy for Dale if he won a Cup.
It's a shame he had to go through all he did to get to this point, losing his dad, losing his mojo as a driver for a time, cutting himself loose from the old and familiar to start again, and doing it all under continual public scrutiny and opinion.
But, he didn't fall into a rut like so many others have and he didn't quit, either. He worked his way through all the way to the other side and came out better for the struggles. Impressive.
I can see why he's the sport's most popular driver and it isn't just because of his dad anymore. He's earned it for himself.
Yes, he is good, but I like Greg Biffle, Joey Logano, Brad Kolowski, Carl Edwards (even though be drive a Toy), Matt Kenseth (ditto) and Jeff Gordon. Ricky Stenhouse might be good driver, too...Chase Elliott, too.