It's funny because the opposite happened for me. For so many years, I couldn't STAND him! Hated his popularity. Hated how he won all the time. Found him annoying. Did all I could to cheer for Etchells, Hofmann, Larson and Bazemore over the years.
Then in 2007 when Ashley started racing, I saw another side of him. His worry about her made him more human. Also, he wasn't winning as much. And especially after his Dallas accident. Here is a living legend in our sport, that we are lucky to watch every time he gets on the starting line now. Now I love the guy and cheer for him and his team (though I do prefer Ashley as my favorite Force racing daughter)., and I have so much respect for what he has done for our sport, and in sports in general.