IMO after the death of Dale Sr. Junior realized he was going to have to grow up real fast and I believe he did just that. Last season showed that he can have ups and downs. The media ofcourse jumped all over this and was quick to say, will junior ever be like his father? Now that he is in contention this season, the media is quick to hype him up. The medias perspective changes so often that it makes people think of drivers in a different way. Dale Jr. is not overrated, he has plenty of years left in him.