Dale Earnhardt Jr Confident for Daytona

July 2, 2009 by RacingWin
Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr, Media 

Dale Jr Autographed Items

 

Can Dale Jr Win Daytona?

Dale Earnhardt Jr and Lance McGrew

Apparently he thinks so. “I bring a lot of confidence there and always enjoyed going there when I was a kid. It’s always been one of my favorite tracks,” said Earnhardt.

Earnhardt has 12 wins at Daytona including the 2004 Daytona 500 and the 2001 Pepsi 400. He has two Budweiser Shootout wins, and a handful of wins in the Nationwide series. He knows how to be fast at this race track.

Dale Earnhardt Jr has had a lot of success at Daytona – but he will have some strong competition. Toyota’s have shown some strong runs on restrictor plate tracks in the past couple of years, and Junior will have Kyle Busch to deal with. Tony Stewart and Jeff Gordon have shown a lot of momentum lately. I wouldn’t be surprised to see either of them at the front of the pack.

Dale Jr says he enjoys running Saturday night under the lights at the 2.5 mile high banked Daytona International Speedway. “It’s a little more laid back in July. In February, everybody is nervous because it’s the beginning of the season. Everybody is wondering how their year is going to go, how their car is going to drive. Everybody knows by the time July rolls around,” Junior said.

Crew Chief Confident

Crew chief Lance McGrew says the July race is much more difficult than the Daytona 500. “The track is so slick in July. You go down there the first time and it’s all about qualifying and then you worry about the race afterwards. Well, this is an impound race. You have to worry about the race first and qualifying second. So, build some more downforce into the cars. They don’t qualify as fast but they drive a lot better in traffic. It’s not like Daytona is ever easy to get around. It’s way more difficult in July because the track is really hard to get a hold of.”

Special Paint Scheme

“It’s a little more laid back in July. In February, everybody is nervous because it’s the beginning of the season.” ~ Dale Earnhardt Jr

Dale Earnhardt Jr will be sporting a special National Guard paint scheme to honor our Nation’s soldiers in the Fourth of July race. “I’ve seen the car, and it’s really cool,” said Lance McGrew. “All of us have an enormous amount of gratitude for what the armed services do for us. And it’s cool that on the Independence Day of our nation we get to carry the National Guard on our car, or I guess a better way of putting it is that they are carrying us around. It definitely makes you reflect on the all the privileges and freedoms that you have living in the United States. The fact that we can represent the armed services in any way definitely brings a sense of pride to me and this race team.”

So who do you think has the best chance of going to Victory Lane Saturday?

Quick Race Facts

Fast Facts

The Race: Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola

The Date: Saturday, July 4

The Track: Daytona International Speedway (2.5-mile tri-oval)

The Time: 8 p.m. ET

The Distance: 400 miles/160 laps

TV: TNT, 6:30 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN and Sirius Satellite (local MRN: WNDB-AM 1150/WKRO-FM 93.1)

2008 Polesitter: Paul Menard

2008 Winner: Kyle Busch

Pre-Race Day Schedule: Thursday-Practice, 4-5:20 p.m. and 6:35-8 p.m. Friday-Qualifying, 4:10 p.m.

Photo Courtesy Hendrick Motorsports

 

 


 

 

Tags:

Comments

23 Comments on Dale Earnhardt Jr Confident for Daytona

  1. mouse on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 5:54 pm

    2. I think Dale Jr. can make it in the top ten by the time the race is over, could possibly win. No matter what, I’m sticking with him. I think with the new crew chief, Dale will listen to him more and get the feedback that he needs to win. Go Dale, my heart and soul goes for you to do what needs to be done and the press ought to back off and give you space to relax and race and have fun again doing what you love to do. All the best.
    Tina

  2. harry kimmey on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 6:04 pm

    3. i will bet jr, won’t win. maybe top ten, to many fast cars out there. i’ll bet on kyle, but i hope someone gives him what he deserves . i think most of the drivers stay out of his way if possible. he does make things happen to better himself, a lot like dale sr. did and r. wallace, whatever it takes to win.

  3. Mama Donia on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 6:22 pm

    4. Dale,Jr. has always run good at Daytona, even tho Dale,Sr died there, he was the one that really won big time at Daytona. I think Jr. will run good Saturday, if he doesn’t get into a wreck. I have always been an Earnhardt fan and will stick with Jr. regardless of what he does. He is trying and I think the crew at Hendricks will get him back on target, I truly hope so, I think Rick H. will do everything possible to make it happen. Good Luck, Love ya, Junebug!!!!!!

  4. janet on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 6:40 pm

    5. I’m with you,I think that the press should just maybe focus on someone else and let Dale Jr.
    breath and be able to race, I have always been
    his fan and that will never stop.
    GO JR.

  5. Donna on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 7:03 pm

    6. I wouldn’t count Dale Jr. out at Daytona because he has won several races here ..So I think he can get his first victory of this season with no troubles at all as long as his CC and crew get it done for him on pit road ..So Go Dale Jr. Go !!!! no doubt in my mind we will see a good race from him and his team ..

  6. BONNIE PACEK on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 7:28 pm

    7. GO JR. I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT !!! I AM WITH YOU ALL THE WAY NO MATTER WHAT PLACE YOU COME IN . BUT THIS IS YOUR WEEK I CAN FEEL IT. KEEP IT COOL AND JUST THINK RACING…. GO GO GO!!!

  7. Rick on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 7:43 pm

    8. 4EVER3GODALEJR.!!!

  8. yankeegranny on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 8:06 pm

    9. I put him on my fantasy team for the first time in a long, long time. Think he and special K will be in the top three or winner;s circle this weekend.

  9. marcel on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 9:50 pm

    10. Jr. could finish, not in the top 15 and wont make the chase this year. He cant due it with a top team, then maybe he drives for a low budget team and he can become their #1 driver.

  10. BEVERLY on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 9:51 pm

    11. DALE JR CAN DO IT !! GO ALL THE WAY GET ER DONE!!
    GO DALE JR #88

  11. Goldie on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 10:31 pm

    12. I’m so glad to see Jr. smiling a little more. I think he feels confident about Daytona, since he has done so well there. We fans never know what is going on in the minds of these race drivers. I’m sure they have personal problems like we do, so sometimes it takes time to work them out. Here’s to you Jr. I wish you well this weekend and I’ll be shouting for you as usual. I might even set off a few firecrackers to celebrate your win!!!

  12. Sherri Tolley on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 10:39 pm

    13. Will stick with Dale, Jr., no matter what!!! He’s a good driver, fair, and has more personality than half the other guys put together. It must be tough for him to race at the track where his dad died. Give him a break, let him race, pray he wins, and stand behind him all the way. Go Dale, Jr., show them you can do it. Jut remember, God and your dad will be riding with you!!

  13. Glenn H on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 10:39 pm

    14. I refuse to give up on junebug. I am hoping for nothing less than a victory Saturday night and I think the crew and Dale are ready for one. Perhaps Daytona could not have come at a better time for them. Back off media and let them TCOB! GO JR!!!!!! 88

  14. kitkat on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 10:48 pm

    15. dale cms confident and i believe in him all the way and iv bin a fan since the beginnin;)…but if the press would give him a lil more space so he can relax and juss drive mayb hed b a lil betta cause there wouldnt b sum1 remindin him bout the pressure!!!!!!!!!

    go dale jr!!!!;)

  15. mamadew88 on Thu, 2nd Jul 2009 11:07 pm

    16. Harry Kimmey….likes KB so much he needs to go to his website and leave our Junior alone. Daytona is an EARNHARDT track just like Louden, KB will cause a wreck and blame someone else, mainly Jr.
    Jr. has more fans, personility and brains, is a gentleman compared to Mr. Jealous. When someone delibrerately compares themselves to a wonderful person, they actually admire that person and wish to be like them.

    JUNIOR LOVES DAYTONA AND CAN WIN HERE !!!!!!

  16. YaiYai on Fri, 3rd Jul 2009 12:15 am

    17. Go Jr. I hope you go and have fun and do your best. the rest will fall in place.Stress and pressure will weigh you down. So go out and enjoy yourself doing what you do best. Nothing works if its not fun. I know you can do it, you know you can do it, and your fans know you can do it. So just do it and I know you have alot of class and you are so darn ethical but if you get the opportunity to take that whiney Kyle Busch out you sure would make alot of people happy. Be safe

  17. Jr's Angel on Fri, 3rd Jul 2009 2:19 am

    18. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO JR. You can do it, hon. I have complete confidence in you and your crew chief and crew. Pay no attention to kyle lil tit crybaby busch, MR JEALOUSY. He will undoubtedly cause a major wreck and blame everyone but himself, and I will be watching smiling!!!

  18. Lawana on Fri, 3rd Jul 2009 10:09 am

    19. Dale Jr. has to feel a certain sadness when coming to this track. His Dad died there. All the more reason to stand back and let the boy have some peace. He wants to win as bad as his fans want him to, but with everyone putting so pressure on him…you couldn’t function either. We will pray that this is his week. What better track to make a come back at!!!
    I am behind you. Don’t listen to the Busch brothers. NO one likes them and they can’t stand it.
    Go all the way and carry the checkered flag to victory lane. If you don’t..you’re fans still love you.

  19. Doowah on Fri, 3rd Jul 2009 12:19 pm

    20. I don’t understand you people. You are supposed to be dedicated JR fans but you seem to have Kyle on your minds as much as you have JR on your minds. I think that if the truth be known, a lot of you are secretly Kyle fans but are afraid to admit it. May be that Kyle is just as popular as JR.

  20. charlotte on Sat, 4th Jul 2009 8:52 am

    21. jr is going to w-i-n…………..tonight! at daytona! i believe in him completely… i will never give up on junebug.and he is racing where his dad got killed. i believe dale will have someone looking over him tonight!
    go junebug! we love you. alway’s a jr fan.

  21. charlotte on Sat, 4th Jul 2009 8:59 am

    22. kyle will never be as popular as jr! he might want to be. but no! kyle is just kyle. someone who is mad because they replaced him with jr! he will never get over that! he’s jealous.that’s all….i will never be a kyle fan, but my husband likes his driving. he’s to wreckless! when he’s near jr,and he wrecks people, look who he blames! (jr) of course. so he’s looking for someone else to blame.
    so go junebug! show all of them tonight! jr fan

  22. Jim Fulbright on Sat, 4th Jul 2009 9:38 am

    23. Go Kyle Go~~~~~~

  23. Deborah on Sun, 5th Jul 2009 1:13 am

    24. He went all right. Right into the wall.

Tell me what you're thinking...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!