Dale Jr, Kyle Busch Ready to Rumble

by RacingWin
Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr

Busch, Earnhardt and Stewart Prepare For NASCAR’s Longest Battle

Kyle Busch thinks he can win NASCAR’s longest race Sunday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina.

Dale Earnhardt Jr is confident he can return the No. 88 to Victory Lane.

Jimmie Johnson is betting they’re both wrong. Johnson is the only driver with an average finish of better than 10 at the track – his is 8.9. Johnson has 3 wins in Charlotte’s 600 mile race.

All three of them had better keep an eye on Tony Stewart, Smoke is fresh of an All Star win – his first as an owner / driver.

Busch Says You Can Win Them All

When Kyle Busch was asked which race he most wants to win he simply replied “All of them. Next week is where you want to win next.” But Busch seemed to have Memorial Day weekend circled on his calendar. “Winning at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, since it is my favorite track would be really special,” said Busch.

He’s finished in the top four in the last three races at Lowes Motor Speedway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr made his Cup debut at this race track on May 30, 1999. He’s led 312 laps there in his career – just never the last one. But he does have one pole position at LMS, along with five top-5 finishes, and nine top-10s.

Junior Says Race Mentally Tough

Junior has his eye on another pole. “Qualifying is pretty important. Having a pit stall that you like can be an advantage the whole race. It’s a long race, with a lot of stops, and leading the race and being in clean air is real important. It really doesn’t matter if you had a bad qualifying effort because you have plenty of time to get to the front, but pit selection is probably the most important part about it.”

“That last 100 miles is really tough mentally. Trying to stay focused and trying to stay devoted to what you’re doing.” ~ Dale Earnhardt Jr.

So is it really that much harder for a driver to run 500 miles instead of 500? “You think you wouldn’t notice another 100 miles added,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr, “but mentally you do. That last 100 miles is really tough mentally. Trying to stay focused and trying to stay devoted to what you’re doing because it’s so easy just to kind of go, ‘I’m tired.’ Physically it’s not a problem, but mentally your brain is just worked after it’s over with. I like it. I love this racetrack. I love this area. I’m glad to be home these two weeks. I think it’s awesome we run a 600-mile race at Charlotte.”

Grueling in the Pits

It’s a tough race to call for a crew chief, too. “It’s a long race. It’s really difficult because when you start the track is really hot, really greasy,” said Tony Eury Jr, crew chief on the 88. As night comes it really cools down and the car tightens up quite a bit. You’ve really got to have a car that is crutched to get through that first leg of the 600. The first 150 laps you want to make sure you don’t tear up the car and aren’t too loose and you can adjust from there. The key is to get through those first 150 laps without any problems and then you can have a good night.”

“You are going to have 12 or more pit stops. There are going to be gas-and-go’s, two-tire stops and a lot of strategy on pit road.”

So who really has the edge for this 600 mile race?

Fast Race Facts

The Race: Coca-Cola 600

The Date: Sunday, May 24

The Track: Lowe’s Motor Speedway (1.5-mile quad-oval)

The Time: 5:45 p.m. ET

The Distance: 400 laps/600 miles

TV: FOX. 5:00 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN and Sirius Satellite

(WSOC-FM 103.7 local)

2008 Polesitter: Kyle Busch

2008 Winner: Kasey Kahne

Schedule: Thursday, Practice, 3-

4:30. Qualifying, 7:10. Saturday, 2:45-3:30 and 6-6:50 p.m.

Tags: charlotte 600

Comments

24 Comments on Dale Jr, Kyle Busch Ready to Rumble

john on

I am a Junior Fan . I hope he gets a good quailifying position so he gets a good pit stall. Because i am real tired of him messing up on Pit Road.