Michigan Answer Back: Have Your Say

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Filed under: Race Report 

Michigan Answer Back: Have Your Say

Dale Earnhardt Jr saw some light at the end of the tunnel but it was Brian Vickers who took the checkered flag in the Carfax 400 at Michigan Sunday.

Vickers gave Toyota their first win at the Brooklyn, Michigan track that has long been dominated by Ford and Chevy. The track is in the backyard of the Big 3 US Automakers.

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Vickers got the win by stretching his gas mileage and drafting Jimmie Johnson in the races closing laps. I think even Vickers was surprised he could make it on fuel.

“Coming to two to go I’m still sweating bullets, said Vickers. “When Jimmie ran out I knew at that point we had enough lead on Jeff that all I had to do was get to the finish.  But it was definitely a sickening feeling in the bottom of my stomach we could run out at any minute.  I felt confident about how much I saved, but it’s hard not to worry about it.”

“Well, I don’t want to get too excited, You want to be up front every week like this.” ~ Dale Earnhardt Jr

Dale Earnhardt Jr and his fans finally had a reason to celebrate today after Junior led some laps and took the No. 88 Chevy home third.

“Well, I don’t want to get too excited,” said Dale Jr. “You want to be up front every week like this.  You want to be there the whole race.  You don’t want to just come up there through the last 50 laps and surprise everybody.”

“We’re working really hard,” said Earnhardt.  “Never worked so hard to run third.  I’ve won races working a whole lot easier than this.”

Earnhardt rebounded after pitting early with a vibration. “We had gotten really loose, said Earnhardt.  I flipped off the right front blower.  I got this real bad vibration after about 30 laps.”

Mark Martin was one of the big losers today; finishing 31st. Martin was the next to the last car on the lead lap and dropped to 12th in the points standings. Martin is in danger of falling out of Chase contention.

Jeff Gordon rallied from a hard crash last week at Watkins Glen to finish 2nd. Gordon continued to deny that his back was bothering him – even though he appeared pretty stiff during the pre-race ceremonies. “My back is fine, said Gordon from the media center after the race. “ I would rather be third in points right now and had that win today.  That’s all that really matters at this point for us.  We’re having a great year.  We’re showing that we’re strong, a great team.”

Fuel strategy bit Jimmie Johnson when he ran out of gas while leading in the race’s closing laps. Brian Vickers took over the top spot and held it to the finish.

So what’s your take on the race? I know you’ve got an opinion – let’s hear it.

 

 

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41 Comments on Michigan Answer Back: Have Your Say

  1. connie on

    2. i see that bush is back to his wining
    man when is going to grow up

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  2. Birddog on

    3. Also the Jr. nation is jumping for joy even though Jr. did not race his way to a 3rd. place finish but just used good pit strategy which everyone will tell you; that is not racing ! I just wish he would leave Hendrick and form his own team(s).

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    RacingWin Reply:
    August 16th, 2009 at 10:22 pm

    Birddog, I would say that pit strategy is very much racing. I would also say that Junior did race his way to third.

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  3. Rose M Misner on

    4. Kyle is such a sissy fied fairie. WAHHHH. Go home to ur mother.

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  4. jim on

    5. I loved Yesterdays Nationwide race when they interviewed busch after the race.Didn’t Busch say it’s never JR’s fault!!!! I loved it!!! If he’s not careful he’ll be looking for another ride.
    Keep winning Brad!!!!Keep pressure on Busch He’ll self distruct

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  5. Diane on

    6. 3rd isn’t going to make a bit of difference when your standing at 25th place!

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  6. Tom on

    7. 3rd place is a good confidence builder for the whole team, even tho it does no good for Jr’s standing. Everything positive is good, for morale. A team that seems to attract bad luck, needs a 3rd place finish, its all good.

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  7. chaz on

    8. id find a way to smash kryles face if he had came up on me like that..thats what itz gonna take to shut the punk up. now thats what the good ole boyz would do…

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  8. Jane on

    9. Go Jr. third place is a good start. Atlanta is a good track for you to win. Georgia loves you. Brad did good in the nationwide race.He is going to beat Bush ever race. Give him something to cry about. Bush has no sportmanship about him. I hope they make him quit doing nationwide. He does not deserve the points. Go 88.

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  9. Doug Cox on

    10. Same old Kyle Busch Continuing problem. Always has, Always will create problems. Just his nature.

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  10. Marie on

    11. I was really glad to see Jr. finish 3rd. Yes, he did race to the 3rd place finish. They got the car right and he showed that he still has what it takes! I know today’s finish did a lot for his morale and I know he is really proud of his Nationwide driver, Brad. Jr. will be back on top. Every driver has experienced hard luck at one time or another. He is my #1 favorite and I will remain a loyal fan no matter how long until he wins again. And I have every confidence that he will win again. Congratulations to Vickers on today’s win; I’m sure Kyle Busch just loved that. Maybe one of these days, he’ll seethe so much at not getting his way that he’ll instantaneously combust!!

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  11. Allen,Debbie, & Jeremy on

    12. Congratulations to Jr.!!! It’s got to help lift him and his team up. I also think the new crew chief has helped alot. Jr. could drive before and he can still drive. People just like to find fault with him.. Go Jr.!!!!!

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  12. Paul on

    13. Kyle Bush continues on his childish ways, just has to think he has to win all the time. He is actually worst than his brother, he needs to grow up if he wants to stay a racer.

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  13. LINDA S on

    14. I WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE DALE JR’S FINISH. HE RACED HARD JUST LIKE ALWAYS.. HE FINALLY HAD A CAR WORTHY OF HIS DRVING ABILITY.. A FEW MORE LAPS AND HE WOULD HAVE WON THAT RACE… GREAT AS ALWAYS GO 88……..LAUGHED MY SELF SILLY WHEN BRAD PASSED THOSE TWO JERKS UPS LAST NIGHT IT WAS GREAT

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  14. Mavis on

    15. Great for Jr to finish 3rd. Good boost for his team, too. Hope they can keep it up. Sure, he was in 25th but now he’s 21st so why isn’t it good? I know he’s not in the chase but they can start building for next year. I’m still coming down off the high of watching that race and hoping for some more drivers like Vickers to run out of gas. He ran out too late!

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  15. Mama Donia on

    16. Folks: Some of you will never be happy regardless of what Jr. does or where he finishes. Didn’t you’ll see Jr.’s face when he got out of his car? It was red as a beet. I’m very very proud of Jr., he worked his tail off today, he got up on that wheel and really tried his best to get to the front. As far as Kyle Busch, maybe he will not make the chase, and i’m sure he’ll blame Jr. for that. Still same old Kyle, he’s just mad that Brad has out run him twice in the last couple or three races. Just hope Brad will stay with Mr. Hendrick and the team, if he does, Mr. Hendrick will make it pay off for Brad for sure. Hopefully today is just the beginning of Jr.’s turn around, Love Ya, Junebug, we’re with you all the way.

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  16. Mama Donia on

    17. CONGRADULATIONS!!!!! To Brad, Pops Eury, Dale Jr., and the whole #88 team. I was screaming to the top of my lungs, really happy for everyone. Great to see Brad out run Vickers and Busch, keep doing it, Brad.!!!!!

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  17. Ronda on

    18. What a great win for Brad Keselowski! Also a Jr fan, but I have to say he lacks in the owner department. Jr always complained when he was at DEI that they didn’t support him and never met him in victory lane. Where is he when Brad wins? This week he was even at the same track! No excuse. Jr you need to support your driver! Set an example.

    Also need to put my two cents in on Kyle. What a jerk! Would loved to have seen Vickers punch his lights out! Needs anger mgt. He pretends to enjoy it when the fans Boo. I think when he wins we should all be absolutely silent! So quiet you can hear a pin drop. Kyle doesn’t even deserve our Boos.

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  18. harry kimmey on

    19. WANTED JR. TO WIN,MAYBE NEXT TIME. HE DID SAY HOW NASCAR NEEDED TO MAKE IT A RACE AGAIN,THAT MADE A LOT OF SENSE TO ME. THE FANS ARE STAYING HOME BECAUSE OF THE MONEY AND THE RACE IS BORRING UNTIL THE LAST 30 LAPS. HAD TWO THIS WEEK END. KYLE DID MAKE IT A LITTLE EXCITING AFTER THE RACE. THE NATIONWIDE AND THE SPRINT RACE HAD MANY SEATS EMPTY AGAIN.THE FAST TRACKS ARE REALLY A BORE.

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  19. Sherri Tolley on

    20. It was good to see Jr. in a top 5 win – 3rd isn’t that shabby and it’s a start. Jr.will always be no. 1 in my book. He will be back in the winners circle. As for Bush – I think the statement “I didn’t realize it was a Kyle Bush race – I thought it was NASCAR!” Couldn’t have been said better. When is he ever going to get it in his head that he is NOT no.1? Keep up the good work Dale, Jr., we are proud of you.

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  20. bev on

    21. GREAT RACING JR!!!!!! SO HAPPY TO SEE YOUR LUCK TURN AROUND FOR THE BETTER!!! I HOPE THAT THIS IS THE TURNING POINT FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM. I AM SO PROUD AND HAPPY TO BE A JR FAN, THROUGH THE GOOD AND THE BAD, THE GREAT AND THE WORSE I WILL ALWAYS BE A FAN!!! YOUR TRUE FANS ALREADY KNOW WHAT YOUR MADE OF AND WHAT A GREAT PERSON YOU ARE!!!! GO JR GO WE LOVE YOU.

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  21. bev on

    22. FIRST OF ALL PIT STRADEGY IS A PART OF WINNING RACES AND SECOND OF ALL JR RACED HIS WAY TO THE FRONT EVEN WITH OLD TIRES. HIS CAR WAS NOT THE BEST ALL DAY TILL THE END, BUT HE RACED HARD TO GET WHERE HE WAS AND I BELIEVE HE WOULD HAVE WON IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FEW LAPS LEFT. ITS OBVIOUS THAT YOU DONT LIKE JR, YOUR LOSS JR FAN’S GAIN. I WILL ALWAYS LOVE HIM AND DEFEND HIM FROM COMMENTS LIKE YOURS.

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  22. bev on

    23. REPLY WAS FOR BIRDDOG AND HIS COMMENTS

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  23. Marilyn on

    24. I was hoping JR would get a least a tenth spot today and he wound up 3rd. That was like winning the whole thing for me. I was proud and knew he could do it. He has been through such a rough time and I am happy to see he is bouncing back. I know they are trying a lot of things now to be on top of the game come next year. I will always be a Dale Jr fan no matter where he places. He is just a great person and that is what matters most. We sure don’t have to be ashamed like all those POOR KYLE fans. He embarresses them every time he gets on the track or in front of the camera. What a jerk!

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  24. Bob on

    25. A reply for birddog,be informed that pit strategy is a very big point in racing, it wins most of the races

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  25. swampy on

    26. Great racing in Nationwide….Brads a good driver & winning at home had him floating!!! Junebugs 3rd place is what everybody needed, him, you and me. Maybe the mojo has left the 88 team? Go Jr!!!

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  26. william r on

    27. not racing? he came out 18th after fueling and passed 15 cars in the last 26 36 laps ..thats not racing or your not paying attention

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  27. Randy K on

    28. i seems jr has one good car, thats sad.. just wanted to say “mr hendrick sux”

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  28. Barbara Hutchins on

    29. I love Jr. He ran a good race. The other drivers are so jealous of him because his fans are still after all the bad times. His fans are the only ones who give voice when he is in the lead or wins. I just love it. It is no wonder Kyle has a problem. I have to admit that Kyle can drive just like Jr., but he cannot outdrive him. Keep up the good work Jr.

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  29. ginny on

    30. Go jr. We love you and will always be our favorite driver.Cong.on your third place sun.As for Kyle he is nothing, always will be nothing Ginny

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  30. Rick on

    31. 4EVER3GODALEJR.!!!

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  31. Randy K on

    32. Rick

    4EVER3GODALEJR.!!!
    ————
    forever3fan here too..

    [Reply]

  32. mamadew88 on

    33. Pit stragery means everything…..first in or out is good but team work does the job. Junior may be in 21st in points, but where is Kry-baby, I believe he is in 15th. No contest in my book….he was so intent with Brian Vickers on Sat. he didn’t think about Brad who took 1st place. He better stop driving for the other teams and take care of his own comments. Someone needs to knock off that chip he carries on his shoulder and maybe he will grow up.

    Good job on your third place win….Keep going Junior…next year is OUR year.

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  33. Marilynn on

    34. First, want to congratulate Brad on his win. Where does Kyle get off saying he didn’t deserve to win. He was up there most of the race and it doesn’t matter where you start, just where you finish. He made sure he was in the right spot at the right time. That is great racing. Also agree with Vickers comments after the race. Guess everyone forgot it was suppose to be the Kyle Busch show. BOO HOO cry baby. Once again he had to refer to Dale Jr. in his post race interview. Someone should have told him Dale wasn’t in that race. He is so immature, insecure and jealous of Dale that he has to mention him everytime in gets in front of a mike. I agree with the person who said not to boo him anymore, just ignore him and do nothing!

    Congrats to Dale Jr. too, they have worked hard all season and are finally getting some payoff for it. If pit strategy isn’t a part of racing then we should tell all the other teams that use late race pit stops to advance their position too! It’s not like he came out in first place, he came out in 18th and raced his way to the front. If you can respect that, then you need to find another sport to watch. Was on the edge of my seat yelling for Dale to go!!! Can’t wait for next week.

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  34. Too Mean on

    35. To Birddog you Jeffy, Jimmy loven puppy go chew a shoe..

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  35. BJ on

    36. First of all, Shrub totally makes me ill to my stomach. Maybe in 10-15 years from now he will be tolerable. I love Brad and Jr. Brad is a smart young man who has confidence and is not afraid of the likes of Shrub. I can’t say enough good things for him.

    I was really proud of Jr. I agree that if the laps hadn’t run out he would have won the race. I believe the relationship betweem him and his crew is starting to grow. The relationship between any driver and crew chief takes time as we all know. They have to have each other’s trust. So to people like William and Birddog, you sure don’t have much people smarts.

    Jr., Brad, Pops and Lance – Great Job.

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  36. DEE 'LIL BIT' WILLIAMS on

    37. OOPS HERE COMES TROUBLE: BIRDOG HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND. JR IS THE ONE THAT TOLD LANCE HE WANTED TO STAY OUT AND LANCE SAID YOU DO AND AND JR SAID YES AND I THINK THAT WAS A VERY SMART CALL BY JR. THAT GOT HIM IN FRONT AND HE RACED UP THERE. OK JR NATION HOLD ON TO YOUR A@@ BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE “BIG BAD DIRTY MO” BOSS IS BACK… JR NATION DID YOU HERE THE UP-ROAR WHEN HE WAS IN FRONT? EVEN THE COMENTATORS SAID YOU CAN ONLY HEAR JR NATION CROWD ABOVE ALL THE ANNOUCERS AND ALL THE NOISE OF THE ENGINES WHEN THERE MPD IS LEADING. WOW EXECUTED PERFERCTLY.. AND YES HE STILL DOES WALK ON WATER.
    “”LIL BIT”"

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  37. nascarbaby on

    38. I was there ,the crowd roared when Jr was leading laps.It was cool. Even though the crowd was less this year. It should of been 3 Chevy’s. 1,2,3,…Pitting & fuels strategies played a big part of it.Poor, Jimmy Johnson.
    But the day went to The Brain Victor Show!! Haha Kyle Bush!!!You Whinner!!!!! Not good in the BIG 3′s back yard!

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  38. nascarbaby on

    39. TO Brad Way to go!! Stealing the show on Saturday night! Sweet!PROUND TO HAVE YOU WITH HENDRICKS MOTOR SPORTS. I SEE,YOU BEEN TAKING NOTES, FROM:
    #88,#24 #5,#48!!!!!KEEP IT UP!

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  39. Evie on

    40. Great Dale Jr. #88

    At lease he doesn’t blame other drivers for not winning, will settle for 3rd. Winning will come later, Rome wasn’t build over night. New crew chief and they are working together. Keep up the good work

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  40. Lynn on

    41. JR raced hard to get where he was at the end. As for not being there and supporting his driver he does not like to take the lime light away, but you can be sure that he was there. As for Kyle well we all know that he will grip no matter what if things do not go his way. GO 88 AND GO BRAD

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