What’s Wrong with Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Car?
What’s Wrong with Dale Jr’s Car?
There’s something wrong on the No. 88 team. How can 2 cars from the same race shop run first and second at a high speed race track like Atlanta, while a third car finishes mid-pack in 19th?
Photo courtesy Sun Dazed via Flickr
Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson battled tooth and nail for the win in the final 10 laps of the Advocare 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway with Jeff Gordon holding on for the win. Dale Earnhardt Jr finished 19th.
Is it the car that is the problem? I know one vocal Earnhardt fan who believes Dale Jr is getting Jeff Gordon’s cast-offs when it comes to having the best equipment, while Gordon and Johnson get the latest and greatest. Is that really what is going on at Hendrick Motorsports?
Is crew chief Steve Letarte getting all the research and development data he needs? Hendrick Motorsports does a ton of R&D work and they have some of the brightest engineers interpreting the data. Is that data filtering down to the 88 team?
Steve Letarte knows how to strategize and call a race. And Dale Earnhardt Jr certainly hasn’t forgotten how to drive the car. At least the No. 88 is firmly in the Chase standings with one race to go.
What is going wrong with this race team?
Dale Earnhardt Jr Thrown Out of Daytona International Speedway
Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
10 years ago on a warm dark night, Dale Jr headed out to make things right. In a Chevy Suburban with the headlights bright. Junior would show NASCAR Nation the light. (With apologies to Johnny Cash.)
In July 2001 Dale Earnhardt Jr and a few of his friends headed out to Daytona from his home in Mooresville. It was his first trip there since that fateful day in February when Dale was lost.
Junior and his pals made their way off International Speedway Boulevard that night and drove the Suburban through the tunnel into the Daytona International Speedway infield as the moon lighted turn four. That had to be the hardest drive Dale Jr has ever made.
But he knew it was a journey he had to take.
Earnhardt told the guys in the truck that he just wanted to show them around – to see how big, bad and formidable the place really is. But everyone in that Suburban knew the real reason Junior needed to visit Daytona International Speedway once again.
Dale Jr snaked the Suburban around the Daytona infield road taking in the scene as one of the few people in the place at the time. What he really had on his mind was would he be able to race. Could he really compete on the track that had claimed his Father just a few months earlier?
That’s when he saw it.
The gate to the track was open. Earnhardt wheeled the Suburban onto the high banks and started making laps in the middle of the night – until a speedway security guard flagged him down and threw him out of the joint – never even realizing it was Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Still, Dale Jr wondered if he would be able to race in Saturday night’s Pepsi 400. Could he really put everything behind him and race for 400 miles? Would he even be competitive?
On Saturday night Dale Jr would have the answer. He led almost all of the final 50 laps. But with 6 to go Earnhardt found himself in 6th place after the final pit stop.
It didn’t matter – Junior had a fast car.
6 laps later Dale Earnhardt Jr took the checkered flag. It was the finest moment in NASCAR history – and everything was right in the world of NASCAR.
Can he do it again in 2011?
Keselowski Beats Dale Jr on Fuel
Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
Brad Keselowski wasn’t supposed to make it to the end of Sunday’s STP 400 on fuel. But Keselowski had been saving gas throughout the final run. He was coasting through the corners with the clutch in. Easy in the gas and quick off of it – doing everything possible to save gas. Keselowski saved enough to take the win. And he didn’t even know he was the leader until 2 to go when he saw his name atop the leader board. Keselowski’s crew chief Paul Wolfe kept his cards close to the vest and kept the driver calm and cool.
“I didn’t know I was leading until two laps to go,” said Keselowski. “I was instantly mad at my guys for not telling me, but you get over that pretty quick when you cross the start-finish line first.”
“It all worked out at the end, and they talk about you when you’re in victory lane, that’s all that matters.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr thought the race for the win was between himself and Denny Hamlin as the final laps ticked off at Kansas Speedway Sunday afternoon. Crew chief Steve Letarte told him so.
“I was told that that was the race for the win,” said Dale Jr. “And I genuinely believe what Steve was telling me, because I didn’t think the 2 would make it. But he saved a lot of gas. He did a great job.”
Dale Jr: Pickle Juice & Pedialyte & Vodka?
Earnhardt had some interesting ideas for how to overcome the heat exhaustion that plagued all the drivers throughout the race.
“I want to lay by the pool and drink some vodka or whatever,” said Junior. “I’ll probably chug a lot of water tonight so I’m hydrated for tomorrow. I heard drinking pickle juice is good for you or Pedialyte. I’ll give it a shot. I got some of that
Earnhardt finished 2nd and stands 3rd in the point standings with still nothing in the win column for 2011.
What was your take on the race? Post your thoughts in the comments below.
No Help for Dale Jr
Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
After leading at the white flag it appeared that Dale Earnhardt Jr would win Sunday Night’s Coca Cola 600 at Charlotte. Until his car sputtered on the backstretch. Just one splash of gas would stand between Dale Jr and victory lane. Instead he coasted to a 7th place finish.
Winner Kevin Harvick had a little help from his teammates who pushed him under the final caution allowing Harvick to conserve enough fuel to take the checkered flag.
But Junior had no help – no one to push him. His teammates were nowhere to be found. Mark Martin was out of the race due to a crash, and it was Jimmie Johnson’s blown engine that brought out the final caution. And Jeff Gordon was nowhere in sight.
With just a little help Junior could have saved enough fuel to grab the win. If the caution period would have been one lap shorter, or the final pit stop had been one lap later fuel would not have been an issue. But there will always be ifs in racing.
That’s just racing.
What would it have taken for Junior to win this one?
Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Email Engagement
In case you didn’t know, Dale Earnhardt Jr is a pretty sharp guy when it comes to technology and the internet – and that is paying off for him in more ways than one according to Nate Ryan at the USA Today.
It’s a pretty interesting story so I suggest you read it for yourself here.
Dale Jr: Support Driver for Jimmie Johnson?
Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
Is Dale Earnhardt Jr a Support Driver for Jimmie Johnson’s No. 48 Team?
Jimmie Johnson did not win the Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway Sunday without the help he received from teammate and drafting partner Dale Earnhardt Jr. If Earnhardt had gotten just an inch further back Johnson would never have made it. The margin of victory was that close – .002 seconds and a tie for one of the closest finishes in NASCAR history with 6 cars crossing the finish line virtually as one. Johnson grabbed the lead for the final time just 6 inches from the finish line.
Earnhardt was a good team player. He needs to put that one in the bank because Jimmie Johnson owes him big time.
Johnson knows it too. Jimmie Johnson gave Dale Earnhardt Jr the checkered flag that he picked up at the finish line, although Earnhardt seemed a little reluctant to accept it. I wonder what Dale Jr will do with that flag.
So why did Jimmie Johnson give Dale Jr the checkered flag?
“Just came to mind,” said Johnson flatly. “I handed it to him and he said ‘Man, I don’t want that.’ I said, Well, I have to give you something for the push and working with me. He said, ‘No, that’s what teammates do.’
“I smiled and I said take the damn flag. I’ll give you the trophy, too. He says, ‘No, I don’t want the trophy. I’ll take the flag, though.’
“Man, he’s a riot.” Johnson continued on the subject of Dale Jr. “You guys scan all the time but to hear him on the channel and Stevie and the things he talks about — can I have this channel more often just to listen?
As Johnson’s No. 48 Chevy raced toward the finish line it almost appeared that his left wheels crossed below the double-yellow line for a split second but no penalty was assessed by NASCAR.
“I was not focused on where that yellow line was,” Jimmie Johnson explained after the race. “I was more worried about causing a big pile up and luckily the 5 quit coming down and then the 24 pulled back up. So I don’t know where my left side tires were, but I’ve heard that a statement has been released and everything is cool. So I’m glad I’m not sitting here having to worry about that.
For a few seconds after the race it was unclear who had won. Then Dale Jr came on the radio and said “Hell, I think the 48 won.”
“I knew in my mind that if it that was the checkered, it was close, and I didn’t know if I had it won, said Johnson.
After the race No. 48 crew chief Chad Knaus summed it up with a quick radio call to Dale Earnhardt Jr: “Next one is on us, brother.”
So now it’s your turn to have your say. As always, you can vent or you can cheer. The floor is yours. Leave your thoughts in the comments below. And if you like this be sure to hit the Facebook Like Button.
Dale Jr Plays a Snake Prank
I got a good laugh watching Junior play a prank on some of the people at the JR Motorsports care shop. Who do you think was most surprised?
Your NASCAR Texas Vent Page
Photo Courtesy NASCAR Media
In winning the Samsung Mobile 500 at Texas Motor Speedway Saturday night Matt Kenseth snapped a 76 race winless streak. The No. 17 driver had not visited Victory Lane since the 2009 Spring race at Auto Club Speedway.
“Yeah, it feels good to get back to Victory Lane,” said Kenseth. “It’s been a long time. It feels good to have a night like we had tonight with a dominant car and to be able to get the win.”
Clint Bowyer was 2nd and Carl Edwards drove his No. 99 Ford to a 3rd place finish despite suffering from an upset stomach, which he blamed on his mother’s cooking.
“What did you eat last night,” asked fellow driver Clint Bowyer.
“My mom made a little dish,” said Edwards. “I don’t think one of the ingredients was bad. I think it might have been her first attempt at it.”
“I’ll cook for you next week,” said Bowyer slyly. But I would strongly advise Carl Edwards against it.
Tony Stewart may have had a shot to beat Kenseth when no one else did. Stewart had the edge on gas mileage thanks to being off-sequence on pit stops from the leaders. But a pit road speeding penalty on his final pit-stop took Stewart out of contention. Without the penalty all Stewart would have had to do was conserve a half a lap of fuel and the race would have been his.
Dale Earnhardt Jr was the most improved drive r in this race. Starting 28th and finishing 9th.
Earnhardt and his crew chief Steve Letarte have figured out how to communicate and improve the race car during the race.
So now it’s your turn. Have your say and leave your comments. What did you think about Kenseth’s win? Is the No. 88 team really showing improvement? And will Carl Edwards’ Mother be making him dinner any time soon after he made those comments?
Kyle Busch Has One Coming
Photo courtesy NASCAR Media
Has Kyle Busch has just been crowned the new King of Bristol? With his victory in the Jeff Byrd 500 Sunday he has won the past 5 NASCAR events there across all 3 series at the Tennessee track: Cup, Nationwide and Truck.
After the race Kyle Busch had some comments for the fans who were booing him during driver introductions – and whether he could ever change the way they felt about him.
“I don’t know about the fans. I don’t know if it’s that easy to change opinion sometimes,” said Busch. “It’s definitely fun to have a good attitude about things and to come into this weekend and have good results, good success out of it.”
When asked why he seemed a little more thoughtful and laid back this year Kyle laughed and responded “what are you talking about.” Team general manager J.D. Gibbs simply pointed to Kyle’s new wedding ring.
Carl Edwards felt he could have won the race if he had paid Kyle back for an incident at Phoenix with a harder hit at the end.
“When he got to me that one time, I’m like, oh, man. That was your shot, so nice try,” said Busch of Edwards attempt at the bump and run. He didn’t get it done. I thought, Man, if I could just get away from him, I wouldn’t have to worry. Concentrate, get going.
“It didn’t happen. Just basically ’cause you buckle in and you try to wrench down, get going, get gone. Fortunately I was able to do that. Sometimes you can’t. Sometimes you get passed and you lose ‘em late in the going. That would have been ultimately frustrating. Somehow I got back on the horse and rode it home.”
Carl Edwards said he still owes Kyle Busch one from Phoenix, so keep an eye on those two. But Busch doesn’t know what all the fuss is about.
“I have no idea what I’m owed from, so you’ll have to ask Carl,” said Kyle, who seemingly had no memory of a previous run-in. “Normally when it’s against you, you’ll always remember it forever. I don’t remember what I did that made him mad.”
“Carl says what Carl says. I don’t know. Apparently I have one coming. When and where it comes I do not know. I would say the same thing if I owed somebody else something, that I still owed him. When and where it comes is more to you than the other guy, so…”
Dale Earnhardt Jr proved the No. 88 team can make improvements and advance during the race. After starting 22nd Earnhardt managed an 11tth place finish and was visibly upset that he didn’t get a top ten, citing a late race pit road speeding penalty. Maybe the Dale Jr era isn’t over after all.
What does Dale Jr attribute it to? “It is hard to really point to and put a finger on it right now, “according to Dale Jr. “He just does a good job of keeping me calm and keeping me focused on trying to do good,” said Earnhardt of his new crew chief Steve Letarte.
Here’s your chance to vent, rant or cheer. What do you think about Kyle’s win, the feud with Carl or Dale Earnhardt Jr’s improving fortunes this year.
Can Dale Jr Win Starting Last?
Photo courtesy NASCAR Media
Starting the Daytona 500 From the Back of the Field Will Be No Problem for Dale Jr
Dale Earnhardt Jr will start the Daytona 500 in the back of the pack even though he was fastest in qualifying with a pole winning speed of 186.089 mph. Following a crash involving Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex Jr Earnhardt had to go to a backup car for the race and according to the NASCAR rulebook he must forfeit his top starting spot because of it.
“We were coming around three and four and some of the guys on the inside moved up into the top lane” according to Earnhardt. “Me and Jimmie checked up. We didn’t know if they were coming into our lane. We got run over from behind. Just a tough deal. The same old stuff that always kind of happens here.”
That doesn’t diminish Earnhardt’s chances to win the race one bit. His team has consistently made his car fast during practice and qualifying for the Daytona 500. And nit just fast, but fastest.
Dale Jr didn’t seem worried about dropping to the back with a new car. “We’ve got plenty of race cars,” said Dale Jr. ”I ain’t worrying about how fast we’ll be. We’ll be fine.
There is no reason to believe that the backup car will not be just as fast, if not faster, It will take a few laps for Earnhardt to work his way through traffic at the start of the race, but he will be at the front soon enough.
Earnhardt did not see a need to participate in the practice session to begin with given the fact he already had a fast car. But crew chief Steve Letarte put him on the track. “I didn’t feel good about being out there practicing,” said Earnhardt. “I didn’t think I needed to be out there practicing. I just had a bad feeling about it.”
Dale Jr seems pretty confident, but what do you think. Can he make it from last to first in this race?