AMPed for 88

Hey it's me!

2010-11-19T23:45:00.000-05:00

I just need to explain something here. When I started this blog, it was under an old email address that I no longer use. So having said that I started a new blog, same name, different address. I won't be posting on here anymore, but will keep the blog open in case anyone happens to find this site. To access the new blog, go to AMP488.blogspot.com - Thanks and see you at the new site!

Slacking again....

2010-09-27T23:26:00.000-04:00

I know, and I'm really sorry about that! So I'm going to go back and post the race, where Dale started and where he finished.

Emory Healthcare 500

Started: 25

Finished: 22

Air Guard 400

Started: 9

Finished: 34 (6 laps down)

Sylvania 300

Started: 32

Finished: 4 (WHOOHOOO!!!)

AAA 400

Started: 32

Finished: 23 (2 laps down)

Again I'm really sorry for not keeping up with the blog as much as i should be, forgive me please!

Irwin Tools Night Race

2010-08-23T16:11:00.000-04:00

I'm guessing that's what it was called, that's the only name given on NASCAR.com. I didn't see much of the race as I was out with family celebrating my birthday (which was Friday). Anyway, Dale Jr started 27th, and from what I could hear on the scanner, battled a loose car all night. Lance said at one point that whatever changes they threw at it to try to make it better only made it more loose. Dale was able to bring home a 13th place finish, however due to David Reutimann's strong finish, Junebug moved down another spot in the chase to 18th.

Almirola signs multi-year deal to drive No. 88

2010-08-19T00:50:00.000-04:00

JRM has a driver for the #88 Nationwide ride for next year! I am so excited, I was really hoping that Aric Almirola would sign and he has! The following article was taken from NASCAR.com --

JR Motorsports cemented an integral part of its future Wednesday by signing Aric Almirola to a multi-year driving contract for the company's flagship No. 88 Nationwide Series team starting in 2011, general manager Kelley Earnhardt announced.

A 26-year-old native of Tampa, Fla., Almirola has 32 career Nationwide Series starts, including one for JR Motorsports in which he finished third at O'Reilly Raceway Park in July. Almirola's full-time duties as the No. 88 driver will officially begin in 2011, but he could potentially fill the seat in select races this season while he continues to run for a Truck Series championship.

"The chance to drive full time in the Nationwide Series with a top caliber team is something I am extremely excited about," Almirola said. "I was at the shop [Tuesday], and Kelley gathered all the employees around to announce our deal. The energy and excitement was addicting. We raced at ORP together a month ago and had a really good run. There is no reason why we cannot compete like that every race, and there is no reason why we shouldn't be running for a championship. I would expect nothing less."

Almirola comes to JR Motorsports with proven credentials. In 2006-07, he competed in the Nationwide Series with Joe Gibbs Racing, earning three poles and six top-10s. He is credited with one victory -- the June 23, 2007, race at Milwaukee Mile -- in which he and Denny Hamlin shared seat time in the victorious No. 20 car. That performance was part of a successful 2007 campaign, which opened doors to a lifelong dream of racing in the Cup Series. Dale Earnhardt Inc. signed Almirola to a part-time driving deal in 2008 with the unique task of splitting seat time with one of NASCAR's all-time greats, Mark Martin. Nineteen of Almirola's 30 Cup starts came with DEI (later to become Earnhardt Ganassi Racing). In his very first race of the 2008 season, Almirola scored a career-best Cup finish of eighth at Bristol.

Almirola continued racing in sporadic Cup and Nationwide series races in 2009 and 2010, but the opportunity to compete full-time this year with Billy Ballew Motorsports in the Truck Series was too good to pass up. In 15 races this season, Almirola has two wins (Dover on May 14 and Michigan on June 12) and has finished in the top 10 in all but four events. He currently sits second in the championship point standings.

"If there is a quintessential JR Motorsports driver, we feel it's Aric Almirola," Kelley Earnhardt said. "The way he drives, the ambition he carries, the way he represents himself on and off the track, it all fits within our company's dynamics, our core objectives, and the values of our sponsorship partners. We look forward to putting him in our No. 88 car so he can continue his success."

Almirola's one stint for JRM took place on July 24 at O'Reilly Raceway Park. He started the Kroger 200 in sixth position, led one lap, ran among the top-five all night, and finished third in his debut in the No. 88. Almirola is one of 10 drivers who has or will have raced the No. 88 Chevrolet at least once in 2010. Team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the No. 88 Chevrolet at Bristol on Friday night in the Food City 250.

"This has been a far different year than anything we have ever experienced before, but we feel like our decision to take our time and not be rushed into naming a full-schedule driver for the No. 88 paid off with the signing of Aric," Kelley Earnhardt said. "He brings a lot to the table for us, as well as our sponsors. He is someone they can build their brands around, and he has the talent to take them to the [Victory Lane]."

Commercial shoots like pair of old shoes to Junior

2010-08-18T10:01:00.000-04:00

Driver of the Week: Nationwide spots good times for Earnhardt

By: Raygan Swan, NASCAR.COM

Ever wonder whose kitchen that is where Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister are standing in those Nationwide Insurance commercials?

Well, it isn't his. It's a loaner from a high-end neighborhood on Lake Norman in North Carolina where Joe Gibbs lives.

What about the phone?

Nope, that's not his either. It's Nationwide's trademark prop.

However, the cast of characters is real. Yes, that is his sister, Kelley Earnhardt, and his uncle, Tony Eury Sr. The spots tout the Earnhardt family image and 30-year dedication to the insurance provider.

And yes, that is even the same insurance agent, Steve Cook of Kannapolis, N.C., Earnhardt met when he was a young boy. Earnhardt and Cook shot their commercial and a couple of others in December building off last year's Nationwide advertising campaign.

"I couldn't believe it but Steve was nervous," Earnhardt laughed. "Being an agent and having the ability to talk to people, that surprised me. He was funny, unintentionally that is. But yes, he's legitimately been my agent for all these years. I remember having to go to him about speeding tickets and all kinds of stuff. He was a good family friend."

Earnhardt enjoyed shooting the commercials because it offered the opportunity to spend a good amount of time with friends and family away from his hectic NASCAR lifestyle.

"It was good to be around him that long because we don't get to talk that much and I've know him for all these years and then being able to shoot a commercial with him was cool. We were both just standing there thinking who would ever thought we'd be doing this," Earnhardt added.

Eury didn't think he'd ever be in any commercial campaign. The crew chief for Earnhardt's No. 88 Nationwide Series team is most comfortable under the hood of a car, not in front of a camera. Thankfully for him, his commercial shoot was at the JR Motorsports shop so he wasn't totally outside his element.

Still, commercial stardom is not in Pop's future, joked Earnhardt .

"Working with Pops, um he was really nervous ... he would just assume not be in the middle of it," Earnhardt said.

"Oh yeah," Eury said with a laugh. "We made like probably 10 or 12 different shots or scenes and every scene we did it took like three each with different camera directions.

"They tell you what expressions to make and when to nod your head where. They tell you all that, but actually it was pretty neat to see how they do it."

There was a time Earnhardt, now a seasoned commercial actor, was admittedly just as tense.

"It's not comfortable doing a commercial when there's 15 or 20 people on the other side of the camera watching you and it's tough when you're young and an introvert anyway," Earnhardt said. "I think you get more comfortable with experience but the first several commercials you're nervous and stiff. I took me a long time to get comfortable with it but now I can go in there and I know what I want to accomplish. I know how long things take and I can help move it along."

So, are there any Oscar-nominated films in your future, Dale Robertson ... err Earnhardt?

"Those are still nerve-wracking because I get star struck," he smiled.

Hard to imagine the sport's most popular driver and one of the world's most recognizable athletes still gets star struck.

But Earnhardt didn't reach his commercial star status overnight. Like other commercial actors, he's gone through the ropes and on-the-set-training.

"Absolutely, the directors all have a lot of experience working with a lot of different people and they'll give you tone and sort of [tell you] what to say, obviously, before you do the commercial," he explained. "You have to see it in your head kind of all happening together. Sometimes, you get to commercial shoots and read the script and you don't understand how it is working and don't know what the tone is. Whether you're being demanding or coy or whatever, you don't know what emotion to have. So they go through that during the process as your shooting it. And then it is easy, they tell you what to do and you just do it. That's all there is to it."

It's lights, camera, action ... but what about wardrobe?

"They have choices and you choose what you're most comfortable in," Earnhardt said. "They never force you to wear something you don't want to wear. I've been in situations where they put some options out that I won't wear."

Defined by his iconic white T-shirt and jeans accessorized with a pair of sneaks, the star keeps it simple.

"I love shoes," said Earnhardt, who says he custom-designs up to eight pairs in one order. "But then you get them back and you realized you screwed up this part or man, that was a poor choice of color, so five out of the eight are cool. Then you give the other three pair to your buddy and say, 'Hey, I got you a gift."

CARFAX 400

2010-08-18T09:24:00.000-04:00

Dale Jr batlled a loose car throughout much of the race, going a lap down at one point. The error was corrected as Lance had the crew change a spring on one side of the car. This sent the race car from way loose to somewhat tight, but driveable. Dale was pretty frustrated through the majority of the day, but ended the day in 19th. After he crossed the start/finish line, Dale commented over the radio and said, "I'm sorry for being such a bear today." When walking towards his RV, a reporter just had to ask the question, "So what do you think of your chances to make the chase?" Dale, who of course would have the blunt answer, simply stated, "I don't give a sh*t about that right now. I just want to go home, so that's where I'm heading." Good answer Dale!!

Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen and news

2010-08-13T23:21:00.000-04:00

Dale started way back in the pack and had worked himself way up into the top 20, however late in the race he fell back and couldn't make his way back up to the position he had held early on. Dale is 16th in the points and if he has any hopes of making the chase at this point, he needs to step up and get moving.

My Dale Jr Pics at Pocono

2010-08-13T23:17:00.000-04:00

I happened to look between two of the merchandise haulers and there was Dale, staring at me and the rest of the fans who saw him.

An awesome moment for me was standing in front of Dale's pit area, also on a Hendrick related note, one of the first people I passed on pit road was Chad Knaus! I didn't say anything, not only beause I didn't want to draw attention to him, but also because I know that on raceday he's all business.
(Pic of his back down below)

The guy in the middle of the picture with the black jacket and black pants was Chad Knaus.

Shaq Vs. (Dale Earnhardt Jr)

2010-08-07T01:42:00.000-04:00

Did anyone watch this? I did, and I thought it was great! If you missed it you can check out the full episode at
http://www.hulu.com/watch/168736/shaq-vs-shaq-vs-dale-earnhardt-jr

Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500

2010-08-07T01:31:00.001-04:00

Yes I was there! I have pics from the race, including ones from the pre-race tech inspection area, and I will post them either tomorrow or Sunday. Since I couldn't hear the scanner, I didn't really have a good understanding of how Dale's car was handling. However, from where I sat, I could tell by the middle of the race he was sliding off the corner in turn 3. At one point he took 2 tires which put him up in second, but being lose made him spin out on his own, bringing out a caution. Dale made it around the track and to pit road. This put him down a lap and in 27th for the rest of the day. He is still hanging in at 14th in points, but really needs to pick it up if he's going to be in the chase this year. There are 5 races until the cut off for the chase and considering where Dale was this time last year. I can see a change in the changes that where made at Hendrick over the off season. This weekend the big boys are north of me in New York at Watkins Glen.

Brickyard 400

2010-07-27T09:58:00.000-04:00

Dale Jr's day would have been so much better, however an over aggresive Juan Pablo Montoya made bone headed move and took Dale Jr along with him. Dale's car was starting to run the way he wanted it to and he was in the 13th position when the accident happened. This left Dale running two laps down and finishing in 27th. He's moved down one spot in the standings (14th), but I certain if he runs well the next few weeks, he'll get back up in the top 12. Next week the boys head back to my home state of Pennsylvania for the Sunoco Red Cross Pennsylvania 500. I will be there with one of my co-workers. I'll have plenty of pictures to post, so make sure you check the blog!! See ya then!

LifeLock.com 400

2010-07-20T22:26:00.000-04:00

Dale's car just handled poorly all day long at Chicagoland. Any adjustments that were made didn't help and he finished two positions ahead of where he qualified. Dale started 25th and finished 23rd. This has moved Dale back down to 13th in the points.

If you think about it, his position this year in the standing is much better this year than it was last year. At this time he was down in the lower teens/upper 20's and had run out of time to make up any ground. As you already know, the guys were off this past weekend and will be at the world famous Indiananpolis Motor Speedway this Sunday. This year (for reasons not known to me) ESPN and ABC are sharing coverage of the remaining races. This year, the Brickyard 400 will not be telecast on ABC as it had in previous years. It will be shown on ESPN. I will let you know which races will be broadcast on which network as they come up.

Coke Zero 400

2010-07-04T14:15:00.000-04:00

Due to rain, qualifying was cancelled, so Dale started 13th. I had to work which was actually ok because by the time I got home, there were only 20 laps down. Junebug was not happy with his car all night long, but due to "the big one" and another small wreck at the end, he finished 4th. Dale has moved back into the top 12 in 11th spot, knocking his teammate Mark Martin out.

Nationwide Race Hightlights

2010-07-03T02:00:00.002-04:00

Final Laps and Victory Lane

2010-07-03T01:59:00.001-04:00

DALE WINS AT DAYTONA!!!!!!!!!

2010-07-03T01:52:00.000-04:00

What an awesome way to pay tribute to Dale Sr. Not only did the car look sharp under the lights at Daytona, but Dale Jr held off Joey Logano to win the Subway Jalapeno 250 powered by Coca-Cola tonight! The 3 car was strong all night long, and the teaming of Dale Jr and Tony Jr plus a Hendrick engine and the 88 pit crew made for a picture perfect night. At the end, with 5 laps to go, Paul Menard hit the wall which brought out the caution. Dale and Joey worked together and like I said, he held off Joey to win the race. WAY TO GO JUNEBUG!!!!!!

Lenox Industrial Tools 301

2010-07-03T01:45:00.000-04:00

Dale had a great run at Loudon and came out with a top 10 finish at New Hampshire. After starting 31st, Dale made his way up through the field and finished 8th. He remains 13th in points and is 3 points away from knocking Carl Edwards outside of the top 12.

Toyota/Save Mart 350

2010-06-21T16:11:00.000-04:00

Starting back in 24th didn't stop Dale Jr from having a great run yesterday at Sonoma. He even ran in second for a few laps, until pitting made him give up that spot. Dale had a strong run and finished in 11th, moving him up another spot to 13th. Next week the boys head up to New Hampshire.

Junior & Shaq Set For Head-to-Head Race at Concord Speedway

2010-06-21T10:01:00.000-04:00

Subject: Junior and Shaq ro race at Concord Speedway.

Date: Friday June 17, 2010
Further Info: Larry Thomas: lthomas@concordspeedway.net (704) 782 4221

Media Contact:
Mike Davis
Communications Director, JR Motorsports
704.799.4810

mdavis@dalejr.com

Junior & Shaq Set For Head-to-Head Race at Concord Speedway

Fans invited next Wednesday to watch Dale Earnhardt Jr. & Shaquille O’Neal battle on track during taping of ABC’s hit show “Shaq Vs.”

CONCORD, N.C. (June 18, 2010) – The challenge has been issued and accepted. Four-time NBA champion Shaquille O’Neal has swapped his size-23 basketball shoes for racing Velcro; traded his breezy, cool basketball jersey for a heavy, fire-retardant driver’s suit; forgone the familiarity of basketball hardwood for the cramped quarters of a stock-car cockpit – all 7-foot-1, 325 pounds of him.

His reason: challenge NASCAR’s most popular driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races, Dale Earnhardt Jr., to a one-on-one race in a test of skill, endurance, and speed.

The competition will be featured in the second season of Shaq Vs., the popular television series that is part of ABC’s new summer season. The show’s premise is simple: O’Neal takes his top-level skills and athletic prowess from the basketball court and transfers it to a completely different and unfamiliar sporting event.

The first season pitted Shaq in a head-to-head match-up against Albert Pujols in a homerun-hitting contest, Michael Phelps in a swimming race, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh in beach volleyball, and Oscar de la Hoya in a boxing match.

Shaq Vs, which is produced by Media Rights Capital in association with dick clark productions, will begin airing its second season in early August. Season Two will not rely solely on sporting matches but will also feature fun, comedic non-sports competitions such as a spelling bee contest and dance crew battle. Each will test O’Neal’s adaptability, but perhaps none more challenging than maneuvering a 3,500-pound stock car with more than 800 horsepower against Earnhardt Jr., winner of the Daytona 500 and 18 NASCAR Sprint Cup races.

The race between O’Neal and Earnhardt Jr. will take place at 4 p.m. ET on Wed., June 23, at Concord Speedway, a tricky, half-mile tri-oval that features some of the best weekly racing in North Carolina. The event is open to the public free-of-charge. Gates will open at 1 p.m. ET. No cameras or phones will be allowed inside the facility. Terms of the race will be negotiated by O’Neal and Earnhardt Jr. on the day of the race.

MEDIA NOTE

Please note the media is not permitted to cover the actual race event. Shaq Vs. Season Two interview and coverage requests should be directed to Edwin Escobar (818.460.7758 / Edwin.Escobar@abc.com ) or Carolyn Nurnberg (212.843.9316 / Cnurnberg@rubenstein.com).

“SHAQ vs. JUNIOR” EVENT DETAILS

When: Wed., June 23, 2010 (Race starts at 4 p.m. ET / Gates open at 1 p.m. ET)
Where: Concord Speedway / 7940 U.S. Highway 601 South, Concord, NC 28025

Notes: The show will be taped. By attending event you agree to have your likeness shown on television. No cameras, phones (of any kind) or outside recording devices will be allowed inside. Please leave them in your car. Parking is limited. Please share a ride, when possible.

Social Media & Web Info: For more information on Shaq Vs., please visit http://www.abc.go.com/. For up-to-the-minute information on Wednesday’s taping, please visit www.Facebook.com/DaleJr and http://www.concordspeedway.net/, or follow us on Twitter at @ConcordSpeedway and @JRMotorsports. Directions to the speedway can be found at http://www.concordspeedway.net/.

ABOUT SHAQ VS SEASON 2

Shaq Vs will premiere its second season on ABC, Tuesday, August 3. Each episode in Season Two will not rely solely on sporting matches, but will also feature fun, comedic non-sports competitions as well, such as a spelling bee contest or a dance crew battle among others to be named. Shaq Vs is produced by Media Rights Capital in association with dick clark productions. Orly Adelson, Will Staeger and Barry Adelman of dick clark productions, Shaquille O’Neal, Trice Barto, Perry Rogers and Steve Nash serve as executive producers.

ABOUT JR MOTORSPORTS

JR Motorsports is the management company and racing operation for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s seven-time Most Popular Driver and winner of more than 40 NASCAR-sanctioned races.JR Motorsports competes in multiple racing divisions, including the NASCAR Nationwide Series.In 2008 JRM enjoyed a breakout season with four Nationwide Series victories between its two teams.The company followed suit with four more wins in 2009.The JR Motorsports facilities are based out of Mooresville, N.C., and include the JR Nation retail store, Hammerhead Entertainment, and DEJ Realty.For more information on JR Motorsports, visit http://www.dalejr.com/.

Media Contact:
Mike Davis
Communications Director, JR Motorsports
704.799.4810
mdavis@dalejr.com

Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 presented by Target & Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400

2010-06-18T16:19:00.000-04:00

Dale Jr had a somewhat strong car at Pocono and started 3rd. He fought hard all day, but ended in 19th. He remained 16th in points.

Dale had a very good car at Michigan and looked as though he might battle for the win near the end. He started back in 27th but was able to move forward and finish 7th. This strong finish for the 88 team moved Dale back up two spots into 14th.

Sorry

2010-06-13T22:49:00.001-04:00

I haven had time to keep with the blog this past week. My father passed away early Friday morning, so it's been a crazy period of time. Thank you for understanding and I will catch up with the blog when I get a chance. Thanks!

Road-Course Veteran Fellows Returns To Drive JRM's No. 88

2010-06-04T22:44:00.000-04:00

(copied from DaleJr.com)

AER Manufacturing and Grand Touring Vodka on board for two races

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 1, 2010) - When the JR Motorsports flagship No. 88 team travels to NASCAR Nationwide Series road-course events at Road America and Watkins Glen International later this season, it will have one of the best road-course drivers in the sport behind the wheel and two brand new sponsorship partners on its hood.

AER Manufacturing will sponsor the No. 88 Chevrolet driven by decorated road racer Ron Fellows in the June 19 race at Road America. Fellows has driven for JR Motorsports three times before, winning at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal on Aug. 2, 2008. AER Manufacturing has been a world leader in engine remanufacturing for the past 60 years, and has supported Fellows in the Trans Am Series, NASCAR and the American Le Mans Series since 1990.

Grand Touring Vodka, which announced a new partnership with JR Motorsports earlier this month, will be Fellows' primary sponsor in the Aug. 7 race at Watkins Glen International. It will mark the third of 10 sponsored races for Grand Touring Vodka in 2010, as the vodka brand will be on the No. 88 at Daytona International Speedway (July 2) and O'Reilly Raceway Park (July 24).

"It's great to be back with JR Motorsports this year," the 50-year-old Fellows said. "I'm extremely grateful to AER and GT Vodka for making this program possible. I know we'll be competitive and able to run up front at these facilities."

A native of Windsor, Ontario, Fellows owns three career starts with JR Motorsports, notching one win and two top-five finishes. In 2008, Fellows earned the team its first road-course victory at Montreal after leading seven laps. His best finish in 2009 was a fifth-place showing at Watkins Glen.

"We are thrilled to have Ron back with us," said JR Motorsports general manager and co-owner Kelley Earnhardt. "He is an incredible talent behind the wheel, and he will bring a lot of experience and insight to our program. Any time he's driving, he's a threat to win."

A longtime sports car and road-racing veteran, Fellows is credited with three class championships in the American Le Mans Series, two class wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and 19 overall victories in the Sports Car Club of America's Trans-Am Series as a member of the Corvette Racing Team. His NASCAR credentials include six overall wins (two in the Camping World Truck Series), and two runner-up finishes in Sprint Cup competition. With his four Nationwide Series victories, he also has seven top-fives, eight top-10s and two poles in 15 starts.

Here is some info on both sponsors -

About AER Manufacturing: Headquartered in Carrollton, Texas, AER Manufacturing is recognized as a world leader in the engine remanufacturing industry for more than 60 years. AER continues to provide high-quality products and capabilities to the automotive industry with nine variable production lines, two manufacturing facilities and 13 strategically located warehouses throughout the United States.

About Grand Touring Vodka: A great American tradition begins with Grand Touring's handcrafted vodka. We combine the finest grains from America's Heartland with crisp, cool waters. Column distilled and filtered through activated stone carbon, Grand Touring Vodka presents unmatched smoothness and quality. The bounty of our labor will be rolling out across the country this summer. Grand Touring Vodka reminds you to drink responsibly, "Know when to pass." For more information on Grand Touring Vodka, visit www.grandtouringvodka.com

So who is driving what and when?

2010-06-04T21:49:00.000-04:00

Ok, so if you're like me, maybe you've heard of some of these drivers in the NNS #7 and #88 and maybe you haven't. So here is an update on both drivers that will be driving the in two JRM NNS cars. Josh Wise will drive the #7 both tomorrow night at Nashville and next week at Kentucky. JRM is doing whatever they can to keep the 7 car up in points so that when Danica comes back she won't have to try to qualify on time.

This week, the 88 is being driven by Coleman Pressley. As to whether he's driving in any of the other races, I don't know yet. If I find that out I'll post it so you know.

Gillette Fusion ProGlide 500 presented by Target

2010-06-04T20:14:00.000-04:00

Wow, that's a mouth full! To Pennsylvania NASCAR fans, it's just the Pocono 500. Anyway, Dale Jr did really well in practice and qualifying today. He was 4th in practice and will start 3rd on Sunday. TNT takes over coverage of the cup series and the pre-race show begins at 1pm.

Cola-Cola 600

2010-06-02T16:24:00.000-04:00

Dale started 24th and after battling a loose car most of the night, got the right adjustments and seemed to be moving forward. Due to having to pit early, Dale went down a lap and eventually got back on the lead lap. Because others were pitting, Dale led 10 laps before he had to give the lead up and pit himself. Dale moved down one spot in the points to 17th.

This weekend, TNT takes over coverage and the guys come to my home state of Pennsylvania for the Gillette Fusion Pro-Glide 500 presented by Target (aka the Pocono 500.

NASCAR Hall of Fame: Earnhardt family news conference

2010-05-25T09:49:00.025-04:00

I'm such a slacker!!

2010-05-24T15:55:00.000-04:00

I'm really sorry for not keeping up with the blog the past few weeks. I am now back on track!

Anyway, here's the update from the Autism Speaks 400 presented by Hershey's Milk & Milkshakes. Dale really struggled in this race and finished 7 laps down in 30th. Many called this race the 1 year anniversary Lance becoming crew chief. That fact is false, Lance did not become Dale's crew chief until the fall race at Dover.

Sprint Pit Crew Challenge - The 88 pit crew was so strong, and made it to the semi-finals this year. With no penalties until the semi-final round, the boys lost to Denny Hamlin's pit crew, who went on and won the finals.

Sprint All-Star Race - Due to rain which came towards the end of qualifying for the non points race, all drivers already in the race started according to what number they picked. Dale Jr started 12th and had an ill-handling car all evening. He didn't have major damage but brushed against one of the cars during the first "All-Star big one". (that's what I call it) He finished 12th and will either have to win by the end of this year or before the All Star race next year.

Saturday nights woes for Junior did not take away from the moment he and the entire Earnhardt family must have felt early Sunday afternoon. Teresa, Kerry, Dale Jr, Kelley and Taylor accepted 'Big E's' induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame from none other than Richard Childress. Teresa spoke as a wife and business partner, then let each of the children speak on behalf of their father. One thing that stuck out to me was Taylor, who said that she felt like each other them as children knew and saw a different part of their father. Also in attendence were Grandma Martha, Kerry's wife, Dale's bothers and sisters, and two other family members who sat with Kelley and Dale Jr.

Next weekend is the one and only Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. It also concludes FOX Sports coverage of the Sprint Cup Series for this year. As a fan, I want to thank Mike Joy, DW, and Larry Mac for their amazing coverage of their share of the Cup races for this year. Along with them, the reporters who cover pit road and victory lane, you all do an awesome job and aren't thanked enough for it, so thank you!! To steal a line from DW, "BOOGITY, BOOGITY, BOOGITY...... SEE YA NEXT YEAR BOYS!!!"

Taking a moment....

2010-05-13T01:41:00.000-04:00

To remember a good kid and buddy of Dale Jr's.........

10 years ago yesterday, NASCAR lost a 4th generation driver, Adam Petty. I'm listening to Kyle talk to Mike Massaro on NASCAR Now as I write this and he said just hearing Adam's voice was making him tear up. I'm sure that this day is just as tough for the Petty family as Feb. 18th is for the Earnhardt family.

Showtime Southern 500

2010-05-10T16:13:00.000-04:00

Dale was forced to go to his backup car (which was the car that he ran at Atlanta) after wrecking his primary car during practice. Thankfully because his wreck was before qualifying, he did not lose his qualifying position and started 19th. After flirting with the top 10, making an unexpected pit stop due to a tire going flat, and working his way back from 2 laps down, Dale finished the day in 18th and moved up one spot to 12th in the standings. Next week the boys head to Dover, which will be the first track where Dale and Lance had worked together last year in the 88. Let's hope that's a good sign for both driver and crew chief!!

On another note, I have not heard Dale joke around near as much as he did Saturday night. It was nice to hear!! (Personally, I think it was because Brenda was there watching Dale race.)

Fledgling mom gleans tips from NASCAR mothers

2010-05-08T01:07:00.000-04:00

I posted this for all you Mom's out there. As you know, Mother's Day is on Sunday and this article fits right in.....
As a rookie mom -- yellow stripe evident by the enormity of my gear and products I so foolishly buy such as the pee-pee teepee -- I'm always eager to absorb the knowledge and wisdom offered by veteran matriarchs.

My son Grissom is 7 months old and so far he has yet to roll off the changing table, hit his head on the bathtub faucet or get his fingers smashed in any number of fastening apparatuses he is restrained by on a daily basis.

So far so good, and on Sunday I will be honored for my accomplishments. I haven't forgotten him at Target, left him in a running car or allowed the dog to babysit him while I went shopping, all of which are stories reported on the local news these days.

By comparison, I deserve 'Mother of the Year,' but honestly my job thus far has been only to blanket my little boy with love and affection, cater to most every whim and teach him how to sleep and eat. The hard part, I feel, is in front of me.

This is why when I chose to write my annual NASCAR Mother's Day feature I started the process fully aware of a slightly selfish motive. I'll interview mothers of highly talented and successful men -- NASCAR drivers -- and glean valuable parenting insight far superior to anything I could find in a stack of baby books or Parents magazine. At the same time, I'll write a feature for the boss and meet my weekly deadline. Brilliant, free parenting advice from experts with proven results!

In between my questions about the upcoming festivities at Darlington Raceway and how the mothers enjoy the ceremonial walk across the drivers' stage and free flowers, I'll sneak in questions like, 'So how do I raise a well-adjusted, confident, unselfish young man that one day won't move halfway across the country to escape my prying eyes, er, loving arms?"

It was a tough question but I received great advice.

If I can follow Jana Bowyer's blueprint for her son Clint, maybe Grissom will never miss a Christmas at home. If I can harness a bit of Brenda Jackson, Grissom will still be a big hugger well into his 30s like Dale Earnhardt Jr. And if I can somehow tap into the bond Mary Lou Hamlin forged with her son Denny, when Grissom grows up perhaps he will buy me a house 15 minutes from his.

On the other hand, Denny never calls his mother and has forced the poor woman to join Twitter as a legitimate, and at times only, form of communication. And sometimes Bowyer uses "old lady" as a term of endearment for the wonderful woman who carried him nine months and has cared for him 31 years. To top it off, one year, Dale Jr. flat out forgot to call his mom on the sacred maternal holiday!

OK, so maybe NASCAR drivers aren't perfect sons ... but they're pretty darn close.

Like the time at the gas station when Denny, in a gullible yet good-hearted manner, got suckered out of his mom's gas money traveling to a Late Model race.

"He's going to kill me for telling you this but it's just to give you an example," Mary Lou said.

On their way to a late model race about 10 years ago in North Carolina, Denny and Mary Lou stopped for gas.

"He went in and came back out and said 'Mom, I need more money.' I said, 'For what,'" explained Mary Lou. "There was a guy in there who said he had a small baby in the car and he asked Denny for gas money and said the kid hadn't eaten, so he filled up the car and he bought the man whatever food he wanted."

That's Denny, generous without suspicion, always giving to others. Still, Mary Lou is trying to teach the 29-year-old how to answer the phone when she calls.

"Actually a lot of times I have to get on Twitter to find out where he is," she said. "I have to leave him a message and remind him 'you better call me back, I'm the one who brought you into this world so answer my call.'"

Denny and his girlfriend Jordan helped Mary Lou with her Twitter account but now of course he tells her she Tweets too much!

I'm hoping this social networking wave will somehow be replaced with letter writing in 20 years; otherwise I'll have to hold out for human microchipping technology. Just a little shot in the butt, Grissom, and I will know where you are at all times!

Seemingly, when your adult son is surrounded by business managers looking out for his best interests and is as wealthy as a NASCAR driver tends to be, moms don't need to worry about their son's whereabouts. Right?

"Wrong, that never goes away. I know he has everything he needs but I still worry about him every day," Mary Lou added. "You always want to be there for them."

And so does Jana Bowyer which is why her and husband Chris have their own motorhome and travel to all of Clint's races.

"Daddy and I aren't there to be at his motor home 24 hours a day. Sometimes we don't even see him. But we understand racing can be the best day of your life and other times it can be the worst," Jana said. "Regardless of what happens, he knows we're just across the lot, he can come talk to either one of us. When he's upset that's when he'll pop over or when he wants to go eat, he'll pop over. He knows we're there."

The same goes for Jana. Her son Clint has been there for her as well.

In 2005 when her son won his first NASCAR Nationwide Series race in Nashville, Tenn., Clint surprised his mother with a token of gratitude -- in her garage -- back home in Emporia, Kan., the following weekend.

It was the least he could do for his mother after years prior she sold her BMW 3 Series to buy a motor and parts for his modified race car. In return, Clint surprised Jana with a BMW 5 Series.

"You don't always hear it from him but he told me he knew how much we sacrificed for him and he wanted me to have that car," Jana said.

Bowyer takes care of the BMW's lease and mom gets a new version every three years!

Sacrifice, yes, I get that part of parenting already. Sacrifice now and hopefully one day Grissom will be grateful and not move to Malawi.

But what Brenda told me is important. Don't get caught up in the geography. She's had to be away from both Dale Jr. and his sister Kelley in the past.

"You do the best you can from the beginning and all you want for them to be is happy regardless of what they decide to do," she said. "You'll be happy if he's happy, no matter where that may be."

It's good advice coming from a mother who has raised one of the most successful sports figures and personalities in the world.

When I asked her how, she said she couldn't take much credit for the product.

"A lot of it is just Dale's personality, he's softhearted, kind and easygoing," she said.

As a boy he was quiet, fine to play alone and content to stay home most days. He was most comfortable on Mom's lap or right beside her and aside from a caterpillar incident at the church and a tendency towards laziness, he was a perfect child.

In those days, Brenda's job was easy.

Today, however, she has her plate full of parenting duties because what I learned from her is that you don't clock out on their 18th birthday. Actually, for Brenda, this is when her job became more involved, parenting her adult child.

"I most certainly do more parenting now and it's most important now because I am trying to keep Dale grounded, explain to him how people perceive him when they don't necessarily understand everything going on and help him look at all life's avenues when he doesn't have time to do so," she said.

Also, 30 years ago Brenda didn't need to explain to Dale Jr. the responsibilities of being a role model or remind him of the ramifications that come with the job. He was just a child. The most trouble he could get into at that time involved a jar of caterpillars.

His grandmother, Martha Earnhardt, had two large trees out front that always had these furry little creatures that Dale Jr. couldn't keep his hands away from. One day with some help he put a bunch in a jar.

"I guess he was maybe three or four at the time," Brenda recalled. "He went to daycare at church while I worked. The next day at daycare he took the jar with him and snuck it in his little bag. And when he got to daycare he and another little boy went and turned all those caterpillars loose in the bathroom."

The fuzzy worms went everywhere and still today Dale Jr. is a jokester. He gets his sarcastic sense of humor from Brenda.

Her little prankster with the shaggy, bowl haircut is all grown up but he'll never be too big for hugs, Brenda said.

"I work at JR Motorsports and once or twice a week he'll come by my office, come straight in and tell me to 'stand up and give me a good hug.' He never forgets to hug me when he leaves a room," she said. "If he did, he knows that would really hurt me. So whenever he leaves he comes and hugs on my neck. That means a lot to me."

I've always been told how lucky I am to have a son because the bond is unique and special. No one can tell me exactly why but I trust and don't question what the moms say because others have said the same thing for years.

Only now, after speaking with these three women, I have a greater understanding of how the relationship evolves.

What I learned from Brenda, Jana and Mary Lou is that for a mother a son is never a fully-grown man, and a son is never a fully-grown man until he understands and accepts this about his mother.

So now I'm going to print this story out, put it in Grissom's baby book along with three simple instructions.

You better answer when I call, never miss a holiday and always remember to hug me before you leave.

If he can manage these three simple tasks and I hold up my end of the deal, we're sure to enjoy many happy Mother's Day celebrations together.

Happy Mother's Day, ladies!

Check it out!

2010-05-04T09:43:00.001-04:00

I decided to change the header up a little bit. Like it? It was time for a change, and also I almost forgot to say this, but......

Crown Royal presents the Heath Calhoun 400

2010-05-03T16:11:00.000-04:00

Dale's day started ok good, but quickly went from bad to worse. After a bad pit stop and bad changes to the car, he had a tire go flat and that just made it worse from there. With Richmond being a short track, it's very easy for half of the field to get lapped in no time at all. Dale started 25th and finished 3 laps down in 32nd. At the end of the race, Dale praised his team for staying positive and said that had it not been for the tire going down, they would have run better. Not only is next week Darlington, but it's also Mother's Day. Don't forget about your mom!!

No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet back on track with Junior

2010-04-30T01:02:00.000-04:00

Pics from @MikeDavis88 on Twitter.

The first pic has from right to left - Taylor, Teresa, Kelley, Dale Jr, and Richard Childress.

There's two men in the back row, I believe they are reps from Wrangler, not sure, but that's my guess.

This one was taken either before or after the unveiling, I'm guessing after because of the fact that the cover wasn't on it when this pic was taken.

WELCOME, N.C. -- Through a joint effort between Richard Childress Racing, JR Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Wrangler, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will pay tribute to his father's upcoming induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame by driving the No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet in the Nationwide Series race on July 2 at Daytona International Speedway.

The announcement and car unveiling was made Thursday in Mooresville, N.C., at JR Motorsports and to the fans at Dale Earnhardt Inc. In attendance were Earnhardt Jr., Richard Childress, Kelley Earnhardt Teresa Earnhardt and Craig Errington, vice president of Wrangler marketing. The car is an RCR entry built and prepared by JR Motorsports.

"This was an idea that came up as a way to pay tribute to my dad, and it's pretty cool that it's a collaborative effort between JR Motorsports, RCR and DEI," Earnhardt Jr. said. "The Wrangler car is definitely in the top-10 of coolest cars that have ever been on the race track. A lot of people identify with it, and I can't think of a better way to honor my dad and celebrate his induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame than to bring the Wrangler colors back with the No. 3 on the side, similar to the 'Wrangler Jean Machine' scheme of the 80s. I think it will be worth seeing, and I'm looking forward to driving it at Daytona."

The combination of Earnhardt Jr., DEI and RCR has a very brief yet shining history on the track together. In their only race together, Earnhardt drove the No. 3 Chevrolet to victory in the February 2002 Nationwide Series race at Daytona. That car is on display at the RCR Museum in Welcome, N.C.

"Bringing this group of people and these organizations together is the best way I can think of to honor Dale Earnhardt's induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame," Childress said. "Dale means so much to all of us, as well as his fans across the country and throughout the world. We created a special piece of history together in 2002 and, with Wrangler back on board the No. 3 Chevrolet at Daytona, we look to make some more history in July. I know the fans will love it and much as we all will."

In support of the program, an array of licensed product will be available to fans from die-cast cars to apparel and select novelty items. Merchandise will highlight both Dale Earnhardt original Wrangler car and Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s current paint scheme. Fans can find the products at www.nascar.com, trackside or through each of the represented team stores.

"Dale's induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame is truly a special honor for the Earnhardt Family as well as for all of Dale's fans" Teresa Earnhardt said. "Dale was a competitor, but he was also a person who loved the fans and worked hard to connect with the people who supported him through his career. Wrangler was one of Dale's first sponsors and it's great to connect back with those early years, where it all started for Dale as he drove his way into the Hall of Fame".

Wrangler has a long history with all parties involved, and is the first apparel brand to have significant involvement in NASCAR, beginning in the 1980s when Dale Earnhardt was featured in the brand's "One Tough Customer" marketing campaign. Wrangler was the primary sponsor of Dale Earnhardt and the famed yellow-and-blue "Wrangler Jean Machine" from 1981 to 1987.

After a couple race team changes in the early 1980s including a brief 1981 stint with Richard Childress, Earnhardt moved back to RCR in 1984, bringing the brand with him as his primary sponsor. In 1998, the brand became one of the first corporate sponsors to sign up with Dale in his new role of team owner of Dale Earnhardt Inc.

The Wrangler-Earnhardt legacy continued in 2004 with a relationship between a second generation Earnhardt and a "New Generation of Wrangler" -- Earnhardt Jr. signed on as the endorsee for the Wrangler Jeans Co. line of new fits and styles of jeans and apparel. This longstanding relationship continues today with Earnhardt Jr. starring in the current brand marketing campaign.

"For Wrangler, this yellow-and-blue paint scheme signifies a lot of our brand history, marketing and persona from the 1980s," Errington said. "It's truly a piece of our history that will be on the track July 2 and it makes it that much more meaningful that it's not only Dale Earnhardt's son who will be driving it, but also the brand's current partner and friend -- Dale Jr."

Aaron's 499/ Aaron's 312

2010-04-27T10:02:00.000-04:00

Dale lead several times and even had a shot at the win as the race at 'Dega went into over time and the race ended on the last of the three G-W-C's yesterday. However he got shuffled back to 13th and was never able to get back up the challenge for the lead. Dale worked with several drivers Sunday, including Joey Logano, David Ragan, (surprisingly) Denny Hamlin, and others. He's only moved down one spot in the standings, and will head to Richmond next weekend with the other big boys. The race is on Saturday night and pre-race coverage begins at 7:30 on FOX.

Jamie McMurray lead 3-4 times in the Nationwide race and tried to move up for the win, but instead caused a huge crash as Brad took the lead and the win. Congrats to him and the Discount Tire team in their win at Dega yesterday! Brad almost didn't win, much less run the Nationwide race.He was collected in the late lap crash in the Cup race, and was being held in the infield care center due to breathing in too much carbon monoxide.

Steve Arpin qualified well in 4th, learned a lot (I'm sure) during the race about drafting, and was running well until he was caught up in the late race crash. He finished in 26th. He will have a better chance to prove himself next week at the race in Richmond.

'Appreciative' Arpin moves to front and center for JRM

2010-04-23T16:25:00.000-04:00

Driver becomes fourth driver this season to step into the No. 7

By Dave Rodman, NASCAR.COM

Tony Eury Jr. is the crew chief of the No. 7 Nationwide Series Chevrolet, so obviously he's deeply committed to that car performing well.

But as a co-owner of the JR Motorsports organization that fields the car alongside the company's flagship program, the No. 88 led by his father, Tony "Pops" Eury, Eury Jr. is also aware of his car's role in building a solid foundation for the entity that includes his cousins, Kelley and Dale Earnhardt Jr. -- as well as stock car icon Rick Hendrick -- in its ownership group.

At this stage of its existence, JR Motorsports is a development entity, but it's also burdened with a heavy responsibility to its sponsors and an organizational commitment to run at the front of the field.

And so the clock is ticking this weekend at Talladega, as Steve Arpin becomes the fourth driver this season to step into the 7, following Danica Patrick, Scott Wimmer and Landon Cassill.

JRM's short-term horizon went into a spin two races ago, after the Nashville round, when Kelly Bires was released as driver of the No. 88 and replaced by Cup veteran Jamie McMurray. But JR's management has maintained all along it wants a Nationwide regular to be in that car -- but it has to be someone who can run at the front and contend for wins, as the 88's most recent shoe, Brad Keselowski, had done.

Earnhardt Jr. came right to the point at Texas last weekend.

"We're proud of what we've been able to do so far as a company," Earnhardt Jr. said. "We're looking for the next Brad [Keselowski], the next Jeff Gordon -- whatever you want to call it -- we're looking for that next guy. You've got to get him in a good race car.

"We've got Jamie [McMurray] in the car and he's going to help us with the remaining races with Hellman's. We have that No. 7 car to alternate whoever we want, in and out of that deal because we're racing that car out of our pocket. That's the only good thing about that whole deal with running it out of your own pocket -- because you can put whoever you want in there."

And right now that's young Canadian Arpin, 26, who says he craves working on his own race cars because that allows him to know exactly how they work, and exactly what he needs to make them work better.

"When this deal with Bires came up," Eury Jr. said. "We sat down to set our agenda and we said 'one of our candidates is Steve Arpin. We need to give him a shot' because we need to get guys in the 7 car as quick as possible and give 'em chances."

The Hendrick Motorsports development driver Cassill's four-race deal was announced before Nashville, but the situation was constantly in flux.

"Everybody knows Landon [Cassill] hasn't never run a speedway race, other than in a truck, and Arpin had run three ARCA races, two at Daytona and one at Talladega," Eury Jr. said. "So from an experience standpoint, maybe that would be a good time to give Arpin a shot [because] he's got experience drafting. But Talladega is so far out of concept from every other race, maybe we need to stick that Richmond in there, because that's right behind it.

"Honestly, when we first started it was gonna be a Landon four-race deal but we were, like, 'man, we really need to get things rolling so when we get to Charlotte, like just past Charlotte when we're ready to put a young guy in that 88 when Jamie's not going to be able to do it because he's gonna be in Pocono and stuff, we need to have our agenda set up: Who are we gonna put in the car, how's the chemistry, what's his driving ability like and how's he run?'

"And all those deals kinda came up in a week, because the Bires deal kinda went down really quick. It was one of those things where we had to react, but JR Motorsports has got six months to get a talent -- like a Brad Keselowski -- to put in that 88 car, to know what we got so that team can come out of the box [in 2011] running strong."

And so right now Arpin is front and center -- though it's a moment that Eury Jr. said might extend to Arpin getting that shot in the 88 later this season.

Since the beginning of 2008, when he met Arpin at Speedweeks in Florida, Carl Edwards had become a real advocate for the Fort Frances, Ontario, native. After repeated recommendations from Edwards, Eury Jr. said the team finally met Arpin at Kansas Speedway last September.

Over the weekend at Texas Eury Jr. said at one point last fall the organization was even considering running a third car, along with the two full-time entries it's ended up fielding.

"Ever since we've met him, Steve's [Arpin] been real down-to-earth -- a real appreciative kind of guy," Eury Jr. said. "Since Carl [Edwards] introduced us, we've stayed in contact and we tried to put a deal together for Steve in the 7 car, to run the final races that Danica wasn't gonna run, but it just didn't happen."

Arpin is currently running his second season in the ARCA Series, where he has a 10-point lead in the championship over Justin Marks, after four races. Arpin comes to Talladega, where ARCA races Friday evening, having won the last two series races: at Salem, Indiana, and Texas last weekend.

"Now we're in a situation where we can give [Arpin] an opportunity and we're going to try to bounce it around in between his ARCA deal and kinda give him some chances and let him think about what he needs to do for next year," Eury Jr. said. "But we're real excited to have his enthusiasm at JR Motorsports."

Patrick's program for the next two years is a part-time schedule consisting of less than half the series' races while she concentrates on her Indy car program.

Since meeting the team last September, Arpin has spent time at the JR Motorsports shop and Friday at Texas, he split time between the ARCA and Nationwide garages. That was also the case last February, when Patrick made her first two stock car starts.

"He wants to be a team player -- he wants to do anything he can," Eury Jr. said. "He come over and helped Danica [Patrick] a lot during February at Daytona Speedweeks. He didn't have to, but that was just his personality.

"We were over here practicing with Landon [Cassill] on Friday and [Arpin] was getting ready for an ARCA race on Friday night and he's over here helping us put tires on so [Cassill] can go make a mock [qualifying] run. That's just the kind of guy that he is.

"He's just a racer -- he loves racing -- and it's just fun to be around people like that because when the team sees that kind of person; that just steps everybody's game up because they want to help that person get to their goals, also."

Earnhardt Jr. is keeping his eyes wide open at this point.

"I'm really hoping that Landon [Cassill] shows Tony Jr. what he needs to see to get more opportunity," Earnhardt Jr. said. "Landon's such a great guy; he's a real, real easy sale to the sponsors because he does such a great job. If he can show us that we can get something going chemistry-wise -- I really hope Landon works out. Steve Arpin, I think might be an opportunity waiting to happen for anybody.

"There are a lot of new variables in this environment, and they dictate really who gets in and out of the car. We're still trying to give those guys an opportunity and trying to convince who we need to, that these guys need to get a chance to get in the car."

Eury Jr. said they know the timeframe they want to make a decision on.

"Scheduling has a lot to do with it," Eury Jr. said. "If Arpin ends up being the guy, then we gotta look at his ARCA schedule. We've got some other drivers -- we've got Landon and we've got Wimmer and we've pitched some ideas out to both of those and we've got a couple more races scheduled with Landon.

"We're trying to say the middle of May, we kinda want to have an agenda, but this 7 car is going to continue to try guys out and give 'em a chance. There may be some other drivers out there that might show up but we're looking to see what we got out there, because we may be able to fill in next year with a solid driver to take up Danica's [Indy car conflict] races.

"We're constantly looking and we're gonna keep trying out new talent and give everybody the opportunity that we can. But the 88 is the flagship of our company -- that's our car and we want to contend for titles and win races and we've got sponsors on that car that we've committed to running up front and getting them the TV time because we're gonna have the best Nationwide driver out there. We're gonna beat the Cup drivers some days, and some days we're not, but that's our flagship.

"For the 7 car, our main objective is Danica Patrick, and we can use the rest of that time to have developmental drivers in the car. The biggest thing we've got to do is make sure we stay positive and stay in the top 30 in [owners'] points to help her situation out but we can also use it as a curve to help young drivers."

The rumors are true....

2010-04-23T01:35:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week I read a post on Twitter from Darrell Waltrip. He was saying that he had heard someone talking about Dale possibly driving the #3 in the Nationwide Series at Daytona in July. I am hear to tell you that the rumors are true, and according to NASCAR Now on ESPN, the car will be unveiled within the next week. That's all I know for now, and once the pics are available I will post them here.

Who is Steve Arpin?

2010-04-23T01:33:00.000-04:00

(I have no idea, never heard of the guy, but he is driving the #7 this weekend at Dega for JR Motorsports. Here's an article from NASCAR.com on him and how he got the chance to drive the car for Junebug.)

Edwards sees himself in Arpin, as others might
By Dave Rodman

The best thing about time passing is that, every so often, an event re-occurs in your life -- an event that the first time it passed was so positive, even if you didn't realize it at the time -- it could be considered priceless.

One of those happened in November 2000.

At the time, no one out in the world knew Arpin was about to embark on possibly his greatest career step to date. He didn't even know that a one-race trial, at Talladega of all places, with JR Motorsports had already turned into two-in-a-row, via a Richmond follow-up in JRM's No. 7 Chevrolet.

Three days later, Nationwide Series director Joe Balash had taken Arpin to the NASCAR catering trailer in the Cup garage to get some lunch. Arpin met Brett Bodine, who heads the committee that approves drivers' transitions up the career ladder in NASCAR's national series, and then he also met and had an exchange with NASCAR president Mike Helton and Sprint Cup director John Darby.

You wonder, racing aside, how special could this kid be? Remember, he had just won the past two ARCA races, the first on one of the most daunting high-speed, high-banked short tracks in creation, and then, Friday night with a car that had been, uh, torn up a little in an early accident at Texas -- the speedway that's certainly just as daunting as Salem, with 60-or-so mph added-on.

Arpin said he hadn't known anything about racing Richmond until he heard JRM's co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. saying it in a media interview, and that "I never had a prouder moment in my career than standing there, listening to [Earnhardt Jr.] talk about me."

The next day, Edwards himself reflected on what's been a whirlwind of a two-year period, not only for himself but also Arpin.

"He's got one helluva future," Edwards said, shaking his head. "A lot of people are gonna be jealous of him, cause he works harder than anyone I know, he's a good person and he's gonna have all the success that a guy could have. I truly believe that.

"I've seen him do truly unbelievable things with race cars and he's just starting on pavement -- I mean, he doesn't -- he won that ARCA race the other night and after the race I went over there and the upper ball joint's broke on the car, and it's [wheel and tire] flopping around. The fender's all smashed-up -- the left-rear of the car is all smashed up and he won at Texas.

"That's pretty tough."

The first thing you have to understand is Edwards is no different today than he was 10 years ago, and considering his status in racing, the championships he's won -- that's truly amazing.

But he's a fan. He loves dirt racing and he follows this stuff. Case in point: more than two years ago, he read a story in Speedway Illustrated by Karl Fredrickson about a Canadian dirt track racer from Fort Frances, Ontario.

"I was a fan of [Arpin's] -- I thought, 'this guy's cool,'" Edwards said. "And then he was working on his car and he got burnt [during Speedweeks 2008 in Florida]."

Edwards said Fredrickson -- who in addition to writing about racing also races himself -- called him and tried to explain who Arpin was and what had happened, but Edwards quickly cut him off.

"I told him, 'I know who he is, you wrote an article about him,'" Edwards said, laughing. "But Karl said 'they'd like it if you'd drive his race car.' So I went over [to the Volusia Speedway Park dirt track in Barberville, Fla.] and drove his race car -- and did terrible in it, so he kind of showed me up, there."

And thus a totally innocuous meeting in a terribly busy professional athlete's career led to a very special connection. And now two years later, Arpin has the chance of a lifetime, thanks to Edwards "bugging" Tony Eury Jr. and Earnhardt Jr. to give the kid a shot in a JR Motorsports car.

That initial shot comes this weekend at Talladega and Eury Jr. is already talking about Arpin's first opportunity in JRM's flagship car, the No. 88 Chevrolet. Arpin's scheduled to drive the No. 7 car again at Richmond because Talladega is so unique -- the team wants him to carry the momentum of working with its personnel to a track where he'll have the potential to show them what he can really do.

Edwards is already convinced.
"He's just one of those guys -- he's earning it," Edwards said, his face changing to an expression of dead-seriousness. "He has so much energy -- so much positive energy and will and desire -- that there's no way he can fail. He's just got it."

And that just begs the comparison, to a kid who hitched rides to race tracks, who criss-crossed the country to win a Baby Grand championship -- a kid who continually had to make that ages-old racer's choice: Tires and fuel, or eating better?

And he chose being faster, every time. You just have to believe that Edwards -- now that he knows Arpin better -- sees a reflection of himself in the 26-year-old.

"Yeah," Edwards said, shaking his head and looking quickly at the ground like he wasn't real comfortable with the spotlight. "I meet a lot of people that want to drive race cars, but he wants to more than anybody else that I meet, and people used to say the same thing about me.

"I'm a little nervous to race with him [chuckling]. Once he gets pretty good -- I might've created a monster, here -- not to say that I created it, or whatever, but I've been doing everything I can to help him, just because he embodies ... you want to help people that help themselves, you know what I mean?

"He calls me up and he's got simple questions -- all I have to say is 'yes' or 'no.' He's on a mission."

And when you talk to Arpin a little bit, you don't have to scramble much to close your eyes and think back to Memphis and Milwaukee and Kansas back in 2002, where Edwards scored his first top-10 finish -- in his first speedway race. You almost can't tell who you're talking to.

And you can only hope you're able to witness a similar path.

"What a great kid," Wallace had said last week. "I'm just so afraid he'll get the big head and man, I hope that doesn't happen."

"I love race cars -- they're just my whole life and they fascinate me," Arpin said on Sunday -- but then he quickly back-pedaled with an ever-ready smile. "Of course, that's besides my wife, Trina."

I tell you what Kenny -- from what I've seen of his influences and his career path to date -- we might not have anything to worry about that with young Mr. Arpin.

And that, my friends, will be truly priceless.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Things fine with crew chief Lance McGrew

2010-04-22T16:11:00.000-04:00

(Article from today's USA Today, thanks to Mike Davis for link via Twitter update)

By Nate Ryan, USA TODAY

A testy exchange between Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Lance McGrew during Monday's Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway concluded with the driver lightly chiding his crew chief.

"Don't take so much offense," Earnhardt said. "Just jot the (stuff) down and be done with it."

The short transmission spoke volumes about their relationship.

Ranked seventh in points heading into Sunday's Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR's most popular star says a major key to his rebound from a career-worst 2009 is the realization of separating the professional from the personal.

"We don't have to be best friends," Earnhardt said of McGrew. "We actually get along really good. But there's not that urge to be friends first.

"With (former crew chief) Tony (Eury) Jr., the No. 1 thing was the personal relationship, way ahead of the crew chief success. That's not there anymore, and I don't have to worry."

A good example was Wednesday night. Though McGrew was invited to the grand opening of Earnhardt's new Whisky River bar in Jacksonville, Fla., the crew chief stayed in North Carolina to prepare the No. 88 Chevrolet for next week's race at Richmond.

Though they've gone to dinner, McGrew said hanging out isn't necessary to performing well.

"That's a lot of extra stress," McGrew said. "It's business. I listen to what he tells me, and I react accordingly. I don't want the fact we're going deer hunting or fishing to cloud that."

The partnership with Eury Jr. was different. Earnhardt was in almost daily contact with his cousin (who remains a best friend, confidante and business partner as a co-owner of JR Motorsports), and they shared outside interests (such as attending boxing matches together).

With McGrew, who replaced Eury 10 months ago, Earnhardt said "we talk out of necessity" in between being at the track.

"That can be it," Earnhardt said. "We don't have to call and see what we thought about the Bobcats in the playoffs, none of that (baloney). It makes it easy."

Not that he doesn't enjoy the Baton Rouge, native's company.

"I have a lot of fun being around him in the truck and during practices," Earnhardt said. "We get to joking around so (darn) much, that's about all we do. He's never done anything that's gotten under my skin."

That might surprise fans who heard him unleash a vulgarity-laden stream of invective at Bristol after McGrew pleaded with his driver "not to lay down." Earnhardt said such a conversation would have taken weeks to heal with Eury.

"We would have had to call each other all week to make sure everything was cool," Earnhardt said. "People have to just believe me when I say that things are as good as ever."

He knows firsthand because of McGrew's encouragement to take a vested interest in the team's fleet of Impalas. While working with Eury, Earnhardt says he "didn't give a (flip) if a car was new or not. I knew it was going to be great. When that was gone, now I've got to care."

Earnhardt recently began e-mailing an evaluation after every race to McGrew, who is building a database his driver can study for each track (a practice embraced by Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson).

McGrew said the duo's communication on preparing for a race still needs improvement, but he cited Texas, where Earnhardt led 46 laps and placed eighth, as an example of where Earnhardt's prior input made a difference. Earnhardt, though, gave as much credit to McGrew's offseason restructuring.

"He made a lot of tough calls within the shop of moving people around," Earnhardt said. "He's doing everything I could ever ask. I have a ton of respect for that."

New link being added

2010-04-21T09:42:00.000-04:00

For those of you who love to dec your desktop screen, AIM or Yahoo icon, post banners on your site/MySpace page/etc., or send e-cards - this site is the place do to it!
Check it out at The Dale Jr Graphics Garage I'll be picking a banner from Sarah's site to put on the bottom of the blog page, so check it out!

Samsung 500

2010-04-19T16:28:00.000-04:00

What a great day for Dale Jr and the 88 team! I'm here at work (on break of course), but kept up with the race during both my breaks. He led 5 different times for a total of (if I remember correctly) 49 laps and has moved up to 7th in the Sprint Cup standings. Next weekend brings another track that Dale Jr runs very well at..... the one and only Talladega Superspeedway.

Don't forget that in about half an hour, the Nationwide Series race is set to start on ESPN2 and the 88 and 7 will be running in that race. Jamie McMurray will make his first appearance in the #88 Hellmann's Chevy for JR Motorsports and Landon Cassill will be running in the #7 GoDaddy.com Chevy.

Much to talk about!!

2010-04-14T00:46:00.000-04:00

Kelly's out, Jamie Mac is in..... Yup, Kelly Bires is out of the No. 88 Nationwide Series car for JRM and the Daytona 500 winner - Jamie McMurray is in the seat as of this weekend at Texas. This is a quote from Kelley Earnhardt - "We are extremely appreciative of Kelly Bires and wish him the best," Earnhardt said. "Internally, it was evident the chemistry that is imperative for us to succeed in this highly competitive industry was simply not there. That is the fault of no one person. We owe it to our fans and sponsors to make necessary adjustments in an effort to put our best product on the track, and we'll continue evaluating our progress until we are confident that our full potential is being reached." To be honest, I thought that Kelly would do well as a driver for JRM, but I was wrong (isn't the first time that's happened). Anyway, the races that Jamie will drive are the following: Texas (April 17), Talladega (April 24), Richmond (April 30), Darlington (May 7), Dover (May 15) and Charlotte (May 30) -- plus Chicagoland (July 9), Atlanta (Sept. 4) and the return trip to Charlotte (Oct. 15).

As for the No. 7 car, NASCAR.com reports the following: The alteration to the No. 88 team does not change plans for the No. 7 team, which presently is to run the full Nationwide Series schedule with multiple drivers. Landon Cassill began a part-time stint last weekend at Phoenix, becoming the third driver this season to get behind the wheel of the No. 7 prepared by crew chief and co-owner Tony Eury Jr. Cassill will race the car this weekend at Texas. Danica Patrick has 10 of her scheduled 13 races remaining on the 2010 slate. Scott Wimmer recently completed a two-race commitment and posted season-best finishes of 10th at Bristol and seventh at Nashville. Driving vacancies left on the No. 7 schedule are still to be determined. - As more drivers are announced to fill in the rest of the dates, I will post who will be driving where as I learn about it myself.

In other news, Kasey Kahne has signed to drive for Hendrick Motorsports for the 2012 season. Mark had signed a two year extension with Hendrick that expires at the end of next year, and plans as of now are for Kasey to take Mark's seat in the No. 5 car. As for Jimmie, Jeff and Dale, they are signed through the end of next year. Kasey's current sponser, which ironicly is Dale Jr's old sponsor has made a statement saying that "it had not yet broached the idea of potentially following Kahne to another organization." How awkward would that be? To have your former sponsor be the sponsor of another teammate?

Subway Fresh Fit 600

2010-04-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

Dale had a strong car leading into Saturday evenings race, and although he slipped back into the mid-20's for the majority of the race, Lance called for two tires after a late-race caution, which boosted Dale up into the top 10 for the last laps of the night. Dale finished 12th and remains 10th in the point standings. This Sunday the drivers head to Texas, which is one of Dale's stronger tracks and a huge place for Jr Nation members to gather.

Cassill ready for his shot in JR Motorsports' No. 7 Chevy

2010-04-09T16:17:00.000-04:00

By Sporting News Wire Service

Nearly 17 months after he won the Nationwide Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year award for JR Motorsports, Landon Cassill is getting back behind the wheel of a Dale Earnhardt Jr.-owned race car.

What took so long? Cassill isn't sure, but he doesn't seem to care, either. He's simply excited to be driving JRM's No. 7 Chevrolet in the next four races, beginning with Friday's Bashas' Supermarkets 200 (9 p.m. ET on ESPN2) at Phoenix International Raceway

"I don't know what it was that got the call made," Cassill said. "I'd helped out Danica [Patrick] in Las Vegas and was working with JR Motorsports in that sense. They really decided to jump in with both feet and try to make this car get to every race. It really is too good of equipment to be at the shop.

"Finally, though, yeah, I'm finally happy to be back in the car."

Cassill won the rookie title in 2008, winning a pole and posting five top-10 finishes in 19 starts for JRM. But sponsorship issues put Cassill on the sideline for '09, and he ran one race -- for Phoenix Racing.

Naturally, Cassill wants to do well in his stint in the No. 7, but he's not trying to prove he belonged in the No. 88 instead of teammate Kelly Bires. No, Cassill instead said he wants to be a good teammate to Bires.

"I'm not trying to go out and say, 'Ha, you should've hired me in the first place,'" Cassill said. "That's not it at all, I'm just glad to be driving for Go Daddy and for JR Motorsports and to be part of the team.

"Being in a race car, there's nothing better. I'm just ready to remind everybody what I can do in a race car."

What can he do after being out for so long? Cassill said he can "run what the car is capable of doing," whatever performance that is.

"He's got a lot of ambition right now," Bires said. "He wants to get in the car. He's a good driver, and I think he's going to be a good teammate."

Cassill said he has a good relationship with Earnhardt and JRM co-owner Kelley Earnhardt, dispelling notions he was sidelined because he and Dale Jr. didn't get along.

"They're great," Cassill said. "It was cool when I sat down, and they said, 'Hey, we need you to drive this car. You're our guy. ... We feel like you can [take] this team and do what we need you to do.' I'd say I have a good relationship with them."

A quick reminder....

2010-04-09T16:14:00.002-04:00

for those (like me) who don't know, the race this weekend is being run tomorrow evening (Saturday) at 7:30 EST on FOX.

Wecome back Landon!!

2010-04-07T09:30:00.000-04:00

When I first started watching Nationwide races on TV, JRM had two drivers racing. One, of course was Brad, and the other was Landon Cassill, who drove the #5 car, owned by Rick Hendrick. Landon was part of Rick's developmental program, so he only drove for them that one year. I just read the other day that Landon will drive the #7 car the weeks that Scott Wimmer is not. I'm so excited to see Landon back with JRM and can't wait to see him race.

Goody's Fast Pain Relief 500

2010-04-07T09:26:00.001-04:00

Due to the rain not letting up on Sunday, the race at Martinsville was cancelled and run on Monday. I had to work so I could only check the race updates at work while on my break. Dale ran well all day, starting 8th and eventually finishing in 15th.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend with your families. This coming weekend the boys head back out west to Phoenix International Raceway.

Special Paint Scheme for this weekend

2010-03-26T16:06:00.000-04:00

Ok, if any of you watched practice today and think that Dale is running a test car this weekend, (like me at first), I'm here to tell that we're wrong, lol. I checked Jayski.com and they have this pic of Dale's paint scheme for this weekend.

Handy Manny's Big Race

2010-03-24T19:20:00.000-04:00

Remember when I posted an article about Dale Jr doing a voice over for Playhouse Disney? Well, I was poking around the net today and found that you can watch the whole Handy Manny episode online. Below is the address and if there's any little ones around that like Dale Jr and/or Handy Manny, they can watch it too!

Handy Manny's Big Race

Junior contends in-race radio chatter misconstrued

2010-03-24T14:10:00.000-04:00

Driver confident that No. 88 team is on the same page.

CONCORD, N.C. -- In between morning and afternoon test sessions Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. spent considerable time trading information and wisecracks with crew chief Lance McGrew in the garage area.

Earnhardt even playfully grabbed the sides of McGrew's head to make one point, then laughed heartily. The most famous driver in NASCAR hardly seemed like he was having trouble getting along with anyone.

And that's just the problem with sharing with the world heated radio communications during a race, Earnhardt later pointed out. While on one hand it's great entertainment -- unique solely to the sport of NASCAR -- on the other it can lead to some general misunderstandings by those listening in.

So it was, Earnhardt said, when he went off Sunday on NASCAR, spewing expletives about getting penalized for speeding coming onto pit road at Bristol Motor Speedway. And when McGrew subsequently implored Earnhardt not "to lay down on him," Earnhardt responded with a stream of invective about why McGrew should never, ever accuse him of laying down -- and about how the crew chief certainly should never make said accusation over the radio during a race.

Relaxing in his No. 88 Chevrolet hauler between test runs Tuesday, Earnhardt explained what was going through his mind at the time.

"When I get upset I have to talk to somebody. I've got to tell somebody; somebody needs to hear it," Earnhardt said. "I don't feel good. I can't get over it, past it until I think I've had somebody hear my side of it.

That somebody during a race is going to be Earnhardt's crew chief.

"When you're inside that race car and something bad happens ... when you feel slighted and you're in the car and you're strapped in and it's a little claustrophobic, there's no audience," Earnhardt said. "You've got millions of people watching on TV, but there's really no one to hear your side of it. There is a very small avenue on that radio to get your point across, because nobody can see your facial expressions, nobody can see your body language, nothing.

"It's sort of like talking online. It's hard to read tone. Even though you can hear me, it's hard to understand tone or who it is directed at or whatever. Every time pretty much I get misconstrued."

Both Earnhardt and McGrew insisted Tuesday that their relationship not only is fine, but that it's getting better all the time. That seemingly is beginning to show on the track, with Earnhardt up to eighth in the point standings after coming back from Sunday's speeding penalty to finish seventh at Bristol.

"I kind of hate the way the media wrote it up like we were airing dirty laundry over the radio," McGrew said. "A lot of the crew chiefs and drivers here talk to each other that way, period. But he's the only one that gets criticized. It's bull[expletive]."

McGrew added that a successful crew chief quickly learns the art of give-and-take with his driver over the radio. He said telling Earnhardt not to lay down wasn't meant as an insult, nor was it meant to imply that Earnhardt has previously.

"It was, 'Dang, look, you've got to be positive. You've got to realize your car is freaking fast. We can still get a good finish out of it,' " McGrew explained.

At the time of his spending penalty, Earnhardt was running in the top five -- and he fell to 26th, at the tail end of the lead lap as a result. But 180 laps still remained in the 500-lap event, which was McGrew's point. There was still time to make up what was lost, or at least most of it.

Neither had their feelings hurt by their spirited exchange Sunday -- neither at the time nor afterward, Earnhardt said.

"Me and Lance really have gotten to know each other more and more really quick, faster than probably it should have happened or what happens with other people," Earnhardt said. "We don't really ever have these awkward moments where he doesn't know if I'm kidding or serious. He always knows. He knows when I'm full of [expletive]; he knows when I'm joking around; he knows when I'm really pissed or when something serious is bothering me.

"He knows, so that really helps him not get his feelings hurt. It helps him kind of understand what I'm trying to accomplish."

Earnhardt said that was the case Sunday.

"He knew when I sort of cut loose on the radio I just had to get some [expletive] off my chest," Earnhardt said. "I was mad at myself because I gassed the car up to cheat a little bit and I got caught. I was frustrated because I couldn't gas mine as much as everybody else around me was doing it because of their pit road spots."

"I was just really pissed about the situation, how stupid it was, how hard I had run to get into the top 5, how late it was in the race, [how] my chances of making it back to that point were going to be very poor. I just had to get it off my chest. I couldn't get back to the place I was before without releasing it somehow.

"I even thought about this during the pace laps. I does me no good with my finger off the [radio] button, cussing into thin air. It doesn't get it off my chest. I don't feel better. I can't beat the dash in or punch something. It just doesn't do it for me. I had to holler. Lance was the guy that I wanted to holler at 'cause I felt comfortable telling him my story."

Basically, bad thoughts were running through Earnhardt's head and he was determined to be rid of them.

"I was at the point where I didn't want to run over anybody because I wasn't pissed off at them," Earnhardt said. "I wanted to drive up there and knock the side off the pace car because that was the only way I could get back at them guys in the [NASCAR] booth, but that would have been the worst thing in the world I could have done That would have been a foolish, foolish mistake. That's just the daydreaming that goes on in your head at the time.

"I just had to calm down, you know? I just had to [expletive] calm down -- because I didn't want to do anything stupid or make an ass out of myself. And venting like that was a good release for me. Then I got back to racing the car and forgetting about all that other stuff."

In retrospect, Earnhardt said McGrew did what he needed to do to help get him focused back on driving in the race. But at the time, when McGrew made his "laying down" comment after several seconds of uncharacteristic silence following Earnhardt's initial outburst, Earnhardt got all fired up.

"I was kind of chilling out back there. He thought I was going to lay down on him or whatever," Earnhardt said. "He's got to crack the whip. He's got to motivate me to get back into fighting shape and what have you.

"He does his job right. He does it good. He makes me understand. He's working hard. It's a good relationship. ... We really do kind of see we're working together to fix this. He's really [expletive] working hard and he sees me doing the same thing. There's a lot of respect there. I think we're doing it the right way."

In the end Sunday, Earnhardt was pleased to come out of Bristol with his seventh-place finish.

"Yeah, I was happy," Earnhardt said. "At one point I felt like we were putting ourselves in position to battle for the win, to have a shot at it. Man, I hadn't thought about that more than 30 seconds and I was getting sent to the back. It was disappointing because I could have run in the top five. We didn't get [expletive] last year with top-fives and top-10s. I get this feeling that top-fives are hard to come by and I want to get rid of that feeling."

It isn't gone yet. Earnhardt said he isn't content with being back in the top 12 in the point standings, nor is he fooled into believing that the No. 88 team has arrived as a true championship contender just yet.

Asked if he was fired up to be back in the top 12, Earnhardt sighed and paused before replying: "Yeah, I guess so. It's more of a relief than anything. We've got five races in the bank, and we're just going to keep working on one after the other and try to do the best we can. The real important thing is to try to get everything you can out of every week. When you're having a bad day or whatever, you still have to try to get everything you can out of it.

"I know that's kind of a cliché, but we got behind last year -- and we kept getting further and further behind and had a lot of problems. Hopefully we just have some better luck on that end and finish these races and get these points even when we're not having good days -- kind of like we did at Atlanta, where we run like [expletive] all day and then finished in the top 15. That was pretty good."

But he was quick to add that it also was a sign that there is much work left to do.

"I need to start trying to be more comfortable with the position, being in there [inside the top 12]," Earnhardt said. "I still feel like I'm just a little nervous about keeping it up, keeping it going -- because aside from Daytona and Bristol, we've got to get our [expletive] together, still. We've got a lot of work to do."

He went on to add that without the benefit of green-white-checkered finishes that aided him when he avoided wrecks, "it wouldn't be much of a season -- because really we weren't that great at Fontana or Vegas or Atlanta. We really weren't. We're seeing some bright spots, but, man, we've still got some work to do."

One thing Earnhardt has no interest in doing is running in the Camping World Truck Series, which was suggested by three-time former champion and current television analyst Darrell Waltrip on Monday. Waltrip claimed it would be a way for Earnhardt "to win a couple of races and get his confidence back up."

Earnhardt chuckled at that thought.

"Well, I mean, I don't have any interest in driving those trucks," he said. "I want to drive a truck race, I guess, before I retire just to see what they feel like -- and [fellow driver and truck owner Kevin] Harvick said I could drive his truck anytime I wanted to. Hopefully that offer will be around for quite a while -- because I don't plan on doing it anytime soon.

"I have plenty of confidence in myself. ... I don't need more work, I can tell you that much. Going and running the truck races ain't gonna do anything but distract me from this here. They are such different beasts."

Food City 500

2010-03-21T19:15:00.000-04:00

After a week break, the boy were back at it in Bristol. Dale had a decent start to the day and was doing well until a speeding penalty put him back in 26th. He used the f-word quite a bit, finally calming down after he and Lance yelled at each other for a moment or two. This was after the restart and after Lance yelled at Dale, telling him to get on the wheel and get moving. Dale yelled back basically saying that he wasn't going to drive into the cars that were in front of him. After another quick yellow, Dale stayed out and moved up to 15th. After working his way to the front he was able to stay there and finished 7th. His finish today boosted him into the 8th position in the standings. Hopefully this is a good sign of things to come and Dale can keep himself up there in the top 10. Martinsville is up next week and I can't wait to see how Dale does there.

Kobalt Tools 500

2010-03-08T09:46:00.000-05:00

What a crazy day for Dale! He had the pole but was not able to hang on to the lead and Shrub led the first lap. After a quick caution he stayin the top 5 for quite a while. He started complaining that it was too tight for him, but was able to stay in the top 10 for the first part of the race. At lap 112, Dale gave up his sixth place position and pitted while complaining about possibly having a loose wheel. Lance had the guys make a chassis adjustment and went a lap down. Dale kept saying he felt like one of the tires was loose and so the crew set to find out why. They were puzzled by it, and ruled out the tires and rear axle, but still were not able to find out what was causing the problem. I had the scanner on and after the incident between Carl and Brad, you hear the concern in Dale's voice when he asked TJ Majors if Brad was ok and if he got out of the car. TJ said he did, but needed help getting out and was limping a little bit. In the end after both the second green-white-checker, Dale made his way up to 15th and finished the race there. Over the radio, a pumped Lance McGrew said something like, "YEAH MAN! THAT'S THE WAY WE GET IT DONE HERE!" This great finish after a horrible day moved Dale up two positions in the standings which puts him in 13th, one position out of the top 12. Next week is the first weekend off for the guys and on March 21st Thunder Valley will be roaring as the guys head to Bristol.

Some great news from qualifying today!

2010-03-06T00:18:00.000-05:00

Dale Jr got the pole for the race in Atlanta.... yes I said DALE JR GOT THE POLE POSITION FOR THE RACE ON SUNDAY. Sorry, got a little too excited there, but this should be such a huge confidence boost to him, Lance and the rest of the #88 team. I am so excited to see him smile!! (pic below) This is Dale's first pole in the spring race at Atlanta and the last pole he got was at Texas in '08. Now all he has to do is get rid of that ridiculous looking beard and I'd be very happy!

A new blog is coming!

2010-03-05T01:19:00.000-05:00

I think I had mentioned this at the end of last season, but not sure, but anyway, I am going to create a blog for Brad Keselowski. It's going to called Krazy for Keselowski and it will the same format as this blog, only (of course) centered around Brad. So I will give a quick update on him. I was looking at NASCAR.com and they have Brad as being 2nd in the Nationwide points. He seems to be fitting in well with Kurt and Sam and I'm glad to see he's doing well in the Cup series.

Shelby American

2010-03-03T09:41:00.000-05:00

Dale Jr had an awesome qualifying run and qualified 4th last Sunday. No mechanical problems this week, just a stubborn race car that wouldn't tighten up no matter what Lance and the guys did to it. Dale ran in the 10 for the majority of the race, but towards the end slid back to 16th and wasn't able to make any progress from there. His finish did move him up one spot in the standing from 16th to 15th. Next week the guys come back to the east coast and head to Atlanta for the Kobalt Tools 500.

Junior's momentum slowed by mechanical snag

2010-02-21T23:39:00.000-05:00

FONTANA, Calif. -- Mechanical problems relegated Dale Earnhardt Jr. to a 32nd-place finish in Sunday's Auto Club 500, breaking the momentum of his second-place run in the season-opening Daytona 500.

Earnhardt finished 12 laps down after stopping for extensive repairs on Lap 183.

"We tore up an axle or a drive plate -- one of the two happened first," Earnhardt said. "Down in the center of [Turns] 1 and 2, I just got back to the gas, and the car felt like it had a flat tire. I don't know. Something's going on there where we're chewing that stuff up and tearing it up. We've got to figure out why that's happening. They think it's a material issue, so we'll just have to see."

Asked whether his team was sharing information with those of Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson (Sunday's race winner), Mark Martin (fourth) and Jeff Gordon (20th), Earnhardt replied, "Of course we are. I can't build the cars. What do you want me to do? I just drive them."

Earnhardt's winless streak reached 59 races since June 2008, his first season with Hendrick Motorsports. He has only one win the last 136 races.

"Looking at the guys around the top 10, we should have been around that No. 16 car [Greg Biffle, who finished 10th] I think," Earnhardt said. "It was a tough day."

What do Handy Manny (cartoon on the Disney Channel) and Dale Jr have in common? Read on....

2010-02-21T23:33:00.000-05:00

Handy Manny and the Tools hit the Motor Speedway in the new primetime special, "Handy Manny Big Race"

Saturday March 20 at 7:25pm on Disney Channel Playhouse Disney's hit Emmy-nominated series, "Handy Manny," puts the pedal to the metal with the premiere of the series' second primetime special, "Handy Manny Big Race," starring Wilmer Valderrama and guest starring NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt Jr. and N'Sync's Lance Bass. In this exciting primetime event for preschoolers and parents, Manny and the tools hit the motor speedway as a pit crew for the highly anticipated Wood Valley 500. The announcement was made today by Earnhardt and Valderrama at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Earnhardt said: "My 4-year-old niece is a huge 'Handy Manny' fan, so when Disney Channel approached me about doing this role, I did it with her in mind. It was fun doing it, and being 'Chase Davis' for a while. I know Kennedy will enjoy seeing me on her favorite cartoon."

Valderrama said: "Like NASCAR racing, 'Handy Manny Big Race' is something the entire family can enjoy together. I am so excited that we incorporated one of America's favorite pastimes and the legendary Dale Earnhardt, Jr. into the world of 'Handy Manny.'"

In the special, Valderrama, Bass (who recurs on the series as surfer-dude Elliot) and the cast of Tools perform the new song "One Step at a Time." A music video for the song will premiere Saturday, March 6 on Disney Channel and online at Disney.com/HandyManny. In addition, PlayhouseDisney.com will give preschoolers the opportunity to decorate their own race car for the chance to have it featured on air during the premiere broadcast of "Handy Manny Big Race."

A full-length preview becomes available on Disney Channel On Demand on Saturday, March 13. Select mobile providers will also simulcast the special in conjunction with the television premiere. Beginning Sunday, March 21, the special will be available at Disney.com/HandyManny and on a variety of mobile VOD distributors.

In "Handy Manny Big Race," Manny and the tools help Elliot fix up his used race car to enter the big Wood Valley 500 race. The car turns out better than expected and everyone is ready to race - except Elliot, who's too nervous to drive. Famous race car driver Chase Davis (voiced by Dale Earnhardt, Jr.) steps in to help, but Elliot's nerves get the best of him. With the tools as his pit crew, Manny gets behind the wheel in an attempt to win the race for the entire team.

A Top 10 TV series with preschoolers age 2-5, the Emmy-nominated "Handy Manny," which is set in a multicultural, multi-generational community and follows a curriculum that models problem-solving, is available in over 140 countries and in 23 languages (Source: NTI, U.S. ratings, most current, ranked among preschool geared programs with minimum 10 telecasts. 2009/10: 9/28/09-1/17/10). The first primetime special, "Handy Manny Motorcycle Adventure," delivered the series' largest Total Viewer audience ever (Source: NTI, U.S. ratings, 10/4/09).

In addition to imparting life lessons about working together, communication and setting goals, the series also teaches viewers Spanish words and phrases and exposes them to aspects of Latin Culture.

Starring are Wilmer Valderrama as Manny, Carlos Alazraqui as Felipe, Dee Bradley Baker as Turner, Grey Delisle as Flicker, Nika Futterman as Stretch and Squeeze, Tom Kenny as Mr. Lopart and Pat, Kath Soucie as Dusty, Fred Stoller as Rusty and Nancy Truman as Kelly.

The series' cultural consultant is Marcela Davison Aviles, president and CEO of Mexican Heritage Corporation. Language specialist Dr. Rose Marie Garcia Fontana is the series' language consultant. Rick Gitelson is executive producer and story editor of "Handy Manny," which is a production of Nelvana Limited in association with Disney Channel.

"Handy Manny" airs weekdays at 9:00 a.m., ET/PT and weekends at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., ET/PT during Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney programming block for preschoolers. The series carries a TV-Y parental guideline.

Playhouse Disney, seen in a daily programming block on Disney Channel U.S. and on 21 Playhouse Disney channels around the world, encourages preschoolers to imagine and learn through original series, short-form and acquired programming that include song, movement and entertainment. Guided by an established curriculum, Playhouse Disney supports multiple areas of child development: physical, emotional, social and cognitive; thinking and creative skills as well as moral and ethical development through carefully constructed themes, storylines and endearing characters.

Earnhardt Jr. Optimistic Heading To Cali

2010-02-19T10:59:00.000-05:00

I got this article from The Speed Channel's website, but the article was originally written for Scene Daily.

by Jeff Owens

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a bit of a swagger in his step again and is more confident than he has been in a while after his stirring second-place finish in the Daytona 500.

His fans are also riding high, optimistic that the strong start to the 2010 season is a sign that Earnhardt Jr. and his Hendrick Motorsports team is poised to shake off last year’s disappointment and bounce back from its struggles of the last two seasons.

But Earnhardt Jr. warns that his strong showing at Daytona is no guarantee that his team has solved all its problems and is ready to be a contender every week.

He is optimistic, but cautiously optimistic.

“It's just one race,” says Earnhardt Jr., who charged from 10th to second in the final two laps at Daytona.

“We’ve got a lot more racing to do. It's not your typical style track that we run on all year. If we can go to [California], Vegas, be competitive at any point during [those] races, it would be a little more validation.”

Indeed, the next two races on the Sprint Cup schedule will be a big indicator as to how much Earnhardt Jr. and his crew have improved. He was winless in his second season with Hendrick last year and had just five top-10 finishes en route to a 25th-place result in the final point standings.

Team owner Rick Hendrick has made a commitment to improve Earnhardt Jr.’s team this year and made numerous changes during the off-season, including consolidating the teams of Mark Martin and Earnhardt Jr. so that they share more information and work closer together.

Those changes should have a bigger impact at tracks like Auto Club Speedway in California and Las Vegas Motor Speedway, two tracks where Earnhardt Jr. typically struggles.

The Southern California track is one of Earnhardt Jr.’s worst. In 16 races there, he has just four top-10 finishes and an average finish of 22.1. He finished 39th and 25th in the two races there last year.

At Las Vegas, he has four top-10s in 10 races and an average finish of 17.8.

“I don't like going out west, but it's much easier to go there after you run good somewhere else,” Earnhardt Jr. says.

“I look forward to seeing how we are as a team. [Daytona] is not a true gauge on what the changes are going to do to our team. The next couple race tracks will definitely give us a better understanding of where we are.”

Still, the runner-up finish at Daytona, where he uncharacteristically struggled last year, helps.

“I just hope we can keep it up,” he says. “[Daytona] was a little bit of a handling race. We didn't have too bad a race car, so...

“You can say that it is plate racing, but it really wasn't, most of the week anyways. It was more of who could handle the best.

“I don't know. I feel good about our chances going into the next couple weeks.”

Special Paint Scheme time is here.....

2010-02-19T10:38:00.000-05:00

Already you ask? Yup. Don't be looking for the normal green or blue for this weekend race at Fontana. Dale Jr's color this weekend will be what I'd like to call a golden orange. Anyway, here is a pic of the car, just so you're not doing a double take when he gets on the track this afternoon. Thanks to http://www.thesundayhauler.com/for the image.

Qualifying is scheduled to start at 6:30pm EST tonight on SPEED.

2010 Drive4COPD 300 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Huge Flip

2010-02-16T15:13:00.002-05:00

Bud Shootout, Gatorade Duel 2, Danica's debut, Daytona 500 and Kelly Bires debut

2010-02-16T15:01:00.000-05:00

What a way to start out the 2010 season! Dale Jr ran strong in all three races and I can't wait to see how the rest of the season pans out. Although he said he was disappointed about finishing where he did, Jr Nation is thrilled with how well he ran all day long. So here we go! In the Budweiser Shootout, Dale Jr's flag in the bottle said that he would start 11th. He not only started there, he also finished there. In qualifying for the Daytona 500, he qualified 2nd. I know he wanted the pole, but at least he didn't have to worry about finishing strong in the Duel. Danica did an amazing job last week in the ARCA race and saved her car in a spin that other drivers might not have been able to get through. Tony Jr did a great job in that race and in the Nationwide race. Danica made it through one caution, but then was the victim of an accident. She ran into another car and like she said, wasn't able to see where she was going. She was listed as finishing in 34th place. According to SportsNation on ESPN, Danica is scheduled to run the next two Nationwide races (California and Las Vegas). Anyway, Dale Jr had a great car, in fact the last person to drive the car he was in was Brad Keselowski last year. One false move by Carl Edwards and another driver send Junior sideways, into the wall, upside down, back over and into the infield wall. This accident not only scared the crap outta me as well as everyone other Jr Nation member watching and/or watching the race from the stands, but was also a statement as to how well those cars are built. As he said, it was going to take a big hit in the checkbook, but the bigger hit (to the fans) would have been if he was injured in that horrific looking wreck. On SportsNation today, the Nationwide wreck was featured on their "3 Tears" segment. Ok, moving on the "Grand Daddy of em all", Dale Jr moved from the front to the back to the middle of pack and finally at the end, finished second behind Jamie McMurray. I had to work so I was reduced to listening to it on the radio, but recorded it so I could see it when I got home. Anyway, at first Dale said he was disappointed he couldn't get up there an challenge Jamie for the win, but then later said he was proud of the team and his finish. Next week the big boys head to California and the Auto Club Speedway.

Also next week Kelly Bires will make his JR Motorsport debut in the HendrickCars.com #88 Chevy. Like I said earlier, Danica will run the Nationwide race as well in the #7 GoDaddy.com Chevy.

Earnhardt Jr. reloaded: Pivotal season looming

2010-02-11T01:23:00.001-05:00

For those of you who have about the changes at HMS and are wondering what that is all about, this long but very good article explains it all......

By David Caraviello, NASCAR.COM

One year later, he still can't believe it happened. For a driver it should have been instinctive, as involuntary as a heartbeat, as natural as pressing the accelerator to pick up speed. For someone with 18 victories and hundreds of starts on NASCAR's highest level, it should have been as routine as a walk to the mailbox. For Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of his sport's best restrictor-plate racers, hitting a pit stall at Daytona International Speedway should have been something he could do in his sleep.

And yet, it wasn't. At least not 60 laps into last year's Daytona 500, when he ducked onto pit road in third place and near the front of a long line of cars, and went to turn into his stall just past the start-finish line -- and suddenly he was past it, and he had to quickly straighten out his green and white No. 88 Chevrolet, and he had to go all the way around the 2.5-mile track again. He lost a lap, but he lost so much more. His 500 was effectively finished. And like a loose thread pulled on a sweater, his 2009 season began to unravel.

"Missing my stall shocked the s--t out of me at Daytona. I was pretty upset about that," Earnhardt said. "... Nothing's easy, but coming down pit road and getting in your stall is like breathing. It's like shifting. You don't even think about doing it, you do it. So it made me start thinking about it. It really made me backtrack. I didn't progress and fix it. I got a complex about it, and became definitely non-confident about doing it.

"Who knew," he added, "that would be the straw that broke the camel's back?"

The slow start, the change of crew chief, the plummet in points, the eventual 25th-place finish in the standings, the now 65-race winless streak -- can it all be traced back to a single pit-road miscue early in last year's Daytona 500? While that may be oversimplifying things, there's no question that one instance put Earnhardt in a funk. There would be another pit-road mistake later in that race, others throughout the year, most of them rookie-level screw-ups that left onlookers shaking their heads. Earnhardt and former crew chief Tony Eury Jr. even designed a massive pink pit board to try and remedy the situation.

Nothing worked. Earnhardt's confidence waned, the pressure built, problems in one area begat problems in others, and NASCAR's most popular driver slowly sank into the worst season of his career.

"The first four or five races, I just felt disoriented," he said. "I definitely didn't feel like I was sharp, missing my pit stall and sliding through pit stalls and doing all those good things like we were doing at the beginning of the season. Then it gave me a complex, so all the rest of the year, as soon as we hit pit road, I was like a fiend looking for my pit stall. Once I lost my confidence when I was making those mistakes, it just made the process worse. It made it more difficult."

Perhaps not coincidentally, his shortcomings in 2009 were followed by an almost monastic winter -- no vacations, a trip to his sister's house for Christmas, a night at his bar for New Year's. Yes, there are plenty of off-track interests, ranging from a JR Motorsports operation that will field the Nationwide Series car of Danica Patrick, to his Whisky River honky-tonk joint, which plans to expand from its original Charlotte location into Jacksonville, Fla. But he has people to run those endeavors, and says fans would be amazed at how limited his day-to-day involvement is. He spent most evenings playing online racing simulator games.

"Every damn day I'm home I'm on that thing," said Earnhardt, who added he's won about 180 events in iRacing, the series he plays most. "I take a break for 30 minutes to play 'Call of Duty' and shoot some people."

These days Earnhardt seems hopeful and cheery, with optimism brewing beneath the mountain-man beard he sported for most of the offseason. No question, last year was a brutal one, with his massive popularity and lack of production serving as a giant target for people to take shots at. And yet emotionally, he appears to have come a long way from the "end of my rope" comments he made last fall. He's exercising more, working on his communication with his race team. His No. 88 squad has been revamped, with owner Rick Hendrick attempting to merge it with Mark Martin's No. 5 and create the kind of seamless operation that has benefited Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. So many within NASCAR, from souvenir salesmen to television executives to the series brass in Daytona Beach, watch and wait and hope for a revival that would provide a flagging sport with a spark it sorely needs.

It all begins at Daytona, the source of Earnhardt's greatest professional triumph, and yet the same place he took those first steps into free fall last year. He knows what happened in 2009, isn't trying to hide from it or make excuses for it. But clearly, he's ready to move on, to reload, to strap back into that No. 88 and try and leave all that pain and disappointment behind. So much, from his psyche to the structure of his race team, has been tinkered with or refined. Now comes a season that will present his best opportunity to reach his potential at Hendrick Motorsports.

"I hate talking about last year. It was miserable," Earnhardt said. "I knew I'd have to answer some questions about what did I do to get better, what did last year make me feel like. But you know, that was how I ran. I have to own up to all that stuff. I'm looking forward to getting to the race track. I miss the track, I miss the car. I miss the environment, all the people. I feel fortunate every time I get to go back, every year I get to go back. We did make some changes, and I feel pretty good about them. ... We have to rebound, you know?"

Under pressure

It's never been easy being an Earnhardt.

Oh, sure, daddy was an icon who made millions on the race track. But he was also a polarizing figure who was hated as much as he was loved -- even among schoolchildren. Dale Jr. and his sister Kelley remember being called names, being branded as snobs, walking down the hallway with their faces turned away after their father was involved in a particularly controversial accident. The day after Bobby Allison blew a tire and flew into the fence at Talladega? Sure enough, somebody was in Dale Jr.'s face at school, blaming it all on No. 3.

"My dad was running behind Bobby, about five car lengths, when it happened, and the next day at school some kid was trying to tell me how my dad had almost killed somebody. That was his exact quote. But that's no excuse, you know? That to me was normal. I don't look back on that and go, 'all that stuff was abnormal, or that made me tougher, or woe is me for being a damn Earnhardt.' That was normal. That was life," Earnhardt said.

"I never complained about it. I never made it an excuse. I definitely wouldn't trade nothing for having to not hear those things. When you're young, they don't kind of roll off your back like they do when you're older. I guess I was lucky I wasn't that impressionable back then, and that kind of stuff didn't sink in and bother me all the way to the house, and turn me into some kid who dwelled in his bedroom all night."

And yet, a story like that one shows that the flak Earnhardt has taken over this past year is nothing new to him. In the fan base and the media, he's often hammered for his lack of production. People openly question why he's so popular. Wrestling legend Ric Flair made an appearance in Charlotte on the recent NASCAR preseason media tour, and joked that Earnhardt was building a big new house, amazing for someone who couldn't win a race.

To the Earnhardt kids, that kind of stuff isn't unusual. Their last name and their father's status cast a shadow that would have fallen upon them even if they had chosen another career. For Earnhardt Jr. today, win or lose, the criticisms never cease. If he does well, the conspiracy theorists spin stories that it was all fait accompli. If he struggles, he's a driver who doesn't work hard enough, or doesn't have his priorities in order, or just isn't good enough. "If your last name is Earnhardt," Kelley said, "people form immediate opinions about you the moment you walk into a room.

"We went to high school and middle school with all kinds of different criticisms along the way -- your dad is, this, your dad is that. You either loved him or hated him. We mentally were prepared for that continuing with Dale Jr. or whatever that may be. It's difficult for me because we're very close, and I don't like to see him down and out and not having a good season. But at the same time, I'm the one he looks at for support, so I can't get too involved in the negative side of it. I try to stay positive and try to find ways to get him to look at the situation differently," said Kelley, the general manger of JR Motorsports.

"You know, it's really tough being an Earnhardt. It's really tough being in our position. I'm learning it more and more, being out in the limelight, being a team owner and the general manager of JR Motorsports. There are a lot of people tugging on you, there are a lot of people wanting things from you. So to be him tenfold, I've been able to wrap my mind around that in a much bigger way the last couple of years. And it's something that's hard for people to understand unless you're inside that life."

And yet that's the only life Earnhardt Jr. has ever known, and to him it feels -- well, normal. The insatiable interest people have in him, his career, his interests, his facial hair, his love life? He struggles to fathom it. The most popular driver in NASCAR seems baffled by his own popularity. That's one reason he likes online gaming, because his competitors see him just as another name on a screen, even if they know who he is.

"To me, I feel completely, utterly normal," Earnhardt said. "I do everything everybody else does. The things I'm interested in are the same things everybody my age are interested in. I sat on the computer and played 'Call of Duty' until 2 in the morning last night, with who knows who, all over the country, and six of these other buddies of mine I know over the Internet, just from playing video games. They know who I am, and they don't give me no s--t about it. They don't ask me if I'm ready for next year. To me, this is just normal. I don't know what the fascination is, personally."

But it's unquestionably there, and it brings with it a level of attention and expectation that no other driver faces. Some are of the opinion that's what's needed to rescue NASCAR from its current trough of down ratings and down attendance isn't a revamped car, or relaxed rules, but Junior, winning again and galvanizing that army of his. That's a lot to heap on one person, but he lives with it every day. "There's more pressure on him than he deserves," Hendrick said. Even Kelley, who sees it firsthand, sometimes just shakes her head at it all.

"It's like when we announced Danica, and they said, 'How can you put that much on one person?' But it is," she said. "He has by far the largest fan base. It just is. I wish it wasn't that way. I don't know to make other drivers more exciting and compelling so that people want to support them and do what they do with Dale. You can't create that. It just happens. People have to come along to do that."

So no, it's never easy being an Earnhardt. He's rich and polarizing now, just as his father once was. Now he's the one prompting school-hall arguments, maybe over his involvement in an accident, or whether he'll ever be as good as his old man. Things have changed, and yet they've always been the same. Now comes another season, perhaps the most pivotal of his career, with a team that's been revamped in the name of making him better. The pressure is on. It always has been.

"I asked to be in this position," Earnhardt said. "I wanted to be a race car driver, and I have a famous last name. That goes with the territory."

Culture change

To hear Rick Hendrick tell it, the problem was partly one of location. The program that became Earnhardt's No. 88 began life as the No. 25, Hendrick Motorsports' original team, housed in the organization's original building. After years of expansion and growth, the outfit eventually found itself housed along with the No. 5 team in a new facility on Hendrick's sprawling campus. Yet they were stepchildren forced to live together, programs that shared no common blood, staffed by men with separate loyalties.

The ideal was right next door, in the building housing the teams of Gordon and Johnson, two programs that work together so seamlessly that the lines between them have become blurred, if they even still exist at all. Perhaps not coincidentally, the place is also home to eight NASCAR championships. Yet theirs is a relationship that developed organically, with Johnson's team literally springing from Gordon's, to the point where the current champion started out driving the old cars of the former one.

There was little of that natural progression in the other building, which now houses the teams of Earnhardt and Mark Martin. There was too much turnover, too many drivers or crew chiefs coming and going, to build any kind of cohesiveness. They were teammates, sure, and mechanics wore shirts with both numbers on the front, but there were still 5 guys and 88 guys, and -- as last season so clearly evidenced -- the two camps could still vary wildly in terms of performance.

"The culture of the 48 shop is one that was created from the 24 team," said Lance McGrew, Earnhardt's crew chief. "It's not like the 48 was in a different building, and they showed up and they were in the same building. That's how the 5 and 88 were. They weren't even on the same side of the complex, and next thing you know, they're sharing a building. Well, they're just sharing a building. It's just space."

To fix Earnhardt's program, Hendrick reasoned, he had to change the culture within the shop, and meld the 88 and 5 teams into an entity as unified and productive as the one next door. After Johnson's record-breaking fourth consecutive title was virtually assured, that project became the car owner's top priority. The process began with three races remaining last season, while Martin was still technically in the championship hunt. Hendrick called in McGrew and Alan Gustafson, Martin's crew chief, laid out his plan, and told them to make it happen.

"What we did was say we wanted one team. We take the best we've got, and we structure it this way, and we race two cars," said Hendrick, who has won nine championships in NASCAR's premier division, and 12 in the three national series combined. "And if I want to swap the numbers on Sunday morning, or swap the seats, then I want to be able to do that. That's how I want it to work together to make it better. I was blown away by how much Alan and Lance had gone to work on that before we went to Homestead."

The goal is a simple one -- make both programs better, solidifying Martin's position as a championship contender, and raising Earnhardt's performance as a result. The process, though, was far from easy. On the 5 side particularly, there were men who believed they had worked hard to build Martin's program into one of the best in NASCAR, and didn't immediately embrace the idea of being assimilated into a larger group.

"It was hard, because there were plenty of guys in the shop on both sides who I swear, if you cut them, would bleed sponsor colors, or little 5 platelets would fly out of them, because they've been so in tune and with those guys for so long," McGrew said. "But to a man, one at a time, they'd come up and say, 'This is best. this is what we need to do. This will make us stronger as a team, this will make us stronger as a company.' And ultimately, everybody here is so grateful for all the things that Mr. Hendrick has done for us in our lives, and the last thing we want to do is disappoint him. That's underlying everything. that's what we're trying to do."

Was there initial resistance? That word might be a little strong, Gustafson said.

"I would say there was some apprehension," he added. "I think some guys said, 'We've got a core group of 5 guys that have worked hard to carve out our niche and get our team running to the point it is.' And when Mr. Hendrick asked us to share that information and that knowledge and that personnel, the first thing you say is, 'Man, how are we going to do this and not hurt our team?' I worked through it with Mr. Hendrick, and worked through it with Lance, and mulled ideas over and said ... OK, this looks good, this sounds good. Once they start to see the structured change and the end result and the potential of it, then guys who were maybe a little apprehensive have seen the opportunity and the potential for what it can be, and that went away."

After last season ended, McGrew and Gustafson met individually with each employee in the 88/5 shop -- roughly 85 of them -- and explained that the two operations would henceforth function as a single entity rather than two separate units. McGrew worked to make Earnhardt's No. 88 cars more similar to Martin's, refining assembly procedures, and even changing things like wire routing in an attempt to prevent some of the mechanical issues that tended to plague Earnhardt last year. Chris Heroy, the former lead engineer on Martin's car, was assigned to Earnhardt. And although still crew chief on the 5 car, Gustafson is now heavily involved with both vehicles.

"We've combined so many efforts that it's one and the same," he said. "So I have a lot more involvement, a lot more understanding of what they've got going on, a lot more influence, as does Lance on my car. When you combine efforts and you combine philosophies, you're one and the same."

McGrew believes the benefits of this consolidation will be immediate. Martin said he can already see them.

"We were working on that as well last year, and started that really through the season," said last year's series runner-up. "But once you have a chance to stop and break and restructure and move some things around, you're able to gain a little bit more momentum in that. It's our expectation to bring the performance up for both cars."

Gustafson, though, knows that the toughest times are still ahead. It's one thing to ask two teams to operate as a single unit in the shop. It's quite another to make that request at the race track, in the heat of competition, when old loyalties are most prone to boil to the surface. That's where the success or failure of Hendrick's bold plan to rebuild the No. 88 team will ultimately be decided.

"That's when it's going to be the toughest time," Gustafson said, "when something happens, or one guy says, 'I need this,' or, 'I can't do that because I'm doing this.' That's when it gets a little harder. That's when all four teams are going to be tested. But I know we can make it. It's not easy, but we'll make it."

Ripples in a pond

So what happens if it all comes together?

It's well within the realm of possibility, given Earnhardt's historic strength at Daytona -- last year's miscues notwithstanding -- and the proven power of Hendrick Motorsports. The Las Vegas Hilton gives him 12-to-1 odds of winning the 500, placing Earnhardt in a pack of drivers in second behind favorite Kyle Busch. So what happens if he hoists the Harley J. Earl trophy over his head Sunday afternoon? What happens if he wins multiple races for the first time since 2004? What happens if he emerges as a legitimate championship contender for the first time since sliding into that No. 88 car?

Bruton Smith minces no words. "You would feel it overnight," said the chairman of Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns six Sprint Cup tracks. "It's kind of a mystery that he has so doggone many fans. You talk about stick-to-ism? Those fans, I mean they've stuck with him through a bad, bad year and they're still fans of Dale Jr. If he started winning, oh, it would be awesome. Ticket sales would go up, souvenir sales. His souvenir sales would double overnight."

It's all easier said than done, of course. Earnhardt's struggles of 2009 were only the low point of what is really a prolonged slump, one that's seen him win a single race since the spring of 2006. His fuel-mileage victory at Michigan in the summer of 2008 was preceded by a 77-race winless streak, and followed by his current 65-race skid. Although he made the Chase in 2008, finishing 12th, it's been four years since he was in the title picture going down to the final weeks. That's nearly twice as long as the length of the current economic recession, which according to the National Board of Economic Research began in December of 2007, and has clearly affected NASCAR in terms of attendance.

There are some who believe that any NASCAR turnaround would begin with a recharged and more successful Earnhardt, reviving his fan base, stoking new outside interest, bringing more people to the race track and more eyes to the TV. And no one argues that wouldn't happen, to a degree, if the No. 88 car suddenly started to win. The question is whether NASCAR's most popular driver has the power to reverse all these downward trends all by himself.

"You're putting too much pressure on one guy," said former driver and current television analyst Kyle Petty. "If our sport depends on Dale Jr., then this sport is hurting, period. That's not a knock on Dale Jr. If the NFL depends on Peyton Manning performing on Sundays, then the NFL is in trouble. They need to rethink their business plan. Will he help ratings? I don't know. If I'm a Dale Jr. fan, I'm already tuning in watching him. Is he going to create new fans because he runs good? I don't know. I can't answer that question. You can't answer the question of, has his fan base maxed out? There are still a lot of people that are adamant that Junior is the man. That's good, because they're the people that are tuning in, they're the people that are coming to the race track. But I don't think you can put that much pressure on one man."

Humpy Wheeler seems to agree. The consultant and longtime race track promoter doesn't believe Earnhardt winning again would be enough to foster a NASCAR revival by itself. "It's going to take more than that," he said. "If Earnhardt Jr. could win a couple of races and battle maybe [Juan] Montoya, and trade some paint doing it, and let Tony Stewart get in the mix too, that's what's going to pep things up and move the needle and get the phones to ring. Junior by himself winning a race passively -- by passively, I mean fuel mileage or something like that -- that's not going to click the meter."

So maybe multiple trips to Victory Lane by the No. 88 car wouldn't be enough to raise NASCAR back to its early-2000s height. But clearly, they wouldn't hurt. Anyone who has ever been to a race track when Earnhardt takes the lead has heard the roar, powerful enough to be noticed over the sound of 43 engines. So a complete turnaround? No, maybe that's too much to ask of Earnhardt. But a spark? That's something else altogether.

"I think Dale Earnhardt's lack of winning the last two years have really hurt the sport overall, because everyone expected him to be the leader," said Felix Sabates, minority owner of the Earnhardt Ganassi cars of Montoya and Jamie McMurray. "He has not been the leader. I hope he wins a bunch of races [in 2010] because if he wins a bunch of races, he'll bring fans back to the race track. He's good for everybody. I hope we win our fare share, but I want Junior to win a bunch of races. I really do."

Jeff Behnke, executive producer and senior vice president at Turner Sports -- the parent company of NASCAR broadcast partner TNT, and, in the interest of full disclosure, NASCAR.COM -- believes an Earnhardt comeback would also be reflected in television ratings.

"I think that there are a few teams and a few individuals that move the dial. The Yankees move the dial. The Cowboys move the dial. And Dale Jr. moves the dial," Behnke said. "I think the ratings would go up. Our job is to talk about all 43 drivers, which we do. But the answer is, yeah, he's been the most popular driver for however many years running now, and there are reasons for that. You just see it when he takes the lead in a race. You see the grandstands, and they go berserk."

Even NASCAR's chairman admits that a winning Earnhardt would be good for the sport.

"He's like the Lakers or the Boston Celtics. He is one of the major franchises in sports," Brian France said. "But what happens is, when he's been struggling, it does allow other people to kind emerge themselves -- Denny Hamlin and Juan Pablo and others are kind of filling some voids. Look, nobody wants to get back to where he was as a very, very high-performing driver more than Dale Jr. I met with him [in January], and he wants to return and so does Rick Hendrick, and if it does, it will help NASCAR, no question about that. But that's sports. We'll have to let it play out."

For all his popularity, Earnhardt is still just one man. Victories by the No. 88 car would not be a panacea for all that ails NASCAR -- they wouldn't put money back into the pockets of former ticket-holders who lost jobs, or make up for the layoffs that continue to plague the industry, or magically make sponsorship money appear. Even someone of his status has a relatively limited reach. It's likely a gross overstatement to say that a revival of Dale Earnhardt Jr. would translate into a revival for NASCAR itself.

And yet, like ripples in a pond, a successful 2010 campaign by Earnhardt would clearly have ramifications well beyond his race team. In some ways, the Dale Jr. approaching this season is much like NASCAR -- both have been refined, retooled, and arrive at Daytona with something to prove to critics who believe their best days are behind them.

"I get a really good feeling from Dale Jr. this year. I really do, no joke," said Petty, who spoke with Earnhardt at the recent Sound and Speed Festival in Nashville, Tenn. "I think he's excited about this year. He's excited like he was when he was 16 and going to run Caraway and going to run Concord. He has a little of that spark when you talk to him. If he turns it around, it's going to be huge for the sport. It's going to be big for his fans, it's going to be big for the sport, it's going to be big for everybody, because the tide will rise and the ships will float with him."

It's getting to be that time of year!!!

2010-01-17T00:50:00.000-05:00

Daytona is right around the corner and this week the drivers are in Daytona for Fan Fest. Dale is really looking forward to the new season, so much so that he wanted to get it started right after last season ended! So here is the first article for the new year!! Here's to 2010 and Dale Jr!!!

Earnhardt approaching 2010 with optimism

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he has noticed a change in the culture at the Hendrick Motorsports race shop his No. 88 team shares with the No. 5 of Mark Martin -- and that may bode well for improved performance in 2010.From Earnhardt's point of view, the catalyst for the change was the naming of Lance McGrew as his full-time crew chief at the end of the 2009 season. In May, McGrew had replaced Earnhardt's cousin, Tony Eury Jr., as interim crew chief.

"When he [McGrew] was able to solidify his position, and we could move forward knowing this was the deal -- this is how it is -- everybody sort of wrapped their minds and beliefs and trusts into that and around that, and we could sort of build back some confidence and some trust and belief in the team," Earnhardt said Friday night at the Preseason Thunder Fan Fest at Daytona International Speedway.

A shifting of in-shop personnel has created a greater sense of cooperation between the two teams. "When I say the culture, that's kind of what I mean, in the two cars and the people that are really intertwined between the two teams -- kind of getting them all working and believing again in the No. 88 is what I think has changed a lot," Earnhardt said.

Martin, who finished second to Jimmie Johnson in the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship standings last year, doesn't think Earnhardt's performance needs to improve that much, if he can reverse the ill fortune that derailed promising runs in a number of races last year.

"If they only make minor progress in the performance side, and they have the opposite kind of racing luck that they had, they will have a Chase-making and very, very, very respectable season," Martin said. "In other words, they don't have to make a huge jump in performance, if they can just get that monkey off their back.

"They ran better than the 5 car in numerous races, but nobody really noticed, because they got wrecked, or something broke... They had a lot of things happen and go wrong for them when they were faster than we were in the 5 car."

Teammate Jeff Gordon believes confidence is the key to a turnaround for Earnhardt, who enters the season on a 57-race winless streak. "It doesn't take much to get off track," Gordon said. "I mean, it's so competitive out there. And I know that sometimes it looks like they're way off, but I don't think they're off as far as people think. ... I think it just is going to a take a fresh start -- a few things.

"The organization puts so much effort into every team and every car that the ingredients are certainly there. I think that probably what's left is just to get that confidence up. It happens with everybody. If the driver is confident, then the crew chief is confident, and if the crew chief is confident, the pit crew is confident. It just trickles all the way down.

"Hopefully, all the hard work they're putting in over the offseason will help them get started off in the right foot and be able to not break the confidence down too early -- because once you get it broke down, it's hard to get it back."

Earnhardt understands how important it is to his fans for him to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. In three of the last five seasons, he has fallen short of that goal.

"When I miss the Chase... I feel like I've let them down," Earnhardt said. "They put up a fight with you all year long. They fight every week right there with you. They argue their way through every day of work with somebody who's pulling against you. So they fight their own battles just like I do out on the racetrack.

"So, yeah, you feel like you have let them down when you don't make the Chase at least. I mean -- damn! -- you hope to make the Chase. That's not really asking a terrible amount from your drivers. So you feel pretty bad. I think that's the thing that bothers me the most out of having a disappointing year."

Not too much going on....

2009-12-30T02:31:00.000-05:00

around here. See if you can guess who this special elf is.....

Ok, that looked corny, but it was that, the drunk Santa or a snowman. I figure Junior would rather be the elf, because they to make all the cool toys. Anyway, Merry Christmas to all of you who are so faithful to me and this blog. Just wish you would leave some comments so I know you're still out there.

The rumors are true

2009-12-08T15:36:00.002-05:00

Danica will be driving part time for JR Motorsports next year. At first I wasn't too thrilled about the idea of having her there, but #1 Who am I to have a say in the matter and #2 It might help bring some IRL fans (mostly Danica fans) to NASCAR and vise versa.

The following are two articles on NASCAR.com --

Patrick announces she will drive for JR Motorsports

Danica chasing her dream should be focus of story

The Most Popular Driver Award didn't go to.....

2009-12-04T13:50:00.003-05:00

...Kyle Busch!

Remember back at Dover, Kyle made the comment about who the winner of the MPD Award would be? Well, it certainly wasn't him and like usual, he stuck his foot in his mouth. Anyway, Dale DID win the award, his 7th consecutive win, two more wins and he will tie Richard Petty. There are a few articles on the presentation and I'll post the links below...

Popularity, responsibility go hand-in-hand for Junior

Notes: Junior again MPD; Hamlin preps for surgery

Here's a few pics of Dale Jr accepting his award from last night, thanks to Motorsport.com for them...

WAY TO GO JUNEBUG!!

Thoughts on the 2009 season

2009-11-28T22:40:00.002-05:00

Well, the 2009 season is in the books, and there were some exciting moments, scary moments, and moments we'll be talking about for years to come. A few highlights were those who won races, like Brad winning at Talladega, David Reutimann winning at Lowe's (even though it was a rain out), and Joey Logano (ok his was a rain out too), among others. There were some pretty big crashes this year, Carl Edwards at Talladega, Joey Logano at Dover, and Ryan Newman and Mark Martin at Talladega.

There were rule changes and a few things that NASCAR changed that the fans wanted changed. The biggest change that really stired things up was the double file restarts, which began at Pocono in August. The last minute no-drafting rule and rule to make the restricter plates at Talladega this fall made for, what most thought would be a pretty uneventful race. It wasn't uneventful, as it actually made little to no difference because #1 the smaller plate really didn't help slow down the cars and #2 the no bump drafting rule didn't stop the "big one" from happening.

Other than all of that, it was a good season of racing and I can't wait untill the 2010 season starts so we can do it all again. I'll keep the blog updated as to anything Dale Jr related, and can't wait to start posting results and other things once the new season begins.

Ford 400

2009-11-28T21:59:00.002-05:00

As if the season wasn't bad enough, Dale Jr couldn't even end the season on a high note. His car was really strong at the start, however because of how high he runs in the corners, he hit his car against the wall a few times and knocked the tow out in the front of the car. He qualified way in the back in 32nd and had made it up as high as 7th when he hit the wall. He struggled for the rest of the race and finished 28th.

Congrats to Dale's teammate Jimmie Johnson on his 4th straight Sprint Cup Championship. For those who are tired of seeing the same person win the championship, I say this: You saw history be made last Sunday night, and that is very rare in a persons life to see that being done. Stop complaining about it, Jimmie and Chad aren't cheating, if they were NASCAR would have caught it by now. They are simply that good as a driver/crew chief.

Hendrick turning attention to getting Junior on track

2009-11-25T09:34:00.000-05:00

Getting Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s team back on track is Rick Hendrick's top priority now that Jimmie Johnson has his record fourth consecutive NASCAR championship.

"We're all over it, and we've been all over it," Hendrick said Tuesday in a conference call. "It's my primary focus here, starting Monday."

Johnson gave Hendrick Motorsports its NASCAR record 12th championship in Sunday's season finale, and Hendrick drivers swept the top three spots in the standings. Mark Martin finished second and won five races this season, while Jeff Gordon finished third and had one victory.

Earnhardt, meanwhile, went winless and was a distant 25th in the final standings in his second season driving for Hendrick.

Hendrick changed Earnhardt's crew chief midway through the season, and assigned additional engineering support to the No. 88 team. Although his performance began to improve toward the end of the season, bad luck and mechanical problems left Earnhardt with very little to show for his efforts. Earnhardt had just five top-10 finishes all year, and admittedly struggled with his confidence.

"I've seen this happen with Jeff Gordon ... you just go through these [slumps]," Hendrick said. "We know we can make the team better and it's frustrating. The driver begins to think that no matter what he does, something is going to happen.

"We've had failures, we've had wrecks. If it could happen, it happened to that team. It's just been really frustrating."

• Hendrick, meanwhile, said his 29-year-old niece is doing well after undergoing an emergency liver transplant Sunday in North Carolina.

He missed the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway after flying home Friday night to be with niece Alesha Gainey, who was healthy and headed to a Carolina Panthers game on Thursday night when she suddenly fell ill.

Hendrick said doctors aren't sure what caused Gainey's organs to fail, and although the liver transplant was successful, she's in critical condition because her kidneys aren't yet functioning.

Gainey is the daughter of Rick Hendrick's brother, John, who was one of the 10 people killed in a 2004 plane crash. Also killed in the accident was Gainey's younger twin sisters.

"It was never a doubt in my mind where I needed to be, and where I wanted to be," Hendrick said of missing the race. "I would have loved to have celebrated with them, but I wasn't in the frame of mind to celebrate. The good news is, the liver is working, she's stable and we're going to have a very good Thanksgiving."

Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500

2009-11-15T15:22:00.003-05:00

I love listening to Dale Jr on the scanner, whether he's happy with the car, or not happy with it at all, you never know what you will hear from him. Today I had the scanner on as they showed the drivers climbing into their cars. When Dale got his radio hooked up, first thing out of his mouth was him singing.... "Let's get it started....." Hilarious!!! Rick is the man! If he doesn't get to see the drivers before they head out onto the track, he makes sure to stop by their pit box and get on the radio to wish them good luck. Dale Jr had a good car for most of the race, was involved in a multi-car wreck, had an oil leak that was able to be fixed and ran the rest of the race in 35th sport and down 56 laps. Next week is the last race for this year. :( I am so hoping that Dale Jr has a good run next weekend. It would be great for him to finish next week strong, so the team has their heads held high heading into the 2010 season.

Dale Jr in the National Enquirer

2009-11-14T01:03:00.003-05:00

I'm not one to rant, you know that, but what I just read has me #1 a littlie miffed, and #2 realizing just how much the tabloids hate NASCAR. They got a story from a supposed "pal" of Dale's that read that he is in a "death spiral" and has turned to booze to comfort himself from pain of this season. It also said that he and Rick are fueding and that he has locked himself away from his closest friends. GIVE ME A BREAK!!

Dale Jr on the CMA Awards

2009-11-12T16:16:00.002-05:00

For those that didn't get to see Dale Jr on the CMA Awards last night, he presented the award for the Best Vocal Duo or Group with Dancing with the Stars dancer/singer Julian(?) Hough. According to Mike Davis, Dale's PR person, Dale nailed his lines during rehearsals, and then actually got his tongue tied while reading them for the live broadcast. Sugarland won the award, and both members shook Dale's hand when they accepted the award from he and Julian.

Something I found on Dale Jr and Rick

2009-11-12T09:55:00.002-05:00

This is a bonus clip from the movie "Together: The Hendrick Motorsports Story"

Dickies 500

2009-11-09T09:46:00.001-05:00

Dale Jr once again ran very well for the majority of the race and after a quick stop for gas, stalled the car on the apron and finished 2 laps down in 25th place.

Keselowski to make first start in 12 car at Texas

2009-11-03T09:29:00.002-05:00

Penske giving driver jumpstart on his full-time ride

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Brad Keselowski will replace David Stremme in the No. 12 Dodge for the final three races of the Sprint Cup season, moving up the schedule on a driver change the team announced earlier this year.

Penske announced Sept. 1 that Keselowski will drive the No. 12 Dodge full time in the Sprint Cup Series next year, and the team has opted to get an early start on the transition.

"Penske Racing wants to give Brad an opportunity to work with the team and get to know the racecar as we prepare for the 2010 season," owner Roger Penske said Monday. "These three races will provide a good base for both Brad and the team as we head into next year."

Keselowski, 25, has been driving part time in the Cup Series for Hendrick Motorsports and James Finch's Phoenix Racing while competing full time in the Nationwide Series for JR Motorsports. Keselowski is third in the Nationwide standings with four victories, the most recent coming Oct. 24 at Memphis Motorsports Park.

"I am very excited to begin working with the Penske Racing team, and I look forward to competing in the No. 12 Penske Dodge in the final three Cup Series races of the year," Keselowski said. "We all have high expectations for next season and beyond and being able to race with the team this year will only help us as we look toward 2010."

Keselowski finished eighth at Talladega Superspeedway in his last ride in Finch's No. 09 Chevrolet. Keselowski has four top-10s in 12 Cup starts in 2009 and scored his only win in the series at Talladega in April driving for Finch.

Stremme, 32, is winless in 108 Cup starts and does not have a top-10 finish in 33 starts this season. He is 31st in the points standings. This was his first year in the Cup Series with Penske Racing after breaking in with Chip Ganassi Racing in 2005.

AMP Energy 500

2009-11-02T09:42:00.002-05:00

Qualifying was canceled so Dale Jr started 24th. He lead a few times, stayed out of the "big one" and finished 10th. This is a breath of fresh air for the 88 team and for Jr Nation as well. Next weekend the guys head to another track that Dale Jr runs very well as the Cup Series goes to Texas Motor Speedway.

Earnhardt Jr. pulls out of proposed Alabama racetrack

2009-10-31T01:00:00.003-04:00

So tonight I was looking around on the net and I got to thinking, wasn't Dale Jr involved as an investor in a proposed race track in southern Alabama? That got me to searching around the net to find out if Dale was still working with the project that was to be named "Alabama Motorsports Park, A Dale Earnhardt Jr Speedway." The following article is from CupScene.com

August 12th, 2009

(By Greg Engle, NDN Editor, NASCAR Examiner)

There will be no Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speedway in the foreseeable future, at least not in Mobile Alabama.

Earnhardt Jr. has removed himself from the list of investors of the proposed motorsports facility under construction. Also gone are Earnhardt Jr.’s sister Kelly Earnhardt Elledge, and brother Kerry.

“Dale is focusing on racing, and his sponsor demands have gone up incredibly,” Bill Futterer of the North Carolina marketing firm PSE-3 and Futterer Partners told several Alabama news outlets Tuesday night.

“We have agreed not to extend his personal services agreement,” Futterer added. “We’re not upset, and they are not angry.”

When it was first announced the facility was to be named ‘Alabama Motorsports Park, A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speedway’.

Originally the park was planned to open in fall 2009 and be fully operational in 2010.

Great news!!!

2009-10-30T13:58:00.002-04:00

Rick Hendrick announced today that Lance will return at Dale Jr's crew chief next year. The following article is from NASCAR.com

HMS: McGrew to return as crew chief for No. 88 in '10

CONCORD, N.C. -- Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick has named Lance McGrew the full-time crew chief of the No. 88 Chevrolet driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. McGrew, 41, assumed the role May 28 on an interim basis.

"I have total faith in Lance and what he's capable of accomplishing with Dale Jr.," Hendrick said.

"There was a lot of pressure with how he came into this deal, and the way he's handled it has been extremely impressive. Lance is confident in himself and in his decisions, and all the outside distractions aren't going to faze him. He's a strong-willed guy who will keep his eye on the ball and not settle."

McGrew will complete the final four races of the 2009 schedule, beginning with this weekend's AMP Energy 500 at Talladega, Ala., and return in 2010, which will mark the 11th full-time Sprint Cup season for Earnhardt.

"Lance has been part of the solution, not the problem," said Earnhardt, an 18-time winner in the Cup Series. "He's tough, which is what I need, and we've really clicked in a short period of time. The communication has gotten better every practice and every race, and I know that's going to keep improving. Having this decision behind us is really important, and now we can focus on the future instead of the past."

As a crew chief, McGrew earned the 2003 Nationwide Series championship with driver Brian Vickers and has posted victories in all three of NASCAR's national touring series. In addition to Vickers, he has won races with drivers Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Ricky Hendrick, Mark Martin and Tony Stewart.

"The communication between Dale Jr. and I continues to improve every single week," said McGrew, a native of Baton Rouge, La. "Both of us are 110-percent committed to the success of this team, and we're going to do everything necessary to get the job done for Hendrick Motorsports, our sponsors and Dale's fans."

Tums Fast Relief 500

2009-10-28T00:54:00.003-04:00

Once again, problems with the car kept Dale Jr from a great finish at Martinsville. Dale was in the top 10 until a blown tire due to the beading on his tire melting from the brake heat. He was able to keep the car off the wall and limped back to pit road to get the car fixed Things only got worse from there as Dale had another blown tire, the second time hitting the side of the car against the wall. Dale was still able to run, only down two laps and finishing in 29th after starting 12th.

NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America

2009-10-22T00:46:00.002-04:00

Dale Jr had another rough weekend in the 88 with a car that would just not do what he needed it to do. It seemed like if Lance made any kind of adjustment on it, it would just make it worse. Due to something going wrong with the shifter, at one point the car would not stay in 4th gear, and Dale was forced to take to the garage to avoid another DNF. Dale got back on the track, down 30 laps and finished terribly. This week the guys head to Martinsville and I am just praying for a strong run for the 88 team. They deserve to be as equal with their teammates, at least as much as they could possibly be.

NASCAR Banking 500 only from Bank of America Qualifying

2009-10-16T13:55:00.002-04:00

Dale Jr qualified poorly yesterday due to an early draw. He starts 39th, but his practice times are much much better than his starting spot. In first practice, Dale was running in 13th, so let's hope this lasts to tomorrow night and he is able to finish the race this weekend.

Who is Kelly Bires?

2009-10-16T09:38:00.002-04:00

I've heard the name, but don't really know who he is and how good of a driver he is, so this is a learning experience for not only you, but for me as well. This bio comes from http://www.shopkellybires.com/

Kelly Bires

Birthdate: August 25, 1984
Hometown: Mauston, Wi
Marital Status: Single

Like most hot-shoe drivers, this Wisconsin native got the racing bug early by nailing down two Regional Karting Titles by the age of 12 and two National Titles by 14. He entered the Allison Legacy Car Series at 15 and in two years, he won the two most prestigious awards. In 2000, he was Rookie of the Year. In 2001, he was the Series Champion. Clearly, Bires has a pretty short learning curve when it comes to going fast and turning left.
After moving up to the late model ranks in Wisconsin in 2002-2004, Bires ran competitively for two years locally before moving to Charlotte to pursue a career in NASCAR. It was to the detriment of his competitors when he showed up in the ASA Late Model Series in 2006. His stunning performance speaks for itself seven wins, four poles, 15 top-five finishes and no finishes out of the top-10 in seventeen starts. Without question, he was the runaway winner of the series championship and Rookie of the Year honors.
JTG Representatives took notice of his dominant year and signed Bires to drive one of their two NASCAR Truck Series entries in 2007. In a major plus for Bires, he received tutelage from veteran Mark Martin, who teamed with him earlier in the year in the truck series. A mid-season opportunity allowed Bires to finish out the year behind the wheel of the No. 47 Clorox car in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. The rookie sensation made his debut at the Meijer 300 race at Kentucky Speedway, where he wowed competitors by finishing seventh after starting 26th. It became clear that Bires and the No. 47 team were a perfect pair. Bires finished his promising rookie season earning two top-10 finishes.
The following year in 2008, Bires continued to run for JTG, competing in the full season and earning one top-five and six top-10 finishes. In 2009, Bires was again tapped for a part-time schedule, driving select races for Kevin Harvick, Inc., as well as Braun Racing, and CJM Racing. In five competitive starts, Bires earned two top-five and three top-10 finishes. Additionally, Bires made one ARCA start at Talladega in 2009 where he led 35 laps before finishing ninth.
In 2010, Bires is slated to drive the No. 88 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports.

Are you on the car?

2009-10-16T01:36:00.001-04:00

Starting yesterday, if you entered your name on the AMP Energy car for the AMP Energy 500 at Talledega, you can look it up on AMP Energy.com

My personal thoughts on current NASCAR events.

2009-10-15T16:23:00.007-04:00

I haven't really taken the time to write my thoughts on the current events surrounding NASCAR recently, so, I felt like now would be the perfect time to do that.

First is the grade I feel that Lance McGrew should recieve for being interim Crew Chief for Dale Jr. I feel he gets an "A" because of the fact that Dale's cars have been much faster and Dale is providing much needed communication during the race. Lance checks in with Dale about every 5-10 laps to see how the car is handling, and is willing to work with Dale if he offers a suggestion when a pit stop is coming up. I know their finishes have usually ended in DNF's or when they have run the entire race, they've gotten back in traffic and not able to get back up to the top, but Lance and Dale Jr have, like I said, seemed to work very well together.

Secondly, how I feel this years chase is shaping up. I'm excited to see some different contenders in the chase this year. Guys like Juan Pablo Montoya have made the chase more exciting this year and I'm looking forward to see if Jimmie Johnson holds on and claims his 4th Championship, or if someone comes up and ends the streak.

I am so happy that Dale Sr was voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame yesterday. I posted the article yesterday that was full of comments from the Earnhardt family. I whole heartedly agree with what Dale Jr said - "For what my dad achieved in this sport—both on and off the track—he certainly earned his place in history and deserves to be distinguished in this inaugural class of NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees," said his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. "It means a lot to the Earnhardt family, and it means a lot to my dad's fans, which I am one. He was the man, plain and simple." -- Dale's right, it does means a lot to Dale Sr's fan, but also being a Dale Jr fan, it should (and I hope does) mean a lot to JR Nation.

I'm looking forward to Brad's move to the Cup Series and Kelly Bire's move to JR Motorsports. I'm sure that Brad will run very well for Penske Racing and be a great teammate to Kurt Busch and Sam Hornish Jr. I'm also excited to see Kelly Bires develop into a great driver and hope that he will learn a lot from Dale jr in the same way that Dale Jr has done.

That's all I got for right now, we'll see how the rest of the season shakes out for Dale Jr. and I'll soon have a post to give somewhat of a background on Kelly Bires.

Stewart excited to drive for Dale Jr.

2009-10-15T09:51:00.000-04:00

By Tim Tuttle

Tony Stewart will drive in his third Nationwide Series race of the season Friday, stepping into JR Motorsports' No. 5 Chevrolet for the Dollar General 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

JR Motorsports has three wins with regular Brad Keselowski in the No. 88 this season, but none in 20 races with five previous drivers in the No. 5. This will be Stewart's first start for the JRM team, co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Rick Hendrick, and he should be a strong contender to take it to victory.

Stewart has won six of his last 11 starts over two seasons in the Nationwide Series including at Daytona in February in the No. 80 Hendrick Motorsports entry. Stewart, driving for Kevin Harvick Inc., finished second to Kyle Busch at Texas in April.

"It's going to be a lot of fun driving for Dale Jr. and Mr. Hendrick this weekend," Stewart said. "I raced at Daytona earlier this year with HMS and was lucky enough to get a victory. This will be my first race under the JRM banner, and it's exciting. JRM consistently puts strong cars on the track, and we're hoping to capitalize on that with the Delphi team."

Earnhardt has made seven starts in the No. 5 this season and has the top finish, third at Atlanta in September. Others in the car have been Scott Wimmer (six races), Ryan Newman (four), Ron Fellows (two) and Mark Martin (one).

Stewart drove in all nine of his Nationwide races last season for Joe Gibbs Racing, but his move from Gibbs to Stewart-Haas Racing left him without a in-house Nationwide team and a reduction in his schedule. Stewart still enjoys racing as much as he can.

"You have to live life, and if you want to drive racecars, then that's what you should do," Stewart said. "If that's what's going to make you happy, then as a driver, that's what you need to do."

Stewart is fourth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup going into Saturday night's race at Lowe's. He doesn't see the Nationwide race as any sort of distraction. It could even benefit him a little, giving him an idea how the track changes in the fall nighttime conditions.

"It doesn't take away from your focus unless you go out there and get hurt or something like that," Stewart said. "If you didn't run the Nationwide Series or a (Camping World) Truck Series race that day and you went out and went fishing that afternoon, you could just as easily trip over a log and break your arm and maybe hurt yourself more than you would if you were in a racecar."

Brian Campe, the No. 5 crew chief, is excited about having Stewart in the car.

"Tony can drive the wheels off a racecar," Campe said. "Anytime he climbs behind the wheel, you have a shot at victory."

Dale Earnhardt Named to First Class of NASCAR Hall of Fame

2009-10-15T00:06:00.000-04:00

MOORESVILLE, NC (October 14, 2009) - In the crowning achievement of an incredible career that celebrated a record seven NASCAR Sprint Cup titles and 76 NASCAR victories, Dale Earnhardt has been selected as one of five inaugural inductees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Announced by NASCAR CEO Brian France earlier today, Earnhardt, one of NASCAR's favorite drivers and fiercest competitors, was selected to the first class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame based on the achievements of his 26-year career and his many contributions to the sport both on and off the track. He joins Bill France, Sr., Bill France, Jr., Richard Petty and Junior Johnson in the inaugural group to be recognized at the NASCAR Hall of Fame on May 23, 2010. Earnhardt's selection was voted on by NASCAR track owners, team owners, series officials, drivers and media members.

"It is truly an honor to see Dale Earnhardt recognized as one of the five most influential members of the NASCAR family and inducted in the first class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame," said Teresa Earnhardt, President and CEO of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. "Of the many legendary accomplishments and accolades of his career - from the seven championships to the win in the Daytona 500 to the founding of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. -- this is another defining moment. It is the achievement of a lifetime and is celebrated by the millions of Dale Earnhardt fans around the world.

"From now on, Dale Earnhardt's spirit will live on at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., and part of him will live at the NASCAR Hall of Fame," she added. "Not only would he be proud of this day, he'd be proud to see the legacy of his race team competing for a championship with Juan Pablo Montoya."

Kerry Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt's oldest son, said the selection of his father to the NASCAR Hall of Fame is a humbling experience.

"The legends that were nominated for the NASCAR Hall of Fame were my racing heroes growing up - and my Dad was first among them," said Kerry Earnhardt. "Congratulations to all of the legends who were selected for the NASCAR Hall of Fame and thank you to the members of the voting panel for recognizing my Dad's accomplishments in the sport. To see my Dad voted to the very first class to be inducted in the NASCAR Hall of Fame is amazing and humbling. He was a legend to the millions of fans who cheered him every week, and definitely a hero to me."

For Taylor Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt's youngest daughter, seeing her father recognized as one of five most influential people in NASCAR is inspiring.

"I'm so proud to see my Dad selected to the first class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame," said Taylor Earnhardt. "Everything he did, he did with passion, a competitive spirit and a drive to win. That legacy is inspiring to me, and I hope it is inspiring to all of his fans celebrating this exciting event."

Dale Earnhardt's oldest daughter, Kelley Earnhardt, said the selection of her father is an incredible moment for all of his fans.

"We are extremely honored to see my father chosen as part of the esteemed first class of NASCAR Hall of Fame members, and we want to congratulate the fellow inductees and their families," said Kelley Earnhardt. "To be part of the inaugural class is the ultimate honor -- one that is cemented in time and achieved by no other outside of the five members. My father impacted many lives, and I know I speak on behalf of Dale Earnhardt fans everywhere in showing our appreciation that his memory will live forever inside the walls of the NASCAR Hall of Fame."

Dale Earnhardt, Jr., thanked the voting panel for recognizing his father's accomplishments.

"For what my Dad achieved in this sport - both on and off the track - he certainly earned his place in history and deserves to be distinguished in this inaugural class of NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees," said Dale Earnhardt, Jr. "I want to thank the voting panel and nomination committee for recognizing that and honoring him this way. It means a lot to the Earnhardt family, and it means a lot to my Dad's fans, which I am one. He was the man, plain and simple."

Fans Can Join the Celebration of Dale Earnhardt's Selection

For the legions of Dale Earnhardt fans who faithfully support their hero, the selection of Dale Earnhardt to the first class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame is cause for celebration. To honor the event, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. will be open for a fan celebration at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. headquarters in Mooresville, NC, throughout the weekend of October 16 and 17, 2009 and will debut a new exhibit featuring his memorabilia. In addition, fans can post a congratulatory message at www.DaleEarnhardt.com.

In addition, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has created a special commemorative icon for Dale Earnhardt's selection to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. It will be featured throughout the year of celebration of his induction, and will be available for fans on select apparel and commemorative items on www.DaleEarnhardtInc.com.

About Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and the Dale Earnhardt Foundation

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has a nearly 30-year history as a racing organization, founded by one of the most storied individuals in the sport. It is committed to keeping this legacy alive and to building Dale Earnhardt, Inc. as a leader in the motorsports industry, an innovator in the automotive and transportation business and champion in philanthropic outreach.

The Dale Earnhardt Foundation's mission is to "Continue the Legend" through charitable programs and grants that sustain Earnhardt's lifelong commitment to Children, Education and Wildlife Preservation. Through the legacy of Dale Earnhardt, the Foundation has been able to help thousands of people in need, give college students and future leaders a chance to pursue their dreams and improve the environment through conservation efforts.

Pepsi 500

2009-10-12T15:36:00.002-04:00

Dale's car wasn't working with him during qualifying and he qualified in 37th. Dale's car ran very well all day, until a multi-car crash and a red flag put him back 2 laps. The crew could not work on his car during the red flag (per NASCAR rule), so that is what put him down the two laps. I was very impressed to see that the garage crew from teammate Mark Martin's car was there to help the 88 team get the car repaired faster. It just seems like Dale cannot catch a break, no matter what he does. I am really hoping that Rick decides to keep Lance on as Dale's crew chief. It seems that those two have really worked well together during the race, no matter what the critics may say. Next weekend, the boys get to be home in Charlotte and I know that Dale really likes getting to stay at his home in Mooresville.

Price Chopper 400

2009-10-04T17:33:00.002-04:00

Dale had such an amazing run going. He was in 2nd for 11 laps then took the lead and led for 41 laps. What would have been a routine pit stop turned into a horrible ending. Dale made his first pit stop and left with one lugnut not on one of the tires. Then then the engine quit and the oil line went. Dale was very frustrated when interviewed and finished 36th.

Qualifying at Kansas

2009-10-03T00:27:00.002-04:00

WHOOOOO-HOOOOOO!!!!!!! Dale had the pole until his teammate Mark Martin beat him for it. This is so awesome for JR Nation. I will try to get the video from NASCAR.com when he ran his qualifying lap and post it here. Junior starts on the front row Sunday with his teammate Mark Martin, Brad had an awesome lap as well, he'll start behind Mark in 3rd.

From start and park to a ride in Dale Jr.'s stable

2009-10-01T13:17:00.000-04:00

Bires excited about opportunity to race for wins again

Kelly Bires hated it, but he knew he had no other choice. With no steady ride and no sponsor behind him, he did the only thing he could to make sure people saw him at the race track as much as possible. He drove a start-and-park car.

He did it a few times, actually, filling the gaps between events with regular Nationwide Series teams like Braun Racing, Kevin Harvick Inc., and the JTG Daugherty team he drove for during all of 2008. For a driver who had finished inside the top 10 six times last year, it was clearly a galling experience. But the sponsorship market was tough. Full-time rides were difficult to come by. So he swallowed his pride and made a few starts in cars that were clearly going nowhere but right back to the garage area.

"I can tell you there's nothing fun about starting and parking from a racer's standpoint," said Bires, a 25-year-old from Mauston, Wis. "There were some I had to do. There were some where I felt like if I could get in the car and qualify really well, extremely well, then maybe that would turn a couple of heads and show some people what I could do. They weren't fun at all. It was just part of the deal this year that I had to do. I'm glad I don't have to do that anymore."

Not for the foreseeable future, at least. Last month Bires signed a two-year deal with JR Motorsports to succeed Brad Keselowski, who is moving to the Sprint Cup tour with Penske Racing next season. For Bires, it's a welcome relief from the purgatory of career limbo, which began last year when sponsorship woes beset his program at JTG. Completing the 2008 season with a patchwork of sponsors, he still managed to finish 13th in points in his first full campaign on NASCAR's No. 2 circuit.

But he was nervous about 2009, and with good reason. Bires, a former go-kart and late model standout who moved to the Charlotte area in 2004 to further his NASCAR career, couldn't have timed it worse -- his climb up the career ladder coincided with an economic recession and consequent sponsorship shortage that hit the Nationwide Series particularly hard. So far in 2009 he's made 12 starts with five different teams, some of them powerhouses like KHI, and others shoestring outfits in it for a check.

Bires has managed a pair of top-five finishes, one more than he had in all of last season, but has been running at the finish only three times. He hasn't raced since Atlanta on Labor Day weekend. As of Wednesday, he wasn't listed on the entry list for Saturday's event at Kansas Speedway.
"It's probably one of the toughest years of racing that I've had to go through," Bires said. "Just going to the race track, [finishing] only three or four times so far this year, but doing what I had to do to stay alive and stay strong. Just the opportunity that came aboard here with JR Motorsports, I can't explain how excited I am about it with the emotional roller coaster I've been on. But to know I have something in place for the next two years, that's a tremendous relief."
Bires' best result this year was a fourth-place finish at Nashville in a KHI car. He's made two starts this season for Harvick, and has another slated for Oct. 24 at Memphis. But the timing just wasn't right to try and put together a full-time deal for 2010.

"Kevin came to me and helped me out, believed in my ability and was really cool about it and gave me an opportunity to get in a top-notch car," Bires said. "They just didn't have anything full-schedule for next year for the time being. And JR Motorsports came to me ready to go, locked and loaded. It's a no-brainer. Both organizations are extremely well-put-together. Nothing against KHI. But this opportunity for me at JR Motorsports, it was a no-brainer for me at the time."

Now, he's on the brink of quite the career turnaround. Only a few months ago, Bires was a driver desperate for a ride, and willing to slide behind the wheel of almost any car he could find. Beginning in February, he'll be at the controls of a vehicle capable of winning the Nationwide championship, and see his profile rise because of his association with NASCAR's most popular driver. Is he ready for the scrutiny that will follow?

He believes so. For Bires, the most difficult part has been just getting into the car.
"The hardest thing for me in this sport has just been to get in a race car," he said. "The performance on the track to me is the easiest part. The part of driving the car is the easiest part for me. It's just been, the time when I got into the sport here, it's been difficult to get into race cars without proper funding or proper sponsorship. It was just bad timing. But to be able to drive for Dale Jr., a great guy, I've known him for pretty much all the years I've been in NASCAR, and relate to him in a lot of different things. He definitely believes in my ability."

Jr's World.... and his comments as well as Lance's comments on Kansas Speedway

2009-09-30T15:48:00.002-04:00

What's in store for Dale Earnhardt and Lance McGrew this weekend at Kansas Speedway?

A little fun, a little 'cue ... and a whole lotta racing.

Junior by the numbers

6: Sprint Cup wins in 169 career starts on intermediate tracks

4: Top-10 finishes at Kansas in eight career Cup starts

40: Number of laps led at Kansas

98: The percentage of laps completed at Kansas (2,038 of 2,079)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Kansas Speedway: "Kansas is pretty fun. The track has aged enough to where we are running off of the bottom and you can move around and find a little speed. The corners are real different. Turns 1 and 2 are a lot flatter than 3 and 4. Trying to get the car to work at both ends can be a challenge, but I enjoy running there."

Lance McGrew, interim crew chief, on Kansas Speedway: "I've always run good at Kansas and have had some good success there. I feel like we've run way better at the intermediate tracks. I feel like our program has come around at tracks like Atlanta and Michigan -- the intermediate tracks. We're trying to bring better cars to the racetrack, and we've really responded to that by running in the top 10 all day."

McGrew on which tracks he pulls information from

when preparing to race at Kansas:

"Places like Charlotte [N.C.], Texas, Chicago. I think each one of those offers something you can take to Kansas. The good thing about Kansas, as well as Chicago over the years, is it went from being really a one-groove racetrack to one that has widened out to where you can get two- or three-wide. As a driver, it allows you to hunt around and find a place on the racetrack where your car works. We'll probably look at Chicago first and go from something like that."
McGrew on Kansas City's barbecue scene: "I like Kansas City barbecue because it's more of a saucy barbecue. It's not like a dry rub barbecue, and I like barbecue sauce. So, yeah, Kansas City-type barbecue is my favorite."

Hamlin-Keselowski clash steals show

2009-09-30T13:27:00.001-04:00

I took quotes dealing with the arguement between Brad and Denny....

DOVER, Del. -- Denny Hamlin's day appeared over. His No. 20 Toyota was in the garage after Brad Keselowski spun him into the wall late in the Nationwide Series race.

Not so fast.

An angry Hamlin returned to pit road at the end of the Nationwide Series race and welcomed Keselowski with a forceful shove and a heated exchange. Keselowski's public relations rep shoved Hamlin, and crews for both drivers quickly got involved in the brief skirmish.

Everyone wanted to know after the race what went down between Hamlin and Keselowski.
The brief, but heated, confrontation was sparked with 11 laps left in the 200-lap race when Hamlin was tapped from behind by Keselowski's No. 88 and spun sideways into the wall. Keselowski, who finished third, was trying to pass Hamlin on the inside.

"I was just there. I was underneath him," Keselowski said. "Earlier in the day when he got underneath me in the same scenario I gave him room. I paid him a favor and I expected the same favor to be returned. He didn't. I held my ground."

Hamlin, a Chase driver in the Cup series, didn't see it that way.

"I wanted to talk to him," Hamlin said. "He obviously needs some sort of guidance on what he needs to do to make it. He's got a ton of talent, I am not going to take that away from him, he's a good driver. If he can harness it, he'll win a lot more races."

Tony Eury Jr., the son of Keselowski's crew chief, ended it after he intervened and had a brief chat with Hamlin.

AAA 400

2009-09-30T13:17:00.002-04:00

Dale Jr's car would do nothing for him on Sunday. After rain washed all the rubber off the track due to rain the night before, the first 25 laps of the race were really just to get the track rubbered back up. NASCAR threw a competition yellow at lap 25 for the crews to be able to change tires and check the ones the drivers started out with. Dale Jr started 24th and at one point was down two laps. He took the wave around two times and finished 20th and on the lead lap. Next week the drivers make their yearly visit to Kansas Speedway for the Price Chopper 400. The race starts at 2pm, with NASCAR Countdown beginning at 1pm.

Sylvania 300

2009-09-25T22:53:00.002-04:00

Dale Jr had a amazing car all day long, and had worked his way from 23 to the top 10 until an accidental bump from David Reutimann sent him into the wall and ended his day. Dale finished 35th and as you can imagine, he was very upset with what happened. However, I heard Michael Waltrip (Reutimann's car owner) say on This Week in NASCAR on the SPEED Channel that he talked to both David and Dale about the accident. He said that David felt terrible about what happened and his car was just loose. When he talked to Dale, Dale said he didn't hate David, but he was dissapointed because of how well the car had run all day. The guys are the Monster Mile this weekend and I can't wait to see who's tempers will flair there!

JR Motorsports signs Bires to two-year deal for 2010

2009-09-15T20:28:00.002-04:00

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Kelly Bires has signed to drive a full-time Nationwide Series entry for JR Motorsports in 2010-11, general manager Kelley Earnhardt announced Tuesday.

Bires replaces Brad Keselowski, who will join Penske Racing in 2010 to drive the No. 12 Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series.

A native of Mauston, Wis., Bires has competed in the Nationwide and Camping World Truck series since 2006. In 66 career Nationwide Series starts, Bires has three top-five finishes and 11 top-10s. He posted a career-best finish of fourth at Nashville on April 11 for Kevin Harvick Inc.

"Kelly is a talented young driver, and we want to give him the opportunity to showcase that talent," said Dale Earnhardt Jr., owner of JR Motorsports. "Our whole premise at JR Motorsports from the beginning has been to take up-and-coming drivers, give them the chance to drive good equipment, and help them reach the next level.

"Kelly has a lot of promise. I noticed his potential earlier this year, and we are glad to have him at JR Motorsports."

JR Motorsports fields the Nos. 88 and 5 teams in the Nationwide Series. It has not been determined which car Bires will drive in 2010; the team is still in the process of securing sponsorship for next season.

"I can't thank Dale Jr. and Kelley enough for this opportunity," Bires said. "JR Motorsports is a quality organization. They win races, and they contend for championships. As a driver, that's all you can ever ask for.

"They have a tremendous infrastructure of support with Rick Hendrick and Tony Eury Sr. These are people who know how to win races, know how to win championships, and know what it takes to be successful."

Bires got his NASCAR start in 2006 in a Truck Series entry for Wood Brothers/JTG Racing (now JTG Daugherty Racing). He was scheduled to drive a partial schedule in 2007 but was promoted to the team's Nationwide Series entry after seven races. In 2008 -- his first full-time Nationwide Series attempt -- Bires finished 13th in the point standings with six top-10s.

Pep Boys Auto 500 and Chevy Rock n Roll 400

2009-09-14T16:13:00.003-04:00

I'm such a slacker!!! I am so sorry about that. Anyway, the 88 team had another strong run at Atlanta. Dale started 31st and worked his way up into the top 10, but the theme of getting tight at the end of the race continued and Dale finished 17th.

At Richmond, Brad qualified very well in 9th but finished 38th due to engine trouble. Dale, who started 15th, battled a tight car all night and finished 21st. JR Nation knows that Dale will not be in the chase this year, but he has said that for the remainder of the season, he will do whatever he can to suppet his teammates. I feel that as a member of JR Nation, I should do the same. I hope you will too.

Keselowski to join Penske, drive Cup and Nationwide

2009-09-01T20:34:00.000-04:00

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Penske Racing on Tuesday announced that Brad Keselowski will compete for the team full-time, beginning with the 2010 season.

Keselowski, 25, will drive the No. 12 Penske Dodge in the Sprint Cup Series -- replacing David Stremme -- and also will run a full-season schedule in the Nationwide Series.

"We are very excited to welcome Brad to the Penske Racing family," team owner Roger Penske said. "Brad has shown terrific success on track the past several years and has quickly established himself as one of the top young stars in racing. He comes from an impressive family background in motorsports. He is a proven winner and a welcome addition to our team."

A third-generation driver, Keselowski has won at every level in which he has competed. He is third in the Nationwide Series standings, with three wins including a dramatic victory in August at his home track at Michigan. Keselowski also scored his first Cup Series win earlier this year at Talladega and he has three top-10 finishes in eight Cup Series starts this season.

"Penske Racing is one of the top teams in all of motorsports and I am honored to join Roger Penske's organization and compete for wins with his Cup and Nationwide Series teams," Keselowski said. "This is a great opportunity for me to continue competing in the Nationwide Series and to run my first full season in the Cup Series with a strong and experienced team."

Growing up working for his family's team, K Automotive Motorsports, Keselowski followed in the footsteps of his father Bob, a 23-year veteran driver who won more than 50 races and the 1989 ARCA Series championship. The younger Keselowski joined NASCAR in 2004, racing for his family's team in the Truck Series. Expanding to Nationwide Series competition in 2006, Keselowski's career began to blossom.

He finished third in the 2008 Nationwide Series championship, the highest standing for a regular series racer, earning two wins while also being named the Most Popular Driver in the Nationwide Series.

Well, it's official......

2009-09-01T20:19:00.002-04:00

I just checked today on NASCAR.com and Brad is leaving JR Motorsports for Penske Racing next year. The first one, I think, is more to reasure fans that there are no hard feeling between Junebug and Brad. As to who will be taking Brad's place, there are still rumors that Kelly Bires will be in the 88 next year, but as usual, I won't post anything until those rumors are confirmed as true or false.

Earnhardt's advice helped Keselowski join Penske

Brad Keselowski will admit, it was the hardest decision he's ever had to make. But having the blessing of Dale Earnhardt Jr. made it a little easier.

Keselowski, the sought-after NASCAR phenom who won a Sprint Cup race at Talladega earlier this season in a part-time car, has signed a multi-year contract to compete for Penske Racing, beginning in 2010.

The deal puts Keselowski in Roger Penske's No. 12 Sprint Cup car, where he will replace current driver David Stremme, as well as in a new, full-time Nationwide Series ride where he will compete as a teammate to Justin Allgaier.

"I want to be the guy that comes to Penske Racing and gets them their first NASCAR championship. I want to be that guy," Keselowski said Tuesday in a conference call with reporters. "For everything that's been accomplished here, that's the one thing that's missing, and I want to be the guy that gets it done."

And yet, the decision to take the Penske offer was far from a simple one for Keselowski, who's been tied to Earnhardt's JR Motorsports Nationwide team -- and, by extension, Rick Hendrick's juggernaut Cup Series operation -- for most of his career at NASCAR's national levels. Keselowski talked with Hendrick about potentially finding a place at Hendrick Motorsports, something that would allow him to continue to compete for JR Motorsports, but eventually became impossible given the four-car limit NASCAR has placed on organizations in its premier division.

Penske's courtship of Keselowski, a fellow Michigander, was no secret. But after Keselowski's stock rose following his victory at Talladega in April, Hendrick asked for a few months to try to find a place for him. Given his existing relationship with the Hendrick camp, Keselowski obliged, and said Penske fully understood. Within the last month, though, it became clear that Hendrick wouldn't have room, and Keselowski accepted the Penske offer.

"He worked as hard as he could," Keselowski said of Hendrick. "He told me something that I thought was pretty interesting, that he worked much harder on my deal than he ever had to work on Jimmie [Johnson's] or Jeff [Gordon's] or any of them trying to find a way to keep me in the camp. It became obvious that it just wasn't in the cards. Too many things were going against us with the team limit and so forth, and this opportunity [with Penske] was sitting there."

Keselowski will replace Stremme, who hasn't finished better than 13th this season. Keselowski, a third-generation driver, has three Nationwide victories this year in addition to his Cup Series triumph. He is also currently third in Nationwide points driving for JR Motorsports, the Earnhardt-owned organization that gave him his big break when it hired Keselowski for what began as a three-race tryout in 2007. They've won five races together since.

"Without a doubt, the hardest part was leaving JR Motorsports," Keselowski said. "But what made it easier for me was to have Dale's blessing to do it. Without it, it would have been much harder to do. And Dale, make no mistake, was the catalyst for my career, the one who called me up and said he believed in me even though other people within his company didn't. He's the one who took the risk, financially and with his reputation, to put me in that car, and I'm eternally grateful to him for that."

In the end, it was Earnhardt who encouraged Keselowski to take the Penske opportunity. The two drivers recently had a conversation in which Earnhardt advised Keselowski to go where he had the opportunity to grow.

"He was actually one of the people who pushed me fairly hard to take this deal," Keselowski said. "As surprising as that might be to some of the people or the fans or the media, he brought up one of the good points that stuck with me when I made this decision, which was the hardest decision I've ever had to make in my life. And that was, when you have the opportunity to grow, and take on new challenge, and you're capable of conquering those challenges, you need to take it. You need to grow when you have the opportunity to grow, not only in your career but as a person. This is a great opportunity for me to grow."

And now, that the decision has finally been made?

"I feel like a lot of weight has been lifted off my shoulders," he said. "It's been a lot to carry around for the last couple of months. ... I feel a huge relief. I'm ready to dig my hands in deep in the dirt and get it going."

Sharpie 500 and rumors about Brad.

2009-08-24T13:20:00.003-04:00

Dale Jr and the 88 team had another strong run this week at Bristol. Dale started 27th, and worked his way to the top 10, at one point running 6th. Dale finished 9th and is still 21st in points. While we all know he won't make the chase this year, I have a good feeling that the hard work that he, Lance and the 88 crew have put in is starting to pay off.

As for Brad and the rumor that he is going to run for Penske next year, I'll keep you updated as to whether the rumor is true or not. All I can tell you right now is that Mr. Penske asked for and received permission to speak with Brad about the posibility of him running for Penske full time next year. Brad would take the place of David Stremme and would be teammates with Kurt Busch and Sam Hornish Jr. Brad hasn't said whether he will definately go to Penske or not yet. If he would go, this would remove him from the 88 Nationwide car, and I personally don't want to see that happen. I personally have a feeling that Brad would not want to run in anything but a Chevy, and would hope that Tony Stewart would extend an invite for Brad to join he and Ryan at Stewart-Haas Racing. Like I said, I will keep you updated as to what happens with Brad and his future.

Junior backs up words with strong showing at MIS

2009-08-16T22:58:00.001-04:00

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- For a guy who only two days earlier had been lambasting NASCAR for allegedly putting a poor product on the tracks much of this season, Dale Earnhardt Jr. sure looked like he was having a whole lot of fun Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.

And for a while, it looked like he might even win a race, too.

In the end, Earnhardt had to settle for third in the Carfax 400 -- but he was coming hard over the final laps and knew he had the fuel to make it. Eventual winner Brian Vickers and second-place finisher Jeff Gordon, Earnhardt's teammate at Hendrick Motorsports, weren't nearly as sure that they could make it to the checkered flag without running out of gas.

But while Earnhardt had fresher tires and more gas than the pair running in front of him, he didn't have the time to catch them.

"The way our luck has been, I wasn't sitting there thinking I was in the catbird's seat. I was thinking maybe I'll get on the podium [with a top-three finish]," Earnhardt said.

"I know every one of those guys is real good at saving fuel. We've all gotten smarter, I think, in the last year and a half on some of the tricks you can pull to do that, some of the things we can accomplish under caution to help ourselves."

Earnhardt should know. His last Sprint Cup victory came 43 races ago at the same MIS venue, when he gambled on fuel mileage at the end and barely made it to Victory Lane.

This time, others had to sweat out the fuel-mileage game. Some lost, too. Losers in that gambling affair included two of Earnhardt's other Hendrick teammates -- three-time defending points champion Jimmie Johnson, who ran out of gas with three laps to go; and Mark Martin, who won the Michigan race in June when Johnson and Greg Biffle both ran out of gas in front of him in the final lap and a half.

Johnson attempted to make it 51 laps between fuel stops this time, when in the June race he failed to make it more than 47. It turned out to be a bad gamble and he ended up with a 33rd-place finish to show for it.

As good as Johnson and his crew chief, Chad Knaus, have proven to be overall during the past several seasons, playing the fuel-mileage gamble game obviously is not their forte.

"I'm certainly frustrated," Johnson said. "We've won one race on fuel mileage, ever. It's just not what we are good at. I think it is a little too risky for us to even try it.

"We got lucky once in Phoenix. Outside of that, we always come up short."

Knaus added: "We had the fastest car by a bunch and I hate it for Jimmie and I hate it for all my guys."

Martin was running just outside the top 10 when he ran out of fuel Sunday, relegating him to a 31st-place finish.

Meanwhile, Earnhardt had no such concerns because he pitted earlier while the rest of the top cars stayed out on the track, hoping for a late caution that never came. Earnhardt said afterward that he had to talk crew chief Lance McGrew in letting him come to pit road to take on gas and four tires at the time, figuring it would pay dividends later.

"I knew we had to come in for fuel. Initially, he did not want to," Earnhardt said. "But I was like, 'You know what? Eventually we're going to have to pit and that's going to put us in the back, so why don't we go back there now -- instead of waiting until later when we'll only have a handful of laps to make it back up?' We made the right move."

The third-place finish was Earnhardt's best since grabbing second at Talladega in April. In the 13 races between that one and Sunday's, Earnhardt had finished no higher than 12th and came home in 26th or worse nine times.

He said he is hopeful Sunday's strong run is a harbinger of better times ahead for him and his No. 88 Chevrolet team. They began the season projected as a championship contender, but struggled so badly that team owner Rick Hendrick eventually replaced Tony Eury Jr. with McGrew as crew chief -- a move that hadn't paid many tangible dividends until Sunday.

"We just haven't had nothin' to smile about," Earnhardt said. "So I'm just real happy for Lance and real happy for my guys, my team. Hopefully, this will take a little of the load off of Rick and our sponsors. Hopefully, this will lift them up a little bit and help us build some momentum in the right direction.

"It was a good run [Sunday]. We've seen some other hints where we've been getting better at some other tracks over the last two months. But we finally put a race together where we can appreciate the finish, instead of just having a good car here and there."

Carfax 400

2009-08-16T22:54:00.003-04:00

WHAAAAA--HOOOOOOO!!!!! A win would have been great, but Jr Nation is still celebrating after Dale Jr finished 3rd today and also lead 6 laps. I know Dale wanted to get the win so bad and was so close after Jimmie Johnson ran out of fuel, but Jr Nation is proud of Dale after he drove from a 15th starting position and got his 2nd top 10 finish of the year. This is proof that Dale and the entire 88 team are working very hard to at least get Dale some good finishes to end the year with. Because he lead those laps and due to his great finish today, Dale has moved up to 21st in the points. While I don't think he will make the chase this year, I do think this 3rd place finish today, along with Brad's win on Saturday, was a great confidence booster to Dale and the 88 Sprint Cup team. Congrats to Brian Vickers who won todays race.