Dale Earnhardt Jr.

on

Steady 88 Leads Fast Hendrick Group
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has three top-three finishes, and the rest of Hendrick Motorsports has had bad luck despite having some of the fastest cars as a group. As Dale Jr. said, “I’m happy with the way our car is running. I can’t believe the 5 and the 24, they have been fast, the 5, sitting on the pole and he has been fast everywhere. He was killer fast at Phoenix. The 24 has been lightning fast at a lot of places. Jimmie is always quick everywhere. So they just had really bad luck. I think we actually have more speed as a group, as a whole, than we did last year.”
Earnhardt, who moved to second in the points standings – six behind Greg Biffle – hasn’t ranked this high this far into the season since 2008.

Hendrick Motorsports continues to seek its 200th NASCAR Sprint Cup victory.

on

Dale Earnhardt Jr. without a doubt has turned the corner.

The 135-race winless streak remains intact. But its end has become a case of when rather than if. Junior has become a story not for where he’s been but rather where he’s going – straight toward the top of the points standings.

A third-place finish at Martinsville Speedway, his third top five of the season, shot Earnhardt out of a third-place traffic jam and within six points of leader Greg Biffle. How well is Junior doing? Consider:

• He’s one of two drivers with three top-five and four top-four finishes. The other is Biffle.

• Three of the past four races have seen the No. 88 Chevrolet head the field.

Continue reading “Look out, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is second in points”

on

Teammates Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson will likely attract much of the “favorites” attention this weekend. But Dale Earnhardt Jr. best not be counted out.

Owning a Driver Rating of 99.0, Martinsville is Earnhardt’s top track in terms of the Loop Data statistic.

Earnhardt has finished in the top 10 in each of the last three Martinsville races, and was runner up to Kevin Harvick in this race last year.

Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson have the wins. But Dale Earnhardt Jr. has the momentum. And the hunger.
Earnhardt’s win drought has reached 134 races, but right now, it’s no big deal. He’s third in points, one of three drivers to have scored 30 or more points in every race and heads to arguably his best track.

In terms of Driver Rating, it is his best track. Earnhardt boasts a Martinsville Driver Rating of 99.0, his best at any track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Scoring three consecutive Martinsville top 10s coming into this race (including a runner-up finish last spring), Earnhardt certainly has the skill to take home the oddly elusive 200th win for Hendrick Motorsports.

Whichever driver it is, there would be no better spot for win No. 200 than the tiny Virginia track. You want storybook? This is it.

Hendrick has more wins at Martinsville (18) than any other track, and one more would tie Petty Enterprises for most all time.

Continue reading “Dale Jr. A Fine Pick At Martinsville”

on

Voting for the 2012 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) NASCAR Most Popular Driver award will officially begin March 15. The 10-week playoff format will return, with the top 10, based on votes received, competing for top accolades at season’s end.

Fans can visit www.MostPopularDriver.com and vote once a day for their favorite NASCAR Sprint Cup driver. Voting for the full field of drivers will end on Sept. 8 at 11:59 PM ET. The 10 drivers with the most votes will be announced as finalists, and the vote count will reset to zero.

Continue reading “Voting for 2012 NMPA NASCAR Most Popular Driver Award”

on

Hendrick’s Hiccups Only Temporary
You don’t hear this often: Hendrick Motorsports has only one driver in the top 10 and three outside the top 20.

No need to worry just yet. Jimmie Johnson, currently 37th due in most part to a 25-point penalty after Daytona, has won four times at Las Vegas, more than any other driver.

Jeff Gordon, currently 22nd, won at Las Vegas in 2001.

Currently 32nd, Kasey Kahne earned his first pole at Las Vegas, in 2004. He has four top 10s in eight races at the 1.5-mile track.

Continue reading “No worries, Hendrick’s Hiccups Only Temporary”