Dale Earnhardt Jr. was able to do something he hasn’t been able to do in quite sometime last Sunday night; smile at the end of a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.
Not the ‘half hearted, glad its over with, chin up for the cameras’ kind of smile, but a genuine this ‘feels good’ kind of grin.
Earnhardt almost pulled off the upset of the year charging from 22nd place in the closing stages nearly beating Jamie McMurray to win the 2010 Daytona 500.
And while he didn’t win, second place sure felt good.
“I don't really remember much about it,” Earnhardt said laughing as he recounted the final laps. “It was all a blur. I was just going wherever they weren't. I really don't enjoy being that aggressive. But if there was enough room for the radiator to fit, you just kind of held the gas down and prayed for the best.”
His best was a final charge from 10th in the last three laps.
“It was a lot of fun. It went by so fast, I couldn't really tell you the process,” Earnhardt said. “I just remember going down the back straightaway and getting in between Greg (Biffle who finished third), and I don't remember who was on the outside of me. We all kind of wiggled through that whole deal. Jamie got away from us. I didn't even know where I was. Then we got into three. I was counting in my head how many laps we ran. I knew we were coming to the checkered, I was running second, this is awesome, but it kind of sucks at the same time.
It was frustrating to come that close. But, hell, we were running 22nd at the first 'green-white-checkered'! “
It was the kind of finish that NASCAR’s most popular driver needed. After a 2009 filled with frustration, and no Sprint Cup series victories, Earnhardt and his Hendrick Motorsports team spent the off-season making changes. In what has been described as a merger between the No. 88 and No. 5 teams in order to improve performance, Earnhardt’s crew received some new crewmembers and Earnhardt got some much needed advice from veteran Mark Martin.
“Mark has been a great supporter of mine for years,” Earnhardt said prior to the 500. “He's a lot of fun to work with. Definitely he's one of the guys I definitely listen to.”
Whatever he and Mark Martin did during the offseason seemed to pay dividends in the Daytona 500. But now that Daytona is behind them, the question becomes can Earnhardt maintain that momentum and validate the turnaround the team seemed to show last week.
“It's just one race,” Earnhardt concedes. “We 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 Fontana, Vegas, be competitive at any point during them races, it would be a little more validation.”
That validation process will begin with this weeks stop at Fontana and the Auto Club 500 this Sunday at Auto Club Speedway.
As Earnhardt pointed out, the next few tracks can give a clearer picture of future performance. The two-mile California track and the 1.5-mile track the following week in Las Vegas represent the distances that the Series races on the most through the season.
Based on his record at Fontana, Earnhardt will have a tough time validating anything however. In 16 appearances here he has no wins, three top five and four top10 finishes. Included among his record is four DNF’s.
In the past few years, Earnhardt hasn’t exactly looked forward to the westward journey. But this year he has a shot of optimism coming off his second place finish.
“I haven't typically been good at California,” Earnhardt admitted this week. “But it's easier to go there after we ran good at Daytona. I'm looking forward to seeing how we are as a team.”
And if offseason collaboration between the No.88 and No. 5 teams has improved performance like the Daytona 500 seemed to hint at, the next few races should prove it and help confirm that after a sub par 2009, Earnhardt may be back in the mix.
“The entire team had an awesome showing these past two weeks,” Earnhardt said. “I want to go to Fontana and be competitive. I think how we run the next few weeks will be a little more validation of where we are.”
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Comments
So what,if he doesn't do well, we all turn into pumpkins at midnight????
Leave it alone already!!!!!!!
That's right Mike...pumpkins at midnight. I'd argue that most people reading these argues are Earnhardt fans. Tell us something we don't know! I've read this same editorial version of his post-race quotes about 4 times this week. Seems like we don't need all these columnists if all they do is basically paraphrase what the other one says.
Without the bump from the Reutimann to clear the middle between Bowyer and Biffle Jr., never would have had a chance to finish 1st Loser, as Dale Earnhardt Sr. used to call 2nd place. Really SWEET to see the red-headed step child driving superior Hendrick equipment get a bird's eye view of a EARNHARDT (DEI)-Ganassi car taking the checkerd flag in the Daytona 500. Great to see Bass Pro Shops get rewarded for sticking with his old friend's team. Terresa who is still listed as the owner of the #1 car, can be proud of her 4th Daytona 500 win, time has proven her right about the average at best Jr.
And to you Overra88ted (which BTW you are), without the bump from Biffle, McMurray wouldn't have won. And Teresa is a co-owner of the #1 car, not the owner. Look it up. And there is no such team as DEI-Ganassi. Keep on dreaming because you just look sillier and sillier.
BTW Hannah, if you can read, go to Nascar.com and check the entry list for Daytona and California. The #1 is owned by Terresa, the #42 is owned by Chip. THAT NEVER CHANGED when the merge was annouced prior to the 2009 season, and was publicly stated as such. Make no mistake, DEI is the Earnhardt portion in Earnhardt-Ganassi, just like it is in Earnhardt-Childress Engines, just simply a shorter name. All Ganasi does is run the team for Terresa. FYI, it was also publicly stated at the same time last year that Terresa has the right go go back on her own if she so desires. Just as she owns DEI. lock, stock, and barrel, Terresa is still the sole owner of the #1 car, just like she still will own the #8, and #15, if they would run again. So get over your delusions, pay attention, and check your facts. Terresa Earnhardt is a 4-time Daytona 500 winning car owner!
That run at Daytona my have looked great. but its Daytona, where anything can happen. I just don't see anything happening like last year for Dale Jr., and although I am a HUGE fan of Dale Earnhardt Jr., I just don't think that is good enough. He was mired back in traffic really the entire day and didn't see much of him. He struggles in the Budweiser Shootout and struggled again in the Gatorade Duels. And today during qualifying for the Auto Club 500, struggled SOO much with the 88 machine that it was unreal. Face it, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Hendrick just wasn't meant to be. I do wanna say however I am very happy for Jamie McMurray for winning the Daytona 500. Happy for Teresa Earnhardt and Chip Ganassi. Also I'm happy for Richard Childress Racing too. The Earnhardt Childress cars took the top 11 spots in the Daytona 500, whooping ass on the Hendrick Motorsports team
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