Dale Earnhardt Jr
Last weekend, Dale Earnhardt Jr. did what Earnhardt fans are accustomed to: Coming from nowhere and finishing 2nd in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Daytona 500. Reports were that he was 22nd at the start of the green – white – checkered sessions and by race’s end, was 2nd. I swear that on that last run for the checkers, it “looked” like he flicked his car’s butt over to move the opposition aside, like a scene from the animated movie, Cars! I know he didn’t. It was just happenstance from racing, but it looked pretty cool. It looked like he was saying “Moove buddy, I’m coming through!”
For Junior Nation, there could be nothing better to see than that No. 88 Chevy forge its way to the front through the pack. For a fleeting moment, it gives a fan hope, and a lot of it.
But restrictor plate races are Dale’s forte, or at least I expect that to be. I’m not sure there’s anyone better at this playing field than Junior is. And we know with Hendrick Motorsports underneath him, how can he not be a front runner each week?
But here’s where I worry. We’ve just seen him on a track that’s fun for him and now we’re headed to Fontana. Can he start to demonstrate that kind of performance through the rest of the season?
2010 Daytona 500 Jamie McMurray leads Dale Earnhardt Jr
Last year Dale Jr. didn’t look as good as he did today, when he finished outside the top 20 spots in 2009 at Daytona. This year looks promising, but can we hang a season’s outlook on a restrictor plate race? I don’t like doing that. That’s almost akin to tracking lottery numbers and trying to predict future performance numbers. It just can’t be done. Well, not too accurately. Albeit, the front runners are the guys to consider as potentials, but then look at Jimmie Johnson. He’s consistently performed iffy at Daytona after breaking car parts, so he’s on par with last year’s performance.
But I think this 2010 season is going to see a spotlight on Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his crew chief, Lance McGrew. Everyone see’s how HMS is doing and they want Jr to do as well, or better. In his interviews last weekend, he mentioned how he felt like crap showing up at the shop (paraphrased) with how his team had been doing. I feel for him. But now the word I’ve seen on the street is that this might be a make-it or break-it year for Jr and HMS.
With the upcoming Fontana race, Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s average finish at the Auto Club Speedway is 22nd. On intermediate tracks, his average finish is 17th. I’d be happy with a top-10, but to be technically honest, I’d think anything in front of 17th will be a welcomed improvement over his average finish, barring mechanical failure or getting caught up in crap luck like accidents or debris tearing into a tire.
The Debate Will Be Fed or Silenced
2010 NSCS No. 88 HMS Chevy driven by DALE EARNHARDT JR
If Jr and McGrew pull it out this year, the naysayers about all of Jr’s business focuses being a distraction will be silenced. If not, it will bolster their stance. I don’t want to say that having his fingers in different business ventures is slowing him down. But looking at Kyle Petty, the one year he wasn’t in-charge of the team and had stepped down to focus on driving, he performed better. There seems to be some substance to one’s focus being aimed, like a flashlight, on one endeavor. I don’t fully believe it, but I’m not fully convinced. Either way.
So the next few races are going to be the “tell” of the season for Dale Earnhardt Jr., and how Junior Nation will be feeling about NASCAR’s most popular driver. I know we’re all pulling for him. It would be great to see him perform up to the standards of the pedestal we’ve all put him on.
-
