Dale Jr. News
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Earnhardt crew members involved in wreck; all reportedly OK: Six pit crew workers for Dale Earnhardt Jr. were involved in a car accident Sunday morning on the way to Phoenix International Raceway, but all of them are expected to work the Checker Auto Parts 500 Sunday afternoon, team officials confirmed. All six men were treated and released at the PIR Infield Care Center after their vehicle was T-boned at an intersection near the track. Crew chief Lance McGrew was not in the accident and didn't want to speak about the incident Sunday morning when approached at the No. 88 AMP Energy Drink/National Guard Chevy hauler in the Sprint Cup garage. Earnhardt will start 18th in Sunday's race.(ESPN.com)
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Is Dale Earnhardt Jr headed for an emotional breakdown? The life of NASCAR superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. has turned into a train wreck, and pals fear he's headed for an emotional breakdown. The 35-year-old driver is feuding with the owner of his racing team, he's burned through a string of girlfriends, and he's still haunted by the tragic death of his legendary father, sources say. Now the troubled bachelor may be turning to booze to cope, insiders say. "Dale Jr. seems almost in a death spiral," disclosed a close pal. "He's locked himself away from his closest friends, and he's upset all the time. Those closest to him are concerned about his mental health and well-being." (National Enquirer)
Friday, October 30, 2009
No. 88 crew chief Lance McGrew to return in 2010: Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick has named Lance McGrew the full-time crew chief of the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevys driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the Sprint Cup Series. The 41-year-old McGrew 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.(Hendrick Motorsports PR)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Earnhardt Jr to be presenter at CMA Awards: Dale Earnhardt Jr. will make a pit stop with country's finest when he appears as a presenter at the Nov. 11 Country Music Awards, the Nashville-based CMA tells People Magazine. Earnhardt is part of a round of presenters announced by the CMA for ceremony, which will air on ABC. Others include LeAnn Rimes, Kellie Pickler, Julianne Hough, and nominees Randy Houser (for new artist and video of the year) and Jake Owen (for new artist), along with the network's Robin Roberts and the stars of ABC's Wednesday night comedy The Middle, Patricia Heaton and Neil Flynn.(People.com)
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Hendrick keeping McGrew as Crew Chief for No. 88? Rick Hendrick is committed to Lance McGrew remaining Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief for the rest of the Sprint Cup season and appears to be leaning toward keeping them together in 2010. "My philosophy has always been if you can fix something rather than start all over then I'd whole lot rather fix it," the owner of Hendrick Motorsports said before Saturday night's Sprint Cup race at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "When I see the car as the best car out there in my group for two or three of the races and then just have crappy luck, it's almost like, 'Hey, let's focus on the little things that can make it better.' " Hendrick's comments came 24 hours after Earnhardt expressed frustration with how his season has gone since switching from long-time crew chief Tony Eury Jr. to McGrew in June. (More at ESPN.com)
Friday, Sept. 25, 2009
Earnhardt, Jr. and Gordon lay wreath at Arlington National Cemetery: In the humid stillness of Arlington National Cemetery on Thursday afternoon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and team owner Rick Hendrick solemnly walked down a set of stairs toward the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They lined up, along with a member of the military honor guard who ceremonially patrol the tomb, and then stepped forward together to place a wreath in front of the giant marble structure. Hands over their hearts, they stood silently amidst the quiet of the cemetery where more than 330,000 men and women are buried. A few minutes later, in the basement of a nearby building just down the hall from the guards' quarters, the two National Guard-sponsored drivers reflected on the magnitude of what they had just experienced. "I was just nervous," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I get real nervous around appearances, but this one was real heavy. There's a lot of responsibility, and that was definitely the case for this." Like Earnhardt Jr., Gordon had never visited Arlington before and said he regretted not doing so earlier. "This is something I think every American should experience," Gordon said. "The peace, the security that we feel in the safety of our country is because of the men and women here at Arlington."(SceneDaily.com)
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2009
Dale Jr upset with recent race runs: For Dale Earnhardt, who's led only six laps in the last 18 races, with all of them coming at Michigan, the frustration seemed to mount the more he was confronted with his demise. "We're pretty ticked off about how we've been running [and] this definitely makes us more upset," Earnhardt said. "We've been driving in the middle of the mess all day long and rooting and gouging and having fun. We didn't slap drive down in the corner and knock anybody out -- but it happens to you sometimes." (NASCAR.com)
Friday, Aug. 14, 2009
Dale Jr.: NASCAR not willing to produce better race car: Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Thursday that NASCAR's "Car of Tomorrow" needs a tune-up. Earnhardt, who was in Atlanta to promote the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Labor Day weekend, said the car, which is now the exclusive vehicle on the Sprint Cup circuit, is safer than the previous car, but it's not providing the close, competitive racing that fans have come to expect. But he said the problem can be fixed. "I feel like we can take this race car and make it provide [exciting] races," he said. "If I can be honest, I feel like NASCAR has seemingly been reluctant to let this car evolve more freely." (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009
Speedway drops Dale Earnhardt Jr's name: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s name has been dropped from the planned $640 million motorsports park off Interstate 65 in Prichard, whose investors now plan to use a new 5-cent sales tax to help develop the complex, according to investors in the project. "Dale is focusing on racing, and his sponsor demands have gone up incredibly," Bill Futterer of PSE-3 and Futterer Partners said Tuesday evening. Futterer's Raleigh, N.C., marketing firm is working on what had been called Alabama Motorsports Park, A Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speedway. "We have agreed not to extend his personal services agreement," Futterer said. Also gone are agreements with Earnhardt's sister, Kelly Earnhardt Elledge, and his race-driver brother, Kerry Earnhardt, Futterer said. He added, "we're not upset, and they are not angry." An effort Tuesday evening to reach Earnhardt through his Hendrick Motorsports race team was unsuccessful. Gulf Coast Entertainment, the group of 30 or so investors in the project, want a name that will fit what they see as a total entertainment complex, not just a race venue, he said. The project includes three tracks a seven-tenths-mile oval with 75,000 seats, a karting track, and a road course plus an RV park and basic infrastructure at the 2,400-acre site along Ala. 158. But developers envision their project as a draw for hotels, entertainment and retail venues that others will develop on the property. When fully built out, developers estimate the complex could create 4,800 jobs.(Alabama Live)
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Dale Earnhardt Jr retains popularity: Each year the NASCAR National Motorsports Press Association sponsors the MPDA, which is voted on by fans. This week the top vote getters were released and, as usual, Earnhardt Jr. is at the top of the heap. The remainder of the top 10 consists of Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Kasey Kahne, Matt Kenseth, Michael Waltrip, Bobby Labonte, Kevin Harvick, Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson. Exact totals weren't released, but it's a pretty safe bet that Earnhardt Jr. has a substantial lead. And it's a pretty safe bet he'll still have a substantial lead when the voting ends Nov. 23. (Independent Mail)
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Earnhardt, Jr. has stomach flu: Dale Earnhardt Jr. won't let two days of fever, IVs and nausea keep him out of Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "We didn't have to dial 911," Earnhardt said after qualifying third on Saturday. "I had a stomach virus pop up late Thursday night and was throwing up and all that good stuff all the way up until 5 o'clock in the morning [Friday]. I came here and got a couple of IVs early in the afternoon. I broke my fever about 8 o'clock yesterday morning. The fever came back last night but I broke it again. I've just been sweating a lot and probably will get some more fluids this afternoon after practice." Earnhardt still will have Brad Keselowski, who drives for him in the Nationwide Series, on hand as a backup driver. Keselowski, who was scheduled to take a couple of practice laps in Earnhardt's Cup car, is competing at nearby O'Reilly Raceway Park in Saturday night's Nationwide race. "I doubt we'll need it," Earnhardt said. "I did that basically to be safe. The only thing I have to worry about is being hydrated from here on out. I feel tons better. That stomach virus was the worst thing I experienced in my life. I used to think sore throats were the worst aggravatingest thing. I'm not a very big fan of stomach viruses now."(ESPN.com)
Dale Jr. says don't blame him for ratings and attendance drop: Dale Earnhardt said he doesn't think he can be blamed for sagging ratings and a dip in attendance. "I'm not sure if that can be possible or not," Earnhardt said. "But I mean, if it is, it shouldn't be. That shouldn't be why, you know; the sport shouldn't rest on one man's shoulders. You know, I say that, but at times it has, you know, in years past. � I don't feel like personally it rests on my shoulders. "I'm sorry I haven't run better this year. I want to run better. If it's hurting the sport, you know, that's not what I want to do, not my intent." (Fort Wayne Journal Gazette)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Dale Jr is happy to be a racecar driver: Dale Earnhardt Jr. asked if he has ever questioned his decision to be a racecar driver: "Never a moment, never happens�That's what being a racecar driver so cool is you know what you want to do, you know where you want to be, you know where you have to be and it's easier. I had to work at a real job and I know what that's like. Being a racecar driver is where it's at�The business part of it is not a real pain. It's not what I got into the sport for. Parts of it is pretty interesting, parts of it aren't, parts of it are boring. I don't like meetings any more than the next guy. The driving part is what you get into it for. There's other things that come along with it, good and bad. You just take it." (WDNE)
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Dale Jr would like to run Indy 500 someday: Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he would jump at the chance to drive in the Indianapolis 500 if there were not a conflicting NASCAR race on the same day. Rain washed out his plans for a ride in a two-seat Indy car on Thursday. Instead, he strapped himself behind the wheel and received a 10-minute driving lesson from former 500 winner Dan Wheldon. Earnhardt said he "picked his brains as hard as I could." And he said driving at Indianapolis "definitely interests me," though he has NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte, N.C., on the same day. However, he said he and many other NASCAR drivers would try Indy if the schedules could be resolved.(Associated Press)
Saturday, July 4, 2009
JR Motorsports unlikely to go Cup: You can't cross JR Motorsports totally off of Brad Keselowski's list for a fulltime Sprint Cup ride in 2010, but it doesn't seem likely. Dale Earnhardt Jr., who co-owns JR Motorsports with Rick Hendrick, said on Friday it would be "quite a challenge for anybody to find the kind of financial support you need" to make the move from the Nationwide Series to Cup. He also talked more of Keselowski, who drives the JR Motorsports Nationwide car, as though he would be somewhere else after this season and how he looked forward to preparing another driver for the Cup series. "The way I see it Brad has a ton of opportunities and the doors are wide open for him,'' Earnhardt said. "We have to look at what our chances are for moving into the Cup series before we can put that before Brad."(ESPN Insider
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Earnhardt Jr in National Guard's "Serving America" paint scheme at Daytona: To honor the National Guard and celebrate Independence Day, the No. 88 Chevy of Dale Earnhardt Jr. will run a special hand-painted camouflage ACU (Army Combat Uniform) scheme this weekend. The Hendrick Motorsports body shop needed two days and 14 coats of DuPont paint to finish the job. Earnhardt will unveil the paint scheme to National Guard soldiers and fans at Daytona's Bandshell on Wednesday. The Nationnal Guard "Serving America"/AMP Energy Chevy is a special paint scheme to honor National Guard soldiers who dedicate a portion of their time to serving their nation, state and local communities. Since first muster in 1636, National Guard soldiers have brought glory and honor upon themselves and the Guard through quiet and selfless service. Approximately 363,000 soldiers strong, the Army National Guard is the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States and celebrated its 372nd birthday in December 2008. Earnhardt has 12 wins at Daytona International Speedway. He won the 2004 Daytona 500, the 2001 Pepsi 400, two Budweiser Shootouts (2003 and 2008) and five NASCAR Nationwide Series events. Earnhardt also won his Gatorade Duel qualifying races in 2003, 2004 and 2008. At this year's AMP Energy 500 at Talladega, thousands of members of JR Nation will see their names on Earnhardt's No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevy as part of the AMP Energy "Get on the 88" promotion. More info at www.AMPEnergy.com.(HMS)
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Danica Patrick to Hendrick Motorsports... With Dale JR to JR Motorsports? If Danica Patrick does jump from the Indy Racing League to NASCAR, as increasingly appears likely, the battle for her, according to sources close to the negotiations, is down to car owners Rick Hendrick, of Chevrolet, and Jack Roush, of Ford. According to these sources, Hendrick and General Motors' Chevrolet division are now suddenly the heavy favorites to sign Patrick. And the key would apparently be Hendrick's willingness to put her in a Sprint Cup ride for the full 2010 season. Roush has said he would like to see her run some NASCAR Nationwide and/or Truck events, along with six or seven Cup events, to get her accustomed to stock car racing. Hendrick reportedly is willing to go further. Patrick might take Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s spot on Hendrick's official four-team Cup roster, with Earnhardt moving to an expanded JR Motorsports operation. JR Motorsports, Earnhardt's own operation, run in partnership with Hendrick, would thus be stepping up to a full Cup program; Hendrick has already been talking with Talladega winner Brad Keselowski about Keselowski's future in NASCAR, with indications he could get a Cup ride with an expanded JR Motorsports venture, with Hendrick engines and Hendrick engineering. It is not clear how far along any Patrick-IMG-Hendrick negotiations have gone, but sources tell mikemulhern.net that the Patrick-Hendrick deal is very close to being a 'done deal.'(Mikemulhern.net)
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Danica Patrick to Hendrick Motorsports... With Dale JR to JR Motorsports? If Danica Patrick does jump from the Indy Racing League to NASCAR, as increasingly appears likely, the battle for her, according to sources close to the negotiations, is down to car owners Rick Hendrick, of Chevrolet, and Jack Roush, of Ford. According to these sources, Hendrick and General Motors' Chevrolet division are now suddenly the heavy favorites to sign Patrick. And the key would apparently be Hendrick's willingness to put her in a Sprint Cup ride for the full 2010 season. Roush has said he would like to see her run some NASCAR Nationwide and/or Truck events, along with six or seven Cup events, to get her accustomed to stock car racing. Hendrick reportedly is willing to go further. Patrick might take Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s spot on Hendrick's official four-team Cup roster, with Earnhardt moving to an expanded JR Motorsports operation. JR Motorsports, Earnhardt's own operation, run in partnership with Hendrick, would thus be stepping up to a full Cup program; Hendrick has already been talking with Talladega winner Brad Keselowski about Keselowski's future in NASCAR, with indications he could get a Cup ride with an expanded JR Motorsports venture, with Hendrick engines and Hendrick engineering. It is not clear how far along any Patrick-IMG-Hendrick negotiations have gone, but sources tell mikemulhern.net that the Patrick-Hendrick deal is very close to being a 'done deal.'(Mikemulhern.net)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Hendrick: Dale Jr is showing up and trying: Car owner Rick Hendrick defends the job Dale Earnhardt Jr. is doing this season even as Earnhardt struggles on the track. Earnhardt is 20th in the season standings. Last month, the team replaced Earnhardt's crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., with Lance McGrew. "He's had all his racing career doing things one way," Hendrick said of Earnhardt. "Talking to the crew chief and communicating. Now, all of a sudden we're saying with a new crew chief and working more hands-on with the engineers, this is the way they'd like for you to break it down. "If you heard him on the radio, he's doing a heck of a job. He's trying to change to give them better information so they can do a better job. "I couldn't ask him to work any harder than he's working. I don't care what anybody says. He's committed. He's dedicated. And he's showing up and he's trying."(Virginian-Pilot)
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Earnhardt Jr. needs the greatest comeback to make Chase: As for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who's 20th in the standings, he would need the greatest comeback since the Chase was created just to make it. He's 277 points out of the last Chase spot. Matt Kenseth came back from 271 points down at this time in the season in 2005. He's the only driver who was more than 190 points behind after 16 races to make it. (Virginian-Pilot)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Dale Jr to run "Serving America" scheme at Daytona: Next month at Daytona International Speedway, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will run the No. 88 National Guard "Serving America"/AMP Energy Chevy. It is a special paint scheme to honor National Guard soldiers who dedicate a portion of their time to serving their nation, state and local communities. Since first muster in 1636, National Guard soldiers have brought glory and honor upon themselves and the Guard through quiet and selfless service.(HMS)
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Earnhardt Jr. hopes to get fresh start at Michigan: While in Detroit late last month to promote the Michigan race, Dale Earnhardt said he'd love to kick start his season in the Irish Hills. "Maybe Michigan will be the confidence-booster we need," said Earnhardt, who finished 27th in the Pocono 500 on Sunday. "Winning for Chevrolet at MIS would be a real good motivator." Add to Earnhardt's struggles some sharp comments from Kyle Busch about Earnhardt blaming crew chiefs for his lack of success and the son of a legend's life doesn't get any easier. "I would be lying if I said I didn't lose confidence at times," said Earnhardt, who has 18 Cup victories compared to his father's career 76, and just three in the last five years. "You definitely lose confidence when you don't run good. You're only human, so you're definitely going to question some of your abilities when you're not getting it done. (Detroit News)
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Dale Jr's speedway still trying to secure financing: The faltering economy has driven them to nontraditional sources, but race track developers hope by summer’s end to have complete financing for the $640 million Alabama Motorsports Park, a Dale Earnhardt Jr. Speedway, off Interstate 65 in Prichard. ``We’ve examined a number of options, and there are several we are tracking,‘’ including private money, said Bill Futterer of PSE-3, Partners In Sports and Entertainment, a Raleigh, N.C., marketing firm working on the project. ``We feel confident we are going to secure financing during the summer.‘’ (Opelika-Auburn News)
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tony Eury Jr removed as Crew Chief of No. 88: Mired in a 33-race winless streak and ranked 19th in the Sprint Cup standings after a season-worst 40th at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have a new crew chief heading into Sunday's race at Dover International Speedway. Team manager Brian Whitesell will call the shots in place of Tony Eury Jr. on Earnhardt's No. 88 Chevrolet at Dover, and Lance McGrew will take over as interim crew chief starting with the June 7 event at Pocono Raceway. "Our performance hasn't been where it should be," team owner Rick Hendrick said in a release. "It's impossible to pin that on any one factor, but a change is the right decision at this point. We have a plan in place, and we're going to move forward with it." The team has assigned Whitesell and Rex Stump, Hendrick's lead chassis engineer to the No. 88 team on a full-time basis. (USA Today)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Changes appear likely for Dale Earnhardt Jr : Rick Hendrick said Tuesday no personnel changes have been made on Earnhardt's No. 88 Chevrolet, he declined to give Eury Jr. a vote of confidence a day after NASCAR's most popular driver had his worst finish of the season. Hendrick even left open the possibility that Earnhardt could have a new crew chief this weekend in Dover, Del. (AP/FOXSports.com)
Crew Chief change for Earnhardt Jr? SportsIllustrated's Tom Bowles is reporting... I had a reliable source tell me Tony Eury Jr. won't be the crew chief of the No. 88 as of Dover this weekend. Whether that actually happens or not remains to be seen, but the two weeks in Charlotte made it obvious both driver and team need a change. (SI.com)
Thursday, May 21, 2009
JR Motorsports considering move to Sprint Cup? The buzz around the garage last weekend was JR Motorsports is setting the stage to move from the Nationwide to Sprint Cup series to field a team for Brad Keselowski. Keselowski said he is negotiating exclusively with Hendrick Motorsports for a fulltime Cup ride in 2010. HMS does not have an opening, but Rick Hendrick does have ownership in JR Motorsports with Dale Earnhardt Jr. Although Hendrick would have to sell his interest in the company to make this happen, that would be a formality. Also, Earnhardt has said it's just as economical, maybe more, to run a Cup program than Nationwide under today's economic climate. Sponsors, such as GoDaddy.com that is on Keselowski's No. 88 Nationwide car, gain more exposure in Cup. Should JR Motorsports not move to Cup the only other way to remain associated with HMS would be to put Keselowski in a third car at Stewart-Haas Racing. Of course, that would squelch the rumor that Martin Truex Jr. will leave Earnhardt Ganassi Racing to join that team.(ESPN Insider)
Earnhardt Jr: Last hundred miles tough mentally: There's some consensus that the strain of the Coca-Cola 600 is more mental than physical. "It's long," said Dale Earnhardt Jr. "We run 500 miles (all the time), and your body gets used to it. You think you wouldn't notice another 100 miles added, but mentally you do. That last 100 miles is really tough mentally. "It's so easy just to kind of go, 'I'm tired.' Physically it's not a problem, but mentally, your brain is just 'worked' after it's over with. I like it. I love this race track. I love this area. I'm glad to be home these two weeks. I think it's awesome we run a 600-mile race at (LMS)." (Gaston Gazette)
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Dale Jr to host fan event in Detroit: NASCAR's most popular driver, Dale Earnhardt Jr., is following Jay Leno's lead in showing his support for Detroit with a fan visit May 28 to the Motor City Casino. "Tickets to the event where Earnhardt will meet, greet and answer questions in the casino's Sound Board theater are being distributed to General Motors employees and members of the Michigan National Guard. (Detorit News)
Monday, May 18, 2009
Dale Jr: Don't take drugs: Tony Stewart said he has the number of Black's NASCAR liaison and calls every time he needs to take a medication, just to be safe. "The safest way to make sure you're not getting in trouble is go to NASCAR and say, 'Hey, this is what I'm fighting,' " Stewart said. "We can call him and check and make sure the thing we're thinking about taking is OK." Dale Earnhardt Jr. said the easiest way to avoid the long arm of NASCAR's substance abuse policy is, well, don't take any sort of drugs. "Don't take drugs," he said. "It's stupid to do anyways. Regardless, if you drive race cars or not, it's a dumb idea. Don't be ignorant." (Daytona Beach News-Journal)
Friday, May 8, 2009
Dale JR Foundation to hold All-Star Suite event: The Dale Jr. Foundation, in recognition of its special primary paint scheme that will be featured on the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy during the Sprint All-Star race , announced it will host an All-Star suite fundraiser to benefit several area charities. With the purchase of a Dale Jr. All-Star suite ticket, race fans can experience a variety of VIP activities surrounding the race, including an appearance by both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Richard Petty. The money raised will benefit The Dale Jr. Foundation and Speedway Children’s Charities. Fans that purchase an All-Star suite ticket get a reserved seat in a luxury box overlooking the 1.5-mile Superspeedway, complete with complimentary food and drink throughout the race. Also included are a cash bar, souvenir gift bag and eligibility for raffle prizes. Prior to the start of the 100-lap race, tickets holders will receive a pre-race pit tour and an appearance from Earnhardt Jr. himself, and NASCAR Legend Richard Petty, in the VIP suite. Dale Jr.’s All-Star suite tickets are still available for $288 a piece. Visit dalejr.com and click on the All-Star banner to purchase. To learn more about how you can help Dale Jr. make a difference, go to thedalejrfoundation.org.(JR Motorsports PR)
Monday, May 4, 2009
Just how bad is Dale Jr? Watching Dale Earnhardt Jr. struggle to a 27th place finish at Richmond Saturday night, I became curious about NASCAR's most popular driver. Just how bad has this stretch of mediocrity become? The 15 wins Earnhardt Jr. posted in his first five full seasons on the circuit was pretty impressive. Since that really impressive six-win season in 2004, Earnhardt Jr. has gone parts of five seasons (136 races) with just three wins. That's a pitiful showing by someone who has proven he can compete in NASCAR's top echelon. (Birmingham News)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Earnhardt Jr. not taking any unnecessary risk because of points: Even though Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s main goal is to break a 30-race losing streak, he intends not to take any unnecessary chances because he is outside the top 12 in points. "We're definitely going to go in there trying to win the race," Earnhardt said. "But we are in dire need of some top-five finishes. ... I'm not saying that we are going to take a second-place car and finish fourth with it. I'm just saying, like last weekend, every lap I'll be concentrating on not putting myself in a precarious situation that might not allow me to finish in the top five, if I've got a car that can. "If we have a real good car, we're going to take care of it so if we are not allowed to win the race in some way, we can at least get the points we need to dig ourselves out of the hole we are in." (High Point Enterprise)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
NASCAR stars slow to tweet: Bobby Labonte has been Twittering for a month, and the 2000 Sprint Cup champion's followers have grown from 50 to 1,600. "It makes a fan say, 'He puts jeans on one leg at a time like I do,' " says Labonte, the only full-time Cup driver Twittering on his behalf. "It helps them relate." NASCAR's emphasis on fan access makes Twitter growth likely, says Larry Weintraub, CEO of Fanscape, a Los Angeles agency that spreads awareness for athletes and celebrities through social media. "A couple of major drivers will do it, and then everyone will," Weintraub says. "If Dale Earnhardt Jr. starts Tweeting a couple of times a day, he'll have 50,000 followers, and it'll change the game in NASCAR." Earnhardt doesn't have a Twitter account because he says "there's a bunch of imposters … I would never get into social networking. It's dangerous." Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart and Jimmie Johnson, all Cup champions, also have passed. (USA Today)
Earnhardt Jr says penalties are tough enough: Dale Earnhardt Jr. says NASCAR officials don't need to be stricter in determining penalties for aggressive driving. Earnhardt made his comments Tuesday, a day after NASCAR officials suggested that they might start calling penalties more closely for blocking and aggressive driving, particularly at Talladega and Daytona. "I would advise against doing anything extra or being stricter," Earnhardt said. "You run the risk of taking the race out of the drivers' hands. I think we do a good job of policing it pretty much on our own now. I mean, it is a race." (Virginian-Pilot)
Monday, April 27, 2009
Dale Jr. blames the media for hyping crashes at Talladega: This is NASCAR racing at Talladega: There's a fine line between wrecking someone and killing someone. It was the experienced Dale Earnhardt Jr who put the day in perspective -- and put a lot of people to shame. "You have to understand that, like, for years, we have had wrecks like this every time we come to Talladega ever since the (restrictor) plate got here, and for years, it was celebrated. The media celebrated it, the network celebrated it, calling it the Big One, just trying to attract attention. "So there's a responsibility with the media and the networks and the sanctioning body itself to come to their senses a little bit." Tell it to the twisted promoters at Lowe's Motor Speedway. They're offering 1,000 seats for their next NASCAR race at $14 each -- because that's how many cars were involved Sunday in the Big One that didn't come close to killing anyone. (Birmingham News)
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Report: Hendrick denies any Crew Chief swap: Will rumors of a Hendrick Motorsports separation of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Tony Eury Jr. ever end? Ever? Ever? Never, as long as there are upstart, cottage-industry Web-sites churning this stuff out, and others linking to it. "There's absolutely nothing to this," came an e-mail reply from high-up inside Hendrick, when the latest one was checked. The wackiness warranted a double-check high-up at Hendrick, which brought the firm reply, "Not a shred of truth to any of it."(ESPN Insider)
Rick Hendrick considered swapping Eury and Gustafson? Sources within Hendrick Motorsports confirmed to Captain Thunder that discussions were held over the Easter break regarding the possible switching of crew chiefs between the #5 and #88 teams. Mark Martin's crew chief Alan Gustafson was said to be on the block and was willing to move to the #88 team and Martin was willing to support the move. The discussions over Easter ended with an agreement between the two teams and Mr. Hendrick to keep their current teams in tact for at least three more weeks to see if both teams could improve on the slow start they have endured through the first part of the 2009 Sprint Cup season. Sources said Eury Jr., Dale Earnhardt Jr., Martin, and Gustafson all agreed that if Mr. Hendrick wanted a change, they would be willing to swap Gustafson for Eury Jr. However, with Martin's win Saturday night in the Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix, any switch is now out of the question for the foreseeable future. (CaptainThunderRacing.com)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
NASCAR places Earnhardt, Mears on probation: NASCAR announced today that it has placed Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Casey Mears on probation for the next six races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, as a result of their on-track incident last Saturday at the conclusion of the race at Phoenix International Raceway. Earnhardt, driver of the No. 88 team and Mears, driver of the No. 07 team, both violated Section 12-4-A (actions detrimental to stock car racing; hitting another competitor’s car after the race had concluded) of the 2009 NASCAR rule book. The probation takes effect beginning with this weekend’s event at Talladega Superspeedway. (NASCAR PR)
Earnhardt and Mears won't be penalized: NASCAR will NOT penalize Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Casey Mears for their post-race incident at Phoenix (The Virginian-Pilot)
Monday, April 20, 2009
Earnhardt, Jr. and Mears likely to be fined? NASCAR officials will likely lower the boom on Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Casey Mears for late-race and post-race antics here Saturday night at Phoenix. The two tangled several times late, bringing out the final caution that almost cost Mark Martin the win. Mears: "I didn't mean to get together with Dale Jr. I think he was trying to save fuel and make it to the end without stopping, and I wheel-hopped the car getting into the corner and ended up making contact with him. I guess he was a little bent out of shape about it because he spun me out after the checkered flag."(mikemulhern.net)
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn't tweeting: Where other drivers and race teams have started to use social networking sites such as Twitter, MySpace and Facebook as a way to stay in touch with their fans, Dale Earnhardt Jr. continues to buck the trend. "I don't have anything on Twitter as far as I know of," Earnhardt said. "There's tons of imposters out there. I don't have a MySpace, a Twitter or none of that crap. There's a bunch of imposters out there, though, that you have to beware of. "I really would never get into social networking -- it's just a dangerous area to be involved in, especially if you're high profile, so I think it's smart for me to stay in the regular social networks -- the ones I can see, you know." (Superior Telegram)
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Earnhardt Jr. comments on No. 8: Per-General Motors PR.. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. offers his comments the No. 8.
IS IT SAD THAT THERE IS NO NUMBER EIGHT AT THE TRACK THIS WEEKEND? “I’m pretty sad, but I don’t think it will be gone for long. I read a lot of the input that you guys (media) had all week and sort of got the temperature of what the press was thinking and what the fans were thinking. The one thing that I kept thinking about when I was reading those articles was how glad I was that Robert (Yates) and Doug (Yates) and everybody at Yates -- that they were willing to work with me on the 88 because I don’t have any malice about what Teresa’s (Earnhardt) decision was on keeping that number.
“If I was in her shoes I probably would have done the exact same thing and that has been the case with every other owner in the past. That’s what the understanding is that the number belongs to them and I understood that. I really wasn’t as upset about it as a lot of people probably thought I was and it wasn’t as ugly of a situation as a lot of people felt like it was. I was glad that I found Robert (Yates) and the guys willing to talk about the 88 because that was a number with a ton of history and something that I could really wrap my hands around and get excited about. The eight will be back and someone else will add to it and do something great with it and hopefully it’s Ganassi and Teresa (Earnhardt). Hopefully they can get it back on the race track and I wouldn’t ever count them out. It’s a tough economy. I just wish them all the success and I wish that they will get that car funded to where Aric (Almirola) can get back on the race track, he’s a super guy and needs to be out on the race track with us and I think it’s small pieces to the puzzle really. I don’t think it’s something that’s going to be permanent, hopefully.”
DO YOU THINK YOUR GRANDMA (MARTHA EARNHARDT) IS UPSET ABOUT THE NUMBER NOT BEING HERE? “No, not at all. She especially, we have been around this sport for a long time and you have to get used to change and I’ve worked with a lot of different people. Some I wish today I was still working with, but circumstances prevented that and you have to be able to let go of that and move on and try to do the best you can. That’s the same way in every situation in this sport. Yes I wish I would have never had to have changed numbers -- I had to under the circumstances and I am happy to have the opportunity to use the 88 and I hope I do a good job with it for all the guys that have used it in the past. That’s really the only thing that I think about right now. Having that number there’s a little bit of responsibility with it because it was pretty historic so I must concentrate on that, you know?”(GM PR)
Friday, April 17, 2009
Hendrick not splitting up Earnhardt and Eury: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is 16th in points, with a best finish of eighth, so some fans have been calling for his cousin Tony Eury Jr. to be replaced as crew chief. Team owner Rick Hendrick says no. "Both of these guys have told me that if I thought they need to be split, that they understood," Hendrick explained. "That's my call, and I'm not ready to make that call, not even close . . . I'm convinced that they are better together." Earnhardt, with two Cup wins at PIR, has been defending Eury almost weekly. "Whether we are the perfect combination or not, that doesn't mean anything to me," he said. "I just like racing with him." (Arizona Republic)
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Hendrick stands behind Eury and Earnhardt Jr: Car owner Rick Hendrick said he fully backs the combination of driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief Tony Eury Jr., the latter of whom has endured a barrage of criticism from fans over the driver's slow start to this season. Earnhardt is 19th in points entering this weekend's Cup Series event at Martinsville Speedway. "What I want to say is that I am 100 percent behind this group. I have no intentions of making any changes. I have all intentions of making it better. And these guys are working their butts off no different than Stevie and Jeff did, and I've got to believe in the next few weeks, we are going to see some real success out of that crowd," said Hendrick, referring to the tandem of driver Jeff Gordon and crew chief Steve Letarte, who struggled at times last year but are now leading the points. "It's just one of those things that, you know, you can shuffle the deck and start all over, but when you see little things, a little tenth [of a second] here, a tenth there, with the people in the team, with the preparation, with the plan getting to the race track, we are just putting a lot of effort against it, and I think it's going to pay us some huge dividends." (NASCAR.com)
Monday, March 23, 2009
Earnhardt blames media for negative attitude: Dale Earnhardt Jr said his team needs to focus on working hard and staying positive, but said some in the media are making that hard to do. "It's not that hard to stay positive until you get around the media," he said. "You guys have got to take a little responsibility for being so hard on everybody. "Some people are going to argue that you all are just calling out to the reality of a situation, but we're trying to work hard and trying to do our job and that's what we do every week. "Somebody seems to think we still belong here and so we keep showing up." (ThatsRacin.com)
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Dale Jr. defends Tony Eury: Eury serves as the crew chief on Earnhardt’s No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. The two often engage in animated discussions – even arguments – over the scanner during races. Entering Sunday’s Food City 500, Earnhardt ranks 24th in Sprint Cup points with just one top-10 finish. Many of Earnhardt’s loyal fans blame Eury. Earnhardt addressed his struggles as well as his relationship with his cousin during a wide-ranging press conference Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. “I have said it a hundred times – and it just doesn’t seem to make a dent – but the guy that I feel bad for is Tony, Jr. because he gets criticized so badly,” Earnhardt said. “Everybody in this room – and some of you have criticized him yourselves – know how smart a guy he is. He is a good mechanic and a solid crew chief.”Clearly, Earnhardt has become frustrated with the attacks on his cousin by fans and media types. “[Eury, Jr.] just wanted to do this for a living, just like I do, but I’ll take the fall,” Earnhardt said. (Bristol Herald Courier)
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Waltrip: Earnhardt under a lot of presure: Darrell Waltrip, a retired three-time champion and Fox Sports commentator from Franklin. Waltrip criticized Earnhardt’s move on the live national telecast and again at a Monday media luncheon in Nashville to promote the upcoming season at Nashville Superspeedway. “He was driving like a wild man,” Waltrip said of Earnhardt. “He’s not that kind of driver, he’s just frustrated. He carries the weight of the sport on his shoulders. He’s a good man with a good heart, but he’s under a lot of pressure.” (Nashville City Paper)
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Vickers says Earnhardt, Jr. intentionally wrecked him: Brian Vickers said Dale Earnhardt Jr. intentionally wrecked him during Sunday's Daytona 500 and questioned why NASCAR didn't penalize Earnhardt. Earnhardt and Vickers were racing to get their lap back when Earnhardt dived low on the backstretch and Vickers blocked. That sent Earnhardt below the double yellow lines that mark the out-of-bounds section. Earnhardt nearly got into the grass, came back up the track and made contact with the rear of Vickers' car, sending it spinning in front of most of the field. "I beat him to the yellow line and then he just turned us,'' said Vickers, who finished 39th. "He hit me the first time on the way down, which is fine, we all do that. Then when he came back up, he just hooked me in the left rear and typically NASCAR penalizes [that]. "To wreck somebody intentionally like that in front of the entire field is really kind of dangerous. That's my biggest problem with it, but apparently he wanted a caution pretty bad.'' Said Earnhardt: "It was accidental. I wouldn't want to wreck the field. He drove me almost down into the grass. "He shouldn't have started that. At that point in the race, that was pretty reckless.'' (Roanoke.com)
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Dale Jr to reduce souvenir prices during struggling economy: Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage said he and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have buried the hatchet. The two men had a two-week disagreement and exchanged barbs over who needs to do more for the fans in tough economic times -- speedway executives or drivers. "Dale Jr. is doing all he can and we're doing all we can," Gossage said. "I talked to Junior's representatives [Saturday] and learned some things they were doing that most people don't know about." One of those things is lowering prices on some of Junior's merchandise items. Gossage said Friday that Earnhardt should be willing to reduce prices on his souvenir products after insisting speedways reduce tickets prices, which most have done. "I want to commend Dale Jr. for taking that step," Gossage said. "That shows a real commitment on his part, and I respect him for it. I learned they already had reduced prices on merchandise, just as we have reduced ticket prices and concession prices." (ESPN.com)
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Earnhardt is NASCAR's most marketable: Carl Edwards and Jimmie Johnson made gains, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. remained the runaway leader in the Davie Brown Index, which quantifies an athlete's relevance to consumer behavior. In polling of avid NASCAR fans conducted after the 2008 season by the Charlotte-based Millsport sports marketing agency, Earnhardt ranked first in awareness and nine "attribute" categories: appeal, notice, trend-setter, influence, trust, endorsement, aspiration, exposure and passion. The DBI also is used to quantify Hollywood celebrities, and Millsport vice president Ken Cohn says Earnhardt is creating a separation from other drivers unlike any celebrity the agency has seen. "Avid fans are at least 20% more passionate about Junior," Cohn says. (More at USA Today)
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. win Most Popular Driver Award: NASCAR fans across the nation have once again made a statement about their favorite driver. After tallying over one million votes, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the recipient of the 2008 NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award. Throughout the race season, fans voted daily for over 40 of their favorite drivers online at http://www.chexmostpopulardriver.com. Earnhardt Jr. was presented with the award today at the National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brothers Media Luncheon in New York City. The award is Earnhardt Jr.’s sixth consecutive win since 2003. Only Bill Elliott (1991-2000) has more consecutive wins. The NASCAR NMPA Chex Most Popular Driver Award has been given annually since 1956 and today is the only award for NASCAR’s top drivers given by the fans. The six wins by Earnhardt Jr. moved him past Bobby Allison and now only behind Richard Petty (9) and Bill Elliott (16) for most total awards. “I’ve been fortunate enough to win this award now for the sixth time, and I can tell you it never gets old.” said Earnhardt Jr. “I’ve said it many times before that this award is special because it’s the voice of the fans. "I think back to over a year ago when I made the decision to go to Hendrick Motorsports, and my biggest concern was whether the fans would support my decision.” continued Earnhardt Jr. “They did, and I will always be grateful for that. I appreciate everyone who voted, and I want to thank Chex and the National Motorsports Press Association for all they do for the sport.” “The fans have spoken, and it’s obvious that Dale Earnhardt Jr. truly is amongst the elite of fans’ support,” said Tom Jensen, President of the National Motorsports Press Association. “He deserves this award, and we’re thankful for all the fans who continue to vote and make this award a rich part of our sports history.” (PR)
Friday, July 11, 2008
Dale Jr. not interested in buying DEI: Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he's no longer interested in buying his father's race team should Teresa Earnhardt ever want to sell it. Reports this week stated that Teresa Earnhardt might be looking to add an investor or sell Dale Earnhardt Inc. A DEI official denied those reports, stating the team was not for sale. Earnhardt Jr. tried to get at least majority interest in the team last year before leaving to join Hendrick Motorsports. Not anymore. "I don't mean this in a bad way, but I would not have any interest in purchasing it," Earnhardt Jr. said Thursday night at Chicagoland Speedway. (The Virginian-Pilot)
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Earnhardt may race in Australia: Dale Earnhardt Jr. plans to make his Australian racing debut in a V8 Supercar at Sydney’s Oran Park this December. Earnhardt will race a Holden Commodore in V8’s junior feeder category, the Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series, at Oran Park’s curtain-closing Grand Finale before it is torn down to make way for redevelopment. Fujitsu V8 series team boss Scott Loadsman confirmed on Monday he will expand his current one-car team to two cars. He has purchased a Commodore from Paul Morris Motorsport, nicknamed ‘Gidget’. With Loadsman’s existing driver, series leader Steve Owen, more likely to use this newer chassis, Earnhardt is set to drive Owen’s current car. Coincidentally, its nickname is ‘Earnhardt’. Earnhardt first visited Australia at the 2007 V8 Grand Finale at Phillip Island during his end-of-season holiday as a guest of former V8 champ Marcos Ambrose. Morris gave Earnhardt a test in a V8 Supercar ride car at his facility on the Gold Coast, and Earnhardt has since remained in contact with the V8 driver. With the final NASCAR Sprint Cup race being held on November 16 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Earnhardt will be able to fly to Australia in time for Oran Park on December 4-7.(Wheelsmag.com)
Friday, June 27, 2008
Earnhardt, Jr not interested in talking about JR Motorsports Cup plans: 88-Dale Earnhardt Jr. got a little testy Friday when asked again about future plans to move his Nationwide Series team up to Sprint Cup. "I shouldn't have said anything about that, man," Earnhardt said. "I should have kept it to myself, because I don't want to talk about it in the press. That's personal to me, what I do with my business, and I'm damn sure ain't going to air my timeline out over the media. If we feel like we want to do that, we'll do it. We'll let you know and that will be that. I don't want to answer questions about it every week. My team is doing great. I'd be foolish to make too many changes right now."(ESPN)
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Earnhardt wishes he could play for the Redskins: Dale Earnhardt Jr., on TNT NASCAR prerace Sunday, talked about envying his friend Chris Cooley, a Washington Redskins tight end: "I'd give up everything I've got to be Chris Cooley for a season. Hell, yes!" Sounds like the basis of a new reality TV show, especially if Earnhardt and the Washington Redskins had to, say, live on a deserted island. (USA Today)
Monday, June 16, 2008
Earnhardt not impressed with new scoredboard: The new massive three-sided scoreboard in the middle of the infield lived up to expectations, but at least one person was not a fan of it. "They took the freakin' scoreboard down in Turn 1," Earnhardt said. "I can't read that thing in the middle." Earnhardt referred to the scoreboards while discussing the final laps, when he was trying to keep track of which drivers he was contending with for the lead. The two tall scoreboards on either end of the infield were taken down when the new scoreboard was installed earlier this year. (Michigan Live)
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Birthdate: Oct. 10, 1974