Earnhardt Jr. pumped over Keselowski victory
LONG POND, Pa. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. was excited to see driver Brad Keselowski break into the win column as Keselowski gave JR Motorsports a victory Saturday night at Nashville Superspeedway.
It was the first one for the No. 88 team, which has been the flagship team for Earnhardt Jr., which took on Rick Hendrick as a partner this year and saw the No. 5 team win with Mark Martin at Las Vegas this season for the organization's first victory.
Keselowski was hired less than a year ago and Tony Eury Sr. (Earnhardt Jr.’s uncle) joined the team last September and also serves as Keselowski’s crew chief.
“We’ve been waiting for that for a long, long time,” Earnhardt Jr. said Sunday morning at Pocono Raceway. “I knew it would happen with Brad and Tony Sr.
“When I paired them together I knew they would get that opportunity sooner or later. … It’s a pretty big deal.”
Earnhardt Jr. was watching the race on satellite and it went off with 10 laps left, and Earnhardt Jr. was getting messages via his computer from someone watching the race on cable.
“I’d have liked to have been there,” Earnhardt Jr. said.
Not only could the win lead to more wins, but it makes the team a player in the championship, Earnhardt Jr. said. Keselowski is fifth in points, 192 out of the lead.
“It makes us a legitimate contender for the championship this year,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “From an owner’s standpoint, it puts us in the winner’s circle [money] program. There are a lot of different things that it will change for our program and help our program. It really gives us a stronger footing in the series and our ability to be there and compete for a few more years.”
The feeling of the win was different than Martin’s win, Earnhardt Jr. said. Martin is the all-time leader in wins in that series.
“The win with Mark was different and neat because of his history and his statistics and what he means to the sport,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “It was a pretty big deal to have a win with him. The partnership with me and Rick and that car, obviously that car means a lot to Rick.
“The partnership with me and Rick is more evident within the 5 team. The 88 team we started on our own, but Rick’s influence [on] that team and it’s ability to become better is pretty evident. I don't know if it happens this soon without his help this year. The two wins are definitely different but equally important I feel like for the company.”
