Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Friday's rough day 'just one of those deals'

By SceneDaily Staff
Friday, October 03, 2008
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John Harrelson
Getty Images for NASCAR

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Just about anything that could have gone wrong did for Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Friday at Talladega Superspeedway.

In the first Sprint Cup Series practice, Earnhardt Jr. and his Hendrick Motorsports team changed engines after a cylinder head issue in the motor. Then in the second practice, Earnhardt Jr.’s Chevrolet spun into the wall after blowing a tire and was rammed by the Ford of Yates Racing’s David Gilliland.

The incident forced Earnhardt Jr. to a backup car and by virtue of the engine change he must drop the rear of the field for the start of Sunday’s Amp Energy 500.

For a driver already off to a rocky start in the first three races of the Chase For The Sprint Cup, Friday didn’t do much to help NASCAR’s most popular driver in his bid for his first series title.

But it didn’t do much to dampen his spirits either.

“I’ve always liked this place,” Earnhardt Jr. said of the 2.66-mile Talladega oval where he has five wins but none since 2004. “Regardless of driving for [car owner] Rick [Hendrick] or [Dale Earnhardt Inc.] in the past, we’ve had troubles here and we’ve always came back and been OK. It’s a place where you can kind of rally back if you have good luck. I don’t know. I’m not too worried about it. …

“It’s definitely easier for this team to handle a day like this on this track. If you were to tear up a car in happy hour at Charlotte or somewhere, it would be a whole lot of work, a whole lot of questions and uncertainty. There aren’t any really here.”

Eighth in the standings and 190 points behind series leading teammate Jimmie Johnson, Earnhardt Jr. needs another strong Talladega finish if he hopes to rally back into championship contention.

The good news is that the backup car is the same piece that Earnhardt Jr. raced to a ninth-place finish in the Daytona 500 and a win in his Gatorade Duel at Daytona.

“If everybody is over there trying to get their backup car going and their hollering and cussing at each other, it don’t work. It pushes you apart,” he said. “And at the end of the day, you get ticked off at one another and you have to smooth those things out. If you stay calm and strong, and they’ve got the car back out and they got to practice – a little bit of a mental victory.

“We’re basically where we were this morning when we unloaded. I feel like we’ll definitely mentally be stronger and tougher on Sunday because of what happened today. It’s just one of those deals.”

Comments

24 responses to "Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Friday's rough day 'just one of those deals'". Post a Comment.
  1. 1
    Peggy Thacker said:
    Oct 3, 2008 at 5:57 PM

    Rough day yes! But dont let it get you down JR. You love this track, and we know you can do it. Race your heart out Sunday..JR. Nation will be cheering you on, Loud and Clear!

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  2. 2
    Marlene Buzard said:
    Oct 3, 2008 at 7:44 PM

    June Bug, we are right there with ya guy!!! Go out and race your heart out!!!

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  3. 3
    Debbie Kelter said:
    Oct 3, 2008 at 8:01 PM

    Oh poor Jr. I feel so bad for you, Not!!!!

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  4. 4
    Debbie Kelter said:
    Oct 3, 2008 at 8:03 PM

    I feel so bad for Jr. I really want to see the guy do well in the race for the chase.

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  5. 5
    Tina Krenz said:
    Oct 3, 2008 at 9:10 PM

    I hate to see things like that happen to Dale Jr, hopefully things will be brighter on Sunday, go get them Jr.

    Tina

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  6. 6
    Timothy Schultze said:
    Oct 3, 2008 at 9:26 PM

    The Hendrick engines break just as well as the DEI engines interesting.Lets hope he has at least a top ten finish right behind the active driver with the most wins at Talladega #24 Mr Jeff Gordon Get in line.

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  7. 7
    carrie baker said:
    Oct 3, 2008 at 9:54 PM

    tough break jr. i hate to see these things happen,but, i know u will have a great day on sunday the backup car hopefully will bring u good luck u did well at daytona. i'll be cheering for you. go get them junior and have a great day!!!!!

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  8. 8
    kathy briggle said:
    Oct 3, 2008 at 11:51 PM

    kathy briggle said hey baby know dought youll bounce back have agreat sunday I know you will

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  9. 9
    4da88 said:
    Oct 4, 2008 at 2:38 AM

    Helter Kelter, your green gills are showing.

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  10. 10
    patricia jordan said:
    Oct 4, 2008 at 4:47 AM

    at least maybey the rough day is over .iwill be rooting in the stands loud and proud.jr nation alive and well...

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  11. 11
    Fern Sunday said:
    Oct 4, 2008 at 7:32 AM

    Wishing you luck Sunday Jr. I know you can do it. You are the best win or lose. You have a lot of fans in NY.

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  12. 12
    Bobby Clements said:
    Oct 4, 2008 at 8:15 AM

    What's in those tires to make them explode? Did you hear it when Jr's tire blew? Did you see how it took the whole rear fender off? Did you see all those pieces go flying? Just a thought but if you stayed for the ARCA race it got worse.

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  13. 13
    Carolyn Ward said:
    Oct 4, 2008 at 8:36 AM

    We all love you Jr., you can come back and beat this thing. Race like your on the pole. We're all there with you, side by side. Good Luck. Love ya, Mama Donia

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  14. 14
    emily bagwell said:
    Oct 4, 2008 at 9:00 AM

    Life is a b!!$# sometimes----hopefully this has all the bad luck out of the way and life will be back on track for Junior on Sunday! Junior Nation is at you service, so just do it!!!!

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  15. 15
    sally whan said:
    Oct 4, 2008 at 9:01 AM

    JR,IT WAS JUST RACING AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL BOUNCE BACK..YOU ARE THE BEST AND IF ANYONE CAN GET TO THE FRONT IT IS YOU...GO GET THEM AND WE LOVE YA

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  16. 16
    gwen thompson said:
    Oct 4, 2008 at 9:06 AM

    Dalejr may have had this bad luck of the tire. The guys did a good job getting the backup ready, We love DALEJR. and we will be cheering him on all the way. Lets do it!!!!!! WE CAN WIN AND WE WILL WIN.....GO #88.

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  17. 17
    kahnefan said:
    Oct 4, 2008 at 9:09 AM

    Jr's OVERRATED, all I can say

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  18. 18
    PB said:
    Oct 4, 2008 at 10:32 AM

    hey Kahnefan, how does a Kahnefan talk about anyone else being overtayed ??

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  19. 19
    Barbie Robbins said:
    Oct 4, 2008 at 12:18 PM

    For you Junior haters GET over yourselves!! why even leave negative comments, whatever!!! Junior Nation will be cheering loud & proud on Sunday. JR is my favorite driver, and hope that ALL drivers have a safe race.

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  20. 20
    Garrett Urband said:
    Oct 4, 2008 at 2:13 PM

    Come on Junior. Just keep your head up and win on Sunday. JR Nation will cheer for you all the way. GO JUNIOR!!!!

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  21. 21
    Anonymous said:
    Oct 4, 2008 at 4:06 PM

    Jr You will do great in the race on Sunday. And I am proud to have my name on the hood of your car along with the other 73,000 names on the car. Wish I could be there to cheer you on. I love the raceing at Taladega.

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  22. 22
    dottie benedict said:
    Oct 4, 2008 at 6:06 PM

    to kahnefan:
    maybe to you but not junior nation that kid races his heart out and we luv him wheres Kasey he isnt even in the chase so there :=(

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  23. 23
    marsha gill said:
    Oct 4, 2008 at 7:57 PM

    I`m tooo excited to be ridin`with Dale Jr.My name is on the deck lid and I know he`ll do just fine on sunday.this is his favorite track and he is one of the best at drafting.you go out and have a great race and we will be cheering you on!!!!!Jr. rocks

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  24. 24
    Kenneth Farley said:
    Oct 5, 2008 at 11:13 AM

    Good attitude to have Jr. First year team, getting everything dialed in. Making the chase is accomplishment enough. Showing what you're made of after that kind of a day shows us all you belong where you are. You always have been a little rough on right rears anyway (hehe). Go Junior, even if something happens and things don't go well, you'll have your fans behind you all the way! Too bad Kyle, sad you gave up so soon.

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