Dale Earnhardt Jr. hoping to duplicate past success at Atlanta
By SceneDaily Staff
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Hendrick Motorsports driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. has one NASCAR Cup series win at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
David Griffin
NASCAR Scene
Dale Earnhardt Jr. should be pleased to see the Pep Boys Auto 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on the NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule this weekend.
While he has finished 11th at the track in his last two visits, the Hendrick Motorsports driver has 10 top-10 finishes in his last 16 races at the track, a streak that includes his victory there in 2004, when he was driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. He has an average finish of 11.6 at Atlanta, which ties for a personal best with his performances at Bristol Motor Speedway.
This weekend’s event will be Atlanta’s first scheduled night Cup race, but Earnhardt Jr. doesn’t expect the race’s starting time will have much impact.
“I don't think it's going to change too much," said Earnhardt Jr., who has finished in the top 10 in the two most recent Cup races this season. "The track is pretty wore down and will slow down over the long runs, but we will be running some pretty fast speeds the first five or 10 laps on new tires under the lights. That place is really, really fast."
Crew chief Lance McGrew agrees. As he prepares for the race weekend, he sees this being more of a driver’s track anyway - no matter when the race is run.
"I've always thought Atlanta is such a driver's race track because it is so wide and races so wide that there's groove after groove after groove," McGrew said. "If your car is not good on the bottom, we'll try the middle. If it's not good in the middle, we'll try two-thirds. If it's not good there, try the top. You'll go from the top of one end to the bottom of the other.
"There's always ability for a driver to hunt a line that helps his car, which I've always liked because, whether you believe it or not, these cars are never perfect. So you always have to be able to hunt and peck and look for every last little hundredth [of a second] that you can find on the race track."
The team will be entering the race with less pressure on it than Earnhardt Jr.'s Hendrick teammates. Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon are already locked into the field for the 12-driver Chase For The Sprint Cup, meaning they'll be looking for a win and the 10 bonus points that offers once that championship-determining segment of the season begins. Mark Martin, meanwhile, will be trying to maintain or improve his 10th spot in the standings as he attempts to lock into the field as well.
Earnhardt Jr. is 21st in the standings and well out of Chase contention after a season in which he and his team have struggled.
So while he's also seeking the win this weekend, his priorities and approach will be a little different than that of his teammates.
"We are mathematically out of the Chase at this point, so we are watching everybody else and seeing how they are going to do," Earnhardt Jr. said. "We are trying to help our teammates the best we can and support them in their efforts. I think Hendrick Motorsports has several opportunities to win the championship. We are going to try to win some races and help our teammates the best we can."
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24 responses to "Dale Earnhardt Jr. hoping to duplicate past success at Atlanta ". Post a Comment.
rockon88 said:
Sep 1, 2009 at 2:49 PMYou got get em Jr and the 88 team I know you can get a win at Hotlanta!!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrockon88 said:
Sep 1, 2009 at 2:49 PMOpps that should be go get em!! LOL
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» Confirm Abuse Reportthereesons said:
Sep 1, 2009 at 3:04 PMGood Luck JR. I hope you have a couple of really, really good races this weekend.
Report as AbuseA win on Sunday would sure be great!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportsweetthings88 said:
Sep 1, 2009 at 3:09 PMYou Go!!!! Dale Jr. and #88 team. I wish Dale Jr. and Lance the best of luck this weekend.Get rrrrrrrrr done.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportipopakeg2933 said:
Sep 1, 2009 at 4:00 PMI hope it's a 'BLOW OUT' with DALE JR.leading most of the lap's then winning it all,like I know he can!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportpj88 said:
Sep 1, 2009 at 4:11 PMI wish Dale Jr good luck,I know he'll help his teammates,if possible,but I hope he so far ahead of the field that he doesn't have to worry about them.Let's win, 88 team,Jr Nation is still here and we are with you 100%
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» Confirm Abuse Reportrandywsr934 said:
Sep 1, 2009 at 4:47 PMhahaha....whata loser
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdale-jr-is-the-greatest-driver-alive said:
Sep 1, 2009 at 5:16 PMjr will have his second new car ever made by lance at atlanta it has never been tested or raced so but non the less he has a new car lets see what it can doo cant wait!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportdale-jr-is-the-greatest-driver-alive said:
Sep 1, 2009 at 5:43 PMya jr were with you and wats WRONG WITH SCENEDAILY THEY KEEP CUTTING EVERYTHING I SAY OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjallison1224 said:
Sep 1, 2009 at 7:10 PMGood luck Dale , hope you have a good week-end under the lights , i'll be sitting in the Champions section watching .
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» Confirm Abuse Reportsweetthings88 said:
Sep 1, 2009 at 9:11 PMHEY!!! IPOPAKEG2933 YOU GOT THAT RIGHT. GLAD TO SEE YOU BACK ON.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgwen_susie388 said:
Sep 1, 2009 at 9:12 PMI hope the car is good and Dale, Jr. will bring it on this weekend! GO DALE,EARNHARDT,JR!
Report as AbuseWow... football and a race this weekend!
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMrWalleye2U said:
Sep 1, 2009 at 11:07 PMLance built a new car so Jr could finsh 15th-20th. Bring Pops back and then you will see a different Jr.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCarol-88-fan said:
Sep 2, 2009 at 7:32 AMRANDYWSR934, Why are you calling yourself a loser? That's not healthy to think of yourself that way. HaHaHa
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» Confirm Abuse ReportDickHURTZ said:
Sep 2, 2009 at 1:12 PMLance built a new car so Jr could finsh 15th-20th. Bring Jr. back and then you will see a different Jr.. Whats Changed?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportDickHURTZ said:
Sep 2, 2009 at 1:33 PMIS THE JUNIOR NATION DYING. 15 POSTS SINCE SEPTEMBER 1 @ 2:49PM. A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH SORE FEET FROM JUMPING OFF THE BAND WAGON. OH TO BE A FOOT DOCTOR........$$$
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» Confirm Abuse Reportgwen_susie388 said:
Sep 2, 2009 at 3:32 PMMaybe not so many posts, but a lot of fans still at races...watching on tv... etc. Everyone is still around. There hasn't been a cup race for over a week now! Try again! Are you going to talk about something being sore with a name like that? LMAO
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» Confirm Abuse ReportDickHURTZ said:
Sep 2, 2009 at 4:19 PMSTILL MAKING EXCUSES GWEN? ALMOST TIME TO FACE THE FACTS..........
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» Confirm Abuse ReportCarol-88-fan said:
Sep 2, 2009 at 6:25 PMJr Nation is alive and well. Some people have lives. Also some of us are tired of replying to junk like you post over and over. Jr has and always will have the support of his fans.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportsweetthings88 said:
Sep 2, 2009 at 8:48 PMAMEN!!!!!!!!!CAROL-88-FAN. I'M 100% PURE DALE JR. FAN ALL THE WAY.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMotorsportsPhotography said:
Sep 3, 2009 at 8:53 AMIpopakeg564873857385473857473489548, Go away. You just dont get it, Do you?
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» Confirm Abuse ReportBusch18fan said:
Sep 3, 2009 at 12:06 PMMSP, Ouch. Is that picture of the dog really his girl???
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» Confirm Abuse Reportipopakeg3293388 said:
Sep 3, 2009 at 10:00 PMTHERE'S SEEM'S TO BE THE SAME OLE STATIC ON # 21 & 22! SEE HOW YOU LIKE THIS ONE KID'S! HEY GWEN,,CAROL-88 SWEETTHINGS88, I HAD A GOOD ONE ON HERE FOR POST # 15 & 16 DICKHURTZ,BUT GWEN,YOU GOT HIM GOOD AND CAROL,SOME PEOPLE HAVE OTHER THING'S TO DO LIKE YOU SAID,UNLIKE OTHER'S,WE HAVE A LIFE! THEY PULLED ONE OF HIS ALSO! BUT HE GOT THE MESSAGE ABOUT A(SO CALLED) BAND WAGON! I WAS LMAO TOO!
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» Confirm Abuse Reportipopakeg3293388 said:
Sep 3, 2009 at 10:05 PM# 11 SWEETTHINGS88! WHEN THEY STARTED TALKING ABOUT PUTTING THE # 3 BACK OUT ON THE TRACK,I ADDED HIM BACK TO MY #'S! IT'S STILL ME! THANK'S FOR THE WELCOME BACK! I HAVE MIXED EMOTION'S ABOUT THAT,BUT THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY WANT TO ANYWAY!
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