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Earnhardt Jr. ready for return to site of season's biggest disappointment

By SceneDaily Staff

Thursday, September 04, 2008

Article Rating: 4.1
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The memory of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s last visit to Richmond International Raceway still haunts the Hendrick Motorsports driver.
 
Leading with just over two laps remaining, Earnhardt Jr. spun and hit the wall after contact with a former Hendrick driver, Kyle Busch.

Instead of scoring his first win for his new team, Earnhardt Jr. – and his legions of fans - left disappointed.

Since that night, Earnhardt has gone to victory lane for Hendrick – at Michigan  International Speedway on June 15 - and clinched a spot in the field for the Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup. Now, he gets another shot at Richmond in Saturday night’s Chevy Rock & Roll 400.

"We had a great car last time out in Richmond, and it was unfortunate we didn't close out the deal," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I'm glad we clinched a spot in the Chase this year, and I'm proud of all these guys on the team and back at the shop for their efforts. I think we just need to fine-tune our setup from last time and try again."

Richmond has traditionally been one of Earnhardt Jr.’s strongest tracks.  He has three wins at the .75-mile facility, which came in 2000, 2004 and 2006 with his former team at Dale Earnhardt Inc.

"Richmond is my favorite race track,” crew chief Tony Eury Jr. said. “It's close to home. You have the best racing at Richmond out of all the tracks we go to.

“We run really well there a lot and had a really good car this spring, so we're looking forward to getting back to Richmond and running there again. It's my favorite track of the year."

Unlike last season when Earnhardt Jr. failed to race his way into playoff contention in the regular-season finale, NASCAR’s most popular driver won’t have to worry about that at Richmond this time.
 
His berth in the Chase was sealed with an 11th-place finish in last Sunday’s Pepsi 500 at Auto Club Speedway in California.

"If you're in the Chase and you're locked in, it's a pretty easy night [at Richmond],” Eury said. “We are locked in, so I hope that holds true.

"Back in 2006, we went into [Richmond] 10th and were in a good spot to not have to worry about anything, but we had a brake problem in the last 100 laps of the race. Basically a tire carrier hit a brake bleeder on the caliper, and it started leaking, so we lost all the brakes. We finished on front brakes. Something like that can bite you really easy, and you can be in the Chase or out of the Chase.

“Last year we went in there with a long shot, ran top three all night [until] two to go and a motor blew up. You're never in till you're in, and for the people that are sitting on the [Chase] bubble, it's really nerve wrecking just seeing where it all falls out."
 
With not as much need to worry about points on Saturday, Earnhardt Jr. can focus on running up front – and possibly getting the win that narrowly eluded him at Richmond in May.

"We were pretty good there the whole night, running top five,” Eury Jr. said. “Right there at the end of the race, we kind of hit on something that made the car really respond, so we're going to go back with something similar to that. But the car was pretty much flawless all night, so we probably won't change a whole lot going back to Richmond."

Average Rating: 4.1

Comments

19 responses to "Earnhardt Jr. ready for return to site of season's biggest disappointment"
  1. 1
    Patsy Walker said:
    Sep 4, 2008 at 12:43 PM

    Jr. has come back so many times from "problem" places and situations. He's the MAN! He will get it done no matter what it takes. I respect him immensely, And I'm 55 years old.But we needs more bonus points' so charge on, young stallion, charge on

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  2. 2
    patsi Wilbanks said:
    Sep 4, 2008 at 1:00 PM

    what a bitter memory from last time there...it just goes along with all my other bitter memories of Kyle Busch....Cmon Jr. lets see some good memories this time...I know you can do it! You are the best!!!!

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  3. 3
    Lisa Fowler said:
    Sep 4, 2008 at 1:09 PM

    For all of us Jr. Nation members, it is good to be reminded of the difficult times in the not too distant past. It makes us appreciate the season that Jr. is having during his FIRST year with Hendrick. I have been guilty of wanting and expecting more. I am now giving thanks for the success that Jr. and his team have had this year. I am looking forward to the rest of the great season and a championship. Would the writers please start stating the truth about Richmond? It wasn't contact, Kyle took him out and I still say it was intentional.

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  4. 4
    beth emerson said:
    Sep 4, 2008 at 2:50 PM

    I only hope if the two of them are out front and Kyle is the jerk we know he is this time Jr will let him say hello wall. Let the baby of nascar see how it feels. You go Jr see you in the winners circle Sat.

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  5. 5
    Trish Reed said:
    Sep 4, 2008 at 6:11 PM

    The memories from the earlier race in Richmond still haunts me and yes, Kyle diliberatly took Jr out, but now it's Jr's turn to take him out (wouldn't hurt to take Denny Hamlin along for the "ride" either)...Best of luck to you Jr, you've shown who's the better, more mature person and you'll get the last laugh!!! GO 88!!!

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  6. 6
    emily bagwell said:
    Sep 4, 2008 at 9:37 PM

    I'm rather amazed that #6 was not screened out of the page---obviously someone is not doing his/her job. Anyone, you go girls #'s 1-5---way to support Junior. I say slap the monkey off your back, Junior, and go get um, Tiger!!! If Kyle gets in your way, knock the stuffing out of him!!!!

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  7. 7
    marian mcclain said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 6:21 AM

    Go Jr. You are a class act. Praying for a win this week.

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  8. 8
    Callaway said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 6:38 AM

    Junior has a problem, should he emulate his father who by now would have exacted revenge over the last Richmond race or keep it clean and drive professionally. I would think the majority of the fans of Junior would have loved to see some degree of retaliation taken at some point maybe it's coming now the Chase is set. After the miscue at Dega a few years ago with the language penalty I doubt we will see anything that would cost him dearly in the points that lesson has been learned. I really hope he runs his own race forgets Busch would will likely implode anyway either at the hands of Edwards or all by himself. He also has 10 other guys other than Busch to run against and the focus can't be on Busch alone, a win would be much sweeter than revenge at this point in the season having momentum being more important now.

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  9. 9
    connie cuccia said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 6:54 AM

    I'll see you in Victory Lane Team 88!

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  10. 10
    Chazzo Ozzahc said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 7:21 AM

    Hey...what do you know, another Junebug article, about the same thing, another disappointment in his career

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  11. 11
    sally whan said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 7:33 AM

    JR,DONT WORRY BOUT OLE CRY BABY KYLE JUST RUN YOUR OWN RACE AND WIN AND SHOW THEM ALL WHAT YOU ARE MADE OF...YOU CAN DO IT AND I KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO DO YOUR BEST AS ALWAYS..YOU HAVE CAME A LONG WAY AND THANKS TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HELPED YOU GET THERE AND THE GUYS IN PITS ARE DOING ALOT BETTERJOB AND I KNOW NEXT YEAR WILL BE EVEN GREATER..GO GET THEM JR AND WE LOVE YA

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  12. 12
    shirley dorrington said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 7:38 AM

    I agree with all you gals but with KB on probation it might not be too good to go for revenge unless there is no other way past him. Let us pray WIN WIN WIN for Jr. oh yes about the Chazzo comment, the man has a bug up his.......and it's gotten all the way to his brain.

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  13. 13
    PB said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 9:13 AM

    What Jr. should do is the same thing I tell my 2 Drivers in Super Late Models.. Drive your competitors the way they drive you.. I always tell my Drivers that they will not start anything on the track in one of my cars and that they will not out and out retaliate and wreck someone but if another Driver wants to drive you rough then you drive him the same way and give him no quarter. The other thing is that once a Driver drives you in that fashion the whole thing of giving the guy the benefit of the doubt goes out the window..

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  14. 14
    Brenda Thompson said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 10:16 AM

    Jr. you go!!!! This is your race!!! We are all rooting for you.You are the BEST on the tour.JR. NATION is here for you.We'll all be in VICTORY LANE with you. Brenda Thompson

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  15. 15
    emily bagwell said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 9:32 PM

    Shirley, you are right about Chazzo---the bug must have gotten up his ___ while he was crawling out from under his rock. He's always searching for an article on Junior so he can post his negative comments---what a loser!!!

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  16. 16
    toby putnam said:
    Sep 6, 2008 at 7:37 AM

    JR. IS THE BETTER MAN AND HE WILL DO WHAT EVER HE SEES AS THE RIGHT THING. TRUST HIM . HE WILL GET THE JOB DONE THE RIGHT WAY.

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  17. 17
    Jo Ard said:
    Sep 6, 2008 at 11:37 AM

    JA, Jr, PUT YOUR TRUST IN God and you will do good no matter what. May God keep you safe and all the other drivers

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  18. 18
    Jo Ard said:
    Sep 6, 2008 at 11:39 AM

    Jr, PUT YOUR TRUST IN God and you will do good no matter what. May God keep you safe and all the other drivers

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  19. 19
    Rodney Day said:
    Sep 8, 2008 at 9:14 AM

    I think Jr. has had a pretty good year with Hendrick and hopefully will get much better in the coming years. My only question is that it seems he has a good car about midway through races and then seems to fade towards the end. It would seem that Tony Jr. has a bit of trouble keeping up with the car. Don't know that for a fact though.

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