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Earnhardt Jr. happy to be locked in Chase, focused on winning at RIR

By Rea White - Associate Editor

Friday, September 05, 2008

Article Rating: 4.0
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David Griffin / NASCAR Scene

David Griffin / NASCAR Scene

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RICHMOND, Va. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. says that teams find a source of pride in coming to Richmond International Raceway already locked into the Chase For The Sprint Cup field. But, he adds, that doesn't mean that he'll be racing any differently - not in either Saturday night's Chevy Rock & Roll 400 nor in the 10 races that comprise the championship segment of the season.
 
The Hendrick Motorsports driver is fourth in the standings entering this weekend. This time last year, he was 13th and had a shot to make the field in the final race before the Chase. But he fell short in that effort.

Now he's locked into the Chase, and he's able to focus just on this race and then on each race in the Chase.
 
Earnhardt Jr. says that the goal tomorrow night, though, remains the same - he wants to win the race. He dismisses talk about his spring race – the one where he was leading until lap 397 of the 400 when he spun after contact with Kyle Busch - as a piece of the past and says he is focused on winning this weekend.

"I haven't thought about it too much," he said of the spring race. "[We need to] just try to make the car a little better where it can't get to us at the end of the race like that, and we won't have a problem."
 
As he prepares to attempt to earn his first title as a Hendrick Motorsports driver, though, Earnhardt Jr. admits that adjusting to the new
model car being used in all Cup races this season has been difficult. He says it wouldn't be unexpected if one team seemed to find an edge with the model and ran away with the championship. He just hopes that, if that happens, it is his team that does it.
 
That won't be based on a change in driving style, though. While some have speculated that the way Earnhardt Jr. races in the Chase will be different now that the pressure of making that field has passed, the driver says that is not the case. While he was eager to return to the championship-determining group after missing it last season, he said that nothing changes the way he competes.

"I race how I want to race," he said. "Pressure don't bother people like that. You get out there, you're doing a job, you don't know pressure. People have raced with the flu and don't even know it or it doesn't bother them. … I don't think you're going to see me drive any differently. We've been doing the best we can do, and hopefully, the only thing that we need is to get our cars a little better and have the race cars out there."
 
He does admit, though, to feeling a sense of relief that he has made the Chase already and that he's not depending on a solid run tomorrow to make the field.
 
"That's nice," he said. " …  There's a little bit of pride in making it before the Richmond race."

Average Rating: 4.0

Comments

13 responses to "Earnhardt Jr. happy to be locked in Chase, focused on winning at RIR"
  1. 1
    linda smythers said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 1:13 PM

    Dale Jr is doing great, being in the chase is great he deserves to be in there. he works hard.I'll be looking forward to the race in richmond.. go 88

    Report as Abuse
  2. 2
    Marlene Buzard said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 1:45 PM

    Whoo hoo! You go Dale! I am 100% behind you! We all know what a great driver you are, get out there, have fun and win, win, win!!!!

    Report as Abuse
  3. 3
    Patsy Walker said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 2:57 PM

    Ya,Jr. go for IT!!!!!!! You are in it now, go get it. You and the team deserve this to the max.

    Report as Abuse
  4. 4
    Diamond_56 said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 3:40 PM

    Go Jr. Drive 1 lap at a time, be patient, and if you can't lead any lap but the last one, then you drove a great race!!!!!

    Report as Abuse
  5. 5
    craig samour said:
    Sep 5, 2008 at 3:57 PM

    Good Luck Jr. You and your team deserve to be there. Go and get that championship!!!!!

    Report as Abuse
  6. 6
    Brenda Thompson said:
    Sep 6, 2008 at 5:42 AM

    You go Jr.!!!We'll see you in the winners circle on Sunday! Prove all those nay sayers wrong!! jrsbiggestfan Brenda Thompson

    Report as Abuse
  7. 7
    Eva Runyon said:
    Sep 6, 2008 at 12:10 PM

    Go Junior, Youv'e been through it all, now you need to get er done!!!!!! See you in the winners chircle. Eva Runyon

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  8. 8
    Eva Runyon said:
    Sep 6, 2008 at 12:10 PM

    Go Junior, Youv'e been through it all, now you need to get er done!!!!!! See you in the winners circle. Eva Runyon

    Report as Abuse
  9. 9
    Dwight Hill said:
    Sep 6, 2008 at 6:18 PM

    OH KAY , Jr. you are in the Chase . Now then , pull out the rabbit , and win the championship , git'r done !!!

    Report as Abuse
  10. 10
    gwen thompson said:
    Sep 9, 2008 at 4:50 PM

    Go dalejr. you are the man. Now we are going to get more races. That car was good on sunday til the whinner came down. After that our 88 lost something, but we will win. I know we will WIN. The Hendricks MS should come in 123 in HOMESTEAD. LETS DO IT GUYS.

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  11. 11
    gwen thompson said:
    Sep 9, 2008 at 4:51 PM

    Go dalejr. you are the man. Now we are going to get more races. That car was good on sunday til the whinner came down. After that our 88 lost something, but we will win. I know we will WIN. The Hendricks MS should come in 123 in HOMESTEAD. LETS DO IT GUYS.

    Report as Abuse
  12. 12
    said:
    Sep 9, 2008 at 5:03 PM

    Jr. had better be thankful for being locked in the top 12 because that is the only thing that is going to keep him there.

    Report as Abuse
  13. 13
    emily bagwell said:
    Sep 10, 2008 at 6:24 PM

    Wish we could vote on top twelve for this page so we could vote you out, Said. Your name is as dumb as your remark.

    Report as Abuse

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