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1. Jimmie Johnson 5878
2. Jeff Burton 5809
3. Greg Biffle 5792
4. Carl Edwards 5710
5. Clint Bowyer 5693
6. Kevin Harvick 5671
Rank Name Points
7. Tony Stewart 5650
8. Jeff Gordon 5633
9. Kyle Busch 5552
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 5524
11. Matt Kenseth 5518
12. Denny Hamlin 5498
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Earnhardt Jr. says winning the Allstate 400 would be special

By SceneDaily Staff

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Article Rating: 3.8
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. won NASCAR’s biggest race in 2004 with his triumph in the Daytona 500.

Will a victory in the Allstate 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, considered by many to be NASCAR’s second-biggest race, be next?

Earnhardt Jr. hopes so.

On Sunday, he will make his ninth start at Indy but his first there for Hendrick Motorsports.

In 14 races at the 2.5-mile track, the organization has posted five wins, 13 top-five finishes and 21 top-10s. Its drivers have led 537 laps and recorded three pole positions.

Sunday may be Earnhardt Jr.’s best shot yet to break into victory lane at the facility where his father, the late Dale Earnhardt, scored a victory in 1995.

“The Brickyard is a special race,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “A bunch of famous drivers have won there, and there's a ton of history. I'm big into the history of this sport. The track was one of the first to gain international recognition for its races. ... Winning would be cool because there is so much prestige. It would be special for the team and for me. It's a top-five track as far as places I want to win at over the course of my career."

Besides making his first Indy start in Hendrick equipment, there’s another potential plus for Earnhardt Jr. entering Sunday’s race: He took part in a two-day Goodyear tire test at the track in April.

Information gathered from the session could help Earnhardt Jr. this weekend.

“The attitude and everything was the biggest thing we learned at the tire test,” crew chief Tony Eury Jr. said. “The tires were wearing out after maybe 15 laps so you really didn't get a long run. But we felt like we were one of the better cars there. Anytime you can get on the track at Indy and you can get your aero-attitude kind of baselined out, it's going to be a huge advantage for us.”

Data from the test could also benefit Hendrick drivers Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Casey Mears.

"We definitely got some files and stuff to share with our teammates,” Eury Jr. said. “That test taught us a lot, and we've learned a lot since, so we've really got to buckle down. In all honesty, the car was really good, and Dale Jr. was happy with it when we were there."

As with his driver, a victory at Indianapolis would be particularly meaningful for Eury Jr.

“It would be a very huge thing to win at Indy,” he said. “There's so much history there. Drivers like A.J. Foyt and Mario Andretti have won races at the track, so it kind of puts you in the middle of the motorsports hall of fame. It's real unique to go over there and walk around that [Indianapolis Motor Speedway] museum and go down in the basement and see how far technology has come on the Indy side of it - not just the stock car side of it. Just to see the way racing has come over the years from what they used to race is pretty amazing."

Average Rating: 3.8

Comments

18 responses to "Earnhardt Jr. says winning the Allstate 400 would be special"
  1. 1
    leonard mucci said:
    Jul 22, 2008 at 2:41 PM

    dale no worry your cousin got the shop crewheading in the right direction he's the man behind the wrench your behind the wheel you both have this one in the bag see you kissing the bricks slamming some milk

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  2. 2
    leonard mucci said:
    Jul 22, 2008 at 2:42 PM

    dale no worry your cousin got the shop crewheading in the right direction he's the man behind the wrench your behind the wheel you both have this one in the bag see you kissing the bricks slamming some milk

    Report as Abuse
  3. 3
    Millporter said:
    Jul 22, 2008 at 4:20 PM

    I really want it for Junior. To tell the truth, I want it for HMS because Rick put so much trust in Junior. The merger is a win win situation for both of them, so go on and win it for faithful JR NATION fans, Junior.

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  4. 4
    Mark Ernst said:
    Jul 22, 2008 at 7:16 PM

    This would be huge for Junior. He has been consistent early on and this could push him closer to winning the championship. One or two wins before the chase starts would have all the HMS boys very hard to beat. I just dont see Kyle rolling the rest of the year like he is now. Rock Indy Junior!!!!

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  5. 5
    Kera Carpenter said:
    Jul 22, 2008 at 8:13 PM

    You guys are wrong jr aint going to win. It's going to be Casey Mears winning at Indy!:) And Jr does NOT rock..... Casey rocks and is the best!

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  6. 6
    emily bagwell said:
    Jul 22, 2008 at 8:30 PM

    How silly you are, Kera. Of course Junior rocks. Go, Junior---YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

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  7. 7
    Kera Carpenter said:
    Jul 22, 2008 at 8:49 PM

    Yeah this whole world think's he rocks just because his dad made him famous because Jr sure didnt make himself famous SORRY to tell you that but thats the truth. I have no clue WHY everyone likes him.

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  8. 8
    said:
    Jul 23, 2008 at 1:17 AM

    sorry to say kera jr had a really hard life he had to work for what he has and im sure he didn,t get every thing handed to him like im sure you have so leave the racin to the big boys and go play with your dolls

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  9. 9
    brandy kyser said:
    Jul 23, 2008 at 9:13 AM

    dale jr didnt get to where he is today because of his dad, he got to where he is because he is a great race car driver. i guess you havent read the books where he had to fix equipment when he wrecked it, i cant wait to see dale jr kiss the bricks. i have nothing against casey mears but hes gonna have 2 run great to win indy

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  10. 10
    Kera Carpenter said:
    Jul 23, 2008 at 10:07 AM

    I didnt have every thing handed to me you dont even know me if you only know what have I been threw and still going threw. And I didnt say he has'nt had a hard time in life Im just say. BUT WHY IS HE FAMOUS yeah hes a good drive but so is every one else out there on the track.. I just dont get it. But I think the half of the reason's why he's famous is because of his dad.

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  11. 11
    emily bagwell said:
    Jul 23, 2008 at 8:12 PM

    Kera, hey girl,chill and don't fight it---just go with the flow and enjoy racing---helps with your other problems. It's an Earnhardt phenomenon--Dale was the greatest race car driver---EVER--- and I loved him. Junior is a person in his own right--he is his own man with his own personality, and he can handle a race car; he gives it his all ever race, and life has dealt him a few lemons. Give him a break--- you gotta love the guy!

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  12. 12
    Carolyn Ward said:
    Jul 24, 2008 at 12:25 PM

    Kera, your not up, very much, on racing, evidently. Jr. didn't get everything handed to him on a silver platter. The "Old Man" made him work for everything he has. Besides he is one great driver on his own. He's had a rough life making it for himself, Dale,Sr. wasn't always there and Jr. and Kelley took some hard licks back then. Jr. deserves everything he gets, and I'm so very happy that he's got Rick Hendrick now to look after him.

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  13. 13
    Carolyn Ward said:
    Jul 24, 2008 at 12:28 PM

    Kera, your not up, very much, on racing, evidently. Jr. didn't get everything handed to him on a silver platter. The "Old Man" made him work for everything he has. Besides he is one great driver on his own. He's had a rough life making it for himself, Dale,Sr. wasn't always there and Jr. and Kelley took some hard licks back then. Jr. deserves everything he gets, and I'm so very happy that he's got Rick Hendrick now to look after him.

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  14. 14
    robert mcleester said:
    Jul 24, 2008 at 7:55 PM

    kera,dale sr was the man period. dale jr is not his father but a ist class racer in his own right. as for casey winning at indy? first he has to learn how to get around the track without wadding the car up. why do you think hendrick is letting him go?

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  15. 15
    Todd Clayton said:
    Jul 24, 2008 at 9:06 PM

    Kera, if Casey Mears is the best, that will make 2 yrs in a row Hendrick gets rid of the best wheel man going. I dont think too many would argue that 1/2 of jr nation is due to his fathers name but hey, Paris Hilton isn't who she is due to her hard work, but who her father is.

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  16. 16
    Todd Clayton said:
    Jul 24, 2008 at 9:07 PM

    Ok, She did make 1 movie

    Report as Abuse
  17. 17
    Todd Clayton said:
    Jul 24, 2008 at 9:08 PM

    Ok, She did make 1 movie

    Report as Abuse
  18. 18
    mike williams said:
    Jul 26, 2008 at 6:22 AM

    from reading what kera doesnt know she is not in her right mind to talk about anyone.....

    Report as Abuse

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