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Earnhardt Jr. steers to eighth-place Daytona finish

By SceneDaily Staff

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Article Rating: 3.8
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Jason Smith / Getty Images for NASCAR

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway didn’t provide Dale Earnhardt Jr. the finish he wanted, but the race did provide plenty of excitement from his vantage point.

Maybe even a little too much. Despite finishing eighth and having a dominant car throughout portions of the event, Earnhardt Jr. was less-than-thrilled with some of the on-track aggression in the final laps of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

Earnhardt Jr., who led nine times for a race-high 51 laps, got shuffled back in the late stages and ended up in the eye of the storm as accident after accident slowed the event as it neared its conclusion.

“I was happy to be able to save it a couple of times because we shouldn’t have, and I don’t think a normal man would have saved it,” the Hendrick Motorsports driver said. “But I was lucky on a couple, too. But I was real happy to come home where we were. Those last few laps I saw so much ignorance and just saw some real risk-takers out there. Some of it was ignorance even though it was still amazing to watch. And we kind of got beat around there and didn’t get a top-five.

“We should have finished in the top five today. We should have won, you know; [I] had the best car. But there at the end though, man, I didn’t want to be racing with any of them guys out there I was around.”

Earnhardt Jr., who lost the lead to teammate Jeff Gordon on lap 134 of 160, never led again.

“Those last several laps it was rough out there and we tried to do the best we could,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “Jeff got a great run on me and went to the outside and got the lead doing what he can to win the race. That’s what you got to do. I hate feeling obligated to my teammates too, so I don’t blame him. ... But it shuffled us back a little bit and we tried to work our way back up to the front and we got back into third a couple of times.

“Matt [Kenseth] got a good run. I wasn’t up on my toes there watching him. And he got a good shove and got on the outside of me. The bottom wasn’t where I wanted to be so I was trying to get back to the top and we was getting turned into everybody and wrecked and it bent something in the front end."

It didn't stop there, either.

“On the back straightaway Clint Bowyer turned me into [Kevin Harvick] real hard and it bent the front end. The steering wheel went off-center and I was just trying to hang on from there.”

The outcome wasn’t a total disappointment for Earnhardt Jr., however. Jeff Burton spun twice in the race to earn a season-worst finish of 37th, which allowed Earnhardt Jr. to move past him into second in the series standings. That’s the highest Earnhardt Jr. has been all season.

But he still wanted more on Saturday. He has two points victories and several more wins in non-points-paying events at Daytona.

"We’ve got to better capitalize on these types of wins at these types of races than we have been. I haven’t done what I think I should be able to do on [restrictor]-plate tracks,” said Earnhardt Jr., who trails race winner and points leader Kyle Busch by 182. “I’ve been given great equipment and I’ve just been not making the right decisions at the end. I need to change my mentality or something going into those last 20 laps or something, and just have a little luck.”

Average Rating: 3.8

Comments

23 responses to "Earnhardt Jr. steers to eighth-place Daytona finish"
  1. 1
    sally whan said:
    Jul 6, 2008 at 11:54 AM

    Jr, you did okay but you are right you have got to stay on those toes all the way to the end you had the best car out there and it was heck at the end and alot of crazy stuff going on that should not have been...and where is Nascar when Bush does his stuff never say nothing to him but the rest get told to stop...fair is fair and I think Nascar should wake up and before it dont have no one there or watching tv..if not for you I would not watch or go to the races at all...we go to Texas and meant not go this fall...Wake Up Nascar..and the coverage with TNT is awful they sure suck...let me tell you...But Jr keep going the way you are and you are going to start to win all the time...I love you win or not you are this family favor by far....

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  2. 2
    McReal Name said:
    Jul 6, 2008 at 1:33 PM

    typical Jr nation blather....typical mediocre #88 performance...

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  3. 3
    Chrissie Bennett said:
    Jul 6, 2008 at 3:24 PM

    Look McFake Name it is not a mediocre #88 Performance he finished in the top 10 and that is great. Your just jealous because he is more popular then Busch.

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  4. 4
    Anonymous said:
    Jul 6, 2008 at 4:05 PM

    Didn't get to see the end of the race. Wished I could have. Jr. did good, but those other garage apes need to tighten up. Although I'm a Jr fan, still wish Mark Martin could have won. He'll be driving for Hendrick next year so we'll see.

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  5. 5
    emily bagwell said:
    Jul 6, 2008 at 5:45 PM

    McReal, there was nothing mediocre about Junior's performance. As Christie says, Junior is more popular, and I say you can't stand it because KB looks like an idiot. He'll never be a Dale Earnhardt as some say he already is. Bull!

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  6. 6
    Anonymous said:
    Jul 6, 2008 at 6:38 PM

    Busch needs to quit being so greedy and let JR win a few. Last night should have been JR's night to win and was glad to see his team mates get knocked out as they are all too greedy also. Don't need that old has been Mark Martin on that team for next season, he should retire as he keeps saying he is going to do, Too Darn Old... A Loyal JR Fan.

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  7. 7
    Becky Stewart said:
    Jul 7, 2008 at 2:24 AM

    Dale Jr. you have improved in so many ways. The best is yet to come. Hang in there, continue to keep your head straight. You bring so much to the sport. You are intelligent in so many aspects of your life. My prayers will ever continue for you. Sunday Money

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  8. 8
    Billie Brooks said:
    Jul 7, 2008 at 8:26 AM

    Re: Mark Martin's age, as one sports writer put it, "life is not over at 50", whats wrong with wanting to race if you are in good phyical condition, and I think Mark is, regardless of how old you are, Harry Gant was still racing and winning at age 54, the same sports writer also said, McCain is 71 and he wants to run the Country, so age is not an issue here! Good luck to Mark Martin,

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  9. 9
    bonnie mccoy said:
    Jul 7, 2008 at 9:16 AM

    JR. YOU ARE THE BEST. MARK MARTIN AND KYLE BUSH SHOULD BE TESTED ALONG WITH GOOFY THATS JEFF GORDON TO SEE WHAT THEY TAKE BEFORE THEY TRY TO RACE. OTHER SPORTS TEST LET US SEE NASCAR DO IT MAYBE THEY NEED TO BE TESTED TO. GO JR.

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  10. 10
    Worm Dirt said:
    Jul 7, 2008 at 10:41 AM

    In keeping with the theme of bringing up topics unrelated to this article on Junior.... Let me quickly urge anyone who was as DISGUSTED by the way that TNT and it's advertisers raped and RUINED the race Saturday night with commercials inside of commercials on top of an already commercial-saturated ABOMINATION of a broadcast to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go to www.tnt.tv and let them know how you feel about it. Folks, you don't see it this bad in any other sport! What does that say about their opinion of us??? They have gone TOO far this time!!!!!!!!

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  11. 11
    anonymous said:
    Jul 7, 2008 at 1:22 PM

    Worm Dirt, you are right on. TNT has got to be the worst when it comes to broadcasting NASCAR racing. I was so confused trying to follow everything going on the TV screen, it was making me dizzy. Why did they have to "crawl" the running order along the bottom???? There was too much going on at one time. The end of their coverage can't come soon enough.

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  12. 12
    emily bagwell said:
    Jul 7, 2008 at 4:23 PM

    I've already blogged one time about TNT and i do not know wjat it is but the sound does not work well on my T.V. It is definitely not my new televison or Direct T.V.---it only happens during the races, but the d--- commericals come on so loudly that it burst my eardrums because I had the volume up so loud. This coupled with the barrage of commercials is more than one can take. They have lost it! Okay, Worm, I'll go to web and complain. Go, Junior!!!!

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  13. 13
    catherine cammack said:
    Jul 7, 2008 at 7:29 PM

    Just remember that Gordon won 6 races last year and didn't win the championship, Jr won 6 races in 2004 and didn't win the championship, Busch has won 6 races, he doesn't have the championship yet!!!!!!!!! Jr is doing a whale of a good job this year. He needs to take the bull by the horns towards the end of the race, I'm sure he won't fall out the top 12, so he needs to take a few risks.

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  14. 14
    Anonymous said:
    Jul 8, 2008 at 5:08 AM

    I agree about the commercials on Sunday from Daytona, just too too much.I thought it was just because I was watching in Canada but I guess those commercials were everywhere. I'm going to tnt.tv right now.

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  15. 15
    Deloris Catania said:
    Jul 8, 2008 at 6:29 AM

    I agree completely with Anonymous and Worm Dirt ~ watching the race was horrid ~ between the crawl (miserably on the bottom) and the commercials doing more blocking than the drivers it wasn't a lot of fun watching. Someone at TNT needs to find a new line of work and I will be emailing them you can bet on that. I am a Dale, Jr. fan and am pleased and excited with his performance since he has been at Hendricks. It's wonderful not to be praying that the car won't blow up with 15 laps left to go (although I do kinda miss the red #8). Go Junior!!!! meeyowsa

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  16. 16
    Kris Leonia said:
    Jul 8, 2008 at 8:40 AM

    I went to both races this weekend at Daytona and usually the Nationwide race is more exciting than the Cup. Not the case this time. Lots of action and there was so much happening behind the Top 10, but I knew the TV coverage wouldn't show it. In person, fantastic race. I watched the race (TIVO yay!) when I got home sunday and the coverage was abysmal. Hope ESPN picks up the slack because TNT just can't cut it.

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  17. 17
    Robbie Vendetti said:
    Jul 8, 2008 at 9:24 AM

    I love Jr, I'm one of his biggest fans and he did great! I do not like the races being on TNT either, so I too will complain. However, I do have to say "Way To Go" Montoya for giving back to KB what he dishes out! That was awesome!! Keep going strong Jr, you are the most popular driver!!

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  18. 18
    Worm Dirt said:
    Jul 8, 2008 at 11:38 AM

    What a relief... to find some level-headed fans who AGREE that TNT went too far with the commercials Saturday night!! Up until now I've been shocked to find that many fans just don't seem to care. I guess the networks are all too aware that these types of INDIFFERENT fans exist and so they see no reason not to keep exploiting this sport as far as they can. Until they kill it probably. BUT!!!..... If enough of us.... those who truly are passionate about racing..... and care about the sanctity of this sport.... if we speak LOUD enough then, maybe....someone will LISTEN!! Please go to www.tnt.tv and let them know your opinion! Just go to the bottom and click 'ask tnt' then you'll have to jump through a few hoops but it's fairly easy. Godspeed!!!!

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  19. 19
    jerry swiatek said:
    Jul 8, 2008 at 1:14 PM

    Does anyone beside me hear too much car noise blasting out what the announcers are saying, that is my complaint with TNT, I also read in here how the economy is going to hurt sponsership, look at all them advertisers during Daytona, one after another.

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  20. 20
    4da88 said:
    Jul 8, 2008 at 10:32 PM

    Bashing TNT?, ok here is my comment..Bill Weber sucks! I listen to Jrs radio so I did not notice the sound problem. I will pay more attention this week. Now let me see, what is this article about? Oh yeah, my man Jr! Junebug if it takes just one season or 10 for your championship I am there for you! Looking good!

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  21. 21
    emily bagwell said:
    Jul 11, 2008 at 7:49 PM

    I'm in line behind you, 4da88, I'll follow Junior forever---whatever happens and you are correct. he is lookin good!!!!

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  22. 22
    linda smythers said:
    Jul 12, 2008 at 7:38 AM

    dale jr is the best. we all know the best can't always finish first. he is a class act and gives all he can give and more in each race. when the final count is in jr will be on top...

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  23. 23
    bob parent said:
    Jul 12, 2008 at 8:14 AM

    4da88 does jr's radio have boomhauer to english translation

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