Sour grapes for Earnhardt Jr. in Wine Country

By SceneDaily Staff

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Article Rating: 4.8
Rate this Article

David Griffin / NASCAR Scene

SONOMA, Calif. – NASCAR’s most popular driver had a hard time appreciating the California sunshine and scenery on Friday.
 
Nothing against the beautiful setting of Infineon Raceway – it’s just that Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn’t like the track.
 
At all.
 
“I just don’t run good here,” he said. “Never liked coming here. Don’t like the track, it’s not a fun track to compete on. It’s fun to go around it and goof off and raise a little bit of hell, but I don’t like being in competition on it. It’s just difficult and these cars ain’t built for it, you know what I mean?
 
“It’s impossible to pass. Where do you pass? There’s a couple braking zones, but that’s about it. You just wait on people to screw up.”
 
In eight career starts at Sonoma, Earnhardt Jr. has never finished in the top 10. He’s finished in the top 15 only three times, and has led a lap in only one event.
 
“We’re struggling a little bit,” he said. “We always do. I’m not very good at road racing, so we just try to do the best we can. ... I’m just trying to get through the weekend.”

Earnhardt Jr. said he's glad to be sitting third in points with a huge buffer back to the cutoff for the Chase. After all, he believes he won't make it through the Sonoma race without a mistake.

"I'm gonna screw up," he said. "Trust me, I'll screw it up. It's good to know you've got a cushion."
 
So is there any chance Earnhardt Jr. could have a good run on Sunday?

Perhaps if he uses a little fuel strategy, which led him to a victory last week at Michigan – his first Sprint Cup win in more than two years.
 
“We’ll probably try to save as much gas as we can this week,” he said as reporters chuckled.

Average Rating: 4.8

Comments

19 responses to "Sour grapes for Earnhardt Jr. in Wine Country"
  1. 1
    Worm Dirt said:
    Jun 20, 2008 at 4:19 PM

    Wow!...the words of a TRUE competitor!! (insert sarcasm) Way to rise up and meet a challenge Junior!! This has got to be enough to make even the guys with 88 shaved in their back-hair squirm a little bit.

    Report as Abuse
  2. 2
    emily bagwell said:
    Jun 20, 2008 at 4:22 PM

    Gotta love a guy whose honesty makes him tell it like it is. Maybe the racing gods will smile on you Junior and you'll be okay.

    Report as Abuse
  3. 3
    Stan E Brown said:
    Jun 20, 2008 at 5:18 PM

    worm dirt must live in a different world or doesn't admit to reality. maybe he doesn't know about being competitive. Jr knows he will have to work harder just as competitve teams do in the comptitons house. Do you get it? 3 fan

    Report as Abuse
  4. 4
    Adrion Coleman said:
    Jun 21, 2008 at 4:52 AM

    I don't think for a minute that Junior is going to "lay down" out there. There is nothing wrong with knowing your strengths and weaknesses. And he is right. In road course racing, you are waiting for someone to make a mistake to pass.

    Report as Abuse
  5. 5
    Darlyn Maatta said:
    Jun 21, 2008 at 5:24 AM

    Jr's Dad,HATED Infineon Raceway (Sears Point) and he won!!!I was there that race, live about 20 miles from track. Jr's time is coming and at least he's honest about it. Give him a break.....he'll give it all he has.

    Report as Abuse
  6. 6
    Jacki Stevens said:
    Jun 21, 2008 at 7:50 AM

    I am a firm believer in the idea that IF one has confidence in oneself in any particular situation, one will do well. Jr is just being honest with us......he will give it his best shot, for sure. I don't have "88" shaved on the back on my head; but don't go 'dissen my guy neither! The JR NATION went thru last year NEVER faltering in our faith in Jr, so if there is one or two races he just is not good at? OH WELL. Let's face it JR NATION, there are some peeps out there that are gonna put JR down no matter what he does, or no matter how well he does it.

    Report as Abuse
  7. 7
    Adrion Coleman said:
    Jun 21, 2008 at 8:39 AM

    Well said Jacki...Jr is gonna be my driver no matter how many races he wins.

    Report as Abuse
  8. 8
    emily bagwell said:
    Jun 21, 2008 at 11:40 AM

    Ditto to all the above comments, except for Worm's. Junior has always given 100%, even when he was a guinea pig for Teresa with cars blowing up every week. I'm glad he's not a pompous blow like Kyle Busch who thinks he is all that and Denny Hamlin is even worse. Go, Junior---love you, win or lose--Junior Nation is cheering for you!

    Report as Abuse
  9. 9
    Donna Higgs said:
    Jun 21, 2008 at 1:38 PM

    I give Jr a lot of credit for being honest. Unlike so many drivers in this sport who think they are the best out there on any track, I hope with the new equipment and his renewed confidence he will make the best of this weekend and maybe pull out a good day. Go Jr, i am very proud to be a member of JR NATION.

    Report as Abuse
  10. 10
    Anonymous said:
    Jun 21, 2008 at 5:34 PM

    Jr is a class act. He needed that win last week. Sit back and watch all you non beleivers he's going to take the championship this year!!!!MARK MY WORDS

    Report as Abuse
  11. 11
    Worm Dirt said:
    Jun 21, 2008 at 10:56 PM

    Remember when all Tiger Woods did was whine and complain before the U.S. Open about how... he JUST WASN'T good enough to win on ONE knee.... AND Torrey Pines is TOO DIFFICULT when your shin has two cracks in it.... and your ACL is shredded... Cry...whine... sniffle... self-depricate. whah... whah.. OUCH!..snort... snort.. WAIT!!!...COme to think of it....I DON'T REMEMBER THAT EITHER. What happens if they put a road course in the CHASE next year??? WELL, I guess JUST throw your hands up in the air & cross your fingers, because as junior says, "It's impossible to pass". Hmmm......hmmmm.. wait a minute.....didn't Hamlin drive his Chevy from 36th to lead a few laps last year and then finish tenth??

    Report as Abuse
  12. 12
    Linda Carroll said:
    Jun 22, 2008 at 9:02 PM

    Isn't there anything better for Jr haters to do than to hang out in Jr nation? I am with Jr, I hate Infineon. Never have liked it. I don't do well watching this race, yawn. I fall asleep, trust me, I fall asleep. 12th place..not half bad for someone that admits he sucks at this track. Way to hang in there Jr!!

    Report as Abuse
  13. 13
    Worm Dirt said:
    Jun 23, 2008 at 12:04 AM

    I don't "hate" anyone Linda. That's pretty shallow. You're right about one thing though.....a 12th place finish isn't THAT bad. BUT!!!! JUST IMAGINE what's possible when you look at Infinion as an OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE.....INSTEAD of an opportunity to FAIL!!! Road courses AND ovals both have finish lines...RIGHT??? As a fan of stock-car racing, i just cringe when I see SOME Nascar drivers back down from a challenge...and EVEN WORSE.....ASSUME that this is somehow VALIDATED because road-racing is new and different to them. That's just a little WEAK in my opinion. Sorry! How does this make me the BAD GUY? I thought racers raced to WIN!! I'm not looking for an opportunity to KNOCK junior. Maybe, try straying from the HERD for just ONE second and at least entertain this thought....it won't kill you....I promise!

    Report as Abuse
  14. 14
    Kris Leonia said:
    Jun 23, 2008 at 7:14 AM

    Jr has never been extremely strong at road courses and admitted as much. Heck almost half the guys who race (including a bunch of the veterans) admit they don't like road course racing. If he wasn't out there to to give his 110%, he wouldn't step into the car. Between the 2 courses, he has a better time at Watkins Glen than Sonoma. Road races are odd and some can race on it for years and still never get a handle on them. Even Jeff Gordon who won at Sonoma 5 times said its a good track, but isn't fond of road racing as a whole. Just gotta do the best you can. Sometimes you get a win, sometimes you get a Top 20 finish. Take what you can get from those tracks.

    Report as Abuse
  15. 15
    neil raymond said:
    Jun 23, 2008 at 12:08 PM

    jr did good for a track he hates, he should take lessons from SAid. Sorry to see that Said had so much touble with his hot rod. good to see Dale in the winning circle last week and many ,ore wins are coming his way.

    Report as Abuse
  16. 16
    emily bagwell said:
    Jun 24, 2008 at 6:19 PM

    My memory isn't what it used to be, but Junior did get tutored by Boris inplace of letting Boris race in one of his cars at a Cup race---I think I'm right but not sure exactly how it went---some of you guys jump in and help me out with this. Sorry Boris didn't finish any better also. Junior realizes his shortcomings on road courses, but did win a race at Watkins Glen. I think it's okay for him to voice his dislike of road courses. His comments are just another excuse for Junior haters to sound off. Junior finished 12th and brought his car home in good shape.

    Report as Abuse
  17. 17
    Linda Carroll said:
    Jun 26, 2008 at 3:12 PM

    Worm dirt, you are right, I don't know you and hate is such a harsh word; for this I apologize. I will make reference to "Jr bashers" from now on. Now to assume that I cannot see outside the (pit)box is unfair on your part. I have more than one driver I root for, more than one track I enjoy watching, and there are more than one or two drivers I just don't care for at all. I am a NASCAR fan. Road racing is not new, watched for several years. It just happens to be at the bottom of my list. If NASCAR adds a road course to the chase, please please, let it be Watkins Glen.

    Report as Abuse
  18. 18
    Stan E Brown said:
    Jun 28, 2008 at 7:35 PM

    I GUESS WORM DIRT IS PERFECT. HE WANTS TO GET UNDER JR NATIONS SKIN. TO NO AVAIL!! REMEBER RIVERSIDE CA? IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW THERE'S A SHOPPING CENTER NOW. THE TRACK IS GONE.HMMM! I WONDER WHY?

    Report as Abuse
  19. 19
    emily bagwell said:
    Jun 29, 2008 at 8:08 AM

    Good point, Stan!

    Report as Abuse

Leave a Comment

Login

Search

Advanced Search

Latest Videos

12 for the Chase

12 for the Chase

Is 12 the right number of drivers to include in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup? Should there be more? Fewer? The panel weighs in.
 

Most Rated Stories

Poll Position

Which driver is most likely to make the field for the Chase For The NASCAR Sprint Cup?

view the results