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DALE EARNHARDT JR.
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JUST DALE
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COME ON IN... WELCOME TO JUNIORS PLACE. HE IS OUR DRIVER. I HAVE HUNDREDS OF PICS TO LOOK AT SO JOIN IN .... THIS IS ABOUT RACIN" AND FUN !!!
COME ON IN... WELCOME TO JUNIORS PLACE. HE IS OUR DRIVER. I HAVE HUNDREDS OF PICS TO LOOK AT SO JOIN IN .... THIS IS ABOUT RACIN" AND FUN !!!
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FROM JUST DALE JUNIOR
MORE ABOUT JUNIOR THIS SEASON
YOUR Homestead-Miami Speedway hasn’t been very kind to Dale Earnhardt Jr., but neither has the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
So as the Hendrick Motorsports driver prepares for Sunday’s season finale at Homestead, he hopes to accomplish two things: Improve his performance at the south Florida track and finish an otherwise disappointing campaign on a strong note.
Earnhardt Jr.’s best finish at Homestead – 13th in this rookie season of 2000 – came while driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. and before the track was reconfigured in 2003 to include additional banking in the turns.
"I haven't had the best results at Homestead since they reconfigured the track, but, hopefully, with [crew chief] Lance [McGrew] we can improve on that,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “You really have to hunt for the best line there. The corners are real tight, and the car doesn't want to turn and roll through the center like you would expect it to.
“We always seem to get tight through the center there. We've had some good runs here lately, and, hopefully, we can end the season on a positive note."
As McGrew looks to Sunday’s Ford 400, his goal for the No. 88 team is rather straightforward: run well and finish well.
“Just a good, consistent run,” he said of what the team hopes to accomplish. “It doesn't have to be first or third. It could be that we qualified in the top 10, we ran in the top 10 all day, and we finished sixth.
“I would like to see the race start and end the same way, just to show that we can do it. I would like to see some consistency throughout the event."
Despite showing flashes of improvement since McGrew replaced crew chief Tony Eury Jr. in late May, Earnhardt Jr. has still struggled to find the finishes and consistency that he wants. In 23 starts with McGrew calling the shots, NASCAR’s most popular driver has just a pair of top-10s.
He is 24th in the standings after an accident in last weekend’s race at Phoenix International Raceway. So looking ahead to the offseason, McGrew wants to quickly begin laying the groundwork for a better 2010.
"I think the first thing that you have to do is try to put your pieces in place for next year as quick as you can,” said McGrew, who was named Earnhardt Jr.’s full-time crew chief on Oct. 30 after initially serving in an interim role. “Because the longer the teams work together, the guys get more familiar with each other, and everybody knows their role and position. Just like any other job, with repetition comes speed in how you do things.
“We need to put those guys in place as quick as we can so all of the positions are set up. Then when we have a chance to do a little bit of offseason testing - a little bit of this, a little bit of that - we can evaluate all of our people."
YOUR Homestead-Miami Speedway hasn’t been very kind to Dale Earnhardt Jr., but neither has the 2009 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
So as the Hendrick Motorsports driver prepares for Sunday’s season finale at Homestead, he hopes to accomplish two things: Improve his performance at the south Florida track and finish an otherwise disappointing campaign on a strong note.
Earnhardt Jr.’s best finish at Homestead – 13th in this rookie season of 2000 – came while driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc. and before the track was reconfigured in 2003 to include additional banking in the turns.
"I haven't had the best results at Homestead since they reconfigured the track, but, hopefully, with [crew chief] Lance [McGrew] we can improve on that,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “You really have to hunt for the best line there. The corners are real tight, and the car doesn't want to turn and roll through the center like you would expect it to.
“We always seem to get tight through the center there. We've had some good runs here lately, and, hopefully, we can end the season on a positive note."
As McGrew looks to Sunday’s Ford 400, his goal for the No. 88 team is rather straightforward: run well and finish well.
“Just a good, consistent run,” he said of what the team hopes to accomplish. “It doesn't have to be first or third. It could be that we qualified in the top 10, we ran in the top 10 all day, and we finished sixth.
“I would like to see the race start and end the same way, just to show that we can do it. I would like to see some consistency throughout the event."
Despite showing flashes of improvement since McGrew replaced crew chief Tony Eury Jr. in late May, Earnhardt Jr. has still struggled to find the finishes and consistency that he wants. In 23 starts with McGrew calling the shots, NASCAR’s most popular driver has just a pair of top-10s.
He is 24th in the standings after an accident in last weekend’s race at Phoenix International Raceway. So looking ahead to the offseason, McGrew wants to quickly begin laying the groundwork for a better 2010.
"I think the first thing that you have to do is try to put your pieces in place for next year as quick as you can,” said McGrew, who was named Earnhardt Jr.’s full-time crew chief on Oct. 30 after initially serving in an interim role. “Because the longer the teams work together, the guys get more familiar with each other, and everybody knows their role and position. Just like any other job, with repetition comes speed in how you do things.
“We need to put those guys in place as quick as we can so all of the positions are set up. Then when we have a chance to do a little bit of offseason testing - a little bit of this, a little bit of that - we can evaluate all of our people."
THE GOLDEN EARNHARDTS HAND
Steve Arpin Grateful for Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Comments
When Dale Earnhardt, Jr. speaks, people listen. ARCA RE/MAX Series driver Steve Arpin is finding that out.
“It’s kind of funny you called about that,” said Arpin. “Since Monday, my phone’s been ringing off the hook.”
Arpin is referring to comments Earnhardt made, first published at usatoday.com, regarding Arpin’s future.
“Carl Edwards came to me in the middle of the season and said, ‘You need to look at this guy (Arpin).’ I’d love to put him in the 5 car fulltime but I can’t find any money for it,” said Earnhardt.
While finding sponsorship in this economy is challenging no matter what your last name is, it still doesn’t hurt to have an Earnhardt, or a Carl Edwards, speak out on your behalf.
“It’s absolutely incredible,” added Arpin. “I just got off the phone with the Toronto Star. I’ve heard from a ton of media, a lot of Canadian media. To be honest with you, that’s how I first found out about it (Earnhardt’s comments).
“It’s so incredible, overwhelming for a guy like that with his enormous stature, that he’s willing to help me try and get to that next level.”
ACTUAL CHAT FROM THE RACE come on u tell me
Dale Jr: From a Fans Perspective - ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Uncle already - Make it stop!
I'm not going to repeat all the broken parts and pieces that have mysteriously happened to the 88 car almost every week this year - for all of the details you can click on my name and go to previous race blogs to see the various occurrences.
At Phoenix, however, we had a new problem pop up - isn't that amazing? A mysterious oil leak that could not be found for quite some time. This oil was leaking out of the car on the track and other drivers as detailed below said it was there - Jr wanted to come in and have it checked but NOOOOOOO he was told to stay out.. What happens next is our worst nightmare - On the restart the front of the field stacked up AGAIN during the double file restart -Shoot Out Style- causing Junior to jump out of line, hook the apron and lose control of his car spinning in his own leaking oil.
Junior's car was then hit by Newman and the rest of the field stacked up in a wad behind him. Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano, Bobby Labonte, and a host of other drivers were involved in the melee.
Mr Hendrick - in June 2007 you said "If he's winning, it's because of his talent, if he's not, it's because of my not giving him good stuff." And, it's become fairly obvious to any of us that can see that the "stuff" is either junk, or someone is "sabotaging" the cars or your employees on that particular team are not up to par with the rest of the shop. So, which is it...........you owe all of Jr Nation an answer!
I have information from someone who works for you that confirms and adds on to what Tony Gibson said about Jr's team. This should have been obvious to you MONTHS ago.
Gibson "It's going to have to be the right situation and the right group of guys who BELIEVE IN HIM," Gibson said. "Give Dale Jr. what Dale Jr. wants, what he needs to drive the race car, and he'll be fine." "He has no confidence in himself because nobody else has confidence in him," Ask any crew chief in the garage and he'll tell you complete SUPPORT is essential to success. "He just needs a change, a whole package change, Listen to his voice. He's asking for that. I've been around him for a long time. I know."
Damn it - Jr is not a cash cow, nor does he have the strength of never ending endurance physically and mentally to continue putting up with this. By sitting idly by - you are watching his career, his emotions and his success that he worked so very hard to accomplish TANK. And you're damn lucky he hasn't been injured in any of these incidents that don't seem to happen to anyone else.
I for one will yell at the top of my lungs and do whatever I can by writing these blogs to get people to wake up and help him.
Scanner chatter thanks to Heather and Lauri - hopefully I have the right sequence...
RH “Jr you got me” Jr ”yep"
RH sorry couldn’t get to you & Lance before the race good luck” Jr ”10-4” {YES this is typical of the way the HMS the cars run - no time for the 88]
Real loose everywhere...
Jr just said cars in real bad shape...too loose after 4 laps just hanging on! [funny that this was not a problem in HH the day before]
It won’t roll the center, and it’s really loose off.”—Jr “We’re gonna take a big swing at it.”—Lance
“I need it to power down off the corner. That’s all I want.” Per Jr.. “We’re working on it.” Per Lance
Dale Jr saying the set up is Fing junk and doesn’t want to drive it anymore. Meaning: FIX THE CAR!
Jr says his oil pressure is all over the place...drops in the corners!
47 was saying the 88 was smoking
TJ thought they had fluid b4 the restart
>>>Jr asked then why they weren't coming in to see what it was! He was yelling "WHAT KIND OF FLUID IS IT" as they were going green! He was asking if there was fluid in the pit & what kind it was! This was before he spun....he was pretty worked up over them not having him come in! <<< [Somebody message this to Tony Stewart]
Car spins in own fluid at this point and takes out a lot of cars.
Took a LONG time to figure out where the oil was leaking from - very mysterious and I'm sure we will never know the truth!
"Team 88 using flashlights to find the leak, after cleaning up the engine, and putting 2 quarts oil in the car, to find leak."
ClaireB walked over to the garage area when he pulled in. She wanted to see who would come over from the other teams to help - mainly saw higher ups there including Rick who was watching what was happening. Jr stayed in the car, window net down with his head down staring at his knees, not moving for quite some time - he finally motioned for the MRN guy to come over to the car.......he wanted to say he was sorry for all the cars that got taken out.
Firing up the engine. They just put 2 quarts of oil in the engine.
And mercifully, as a final coup de grâce - No power on the 88 machine
LM “sorry bout that bud we’ll get em at Homestead” Jr SILENCE [I've heard sorry bud from Lance about 4 or 5 times now - all of us are tired of it] I know it's not his fault - although he goofed last week and this week IMO not bringing Jr in to look at the fluid plus some other times in the setup, but who's counting? At this point it's just beyond pitiful and frustrating for Dale Jr and his fans.
Here’s what Dale Jr. said about the incident: “I hate it for everyone who got caught up in that. That was a pretty big mess. I was trying to spin the car down the track, just driving it wide open into the inside wall, and I couldn’t get out of everybody’s way. We got something broke on the motor where it’s got an oil leak and we can’t find it. It’s been like this the whole race and we just got to find out what it is and try to get back out."
problem...what is it...
another sunday of racing and jr doesnt do well...what is the problem...one race to go and no wins...he causes a big crash today...he wasnt doing that great when he crashed...does anyone have a clue...sorry i am just letting off some steam...just wish he could get a win...guess theres always 2010 season...come on daytona...
DALE's CREW IN ACCIDENT
According to a HMS spokesperson, crew members from Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Amp Energy Chevrolet were involved in an accident on their way into the speedway this morning. A total of six members of Earnhardt Jr’s pit crew were taken to the infield care center after being T-boned in a nearby intersection en route to the racetrack.
No injuries were reported and all crew members have been released for their raceday duties. All members are expected to participate fully on Sunday during the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz.
Neither crew chief Lance McGrew or Earnhardt Jr. were in the van that was carrying the crew members this morning.
No injuries were reported and all crew members have been released for their raceday duties. All members are expected to participate fully on Sunday during the Checker Auto Parts 500 at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz.
Neither crew chief Lance McGrew or Earnhardt Jr. were in the van that was carrying the crew members this morning.
GET ER DONE IN MY HOME TOWN
Small changes on tap for 88 after solid final practice
AVONDALE, Ariz. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief, Lance McGrew, by necessity, has the ultimate in mechanical minds.
But he's obviously human enough to recognize the value of momentum. And Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway, on the eve of the penultimate race of the season, it was plenty in evidence for their No. 88 Chevrolet crew as they finished preparation for Sunday's Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500.
Happy Hour
Checker O'Reilly 500
Pos. Driver Speed Time
1. J. Johnson 132.348 27.201
2. M. Martin 132.275 27.216
3. Dale Jr. 132.018 27.269
4. M. Truex Jr. 131.878 27.298
5. Ku. Busch 131.868 27.300
6. J. Burton 131.796 27.315
7. J. Gordon 131.772 27.320
8. J. McMurray 131.752 27.324
9. J. Logano 131.695 27.336
10. K. Kahne 131.646 27.346
• Complete Speeds
"You can't put a value on it, it's so important -- it's immeasurable," said McGrew, who a week ago was looking at his driver's first top-five finish in 12 races, or at Michigan in August, when Earnhardt ran out of gas on his way to pit road with less than four laps left in the Dickies 500.
"I'll take complete blame for last week," McGrew said. "Our mileage went away that last run and we ran out of gas a lap-and-a-half before we should have, as we were pitting that lap to get fuel. And we just ran out on remarkably less mileage than we'd gotten all day.
"But I said to him, and he said the same thing after a little while, that you have to pull the positives from that."
And as he talked about it, it was obvious that Texas, though the 25th-place result reflected the norm for the 88 this season, it was so much more. And the team hopes it establishes something this weekend.
"That was, by far, and front to back, the first time we had been competitive, with the top three, four or five cars, all day long," McGrew said. "We haven't been able to do that. We've put together races where we had a portion where we ran there, but we haven't been able to do it all day. And at Texas we did it all day. The last three laps was the only problem we had, and I was pretty excited about that.
"McGrew credited the post-Lowe's NASCAR Banking 500 Goodyear tire test and the data the team accrued, and the communication level he and Junior achieved as the plusses.
"Ultimately we just have to be on top of the setup because generally this place goes with a lot of green-flag laps," McGrew said. "As far as changes, [Sunday] will be different because the race will be during the day. You've got sunshine to deal with, the track's gonna have less grip; some of the things your car did [Saturday] it won't do [Sunday] because practice was overcast.
