Dale Jr: Can We Win a RP Race Without Stiffy?

Dale Jr. has scored one win, three top-five finishes and six top-10s during nine appearances in the 400-mile July event at Daytona. Earnhardt, who will drive a No. 88 National Guard “Serving America”/AMP Energy Chevrolet, led 116 laps during his emotional July 7, 2001, victory. He has led a total of 245 laps during the summer classic.

The entire pre-race report can be found on the main page for both Cup and Nationwide.

As a fan I absolutely love RP tracks. The thrill of racing inches apart, add in bump drafting with that high speed whine of raw brutal horsepower, the engines straining like horses at the bit to go faster takes your breath away. Something I would love to experience in person some day soon at Talladega.

Daytona is a much harder track to race than Talladega because of the width of the track. Daytona is a two lane road with a lot of bumps for the most part and Dega is about 4 wide.

Dale Jr. had some thoughts on Tony Eury Sr and Jr and RP racing - "they had little tricks and nuances about the bodies and the way that you need to do different things to get the car to go as fast as you want it to go. They never failed in delivering a winning race car every time. I think they know a lot of things that a lot of people here would love to have in their arsenal."

In an interview at the ClamShell in Daytona Beach Wednesday evening during a National Guard event he said this about the splitup with Eury Jr "I can be who I am, and he can be who he is and we like each other. This whole experience was the worst for Tony Jr." - Note: [I would like to add that the fans will always love Tony Eury Jr and are hoping to see him crew chief the 25 when that car runs next.]

A few thoughts on the Nationwide race..

Jr will also race in the Nationwide race Friday night crew chiefed by Brian Campe and spotted by TJ Majors. His sponsor is Fastenal - I love that beautiful blue & white with silver paint scheme. He ran this scheme in Texas. I was there during practice taking a lot of pics. The strong smell of fuel, oil and exhaust fumes in the garage/pit area made me appreciate all the hard work these teams put into the race every week. I was almost giddy/woozy by the end of the day from the excitement, loud engines and fumes.

His final race in the No. 5 this year will be Sept. 5 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Degree V12 Chevrolet. Degree is the title sponsor for the race.

Q&A

Dale JR.[on NW racing] - "Of all the tracks I go to, this is my favorite. The place is special to me for a lot of reasons. These restrictor-plate tracks are so much fun when you have Tony Eury Sr. on your side, because he knows this stuff better than anyone. Even though he's Brad's crew chief, I feel we all benefit from having him in a JR Motorsports shirt. I know him and Brian Campe (crew chief for No. 5 team) work closely together, and it's an advantage. Brad has done well at these plate races, too. I feel like the JR Motorsports cars can contend for a win any time we show up at a restrictor-plate track."

In conclusion, this car will hunt - hopefully with a little help from some friends which is the name of the game in RP racing. Car & driver can be superior but without someone pushing you whose car is compatible it is almost impossible to go to the front and stay there. Jr and Newman had a plan at Dega, it almost worked out with both of them going out front as far as possible from the pack with a few laps to go. Brad and Carl hooked up and came on like a fast moving freight train and ya'll know the rest.

There are new right side tires here this race, some cord wear in practice but I'm hopeful Goodyear brought the best possible so all the drivers will be safe.

Qualifying is set for Friday July 3, 2009 at 4:10pm/et, Dale Jr has drawn fourth which is not the greatest draw. The 88 car ran first practice and shut-er-down skipping Happy Hour per TJ Majors, Dale's spotter. The 5 Fastenal car is one and done with practice until qualifying tomorrow as well. Saves the car from wrecks in practice which is exactly what just happened.

It's been very hot and humid in Daytona and I would like to mention the whole 88 team and tell them thanks for all their hard work. Mike Davis, TJ Majors, Lance McGrew, and the entire 88 crew. I would like to list all of them but not sure the Jayski list is accurate. And, of course, Rick Hendrick
for his devoted support.

Jr Nation hopes that the car will have the Eury Jr. touch and a little finesse and engineering by Lance McGrew Saturday night with a little Pops thrown in on Friday night too.

As always Jr Nation rides with their driver in good times and bad. I'm waiting for the Pied Piper to come to the front Friday & Saturday night listening to his fans cheer - there's nothing like it in NASCAR.

YES we CAN win!

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