Dale Jr. Hopes To Find His Touch This Weekend At Talladega

CIA Stock Photo, Inc.

Apr 23, 2008

The NASCAR season is eight races old, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. has not reached Victory Lane.

Earnhardt won two exhibition races at Daytona in February, but nearly two years have passed since he celebrated a victory rewarding him with points. Entering the Aaron’s 499 on Sunday at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, his winless streak stands at 70 races.

But Earnhardt sees the drought ending—perhaps this week, when he makes his 300th Cup start. In his first season with top-flight Hendrick Motorsports, Earnhardt is third in the points standings. He also has been the organization’s most consistent driver in a stable also featuring two-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson and four-time champion Jeff Gordon.

Hendrick drivers won half of the Cup races last season but only Johnson has won this season (April 12 in Avondale, Ariz.). Earnhardt believes he is poised to break through.
‘’I feel like a win is around the corner,’’ Earnhardt said. “I feel like we’ve been in position to do that just about every week we’ve had a good enough car to contend.’’

“It’s a fitting race track to have a 300th start,” he said. “I love going to Talladega strictly because of my fan base there - there are so many people telling you all weekend good things to help you be pumped up. We try to run up front as much as possible at that track because the fans just go wild when I take the lead. It’s amazing to see as a driver.

“So I find myself being a little more pesky at that track as far as give-and-take because I want to lead as much as possible and get up there for my fans to get them on their feet.”

Before that stretch, Earnhardt won four consecutive Talladega races between 2001 and 2003. Five of Earnhardt’s 17 Cup victories have come on the 2.66-mile tri-oval.

“Four or five years ago, I went to [Talladega] with more confidence of winning than any other place,” Earnhardt said. “But this year I’ve felt I had a shot every time I show up.”

Nevertheless, Talladega is special for Earnhardt, as it was for his father. Dale Sr. won three of four Dega races in 1999 and 2000. He holds the speedway record with 10 Cup victories.