You know who enjoys this two-race jaunt to NASCAR’s largest oval and one of its shortest venues?
Dale Earnhardt Jr., that’s who.
The series last raced at Talladega Superspeedway, a spot where Earnhardt triumphed five times in his career. Now the series shifts to Richmond, a spot where Earnhardt owns three victories.
Junior’s comeback tour continues. After missing the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup the past two seasons, Earnhardt marches up the points standings – and closer to Victory Lane.
Though still mired in a 101-race winless drought, Earnhardt has vaulted to third in the points standings.
His progress rivals that of 2008, when he last won, and last made the Chase.
Now 19 points behind leader Carl Edwards, Earnhardt has not held an official points lead since after race No. 27 at New Hampshire in 2004. (He did sit atop the points standings two weeks later after a race at Talladega, but only for three days. A 25-point penalty for “use of improper language” dropped him to second.)
Since that pinnacle, Earnhardt has earned four wins – one at Phoenix later that season, one at Chicagoland in 2005, at Richmond in 2006, and his last, at Michigan in 2008.
Still, despite past successes at Richmond, Earnhardt has hiccupped at the short track of late. His last four finishes: 27th, 21st, 32nd and 34th.
But if this really is a 2008-esque rebirth, there’s good news. In 2008 at Richmond, Earnhardt led both races, posted Driver Ratings of 107.3 and 129.5 and finished 15th and fourth.
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