Earnhardt Jr. already has high expectations and confidence for 2013
Brad KeppelThe 2013 season hasn’t officially begun yet, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. feels he’s already off to a good start. Testing last week in Charlotte, the Hendrick Motorsports driver praised NASCAR’s new sixth-generation car.
The two-day test was the first chance for drivers to become familiar with their new machines. Earnhardt Jr., who has made it known that he never liked the COT cars, was immediately impressed, as well as comfortable in his new surroundings. A little surprising for a driver many are quick to point out, doesn’t normally have positive feedback about a car.
“The cars drive really well. I know everybody is probably real curious about how we think the racing is going to go,” said Earnhardt Jr. “It’s real early in the game, this is the first time I’ve driven the cars at all. I’m really impressed. I really like the balance of the car, the downforce seems to be relatively good. The car has driven well for us today.”
Earnhardt Jr. noted that his team was going to do a lot of fine tuning during the test, looking to learn what the likes and dislikes are of the car. He also hopes that before the season starts they’ll be able to test more, with the next opportunity being at Charlotte in early January. The first time around, however, had him very encouraged.
“I think that the car has really awesome potential. I like it already leaps and bounds beyond the COT or the old car we ran,” he said. “This car really gives me a lot of sensations that are similar to the old car that we ran four years ago or however long ago it was.
“It’s still early. I’m trying not to get too excited or form too big of an opinion or too solid an opinion of the car. We have got a lot of things to learn about it.”
The good news for Earnhardt Jr. and his fans, much of his success has come with the old style car, or pre-COT years, winning 17 races between his debut in 2000 until 2008. Earnhardt Jr. never adapted well to the COT and was never much of a factor since it’s debut back in select races in 2007 and it’s full-time start in 2008, winning only twice.
Now though, his optimism is back. Coming off a season in which he looked to be an early championship contender, the hope is to enter 2013 and continue that success. He ran top three in points the early part of 2012, even took the point lead during the summer stretch and had high expectations for the Chase.
Things, however, quickly went downhill and his season was over after a crash in Talladega that produced his second concussion in six weeks. But during testing at Charlotte, both Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief Steve Letarte noted that they believe they’ll be just as strong in the upcoming year. While acknowledging that in order for them to take that next step and be championship material, they need a fast start and fast cars.
“You would like to believe in momentum and things like that. In this sport you can be a hero one week and a zero the next,” Earnhardt Jr. noted. “There is so much competition out there. There are a lot of variables too with the new car, completely new; the sport is going to be revolutionized again with this car. There are a lot of things that are unknowns, but I’m with a great company that sort of does really well under those kinds of circumstances.
“When there are a lot of unknown variables they [HMS] are really good at figuring those variables out and figuring out how to be competitive given a certain working space they can kind of figure out faster than most people.”
Calling himself fortunate in that regard, Earnhardt Jr. says his confidence will be as high as ever entering 2013. Confident in his team, the cars they’ll be putting on the track and the way they’ll drive.
Yet, in hoping to again make the Chase, Earnhardt Jr.’s goal is to get off to a fast start in the first 10 races. Last year he had eight top 10 finishes in the first 10 races, setting him up on his Chase run. With all the changes the teams will be facing in the new year, whichever ones can achieve that, whichever ones gather the most data, test and have the work ethic, will be in good shape.
“I think the first 10 races of the season are the most important races as far as making the Chase, putting down a good foundation of points,” Earnhardt Jr. said.
“If you end up after those first 10 races around eighth or ninth or tenth, that kind of seems to be where you end up fighting all year long. Just try to stay in the Chase. It’s a real tough mental battle and it wears on the team, it wears on the drivers that are in those positions. It’s nice to get out there and get up front early and stay there. That is our outlook and I think that we are in a good position.”
Three-Day ARCA Racing Series Test Kicks Off – Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell Turns First Laps At DIS
NASCAR Stars Put Fa La La in the Season
Photo Credit: Action Sports PhotographyWhat’s a NASCAR driver to do in the off season? For many, there are sponsor commitments, testing, and just plain relaxing with family and friends.
But for some of NASCAR’s brightest stars, this time of year is all about putting the ‘fa la la’ in the holiday season, especially for those in need.
Greg Biffle, who usually spends his time behind the wheel of the No. 16 3M Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, decided instead to spread some holiday cheer by serving as chauffeur for one of his fellow RFR employees for the company’s holiday bash.
The colleagues at Roush Fenway Racing took a chance on a ride with the Biff by purchasing raffle tickets, with proceeds benefitting the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program to needy children. The raffle winner got chauffeured to and from the party in Biffle’s 1983 ‘Boss Hogg’ style limo, complete with horns on the front of the car and a horn playing the theme from the ‘Dukes of Hazard.’
“We decided to raffle off a ride for a Roush Fenway employee to the company party this year and use the money to buy gifts for the Salvation Army Angel Tree program,” Biffle said. “Roush Fenway agreed to match the proceeds.”
“I had wanted to do something for a local family this holiday season and I thought it would be fun to raffle off a ride in this old limo,” Biffle continued. “I saw it at an auto auction and thought it would be fun to drive around.”
The winner of the Biffle ride was Brian Steager, who has worked for RFR for nine years in the paint and body department.
“It was a very good ride,” Steager said. “We got there safe and sound and it was an excellent experience all the way around.”
Photo Credit: USO Photo by Michael CliftonThe holiday ride with the Biff raised over $2,000 for the Salvation Army, which will grant the holiday wishes of several children this year.
“It was a lot of fun,” Biffle said. “It went to a very worthy cause and hopefully we’ll do it again soon.”
Two of NASCAR’s young guns decked the halls with their own version of holiday cheer. Nationwide champ and Cup up and comer Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and new Penske Cup driver Joey Logano put the ‘fa la la’ in the season for troops serving overseas.
Logano and Stenhouse Jr. traveled with the USO to the Middle East and Germany to meet and thank those in uniform. The two drivers visited six bases in all, meeting hundreds of men and women in the military to thank them for their service.
“We had the chance to meet some amazing men and women on our USO tour,” Logano said. “I have so much respect for our troops; they do their jobs day in and day out without complaint and are always giving it their all.”
“We are lucky to have these men and women serving and protecting our country and I can’t thank them enough for all that they do.”
This was Stenhouse’s first holiday tour of USO duty and the young driver thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
“It was an honor to meet our troops and see them in action,” Stenhouse said. “The service and sacrifice of these men and women and their families are inspiring.”
“I have nothing but admiration and gratitude for what they do for our country.”
Michael Waltrip, former driver, Daytona 500 winner and now principal in Michael Waltrip Racing, also granted a few holidays wishes of his own. He and his colleagues participated in ABC’s ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ to help a family in Lincolnton, North Carolina, who had a big heart for foster children but needed an even bigger home.
The Friday family, foster parents to over 30 children took in a teenage boy and his five siblings. Their ranch home, however, needed that bit of a NASCAR makeover in order to have room for the family to celebrate Christmas.
And thanks to Michael Waltrip and his MWR team, the Christmas miracle of a home big enough for all of its children was granted.
Ryan Newman put the final ‘fa la la’ into the holiday season with his annual Ryan Newman Foundation dinner and auction, raising over $340,000 for animal welfare, education and conservation activities. The event also featured a charity fishing tournament, with 148 teams competing.
“Krissie and I appreciate everyone who participated in the fishing tournament,” Newman said. “The weather was perfect.”
While the experts were fishing, Neman actually was schmoozing with sponsors and other fans on a luxury yacht, all in the name of charity.
“I didn’t know what to think of the yacht event,” Newman said. “But it turned out to be a good thing.”
“It was a good way to have some one on one time with me and check out Lake Norman.”
Even the NASCAR race tracks have gotten into the holiday spirit. Charlotte Motor Speedway, in the heart of racing country, has not only been decked out in holiday lights but will also be showing holiday movies throughout the season, all to benefit Speedway Children’s Charities.
The track’s light show, featuring over 800 displays and more than 3 million lights, has been on display, with movies such as ‘A Christmas Story’, ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ and ‘Christmas Vacation’ shown through the end of December.
NASCAR driver Ryan Newman, however, best summed up the sentiments of all of the NASCAR community hoping to spread some good cheer and ‘fa la la’ spirit for the holidays.
“It’s something I think we’ll do again next year.”
