Dale Earnhardt Jr

Jeremy Dunn asked:


The 2008 NASCAR Racing Sprint Cup season was dominated by a small circle of teams that have ingeniously advanced their entire programs over the past four or five years. Most NASCAR fans will agree the Roush Fenway Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Joe Gibbs Racing are at the zenith of the sport when it comes to on-track performance and achievements. Take a glimpse at the driver roster for each of the above mentioned teams. Roush Fenway Racing boasts a blend of talented personalities in Carl Edwards, Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle, David Ragan, and Jamie McMurray. Hendrick Motorsports owns perhaps the most star-studded lineup in NASCAR history with Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr, and Mark Martin. Richard Childress Racing possesses perhaps the most consistent trio of drivers with Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick, and Clint Bowyer. He added former Hendrick Motorsports driver Casey Mears to his driver roster for the 2009 season. Joe Gibbs Racing has the youthful vigor of Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and rookie Joey Logano, with their ages ranging from 18 to 28. Logano replaces the two-time champion Tony Stewart. In 2006, the four teams made up eight of the ten drivers in the Chase for the Championship. In 2007, they occupied ten of the twelve slots in the ten-race championship chase. In 2008, the entire Chase for the Championship field was drivers and teams from the ‘big four’. Clearly, it is no surprise that other teams may tremble at the thought of having to compete with these juggernauts. However, there are a few teams out there with drivers and personnel capable of giving the big four a run for their money.

Earnhardt Ganassi Racing: Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates were separate entities prior to the merger in November of 2008. Remember the Coors Light Dodge battling the Budweiser Chevrolet in the early 2000’s? Now they are one operation, combining their resources with the intention of competing at a higher level. Earnhardt Ganassi Racing has their share of critics, but they have two talented drivers with solid sponsors. Martin Truex Jr qualified for the Chase for the Championship in 2007 after winning his first race at Dover. Truex Jr quickly became a popular driver with his laidback outdoorsmen demeanor. Juan Pablo Montoya is not one of the more popular drivers in the Sprint Cup garage, but no one can say that he is not talented. Montoya and Truex Jr are both capable of winning a race in 2009 with Earnhardt Ganassi Racing equipment. In fact, the organization is practically depending on it. Aric Almirola is expected to compete in all thirty-six races in 2009 in the No. 8 car. Stewart Haas Racing: Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman are significant upgrades from Johnny Sauter and Scott Riggs, but how will they stack up against the big four? Stewart Haas Racing will use engines and chassis supplied by Hendrick Motorsports, but they are no Hendrick Motorsports, at least not yet. In due course, this team will flourish with Stewart and Newman as the drivers. Stewart is a two-time champion and Newman is a Daytona 500 champion so they do not lack credentials. Stewart and Newman winning a race in 2009 is not that far-fetched, especially on the restrictor plate tracks as well as the road courses. It would come as a surprise if they are fast enough to contend at the 1.5-mile and 2-mile tracks.

Richard Petty Motorsports: Like Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, Richard Petty Motorsports is fresh off a merger and name change. Formerly Gillett Evernham Motorsports and Petty Enterprises, they are now one team with four drivers. Kasey Kahne is the star, the driver that will likely produce the best results. Elliott Sadler is the veteran who has struggled in recent years, but hopes to turn the corner. Reed Sorenson and A.J. Allmendinger are hungry young drivers itching to earn a trip to victory lane. Kahne provides the only real threat to the big four. Allmendinger may emerge as a pleasant surprise if he has the opportunity to compete in the full slate of races. Penske Racing: Kurt Busch is the only driver in Penske Racing’s three-team shop that can really threaten the big four. Busch qualified for the Chase for the Championship in 2007 after winning two races. Ryan Newman won thirteen races in Penske Racing equipment, but bolted after three sub par seasons. David Stremme replaces Newman, but you get the feeling that Penske settled for his test driver. Sam Hornish Jr is comparable to Jeff Gordon or Jimmie Johnson when he is driving in the Indy Racing League, but his results in NASCAR Racing have been downright awful. Hornish may begin to show signs of potential in 2009.

Yates Racing: Yates Racing has made some bold moves this off-season. After forming an alliance with Hall of Fame Racing, they were able to use the Ask.com sponsorship to lure 2000 champion Bobby Labonte to their neck of the woods. Labonte joins Paul Menard and Travis Kvapil. Menard and his sponsor, Menard’s, fled Dale Earnhardt Inc, joined Yates Racing, meaning that the team has two fully sponsored cars. Travis Kvapil may not compete in all races unless sponsorship is found. Labonte may contend on the restrictor plate tracks, and possibly the short tracks. Menard still has a lot to prove in NASCAR’s highest level of competition. Red Bull Racing: Red Bull Racing has a couple of young drivers that will put it all on the line. Brian Vickers owns a Sprint Cup victory and had shown considerable progress in his two years at Red Bull Racing. Scott Speed is a rookie, and it may take a few banged up race cars before he fully catches on to this NASCAR Racing thing. Michael Waltrip Racing: David Reutimann is Michael Waltrip Racing’s strongest driver based on his result over the 2008 season. He ended the season on a high note with solid performances at Texas and Homestead. Michael Waltrip has yet to show any signs of contending in his own equipment. Marcos Ambrose will be a contender on the road course tracks, but he may struggle on the ovals.



DELBERT

Robert Ronne asked:


What, in the name of Richard Petty, is happening to my NASCAR? I want to fall in love again. I want to get that feeling back-like an old relationship that fizzled and you’re still trying to figure out the classic WWW question…What Went Wrong? Let’s go back to the good old days-the year 2001.

 

NASCAR was popular but only to a certain demographic-the good old boys of the South. Dale Earnhardt Sr. died in the first race of 2001-the Daytona 500. Ironically, his death struck a chord with fans and non-fans alike;suddenly NASCAR reached a new level and elevated the sport. Dale Earnhardt Jr. became the icon apparent after that tragic day, not by choice but by birthright. This unfortunate moment in time by virtue of one tragic moment put NASCAR in primetime ratings territory.

 

With this new found success came corporate money and lots of it. Suddenly race teams became super-teams, leaving the less fortunate behind. Those owners that already had a super-star racer could afford to add to their stable of studs. Jeff Gordon spawned Jimmie Johnson, Rusty Wallace spawned Kurt Busch, Mark Martin spawned Matt Kenseth, Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards etc. etc. All of the sudden, young drivers became the stars, leaving Dale Jarrett, Ricky Rudd, Sterling Marlin, Terry Labonte, Bobby Labonte and Kenny Schrader behind… and insignificant. The very men that carried the momentum left by Cale Yarborough and Donnie Allison in the infamous 1979 Daytona 500 fist fight on CBS(The first Nascar race nationally televised in it’s entirety). In this article I gave you a breakdown of what brought us to the NASCAR we know and love at this point in time. In Part 2, I will speak and offer comments on why NASCAR will dwindle in attendance and T.V. ratings in the future, unless things change significantly.

  

Once, just once, I would like to see Kyle Petty win a race in NASCAR…or finish in the top 5 or the top 10. Heck, 15th place would be something to see. Petty, Bobby Labonte, Elliot Sadler, Michael Waltrip or anyone outside the top 20 in standings have no chance of being so lucky…or consistent. Today, in NASCAR, your charisma, charm and looks dictate how well you will perform throughout the season.

 

I have a theory; if you have 2 of the 3 characteristics, you will have a much better opportunity of getting a ride on one of the top tier teams. Top 20 driver, pretty much guaranteed. The other drivers on the cusp or borderline of these traits get a drive on the remainder of teams or the Nationwide Series…the others with talent…well, you can tune into the Craftsman Truck Series. A wealthy Sprint Cup team and it’s sponsors(multi-billion dollar corporations) want the best drivers who can represent their particular brand. It’s no coincidence that the Sprint Cuppers look like Hollywood “A” list celebrities and the Truck Series drivers look like…well, everyday, average people.

 

The squeaky clean Sprint Cup Series is in danger of alienating its core fans by offering a product that used to be competitive and exciting into predictable and dull. The Truck Series, which has not been affected as much by big money, has become the predominantly more competitive and captivating series. This is Sprint Cup racing at it’s peak excitement years, 10-15 years ago. Any one of these drivers has a legitimate chance of winning and this, more than anything, is why we attend or tune into a race or any sporting event in the first place…the outcome is not a guarantee or lock. Sprint Cup is in danger of becoming too predictable…the top 12 drivers have an 80% chance of winning a race. To paint a better picture, if you were betting on NFL games and guaranteed these odds, you would be able to buy your own NASCAR team in a few years.

 

Formula 1, considered to be the highest tier of auto racing, has for decades been the highest tier of materialism and excess. The product is secondary. North American race fans have always put a premium on quality of product…the NASCAR product is in danger of losing its base fans because the product has become secondary. Here’s what must change or the NASCAR fans interest and patience will slowly show with wavering attendance and television ratings.

 

(1) RACE TRACKS MUST BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE: Daytona, Talladega and Bristol give the fans the most competitive and exciting races for your dollar. These six races in a 36 race season allow us to watch close bumper to bumper racing with the potential of a caution at any moment. These three tracks exhibit one common characteristic…deep banking on the turns thus creating high speed action and close racing…and yes accidents. The appeal of racing is danger. Not so much risk that someone gets injured but a sense that one wrong move or mishap could create an edge for one driver and the end of the day for another. That’s drama and that’s what fans want. The majority of tracks do not offer such excitement. Most of the tracks offer single line racing with the superior car slowly picking off cars one by one; no three wide racing…just safe racing usually dominated by the 12-15 elite teams.

 

(2) REVENUE SHARING WILL CREATE PARITY: Let’s spread the wealth a bit to ensure the future of this sport. Television revenue should be disbursed accordingly to the weaker teams and down to the stronger teams. With more cash, the little guy could afford the technology necessary in gaining an edge in racing. Hendrick, Roush and the other SuperTeams need some competition or fans WILL become bored with the same drivers winning.

 

(3) CAUTION FREE RACING=CARS TAKING HUGE LEADS=BORING RACE: The elite teams are so superior today that these cars are establishing big leads early in the race thus leaving the bottom tier teams a lap down, in some cases, 25 laps into the race. This, coupled with the drivers “playing it safe” for the first three quarters of the race has made viewers impatient with the broadcast and reaching for the remote. I’ve been to three races in New Hampshire and can vouch that about forty percent of the fans are out of their seats and searching for souvenirs or food(or beer) after about 20 laps. Of course, most are back watching for the last 20 laps but I cannot say as much for the television viewer…the race is probably forgotten about at this point.

 

(4) TOO MANY COMMERCIALS DURING TELEVISION BROADCASTS: Isn’t racing one big commercial? Just look at the cars, the driver’s and pit crew’s uniforms…heck, the scroll at the top of your screen has a sponsor changing on screen every 10 minutes. Too many commercials=lack of interest. A better way, if all the commercials are necessary for ESPN, ABC, FOX etc. to break even, why not have a split screen with the race broadcast continuously? In any case, the networks have to bring the race back to the fans and not show themselves as some greedy money machine.

 

(5) MORE FOCUS ON THE LOWER TIER DRIVERS DURING BROADCASTS: Every driver in racing is important. Even if the chances of winning are slim for some, every driver WANTS to win and improve every week. One driver that has a season under his(or her) belt is a year of experience and growth mentally and technologically for the the driver and team. We, as race fans, need to see a part of each racer and their strategies(and pit stops) throughout a race. Watching Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the majority of the broadcast does not allow the fan to fully appreciate the drama that is racing. I’d like to know how fast Kyle Petty is going, how many laps Bobby Labonte is down, if Mark Martin’s car is running well or having problems.

 

I feel that the networks see a lot of these drivers as background scenery, to use a movie analogy. By leaving these drivers in the dust and focusing only on drivers with a high Q rating, the networks are only reinforcing the fact that the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit is dominated and ran by the elite.

 

Let’s hope that the people of NASCAR do not turn this amazing sport into Formula 1 and alienate a sector of fans…I want to LOVE NASCAR again…not just like it!

 

  Visit my blog at:

   http://mytwocentsbyscott.blogspot.com/

 



DAVIS

Jeremy Dunn asked:


According to a multitude of fans and media members, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. encountered a travesty of a season while driving for Hendrick Motorsports in 2008. Apparently, he was supposed to jump into a Hendrick Motorsports prepared car and post Jimmie Johnson-like stats. When the 2008 season began last February at Daytona, Earnhardt, Jr. captured the Bud Shootout and one of the Gatorade 125 races, increasing his expectations even more.

As the season progressed, Earnhardt, Jr. enjoyed several solid showings throughout the first half of the year. He nearly won a number of races, most notably at Richmond in May when he was spun by Kyle Busch with just a handful of laps remaining. In fact, for the first quarter of the season, Earnhardt, Jr. was arguably the top performing Hendrick Motorsports driver despite the fact that he was shut out of victory lane.

The first win finally occurred at the 2-mile speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. Earnhardt, Jr. ran among the top five and ten for most of the race, but it was superior fuel mileage that earned him his first and only victory of the season.

Earnhardt, Jr. spent most of the first half of the season among the top three in the Sprint Cup championship standings.

Following his victory at Michigan, Earnhardt, Jr.’s performance began to wane a little. He would only score one top ten finish in the preceding ten races; nevertheless, he still easily qualified for the ten raceChase for the Championship.

His championship pursuit was far from spectacular, as he scored only three top ten finishes in the final ten races and finished last among all twelve drivers in the Chase for the Championship in the standings. Certainly, it was not an ideal way to begin his career at Hendrick Motorsports; however, was it a disaster?

It seems as if Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has topped everyone’s list as the most disappointing driver of the 2008 Sprint Cup campaign. He could have done a lot worse.

Firstly, let us take a glimpse at some hard facts. Earnhardt, Jr. finished twelfth in the championship standings, better than Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Kasey Kahne, Bobby Labonte, Juan Pablo Montoya, Martin Truex, Jr., Jamie McMurray, and other familiar stars.

He scored ten top five finishes. Only six drivers in the entire Sprint Cup series scored more top five finishes. Under the traditional championship format, Earnhardt, Jr. would have placed seventh in the final standings, higher than Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, and Matt Kenseth.

He completed 98.6 percent of the laps he races, which is a personal career high. His average running position was 11.6, fourth among all drivers.

Most significantly, Earnhardt, Jr. won a race, something that Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Matt Kenseth, and twenty-two other full-time drivers could not accomplish.

A true measure of a driver’s performance is the driver ratings. Driver rating’s are an intricate formula consisting of wins, finishes, top fifteen finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green flag conditions, fastest laps, most laps led, and lead lap finishes. Basically, the driver’s with the highest rating are the ones that are frequently running near the front of the pack.

Earnhardt, Jr. finished the season with a driver rating of 99.0, which was fourth among all Sprint Cup drivers. Only Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, and Kyle Busch produced a better driver rating than Earnhardt, Jr, whose rating was higher than Jeff Gordon, Greg Biffle, Kevin Harvick, and Tony Stewart.

So fans, was Dale Earnhardt, Jr. really that awful?

He is the most popular driver in NASCAR, and that comes with monumental exposure. Additionally, he is the son of seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt, Sr, which that alone adds insurmountable pressure. Honestly, it does not matter how well Dale Earnhardt, Jr. performs, he will always fall short of expectations, because people expect his performance to match is popularity, which is utterly impossible. He is a victim of his own name and fame.



STEFAN

Cathy Jones asked:


Dale Earnhardt Jr. is going to honor his father’s birthday at the Talladega Superspeedway by driving a replica of his black No. 3 Chevrolet with white lettering and silver and red stripes. Hoping he will achieve to evoke the feeling that used to go around the track when any driver saw the car on their rearview mirror. Only this time the car will be showing No.8 since his father’s No.3 has not been displayed on the tracks since his death in 2001.

The act is a tribute part of a larger act of greeting at Dale Earnhardt Inc., which is celebrating 3 events Earnhardt’s thursday night induction into the Motorsports Hall of Fame, his overall accomplishments at Talladega and his 55th birthday, which would have been Sunday.

Birthdays bring happier memories, which is why, it is correct to assume, the change of attitude in Earnhart Jr. He was not comfortable last February in the celebration of the anniversary of hthe champion’s death.

What brings drama to the event is that after all, it is Talladega and Daytona where he is more like his father, the two fastest and more dangerous tracks. Dale Earnhardt was the leading man at restrictor-plate racing, especially at Talladega. Junior inherited the skill required to work the draft, he has five victories at Talladega and two at Daytona.



AURELIO

SBG Press asked:


If you’re into Nascar you are more than aware of the race at Dover this weekend, the famous concrete beast some of last year’s victims of the beast were Matt Kenseth (Roush Racing), Kyle Busch (Hendrick Motorsports), and Kevin Harvick (Richard Childress Racing), all of which are going to redeem their selves this Sunday.

Dover will be the 3rd event in a row to display the COT cars (Car of Tomorrow) a new car design that is supposed to be lighter and faster so it makes drivers able to pass up front when they trail the driver up front by a few seconds, two must see match ups will be between Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick Motors) and Jeff Gordon (Hendrick Motors), the other between Kevin Harvick (Richard Childress Racing) vs Dale Earnhardt Jr.(Dale Earnhardt Inc).

At SBGGlobal.com we have the odds for the Dover 400 as follows:

Odds To Win Dover 400

Rot # Team PS Total ML

Fri, 21 Sep 2007

03:00 PM

1 J GORDON - - +550

2 J JOHNSON - - +500

3 T STEWART - - +500

4 D HAMLIN - - +700

5 M KENSETH - - +1200

6 C EDWARDS - - +1000

7 KURT BUSCH - - +1000

8 KYLE BUSCH - - +1200

9 D EARNHARDT JR - - +1500

10 K HARVICK - - +1500

11 J BURTON - - +2500

12 R NEWMAN - - +1200

13 M TRUEX JR - - +1500

14 C BOWYER - - +1500

15 C MEARS - - +4500

16 G BIFFLE - - +4500

17 K KAHNE - - +3000

18 J MCMURRAY - - +6500

19 M MARTIN - - +4000

20 FIELD (ALL OTHERS) - - +2000

By joining SBGGlobal you will be a part of our initial deposit bonus, our loyalty program and many other great promotions.



WAYNE

Jeremy Dunn asked:


The term silly season is an extensively used term in the world of NASCAR. It refers to the period during the season when drivers, sponsors, and other various team members announce their plans for the following season, usually meaning that they are moving to a different team. The NASCAR silly season usually began around mid-summer and lasted until early autumn, in plenty of time to prepare for the succeeding season. Throughout the silly season, many rumors regarding drivers and teams and their future whereabouts swirl through the garage and into the World Wide Web.However, much has changed in the world of NASCAR, and silly season is not immune to changes. For an assortment of reasons, silly season begins much earlier in the season, and does not seem to end, and if it does, it is weeks before the Daytona 500. Each year, it has become increasingly lengthy.

Take the 2007 season for example. Even before the drop of the green flag at Daytona in February, it was common knowledge that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was entering the final year of his contract with Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Add his contract situation to his purported feud with his stepmother Teresa Earnhardt, who owned the majority of DEI, and you had a wide variety of rumors as to what Dale Earnhardt Jr was going to do in 2008. From January to May, fans wondered where NASCAR’s most popular driver was going to call his home.Some thought it was with Richard Childress Racing while others swore he was headed to Joe Gibbs Racing. Others thought he would join the now defunct Ginn Racing. In the end, Dale Earnhardt Jr signed to drive for Hendrick Motorsports. Therefore, Kyle Busch had to find a new home, and eventually signed with Joe Gibbs Racing.Silly season can begin as early as March in today’s NASCAR. In 2008, Roush Fenway Racing driver Jamie McMurray found himself in the midst of silly season discussions. Following the race at Bristol in March, which is only the fifth race of the season that encompassed 36 races, McMurray’s team had fallen outside the top 35 in owner’s points. Immediately, there was speculation regarding his future. That did not end until late-summer when he and Jack Roush stated that McMurray would return to the organization in 2008.

By April,Tony Stewart and Ryan Newman dominated silly season headlines.They ended up leaving Joe Gibbs Racing and Penske Racing respectively and are now teammates at Stewart Haas Racing.Silly season never really ended in 2008. Due to sponsorship woes caused from the feeble economic conditions, many teams closed shop, while others merged with rival teams. In either case, hundreds of people were laid off. Following the 2008 season, DEI and Chip Ganassi Racing became Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, and they have yet to seal their 2009 driver lineup and sponsorship plans. Petty Enterprises merged with Gillett Evernham Motorsports, which meant that the 45 team is no more, and the 10 team may become a part-time effort.

Bobby Labonte left Petty Enterprises to join Hall of Fame Racing, which merged with Yates Racing. Due to the merger and other sponsorship dilemmas, the futures of David Gilliland and Travis Kvapil are unclear. Let us rewind back to the Gillett Evernham Motorsports soap opera. In December, team officials revealed their desire to replace Elliott Sadler with A.J. Allmendinger. Sadler threatened to sue the team, and they ultimately retracted their plans. Allmendinger may end up driving a partial schedule if sponsorship continues to lack within the organization.The bottom line is that silly season is no longer a season. It is now a way of life. It is unremitting in NASCAR, and unless you are firmly established with your team and your sponsor, no driver is immune from the drama that is NASCAR silly season.



HARLAN

Jeremy Dunn asked:


12. Dale Earnhardt, Jr.-

While many may assert that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was a disappointment in his first year driving for the Hendrick Motorsports juggernaut, his season was not that bad when weighed against his teammates. Aside from Jimmie Johnson, it is difficult to say that his teammates outperformed him. Jeff Gordon enjoyed several solid races towards the end of the season, but overall, Earnhardt, Jr. won a race and led more laps.

Hendrick Motorsports was not the same ascendant operation they were in 2007, so the season fell short of expectations in comparison.

In 2009, expect Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to improve upon the 2008 season and qualify for the Chase for the Championship for the second consecutive season. He will likely win a race or two.

11. Matt Kenseth-

The goose egg in the win column for Matt Kenseth in 2008 is rather baffling. Although Kenseth does not win races in bundles, he has won at least one race in every season from 2002 to 2007. Following a sluggish start to the season, Kenseth’s performance picked up, but not at the level that he is accustomed. He scored 20 top ten finishes, more than all drivers with the exception of Jimmie Johnson, Carl Edwards, and Kyle Busch, so consistency was not the issue. He simply did not put himself in position to win very often.

In 2009, Kenseth should return to victory lane. Furthermore, a driver with his consistency is unlikely to miss the Chase for the Championship.

10. Kyle Busch-

Kyle Busch had the field covered for the first 26 races of the 2008 campaign, as he amassed eight victories. However, once the Chase for the Championship started, his championship aspirations suddenly vanished. Mechanical woes and performance issues haunted Kyle Busch and the 18 team throughout the final ten races.

Overall, Busch had a superb season in NASCAR In all three of NASCAR’s premier series, no other driver won as frequently as Busch, as he recorded 21 total victories. Moreover, it was his first year piloting Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas.

Kyle Busch may not win eight races in 2009, but he is one of the favorites to capture the Sprint Cup championship, and rightfully so. Expect him to win three or four races, and contend for the championship.

9. Tony Stewart-

Tony Stewart was in the headlines quite frequently in 2008, but it was not for his on-track accomplishments. Stewart will endeavor to administer his own Sprint Cup operation in 2009 and beyond with Ryan Newman as his teammate. Ironically, Stewart’s maddening season began when Newman passed him on the backstretch on the final lap of the Daytona 500.

Stewart’s only victory occurred at Talladega, but it was in October, more than a year following his previous victory at Watkins Glen in August of 2007.

It is difficult to project how the 2009 season will transpire for Stewart and Stewart Haas Racing. Stewart will likely contend for wins on restrictor plate tracks and road course tracks, but other than that, we will have to take the ‘wait and see’ approach.

8. Denny Hamlin-

Following his remarkable rookie season in 2006, Denny Hamlin has shown modest improvement. He is one of the more consistent drivers in the series, and he has qualified for the Chase for the

Overall, Busch had a superb season in Championship in each of the last three seasons, but it is time for Hamlin and the 11 team to contend for championships. While his teammate Kyle Busch won eight races, Hamlin only recorded one victory. However, Hamlin enjoyed some strong performances at Atlanta, Phoenix, and Homestead towards the end of the season.

In 2009, look for Hamlin to post similar results as the last couple of years. Nevertheless, this could be one of the few teams in the top twelve that does not return to the ten-race showdown next fall.

7. Jeff Gordon-

For the first time since his rookie season in 1993, Jeff Gordon failed to reach victory lane. However, it was not a terrible year for Gordon and the 24 group by any means. Throughout the spring months, Gordon hit a minor skid on the intermediate tracks, but the program seemed to improve during the second half of the season. Gordon’s season was similar to Matt Kenseth’s in the fact that he was competitive, just not enough to challenge for many wins. Gordon posted thirteen top five finishes and nineteen top ten finishes.

In 2009, Gordon will win a race, if not two, three, or four. It is still too early to anoint him as the championship favorite, but do not be surprised to see the 24 car chasing the championship next fall.



GORDON

Jeff Walding asked:


There is no question that Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the top racers in Nascar. He has built up a reputable image through fine racing and countless wins. However, racing is not the only thing this incredible person brings to the sport.

As many are well aware of, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a third generation driver in a family that has been connected to the sport of stock car racing for years. He has a flare of charisma, originality, and character that have propelled him to become one of the most popular figures in sports today. Five times Nascar fans have selected him as the winner of the most popular driver award. Thousands of fans line up at every track at his merchandise trailer just to get something with his name on it. It is hard to see where he has time to meet with so many of his fans but he does. That is what makes him so popular.

His appeal certainly branches outside of just Nascar fans though. He has appeared many times on Harris Interactive’s annual polling for America’s Top 10 favorite athletes. This has put him in the company of such athletes as Michael Jordan, Derek Jeter, and Tiger Woods. In 2002, Dale was named one of People magazine’s 50 Most Eligible Bachelors.

Outside of racing, he has become a role model for young ones with his business savvy as well. He has pursued the role of team owner and businessman while ascending in this too. In 2002 JR Motor sports consisted of just six employees and a street-stocked camaro was the only race car. Today, the company encompasses over 100 employees and a plethora of different vehicles that compete in the Nascar Racing Nationwide series.

If that were not enough, he has appeared on over 150 magazine covers and has been featured in high profiled publications such as Rolling Stones, GQ, Men’s Journal, Sports Illustrated and People Magazine. Dale Earnhardt Jr. has also made guest appearances on 60 minutes, the Late Show with David Letterman, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the Today Show, Good Morning America, Larry King Live and many more talk shows. He has also appeared in numerous commercials for his sponsors.

But that was just not enough for this Nascar racing star either. He has played cameo roles in Talladega Nights and Cars, and was the subject of an episode of MTV’s Diary. To further add to his resume, in 2001 he became a best-selling author with Driver 8. This is a documentation of his rookie season in the Nascar Sprint Cup Series.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has done tremendous things for the sport of Nascar. Through his countless victories and ambitious personality, he has become a true role model for people all over the world. He has shown that there is life outside of sports with cameos and his documentary book and has given kids a reason to strive for their goals. There really is no question why he is one of America’s Top 10 favorite athletes.



JOHN