[vincesanity82]

Driving like a bat out of hell, Dale Earnhardt Jr drove with more fire and determination than any other driver on the track.

Starting in the 21st position and suffering setbacks due to bad pitstops made by his team, Earnhardt seemed to be the only person on his team who cared to be in the Chase. He was a lone wolf on the track making his way to the front. He would have finished in the top 5, but guess what. Another DEI engine failure with only a few laps remaining doomed his night.

Couple the passion and talent Earnhardt displayed in the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 with the superior engineering and teamwork of Hendrick Motorsports and I think it's a given that Jr will be in the Chase come 2008.

Dale Earnhardt Jr Earns Respect

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

Driving like a bat out of hell, Dale Earnhardt Jr drove with more fire and determination than any other driver on the track.

Starting in the 21st position and suffering setbacks due to bad pitstops made by his team, Earnhardt seemed to be the only person on his team who cared to be in the Chase. He was a lone wolf on the track making his way to the front. He would have finished in the top 5, but guess what. Another DEI engine failure with only a few laps remaining doomed his night.

Couple the passion and talent Earnhardt displayed in the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 with the superior engineering and teamwork of Hendrick Motorsports and I think it's a given that Jr will be in the Chase come 2008.

Dale Earnhardt Jr Earns Respect

That is why they expanded it to 12 this year. How far will they have to go next year to assure him a shot at the big prize ?

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

That is why they expanded it to 12 this year. How far will they have to go next year to assure him a shot at the big prize ?

When did they say that? I never heard them say they expanded to 12 for dale jr.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by vincesanity82

When did they say that? I never heard them say they expanded to 12 for dale jr.

Well come on Vince. Do you really believe they would say it out loud ??? Why do you think they went from 10 to 12 ???

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Well come on Vince. Do you really believe they would say it out loud ??? Why do you think they went from 10 to 12 ???

exactly, they never said it, but then again hating on Jr. seems to be the popular thing so go ahead. '08 will be different..

[obrien]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Well come on Vince. Do you really believe they would say it out loud ??? Why do you think they went from 10 to 12 ???

Since Jr made the chase last year, why would they feel the need to change it to 12 just for Jr to get in.

The sad part is, a simple spoiler bracket is what kept him out of the chase?

[Phils20]

No, putting an illegal spoiler bracket put him out of the chase. But there were at least two others that had 100 point penalties, and made it. Kurt Busch and Jeff Gordon.

An oversight by the team put him out.

I do think that goes to show NASCAR doesn't give him special treatment.

Also, five blown motors put him out

The TV coverage might shove him down out throat, but I think he is treated like any other driver by NASCAR.

Best of luck to him next year, and I don't mean that as a smart aleck. I think he is fine, a good driver, and seems to be a decent guy. The media's obsession with him is just out of control!

[Phils20]

Oh, and I think he missed by 123 points, so the bracket didn't even matter in the end.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by obrien

Since Jr made the chase last year, why would they feel the need to change it to 12 just for Jr to get in.

The sad part is, a simple spoiler bracket is what kept him out of the chase?

No ... he lost 100 points for that but ended up 201 points behind Harvick.

[jks812]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

That is why they expanded it to 12 this year. How far will they have to go next year to assure him a shot at the big prize ?

Actually Jr made the chase last year. Tony is the one that didn't make it. So did they expand it to 12 this year to help Tony get in?

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by jks812

Actually Jr made the chase last year. Tony is the one that didn't make it. So did they expand it to 12 this year to help Tony get in?

Just in case !!!!!

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by jks812

Actually Jr made the chase last year. Tony is the one that didn't make it. So did they expand it to 12 this year to help Tony get in?

Hmm..valid point there jks, people must've forgot that..

[NASCAR Gnome]

My wife, who does not follow auto racing of any kind, much less stock cars, made the comment to me when I told her about Junior leaving DEI that he would not win anything this year because his team would not put out the effort to help him win!

I find it surprising that the "other" Junior at DEI, i.e., Truex Jr., gets engines that don't blow up and makes the chase but the marquee name - the very namesake of the team - has all sorts of problems plaguing him not once but consistently that "mysteriously" start to appear AFTER he announces he's not returning to the team next season! No matter what anyone says, I find the circumstances of that rather "interesting" to say the least! Black helicopters? No, but I think my wife, in all her innocence, might be onto something!

Let me say this about me: I'm NOT a Dale Jr. fan. I like and respect Junior because I think he's a very good driver and he seems to be a really down-to-earth person, but I'm an open-wheel convert so I favor the likes of Tony Stewart and JP Montoya more than others.

[jks812]

I don't think Jr could have tried any harder than he did Sat. night, he and the team both. But I am wondering why he's had all the engine failures he's had and Truex and Menard doesn't seem to have that problem. I can't understand it being her having it done so that he won't win, after all Jr winning is still DEI winning.

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by jks812

I don't think Jr could have tried any harder than he did Sat. night, he and the team both. But I am wondering why he's had all the engine failures he's had and Truex and Menard doesn't seem to have that problem. I can't understand it being her having it done so that he won't win, after all Jr winning is still DEI winning.

One way of looking at it is that Menard isn't beating on his car the way Jr is. Running quietly in 40th place or beating the crap out of your car trying to win may have some effect on your engines ability to stay in one piece. I'm not saying that is the only reason but it could well be a contributing factor.