[PenelopePitStop]

See?! That's my boy! Moping? My a$$!

Earnhardt says he is eager to move on after another disappointing finish

By Mike Mulhern
JOURNAL REPORTER

HOMESTEAD, Fla.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s career at Dale Earnhardt Inc. ended painfully here Sunday night, with mistakes, bad luck and a couple of crashes that sent him out the gate at Homestead-Miami Speedway a dejected 36th.
It was another miserable night, ending what has been a dismal fall for Earnhardt, the 32-year-old NASCAR star.

Earnhardt didn’t make the Chase, after four engine failures over the summer. And he went winless for the season. Earnhardt’s last tour win was over a year and a half ago.

“I am going to go home, take a deep breath, and try to take a little time off,” he said. “We have a photo shoot this week with adidas. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to work much but....”

Earnhardt said he expected a more emotional parting with the guys who have been his crew for so long.

“I guess I thought I would be sadder, but I am not,” he said. “I still have all these guys as friends; that is even better than the working relationship.

“It is over, it is over, and I am going to go do something else. They have things to worry about, they have to move on, I am sure they will.

“I try not to let my confidence get abused or hurt, but so many things happened this year. You may not think it is your fault or you did anything wrong … but someone on the other side of the fence may see it better.”

And now?

“I can’t wait to get to work, get this over with, get past this.”

[SpaceCadet]

I'm happy for Jr. I think he'll be much happier at this time next year. He deserves a string of good luck for a change. Let's hope he gets it.