[simple simon]

let me first say i have no angle in the topic .... i neither love or hate Jr or HMS ..... just an outsiders opinion as a 30+ year NASCAR fan

this season and next are Dale Earnhardt Jr's last best chances to win it all ... it is my opinion he is in the best equipment with the best engines in all of NASCAR

he has had plenty of time to mature as a driver and come into his own

i would personally say anything less then 3 wins and a top 7 finish in points would be a failure as a driver and a team at this point

if he cant succeed at that level with this team then i believe he likely never will

[oncea3fan]

I can agree with that, it time to put his card on the table.

[bears9]

This is Jr.'s best chance, whether you like it or not Hendrick gives a driver the best chance to win. For all those who said the only reason Jr. wasn't winning at DEI because of his equipment, he has that now.

I think Jr. will win a lot of races and do well in the chase

[Robertdjr]

No doubt about it. If he doesn't do better this year, there's no excuses to fall back on. Nobody can blame Teresa, DEI, engines or the distractions he's had in the past. Like oncea3fan said, time to put his cards on the table.

[PenelopePitStop]

I absolutely agree! Let's see what you got!

I have to say that even if Jr. doesn't do as well as expected, I'll still like him. I'm not a fair-weather fan.

[wingkey1]

He's running decent practice laps over past day or two so at least that element of the teams ability to prepare for races has not fallen off.

We'll be interested to see if they can consistently stay "with" the car throughout the race(s) and if they can get the car to be fast in multiple grooves. Sorry for the "broken record" (We've expressed this before) but they've repeatedly been able to set the car for a single fast groove, but that don't win races.

Tonight is too short and unusual an event to tell the complete story on anyone. This is closer to the local track Saturday night short races, and while great fun, it involves thinking, set ups, etc. notably different than the points races. Maybe there ought to be consideration towards more of these event types during the season that are points races. Hmmmmmm. Don't know if that was a good brain cell firing or a bad one. Don't dare kill it tho, good or bad, can't take the chance that maybe its the last.

[rlhdrider]

His move to HMS is the best place for him, especially when you go to the history of HMS. His dad won Rick's first Busch race, his grandfather was Hendricks first body fabricator, and after all, he did sign a contract on a bar napkin at 15. Rick just didn't want to take him from DEI long ago 'cause he was "afraid of his daddy". Atleast now he is in the best equiptment on the track! If the car doesn't perform, guess it'll fall back on Tony Jr. He's been his crew chief for all but 1 of his seasons.

[Quality88]

Best described.... He needs to "Put up or shut up"

[PenelopePitStop]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Best described.... He needs to "Put up or shut up"

Well ... he just "put up"! Let's hope it lasts!

[bears9]

Last was impressive, now let's see if he can carry it over to next weekend.

[ScottRide]

After last nights performance you have to give him credit for starting off on the right foot. I know it didnt count torwards points, but anytime you get in the car you should want to win and he showed HMS and all his fans thats what he wants to do.

[LSC9901]

That one victory, while nothing in the standing, made a lot of NASCAR points. It told Teresa that Jr can still win, it told Rick Hendricks that Jr can still win and it told Jr that Jr can still win. Did YOU (the race fan) get the message ???

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

That one victory, while nothing in the standing, made a lot of NASCAR points. It told Teresa that Jr can still win, it told Rick Hendricks that Jr can still win and it told Jr that Jr can still win. Did YOU (the race fan) get the message ???

I must have missed the memo

[NASCAR Gnome]

All the talk lately has to do with the "new" car and how different and difficult it is to drive compared to the old car. As a fan, I couldn't care less because all I want to see is good, exciting racing. Having said that, what I also gleaned from listening to the TV people said about this new car is it'll take a driver with some talent - a "wheel man" - to get it around especially when the tires start to wear out. In my mind, there are only a handful of these "wheel men" in racing and I think Junior is one of them.

Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch, Junior, and Carl Edwards are the ones that come immediately to my mind but in order to be successful in this car, you have to be able to control it more than the old car. So I agree that if there's any time where all the elements are aligned in his favor, this is the season where Junior has his best shot to win it all. You know being at HMS, it's less likely his engine will explode so that'll definitely help!

[rlhdrider]

Great start to a new season! Jr finally got what he's been wanting for a long time! Not only the win, but the appreciation of his of his team mates, and most of all the appreciation and acknowledgement from his team owner! Mr. Hendricks in victory lane! The pictures were definatly worth more than 1000 words, a feeling he hadn't had since the death of his father, Teresa never met him there, with a congratulatory hug! Also his reguards for and from the other team drivers. Junior's happy in his new home!!!