Time For The Real Dale Jr. To Step Up

This shapes up to be a watershed season for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Rick Hendrick has publicly committed  to giving him what he needs to join the rest of the HMS cars in Victory Lane, as well as the Chase.

Just making the Chase would be a huge step up for Junior. Being able to actually compete for the championship, (9 or 10 chasers realistically have no real shot)  is what Earnhardt REALLY needs. For his legion of fans sure, but mostly for himself.

Rick can’t make this happen. All he can do is give him the tools to make it happen. The important part now, is up to Lil “E” and crew chief Lance McGrew.

The first improvement that we need to see is to eliminate the pit road mistakes. Getting the car into the pit stall is the first ingredient of a good stop, and about the only one the driver, (with an assist from the crew chief,) can control. These seemed to be getting better last season, so hopefully these mistakes are behind them.

So far, with a front row start, the season is getting off to a good
beginning, but it’s just a beginning. A good Daytona, would be great, and Earnhardt has shown himself to be a very capable plate racer. However, the real season begins at California. To be a championship contender, a team has to get it done on the mile and a half downforce tracks.

I’ll be watching the 88 very carefully for the first few races. You  don’t have to have a good start, to have a good finish. Mark Martin proved that last year, but you do need to show some signs of life
Junior is starting his third season at Hendrick, his first full season with Lance McGrew as crew chief.

Neither move so far has borne much fruit. In his last five years, his
season finishes were, 19th, 5th, 16th, 12th, and 25th, with 3 wins.
2 of these wins were at DEI. Junior. will be 35 this year. He’s been in Cup for 11 years, with 18 victories. His best year was ‘04 with 6 wins. His highest point finish was ‘03 when he finished third. Both with DEI.

If he were to retire now, he would be tied for 36th in all time wins, by no means a bad career so far. Not really relevant, but kind of interesting, his stats currently show 88 top 5 finishes, and 8 poles.

With 11 seasons, and at 35, he should be in the prime of his career. The numbers tell a different story. Since 2003 and 2004, they show a career in decline.

2010 looks to be his best opportunity to reverse that trend.