Dale Earnhardt Jr.: Top Reasons He's Quietly Having a Terrific Sprint Cup Season
Not being one for fanfare or a place in the spotlight, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has quietly gone about securing a place in the Chase with his new team at Hendrick Motorsports.
The driver of the Amp Energy/National Guard No. 88 Chevrolet is constantly scrutinized for his every move purely because of his name.
Junior faces pressures unlike the other drivers in the top-tier of NASCAR. He is an eight-time Most Popular Driver with a fanbase that outshines all of his competitors.
The trials and tribulations he has faced personally and as a driver in the Sprint Cup series have weighed heavily on him. His mediocre performance in 2009 and 2010 caused him to question his ability.
Now he has dug his way out of the ditch and is finding chemistry with his new team lead by crew chief, Steve Letarte. Performance is consistent, but they know there is still work to be done.
No one wants to break a winless streak worse than Earnhardt Jr. The spotlight is not near as glaring if it shines on Victory Lane.
Let's take a look at the factors which have led to a quiet resurgence in the NASCAR Sprint Cup series and see if they can make him a contender for the 2011 Championship.
1. Winning Atmosphere
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Being in the same building now with consecutive five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson has got to provide an atmosphere that demonstrates the drive to win.
Having closer contact with Johnson and his perfectionist crew chief, Chad Knaus, provides immediate sharing of information with the No. 88 team.
Johnson has a strict regimen that prepares him to race. Though Dale Earnhardt Jr. is hardly known as a health and fitness kind of guy, some of Johnson's habits can't help but rub off a little bit.
2. Staying out of Trouble
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been able to avoid serious damage to his car this season despite having to start in the back half of the field with his less than outstanding qualifying attempts.
He has taken his car for some spins, but manages to keep it off things that could seriously hamper his finish.
Keeping the car out of trouble is key to his consistent strong finishes that keep him up in the points.
3. Fan Support
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Junior Nation is perhaps the largest fan base for a NASCAR driver, except for those who followed his father, the "Intimidator."
The driver wants to win for his fans and for the sport, but he doesn't allow the pressure of expectations to get to him during the winless streak he currently finds himself in.
He is very much his own person and has little doubt he will get back to winning. The massive support he receives in good times and bad can't help but keep him motivated.
4. Qualifying
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The Amp Energy/National Guard No. 88 team headed by crew chief, Steve Letarte, has one weakness they still must overcome.
Qualifying for Junior still leaves a lot to be desired. He typically starts mid-pack, and that not only increases his chance to find trouble, but wastes time trying to weave his way toward the front.
Stronger qualifying positions will also give him better pit stalls.
The team at least knows how to compensate for the bad starting positions by making the car better as the races progress and they realize that qualifying is still a weak link for them.
5. Rick Hendrick
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Everyone expected wins and a championship from Dale Earnhardt Jr. when he was signed by Rick Hendrick in 2008.
Things haven't gone quite as expected, especially with the dismal 2009 and 2010 seasons. Many thought Hendrick could have done more for Junior when the wheels seemed to be coming off.
This season, he has made the move that should give the driver of the No. 88 his best chance to win and contend for the title.
Moving Earnhardt Jr. in with the No. 48 team with the support of Jeff Gordon's former team has proven to be a strong effort toward achieving the winning goals everyone expected back in 2008.
6. Steve Letarte
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Steve Letarte was the crew chief for Jeff Gordon, and though they failed to secure a Cup title, he guided his driver to wins and strong finishes.
Letarte was used to the pressures of having a high profile driver because Gordon is a four-time NASCAR Winston (Sprint) Cup champion. Taking on Earnhardt Jr. was a smooth transition for him.
Letarte is the consummate cheerleader for Junior. The two have good communication and mutual respect for one another. Letarte also has a stricter regimen when it comes to preparation for a race which is good for his driver.
7. Confidence
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The 2009 and 2010 season caused Dale Earnhardt Jr. to wonder if he would ever get back to being a contender for wins.
He always had the confidence in his ability to drive a race car, but he seemed to be in a quagmire that was difficult to get out of.
Now his confidence level is high, and he knows the wins are getting closer though there is still work to do.
The finishes near the front this year have confirmed that given great equipment, good chemistry with the team and his ability to drive the car is indeed a potential winning combination.
8. Upcoming Tracks
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The road course tracks are coming up in the second half of the pre-Chase season for the Cup drivers, and they are hardly Earnhardt Jr.'s favorite places to race.
The flip side is the tracks that he does well on like Michigan and Daytona, which may be his best shots for finding Victory Lane.
Certainly if he continues to finish well like he has been doing, it may not make much difference what track he is on.
There is no doubt Junior can't wait to get back to Daytona, though.
9. Contract Extension
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Earnhardt Jr. confirmed at Charlotte that he and Rick Hendrick were beginning talks about extending his contract.
Junior is in the fourth year of a five year deal and has indicated for some time that he wants to race at Hendrick Motorsports possibly until he ends his career as a Cup driver.
Though the driver of the No. 88 has little doubt of the faith his owner has in him, having an extended contract finalized can provide one more level of comfort that will allow him to concentrate on driving for a championship.
Information on contract extension courtesy of Bob Pockrass at SceneDaily.com May 21, 2011
10. Statistics
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The statistics are proof Dale Earnhardt Jr. is having a terrific season. He is currently third in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Standings only 10 points behind the leader, Carl Edwards.
Despite not having a win this season, his consistent finishes are keeping him strong in the standings. Pocono is generally not a good track for him, yet he was able to finish sixth.
His winless streak is now 107 races, but his three top-five and eight top-10 finishes match those same numbers he had for all of the 36 races in 2010 with him ending 21st in the standings.
If he is to be a contender for the series title, he needs to get some wins, and they seem to be closer than any time since 2008.
Survival on the road-course tracks with top-10 finishes and continued consistency should keep him eligible for the Chase regardless of wins.
With 12 races until the Chase anything can happen, but it sure looks like Junior is going to hang tough with impressive statistics this season.
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