NASCAR’s most popular driver isn’t getting much attention these days despite a strong start that has him in the top 10 of the standings.
That’s weird for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who usually can’t do anything without attracting a flock of followers who hang on his every move – both on and off the track.
“It’s considerably more low key than it has been in the past,” he said. “The first four years in the series was pretty wide open. Last year sort of took a lot of spotlight off us and put it on some other drivers that were coming into the series.”
“In a sense, it’s kind of fine with me. But at the same time, you want to be as successful as you can in the sport. We definitely want to get back to our form on the race track. I think everything else will take care of itself.”
Earnhardt will try to race his way back into the spotlight at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, where he starts 19th in today’s race.
Qualifying was washed out by rain, so the field was set based on last year’s owner’s points – and everyone knows how terrible 2005 was for Earnhardt.
He started last year with a new crew, never found any chemistry or rhythm and failed to qualify for the Chase for the championship. He wound up a career-worst 19th in the final standings.
But he was reunited with crew chief Tony Eury Jr. – who is also his cousin – for the final 10 races of last year and gave his Dale Earnhardt Inc. team a head start on this season. The early preparation has paid off with two top-10 finishes in the first four races, including a third place Monday in Atlanta. He’s currently seventh in the standings.
“We’re definitely better than we were last year,” Earnhardt said.
Busch: Kyle Busch benefited from Greg Biffle’s late tire problem to take the lead with 12 laps to go and held on to win the Sharpie Mini 300 on a cold, snowy day at Bristol.
Biffle led 29 of the final 40 laps and was headed to the win when the wheel became loose on his Ford and he had to relinquish the lead to pit. As he ducked off the track, Busch slid past him.
Qualifying was canceled earlier Saturday because of flurries, and the race was stopped for a whiteout after just 32 laps.
IRL: Danica Patrick considered her rookie season a learning experience.
And no one expects more from the top IndyCar Series rookie in year two than Patrick, who celebrated her 24th birthday by posting the third fastest qualifying lap of 216.798 mph for the season-opening Toyota Indy 300 in Homestead, Fla.
Patrick trailed only Marlboro Team Penske teammates Sam Hornish Jr. and Helio Castroneves in qualifying. Hornish picked up his seventh career pole and second at Homestead with a lap of 218.539, while Castroneves was well back in second at 218.087.
