~ Update Dale Jr. ~
#91
08-29-2007, 09:37 PM
RE: ~ Update Dale Jr. #8 ~
I think next year Jr will be crazy fast though once he gets a Hendricks budget.
#92
08-30-2007, 04:45 AM
RE: ~ Update Dale Jr. #8 ~
Smith to be named #01 driver for 2008: Dale Earnhardt Inc. has reached a verbal agreement with Regan Smith to drive the #01 Chevy in the Nextel Cup series next season, a NASCAR source told ESPN.com on Wednesday. Smith will fill the car driven this season by Mark Martin and Aric Almirola, who will split the 2008 season in the #8 Chevy currently being driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr. Smith will have a one-year deal with an option for a second year.(ESPN.com)(8-30-2007)
#96
08-30-2007, 12:56 PM
Monte Of The Month -- February 2008
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Born in East LA
Posts: 4,286
RE: ~ Update Dale Jr. #8 ~
Car Number news for Dale Jr: Hendrick Motorsports has applied to the United States Patent and Trademark Office for potential use of five numbers next season for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. The numbers under consideration are #38, #51, #81, #82 and #58. Filing with Patent and Trademark Office does not guarantee NASCAR approval to use any of those numbers, but does prevent an outside party from trademarking the specific font and graphic package used by Hendrick on its racecars, diecast collectibles and souvenirs. Hendrick filed for the #81 on July 25th, with the most recent filing being for the #38 on August 9th. There have been reports that Hendrick is attempting to strike a deal with Robert Yates Racing for the #38 next season, but my [Dave Moody] sources tell me that the deal is not likely to happen.(Motorsports Soapbox)(8-30-2007)
#97
08-30-2007, 01:14 PM
Monte Of The Month -- February 2008
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Born in East LA
Posts: 4,286
RE: ~ Update Dale Jr. #8 ~
Testing done at Iowa Wed: Face time for #8-Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been scarce today at Iowa Speedway. So, unfortunately for his team, has been track time. Earnhardt Jr., one of four drivers testing at Iowa Speedway, blew an engine late in the morning and didn't take another spin on the 7/8-mile oval until about 2:30pm. A throng of several hundred fans lined a fenced area near the infield hoping to catch a glimpse of Earnhardt and perhaps snag an autograph or two. That, as of 3:30 p.m., had not happened. Earnhardt Jr. did not address fans or the media before that time. An estimated 4,000 tickets were sold for the two-day "Test Fest," which also included Carl Edwards, Martin Truex Jr. and Paul Menard among others.(Des Moines Register)
AND: According to estimates, there were about 3,000 fans at the speedway during business hours - 600 of whom crammed into a nook by the garage area, hoping for an autograph. Some wanted to hand over merchandise. Others just wanted a feel. To his credit, Junior stayed out for almost 15 minutes. It was 15 minutes more than many expected - there were no promises for autographs, speedway officials said, and Earnhardt declined to speak to reporters - but only half the fans were close enough to reach him in time.(Des Moines Register)
AND II: Edwards addressed reporters during the test session, which ended for his team early in the afternoon. Earnhardt signed autographs for many, but not all, fans assembled along the fan walk at about 4:45pm, but he did not speak to reporters. Neither did Truex and Menard.(Des Moines Register)(8-30-2007)
AND: According to estimates, there were about 3,000 fans at the speedway during business hours - 600 of whom crammed into a nook by the garage area, hoping for an autograph. Some wanted to hand over merchandise. Others just wanted a feel. To his credit, Junior stayed out for almost 15 minutes. It was 15 minutes more than many expected - there were no promises for autographs, speedway officials said, and Earnhardt declined to speak to reporters - but only half the fans were close enough to reach him in time.(Des Moines Register)
AND II: Edwards addressed reporters during the test session, which ended for his team early in the afternoon. Earnhardt signed autographs for many, but not all, fans assembled along the fan walk at about 4:45pm, but he did not speak to reporters. Neither did Truex and Menard.(Des Moines Register)(8-30-2007)
#98
08-31-2007, 04:34 PM
RE: ~ Update Dale Jr. #8 ~
[align=center][/align][align=center]
Chase Alternative
[:-]Go Jr Go [:-]Now Go Faster
[/align]
[:-] [/align][/align][/align]
Chase Alternative
[:-]Go Jr Go [:-]Now Go Faster
[/align]Want to know how to kick-start the Race for the Chase? Add a win-and-you're-in subplot to the story line and you'd be creating a script even Hollywood could embrace, writes Terry Blount. Story | The Chase 
[:-]
#99
08-31-2007, 04:51 PM
RE: ~ Update Dale Jr. #8 ~
With two races left, Chase window closing for Junior
Earnhardt seeks winning car at California; Busch has two
By Official Release
August 31, 2007
[center]Earnhardt seeks winning car at California; Busch has two
By Official Release
August 31, 2007
10:41 AM EDT[/align][/align]DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- After Kurt Busch's victory at Michigan, Dale Earnhardt Jr. knew he would have to answer with a strong finish at Bristol to stay in contention for the Chase for the Nextel Cup.
He did just that -- finishing fifth on the challenging 0.533-mile track.
Unfortunately for Earnhardt, Busch finished right behind him, in sixth, to maintain a lead of 158 points with two races remaining in the Race to the Chase.
"Everybody wants to talk about the points and what we plan to do to make the Chase," Earnhardt said. "We're far enough behind where the point standings are out of our control.
"We're going to do what we've been doing all year -- go out and try to win the race. It's all we can do."
That task is easier said than done for the No. 8 team at California. Earnhardt has a Driver Rating of 68.5 at the track -- 23rd-best. He finished 40th there in February after engine problems.
That's not to say Earnhardt doesn't have a chance.
"We have really hit upon a setup that works great here and at Michigan [the sister-track to California]," Junior said. "We had a cut tire early in the race here in February and we hurt the engine so we really couldn't show our cards. But, we were second at this race last year, so I'm confident."
'PT Special' or 'Roger?'
Will it be the "PT Special" or "Roger" that No. 2 Dodge team calls on in Sunday's 250-lap race around the 2.0-mile California track?
"I'd say it's a pretty delightful dilemma to be faced with in having to choose between those two winning racecars," crew chief Pat Tryson said while sporting a wide grin. "The [PSC-] 78 car was dominant in winning at Pocono and we were very successful in rolling out our new [PSC-] 111 car at Michigan. She came on really strong and got the job done there."
After leading 175 of the 200 laps to win at Pocono, Busch named his winning car the "Pat Tryson Special," or the "PT Special" for short in honor of his crew chief, who has helped Busch move from 16th in points to 12th since joining the team in June.
After his win at Michigan, Busch named that car "Roger" after he had given car owner Roger Penske his 291st major-league victory in all fields of motorsports.
Whichever car the 2 team chooses as the primary, the other one will be on standby as the backup.
"It certainly is a great feeling to be in that situation," Busch said. "It's a testament to all the hard work Pat and everyone on our team has put into preparing these cars and engines. To have the luxury of choosing between two great rides like we have ready for California is a cool spot to be in."
Edwards improves seeding
"If I were 158 points ahead of 13th, I'd still be having trouble sleeping at night," Carl Edwards. "It's not done until it's done."
Edwards can rest well. He clinched his Chase berth last week, calling his victory at Bristol "the biggest win of [his] career.
[b]"Since we clinched a spot in the Chase last weekend, some of that pressure is off and now we can go out and race for bonus points," Edwards said. ([URL=http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/08/31/cup.preview.california.2/1.html][color=#999999][size=1]Conti
#100
09-06-2007, 06:09 AM
RE: ~ Update Dale Jr. #8 ~
Eury Jr. signs w/ Hendrick to chief Jr.
Written by Administrator & MCF `Space
September 2007
TONY EURY JR. WILL JOIN HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS FOR 2008;
DARIAN GRUBB TO MOVE INTO SENIOR LEADERSHIP POSITION
When driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins Hendrick Motorsports for the 2008 Sprint Cup Series season, Tony Eury Jr. will be his crew chief. Eury, who has been Earnhardt's crew chief for the past two seasons, signed a multi-year agreement with the organization this week.
"Tony Jr. and Dale have a successful history working together," Hendrick said. "They have trust in each other, which is the biggest part of the relationship between driver and crew chief. We have the utmost confidence in their ability to win races and compete for titles at Hendrick Motorsports."
A Kannapolis, N.C., native, Eury will move to Hendrick Motorsports immediately following the current NASCAR season. He will continue the work of Darian Grubb, who will finish the 2007 schedule as crew chief of the No. 25 Chevrolets before moving into a senior competition role with Hendrick Motorsports.
"Dale Jr. and I are both excited to continue working together," said Eury, 34, who has been Earnhardt's crew chief or car chief for the majority of the driver's NASCAR career. "With the resources we'll have at Hendrick Motorsports, it's an opportunity to consistently run up front and be in title contention every year. The goals are winning races and winning championships."
Grubb, 31, who hails from Floyd, Va., will coordinate the at-track engineering efforts of the Earnhardt and Mears teams with emphasis on supporting Eury's transition to Hendrick Motorsports and Mears' switch to the No. 5 Cup Series program.
The personnel moves will give Hendrick Motorsports additional depth with the Earnhardt and Mears teams. Grubb, who earned a championship as an engineer with the No. 48 Chevrolets and has won three times in 29 races as a crew chief, will work hand-in-hand with veteran team manager Brian Whitesell.
"We've asked Darian to shoulder more responsibility and take another step," Hendrick said. "With all the challenges and difficult situations we've thrown his way, he has always proven to be successful. Darian is a star in our organization and his contributions will be vital to our future success.
"This is an extremely talented group we're putting behind Casey and Dale Jr. With the combination of Alan, Tony, Darian and Brian in key leadership positions, we feel strongly that both teams will have the tools to be successful in 2008 and beyond."
Hendrick Motorsports is evaluating alternative numbers for the Earnhardt team, which currently uses the No. 25 on its Chevrolet race cars. A timetable for that announcement has not been set.
DARIAN GRUBB TO MOVE INTO SENIOR LEADERSHIP POSITION
When driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. joins Hendrick Motorsports for the 2008 Sprint Cup Series season, Tony Eury Jr. will be his crew chief. Eury, who has been Earnhardt's crew chief for the past two seasons, signed a multi-year agreement with the organization this week.
"Tony Jr. and Dale have a successful history working together," Hendrick said. "They have trust in each other, which is the biggest part of the relationship between driver and crew chief. We have the utmost confidence in their ability to win races and compete for titles at Hendrick Motorsports."
A Kannapolis, N.C., native, Eury will move to Hendrick Motorsports immediately following the current NASCAR season. He will continue the work of Darian Grubb, who will finish the 2007 schedule as crew chief of the No. 25 Chevrolets before moving into a senior competition role with Hendrick Motorsports.
"Dale Jr. and I are both excited to continue working together," said Eury, 34, who has been Earnhardt's crew chief or car chief for the majority of the driver's NASCAR career. "With the resources we'll have at Hendrick Motorsports, it's an opportunity to consistently run up front and be in title contention every year. The goals are winning races and winning championships."
Grubb, 31, who hails from Floyd, Va., will coordinate the at-track engineering efforts of the Earnhardt and Mears teams with emphasis on supporting Eury's transition to Hendrick Motorsports and Mears' switch to the No. 5 Cup Series program.
The personnel moves will give Hendrick Motorsports additional depth with the Earnhardt and Mears teams. Grubb, who earned a championship as an engineer with the No. 48 Chevrolets and has won three times in 29 races as a crew chief, will work hand-in-hand with veteran team manager Brian Whitesell.
"We've asked Darian to shoulder more responsibility and take another step," Hendrick said. "With all the challenges and difficult situations we've thrown his way, he has always proven to be successful. Darian is a star in our organization and his contributions will be vital to our future success.
"This is an extremely talented group we're putting behind Casey and Dale Jr. With the combination of Alan, Tony, Darian and Brian in key leadership positions, we feel strongly that both teams will have the tools to be successful in 2008 and beyond."
Hendrick Motorsports is evaluating alternative numbers for the Earnhardt team, which currently uses the No. 25 on its Chevrolet race cars. A timetable for that announcement has not been set.