DaleJrNation

Schedule of Events -

7/4 Practice 4:00 PM on SPEED 

7/4 Practice 6:35 PM on SPEED

7/5 Qualifying 4:10 PM on SPEED

7/6 Race 7:30 PM on TNT

Anticipation!!

NSCS Daytona Preview: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Preview: NSCS Daytona Preview: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Venue: Daytona International Speedway (2.5-mile superspeedway)

Event: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (Race 18 of 36)

Tune In: 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT/MRN

News & Notes

POINTS AFTER KENTUCKY: After finishing 12th last weekend at Kentucky Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. currently ranks sixth in the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship standings. He trails leader and teammate Jimmie Johnson by 98 points going into this weekend's race at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

KENTUCKY POLE POSITION: Earnhardt captured his first pole position of the season last weekend at Kentucky Speedway. He toured the 1.5-mile oval in 29.406 seconds at roughly 183.636 mph to set a new track record.

AT DAYTONA: In 27 Sprint Cup starts at Daytona, Earnhardt has recorded two wins, 10 top-five finishes, 15 top-10s and has led 396 laps. Earnhardt notched his first pole position at the 2.5-mile superspeedway during 2011 Daytona 500 qualifying. He averages a starting position of 11.1 and an average finish of 14th in points-paying events at Daytona. Earnhardt has finished all but three Cup events at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

IN THE 400: Earnhardt has scored one win, four top-five finishes and seven top-10s during 13 appearances in the annual July event at Daytona. Earnhardt, who will drive the No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet SS this weekend, led 116 laps during his July 7, 2001, win. He has led a combined 243 laps during the summer event.

DAYTONA DOMINANCE: Earnhardt has 13 NASCAR wins at Daytona -- two in the Sprint Cup Series, six in the Nationwide Series, three during qualifying events and two during exhibition events. He has won the 2004 Daytona 500, the 2001 Pepsi 400, plus two Sprint Unlimiteds (2003 and 2008) and three Budweiser Duel qualifying races (2003, 2004 and 2008). Earnhardt won the four straight Nationwide events he entered between 2002 and 2004 at Daytona.

STRONG ON SUPERSPEEDWAYS: In 54 combined Cup starts on Daytona and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Earnhardt has recorded seven wins, 19 top-five finishes and 28 top-10s. He has a 13.3 average starting position and a 14.6 average finishing position on these tracks.

CHASSIS CHOICE: Crew chief Steve Letarte has chosen Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-773 for Saturday's race. Earnhardt last raced this chassis to a 17th-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in May and to a second-place finish in February at the Daytona 500.

HENDRICK AT DAYTONA: In 59 points-paying events (190 starts) at Daytona, Hendrick Motorsports has achieved 11 wins, 46 top-five finishes, 82 top-10s and has led 1,428 laps. Most recently, Johnson won his second Daytona 500 crown and Earnhardt scored runner-up honors earlier this year. The last time Hendrick Motorsports swept both Daytona events was 1986 when Geoff Bodine won the Daytona 500 and Tim Richmond went to Victory Lane in the July event.

Quotes

DALE EARNHARDT JR., DRIVER, NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET SS (ON DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY.): "I really enjoy racing at Daytona. I'm really excited about what the racing is going to be like. We saw a unique way the race played out at Daytona for the 500. I'm interested to go back and see what, if any differences there are or if we have a similar race. I love the racetrack and love going down there so I look forward to it."

*****

Courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports.

Media Relations | No. 88 AMP Energy / National Guard Racing

*****

Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Official Site - www.dalejr.com

Thanks Bob for sharing.

This could be a really good week. I am excited to see practice get underway later on today.

Daytona practice on July 4.  That's enough for me.  Too hot for a picnic and Mom has me in a freeze-out in the house.

Happy Fourth of July,everyone.Trying to be optimistic...a win at Daytona would be so sweet.Perfect weekend...lead practice...take pole...win race !!!!Go Junior !!

Who's running in Nationwide besides Regan?  Anybody know?

Brad Sweet in the #5 car.

Rick Hendrick keeps promising to annouce Junior sponsor.  Some think they are going to make a big deal out of it at Daytona.  Rick said they had lots of offers but too many sponsors conflicted with other HMS sponsors......and it is supposed to be a brand new Nascar sponsor....not recycled.  How about some guesses?

I don't think Wrangler has the money.  We'll see.

ROBBOB88 at July 4, 2013 at 12:59 PM

Brad Sweet in the #5 car.

Thanks ole Robbob.

CHANDRIKA at July 4, 2013 at 1:00 PM

Rick Hendrick keeps promising to annouce Junior sponsor.  Some think they are going to make a big deal out of it at Daytona.  Rick said they had lots of offers but too many sponsors conflicted with other HMS sponsors......and it is supposed to be a brand new Nascar sponsor....not recycled.  How about some guesses?

I don't think Wrangler has the money.  We'll see.

Well I am hoping we find out soon because I am tired of waiting. Haha.

ROBBOB88 at July 4, 2013 at 1:31 PM

CHANDRIKA at July 4, 2013 at 1:00 PM

Rick Hendrick keeps promising to annouce Junior sponsor.  Some think they are going to make a big deal out of it at Daytona.  Rick said they had lots of offers but too many sponsors conflicted with other HMS sponsors......and it is supposed to be a brand new Nascar sponsor....not recycled.  How about some guesses?

I don't think Wrangler has the money.  We'll see.

Well I am hoping we find out soon because I am tired of waiting. Haha.

I sometimes wonder if all of Juniors outside enterprises (footwear, potato chips,media, ect.) might conflict with some  potential advertisers.

Not necessarily directly but as a possible distraction. I think he does a great job of not being involved  but do others see that the same way?

BobB!

You were supposedta say POLE! :P

Bob B at July 4, 2013 at 1:57 PM

ROBBOB88 at July 4, 2013 at 1:31 PM

CHANDRIKA at July 4, 2013 at 1:00 PM

Rick Hendrick keeps promising to annouce Junior sponsor.  Some think they are going to make a big deal out of it at Daytona.  Rick said they had lots of offers but too many sponsors conflicted with other HMS sponsors......and it is supposed to be a brand new Nascar sponsor....not recycled.  How about some guesses?

I don't think Wrangler has the money.  We'll see.

Well I am hoping we find out soon because I am tired of waiting. Haha.

I sometimes wonder if all of Juniors outside enterprises (footwear, potato chips,media, ect.) might conflict with some  potential advertisers.

Not necessarily directly but as a possible distraction. I think he does a great job of not being involved  but do others see that the same way?

I just hope that it's a cool sponsor that I/we like and can get behind.

No politically correct crap!

BobB, I never thought of that but that is a good point !    Doesn't seem to leave much left with all the possible conflicts!

Happy Fourth of July .

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TZBTyTWOZCM&feature=related

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=OmphcMC-f7I

I sure would like to see this happen again.

http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/news/video/2013/07/04/Dale-Earnhardt-Jr-wishes-soldiers-a-Happy-Fourth-of-July

After Daytona, half way thru the season.

Bob B at July 4, 2013 at 3:49 PM

http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/news/video/2013/07/04/Dale-Earnhardt-Jr-wishes-soldiers-a-Happy-Fourth-of-July

You know I am crazy about you BobB but those 2 seconds weren't worth it.:/

CHANDRIKA at July 4, 2013 at 4:27 PM

Bob B at July 4, 2013 at 3:49 PM

http://www.hendrickmotorsports.com/news/video/2013/07/04/Dale-Earnhardt-Jr-wishes-soldiers-a-Happy-Fourth-of-July

You know I am crazy about you BobB but those 2 seconds weren't worth it.:/

Hey, my smiley face didn't make it !!!