Dale Earnhardt Jr. has always been one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR, but now he’s enjoying an upswing in his career that has again made him one of the best again.
After several rocky seasons and a company move from Dale Earnhardt Inc., the company founded by his late father, to Hendrick Motorsports, Earnhardt returned to the winner’s circle in a big way in February when he won the Daytona 500, the first race of the year. Earnhardt won 2 of the 25 races that followed , and consistently finished in the top 10 of many of those he didn’t win. Until recently.
Heading into this weekend’s race at Chicagoland Speedway, Earnhardt has gone without a top 10 finish for three races , with a crash that sidelined him three weekends ago, and an 11th and 12th place finish each of the following two weekends. While that might seem like no big deal, it’s the first time this season Earnhardt has gone so long without a solid finish.
It’s a record more fitting Dale Eanhardt Jr. from a few seasons ago, not the nearly 40-year-old driver as he is today. It’s a failure he may not be able to afford with the National Guard, sponsor of Hendrick Motorsports, walking away from sponsorship of Earnhardt and all race car drivers. There are some rumblings that the downward trend will kill Earnhardt’s run toward the Sprint Cup Championship. The fact that Earnhardt’s best season will also be his last with crew chief Steve Letarte has created a now-or-never attitude about Earnhardt’s first Sprint Cup Championship win that has touched media and the legions of Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans.
One person that hasn’t been affected by the now-or-never attitude is Dale Earnhardt Jr. By winning the Daytona 500, Earnhardt practically guaranteed himself a spot in “the Chase”, the playoffs of NASCAR. The lack of pressure gave Earnhardt something he’s never had, a chance to enjoy racing with no pressure. And according to Earnhardt, that’s exactly what he’s been doing.
“A lot of relief overcame me and I was just able to enjoy the season. Worrying about points or trying to make the Chase and being in that conversation in the media and being in that group of guys that might not make it, that is a heavy weight for me personally.”
Who can blame Earnhardt for his relief? Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of, if not the, most popular drivers in NASCAR. His legions of fans, affectionately known as “Jr. Nation”, have supported him through the good years and the bad.
Dale Earnhardt’s Race for the Chase officially begins Sunday when NASCAR returns to Chicagoland Speedway.
