Dale Jr. speaks to his 16 year old self

Dale Junior finishes 7th in the 2011 Chase for the Championship

First congrats to Tony Stewart for winning his 3rd Championship. Junior showed strength in his first season with Steve Letarte. His highest finish in the championship hunt since 2006, in which he finished 5th. This year was the almost year in which Junior almost got his win. There were some strong performances in which at the minimum he was in contention to win. Throughout the season the car was able to compete, which is 2/3rds of the battle. Look at Championship Driver's like Bobby Labonte, put him back in the 18 car and i'm sure he'd be in the chase. Hopefully this is only just the beginning for Junior and this year was the building blocks for an even stronger performance in 2012. It was quite awesome being able to follow along the #88 team on RaceBuddy, the candid comments heard over air adds much excitement to the race. Ready for Daytona already! Let's go Racing boys!

Dale Jr starts the 2011 Chase strong.

First off, Dale Jr. has made the Chase for 2011! Yes, after a strong start to the season, the performance waned and the Richmond race showed the battle that the #88 team had to perform to maintain the opportunity to run for the Cup. Chicagoland was the first race, and while maintaining a midpack run, the final run turned up the heat, and Junior was solidly in the top 10, and while everyone ran out of gas, Junior was able to make it past the finish line in third! This put him in 5th place in the Chase, and only 13 points back from the lead. Next to Loudon, in which Junior usually performs well. It's heating up, 9 to go, Let's go racing boys!

Go #88!

President Barack Obama - Honors Jimmie Johnson at the White House

Dale Jr speaks to Speed - 2011

Jeff Burton hangs Junior out to dry Daytona , July 2011

Yep, Junior could've, should've drove to the front. If only the 31 would've pulled up on his bumper. But no, for some reason, the 31 car hung back, you could see it from all cameras that this is what happened. Why? Only Jeff Burton will know. Still 7th in points, and still more races to go before the Chase. Yes, this season is definitely better. Keep the hate coming folks. Junior you rock!

Go #88!

Junior running strong in 2011

PHOTO CREDIT: TNT RACE BUDDY

Junior's run at Michigan was marred by some poor driving of an obvious loose race car by Mark Martin. Mark Martin goes around the corner with Junior obviously making a good run off the turn and Mark loses it and runs Junior into the wall. Mark finishes 9th and Junior, who had a fast car this race, finishes 21st. However this is really one of the two worst finishes this season. Junior is strong in the championship chase hunt in 3rd place only 27 points out of 1st. 2nd through 5th in the Chase Hunt are less than 10 points apart. Junior has been pulling good finishes with good cars, a marked improvement from last year. One of my favorite races is Sonoma, which is next week is probably one of Junior's worst, but maybe with a fast car he can show some improvement here as well. Then off to Daytona! This has not been a bad year so far at all!

NASCAR.COM FANTASY LIVE : JUNIOR'S WHISKEY RIVER - OWENS MOTORSPORTS

NASCAR 2011 - #99 Takes the #88 out of contention for The Bud Shootout

Photo Credit: NASCAR.COM

The #99 runs right into the the #88's right rear quarter panel sending him into the wall. With the car's downforce being a necessity, it seems as if this is the night for Junior's #88 team. Junior states that it was fun, and was just trying to ride around working with Jimmie Johnson. The replays show that the #78 got into the #99 which in turn pushed the #99 into the #88, which caused the wreck. It's definitely looking good for the #88 team which worked with several cars in the first segment and hovered around the front. Just another lesson at Daytona, you better be out front so the wreck will avoid you, even though this is not always the case. Daytona 500... on the horizon. LET'S GO RACING BOYS!

Junior looking for Top 10s and Top 5s

So originally this was an embedded video of Junior's Media Day appearance, but for some reason, probably bad code, it is not working, so instead I will just link to it for you to goto, if you are interested in what he said. Pretty much he is excited about this year and hoping for Top 10s and Top 5s more consistently and hopefully able to drive without putting much into it. Definitely looking forward to this year, and hopefully it will be a good one!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH!

LETS GO RACING BOYS!! BOOGITY BOOGITY BOOGITY!

GO #88!

NASCAR 2011 - Dale Jr looking for a good year.

Photo Credit : Hendrick Motorsports

Junior did improve in 2010 from 2009 by a few spots. The 2010 season started on a high note with a 2nd place finish at Daytona and if there was another lap it most likely would've been a win. But you can't go on a woulda shoulda coulda mentality. Obviously the cars could not perform, especially on the mile and a half speedways. But 2011 is looking up, Steve Letarte is now leading the #88 team and with his track record it's looking good for Junior. It's been too long since victory lane for Junior and all the fans. Even knocking off some great runs this year would be exciting enough. I think there is nothing less than the Chase that would be acceptable for the new #88 team. With Daytona looming right around the corner, with a month to go, Teams are gearing up for the first wheels on the track which will be the Bud Shootout. I think over the past five years with Jimmie winning all the championships teams have been ratcheting up their programs and making strides. Kevin Harvick and the rest of the Childress teams made an impressive run last year, and we can't forget the progress that Michael Waltrip Racing is seeing, and even Richard Petty's crew had a few wins. Joe Gibbs continues to demonstrate his leadership abilities and will definitely put a Sprint Cup championship trophy on his shelf before long. But this year all eyes will be on Junior.. again... Congratulations on being an 8 time Most Popular Driver, let's go for #9! I'm sure visiting Victory Lane once or twice in 2011 would seal the deal on that! Definitely ready for the FOX crew to take the commentating back over, Darrell Waltrip, Larry Mac, Jeff Hammond, Mike Joy, and Chris Myers, with Dick and Matt. Dale and Rusty need to figure out a way to get on this team, or either meld some of the Fox guys into their operations because the other networks are definitely lacking. The 2011 NASCAR season awaits, it's going to be a great year for racing!

Man, it's about time to pull those belts tight one more time! Let's go racing boys!! BOOGGITY! BOOGGITY! BOOGGITY!

GO #88!

NASCAR 2010 and looking forward to 2011

Another season outside the Chase for Junior. Jimmie Johnson puts down another consecutive 5th Championship. NASCAR moving from the wing back to the spoiler. This season was definitely exciting at points, but still mediocre in others. As a Junior fan since 2002, the expectations remain high for the #88 team to perform. The hate train moves on with people saying he'll never win this, no matter what kind of crew chief he has, but really, how do you explain the 6 wins in 2004? Yeah that was 6 years ago, but what that shows is: YES, he can win. You give him a fast car and he can get those checkers. There were several races this year in which I thought early in the race that those days would be coming back, especially at the start of the year with the drive to the front at Daytona. But following that it seems as if the 1.5 miler tracks were a loss for the team. There was a spark in the middle of the season in the Top 12 Junior resided, but poor performance just kept creeping up. Seemingly pushing for a good finish in the points staying at 19th in points just wasn't meant to be with a mishap with Jeff Burton with a good car, and several bad finishes at the end of the season led to a 21st place finish in the points for 2010, but that was an improvement from last year. Is it possible that a 4 car team just isn't possible in NASCAR? Jack Rousch seems to still be having a hard time with it as well, not just Rick Hendrick. Childress has 3 strong running cars, and Gibbs has 3 strong running cars, is 4 just a little too much? Either way, the 2011 season is completely looking up for Junior. Rick Hendrick has made some critical changes to his organization in driver switches. Dale Junior will now goto the 24 teams garage and crew, just changing car number and sponsors. The 24 car has always been stout, this really is the year for Junior looking forward into 2011. It really is time for that 88 car to get back into victory lane. Let's hope for some kool car schemes, because they sure did do it up last year, with the best being the Diet Dew Car at the end of the season at Phoenix. The Amp Orange car was kool, and the dark Mountain Dew and throwback Mountain Dew cars were also kool, but the white with green flames looked awesome! Looking forward to a great 2011 season! GO #88!!

Dale Junior's Second Run at Talladega 2010

Junior had a good car this race. Led the most laps of anyone in the race, and was consistently pushing people to the front. Burton was pushing around up the front as well. Unfortunately this expectation was not met by a combination of variables that both drivers chalked up to racing. Right after this shot they were both in the wall going 190+ mph. Both drivers were ok, but their days were ruined. Harvick was the big winner in this event gaining points being only 38 points out of the Championship Lead. With 3 races to go, this is defintely a 3 man race going into the stretch. Texas and Phoenix are the next 2 races and both have been won by Junior before, so if he can continue to finish out strong, it should be a good showing for next year. Junior will probably finish 19th in points this year which is a marked improvement from last year. With these strong restrictor plate cars, Daytona 2011 should be exciting. Homestead will be here soon.

Shaq v. Dale Jr.

NASCAR Polls on Dale Jr

I'm glad to see that almost 70% of the general traffic so far to participate in the NASCAR.COM site thinks that Dale Jr will remain in competition to the chase. With the great 4th place finish at Daytona last night, it pushed Junior to 11th in the points standings 57 points behind Greg Biffle in the 10th place of the Sprint Cup Standings. With 8 races left in the chase, there is still a lot of racing to go. I think that the #88 team has many good races left this season and will make the chase. To win the championship they need wins, not just good finishes. But I guess with good finishes that puts you in position to win the championship and that's why the chase format is fun.

Chicago:

Junior knows how to win at Chicago, which he did in 2005. He last two outings to Chicago were 15th and 16th which is around his average for this track. An improvement on this finish would continue to propel the points standing forward.

Indianapolis:

Junior's record on this track is unreliable. They did start 3rd in last years race, but had a 36th place finish due to an engine failure. So if the car's engine is in better shape this year and its fast, hopefully a good finish can be the result of this. His best finish was 6th back in 2006. So he can get around this track if given a fast car.

Pocono:

In the last race here Junior started 3rd. His finish of 19th was not a result of a slow car, but never getting the track position needed. His car was equivalent to the leaders, but could not get up front. With 5 Top 5s at this track, hopefully a good finish can be the result of this experience.

Watkins Glen:

Although not known for his road racing ability, Junior can finish well at this track. He has won there in the Nationwide Series and started 2nd in the 2008 race. He only has two finishes of 3rd and 5th, but he has led 46 laps at this track and certainly knows how to get around it.

Michigan:

Junior has one win at this track. Detractors say that it was a fuel mileage race, but he was out front when they called the race. Junior knows how to get around in the front having led 173 laps here and finished in the top 5 - 4 times. The last two outings were a 7th and 3rd place finish.

Bristol:

Junior won here in 2004. 743 Laps lead and 7 top 5 here. His last two appearances at this track end up with a 7th and 9th place. This is a track that given a good car he can win at. Who doesn't love Saturday night races anyway!

Atlanta:

Junior won the Pole in the earlier race this year but only managed a 15th place finish due to some poor changes late in the race. This race is right up there with Bristol. 1 Win and 8 Top 5s at this track. 632 laps led, so if the #88 team can get a good car out there, it'll be another fun race to watch.

Richmond:

At all the upcoming races Junior has won the most with 3 at this track. His past 3 races at this track have been very dismal with 21st being the best finish. The cars are looking better this year, so lets see if we can find those good finishes and wins at this track again. It would be a cap on a good season if Junior can finish in the Top 12 in the point standings after this race.


I think Junior has a very good chance of making the chase this year, and if he can pull of a slew of wins during the chase, he can win the Championship. He is capable of winning more than once a year, with 6 in 2004. He is capable of winning in the Charlotte through Phoenix run of the Chase. It's turning out to be an exciting 2010 season! Making the Chase and perhaps getting a win would solidify Junior's place in NASCAR.

Coca Cola 600 - 2010 - Back Seat Crew Chief

22nd place finish. 17th in Points.

Lead 10 laps... woohoo... but if I were the crew chief I would have pitted after the first lap lead and gotten 2 tires and ran for the finish. Outcome would have been different for sure. Do we second guess the crew chief? I don't know.

Another Disappointing Night, Darlington 2010

The car is there. Junior was in the top 5 at points during the race. If you actually pay attention to the lap times, when he was 16th you had to go all the way up to the Top 5 to find a matching lap time. Track position at Darlington is critical. 4 Tires,2 Tires, No tires, getting that track position seemed to be the answer even for cars who finished higher who were not quite as good. If you can look past these bad finishes you can see that things are getting worked out. This is a team sport, and I feel that Junior's team is coming together. Lance is taking charge of this team and they are doing very well. The finishes and current position in the points standing is not reflective of the improvement that has been seen from last year to this year. I am impressed. The true Junior fans will remain tough. Even if the championship is not won this year, it will be won. There will definitely be another win added to the column this year and we can see the genuine Junior smile when he comes to the track. Junior knows what we want from him.... a WIN! But hey, even through the bad finishes real Junior fans do not give up. Strongest fanbase in NASCAR!!!! Let's go racing boys! Dover right around the corner and Charlotte in 2 weeks.

Junior 18th at Darlington, but back in the Top 12 in points!

Dover.. 1 Win, 4 Top 5s.

Just don't give up...... they are working it out. GO #88!!!!


For those who can appreciate it, damn all this code below this.

Adam Lambert - Whatya Want From Me.mp3

Keep on Truckin' Junior! Go #88!

With a 32nd place finish at Richmond, Junior falls in the points to 13th, 8 points out of the top 12. No problem. If you watched the race he had a top 5 car and hung with the leaders for most of the race. At the start of the race he went from 25th to 14th, and must have made a bad adjustment on that first pitstop and put him fighting for staying on the lead lap. Unfortunately the #18 had hit the setup and at one point put the 9th place car a lap down. 1 bad adjustment and 1 piece of bad luck(watch video) made the evening a bad night for Junior. But at least Junior did not give up and rolled on. It was great to see the car playing right in the Top 5 all night, it was just too bad he was 3 laps down. I was disappointed after Texas, and definitely after Talladega because he lead and went to the front many times. But, this is racing you have to take the good with the bad. There are 16 more races to the chase. Plenty of time to get back in the thick of things. Let's Go Racing Boys!

Funny NASCAR Fox Clip

They don't do it like they used too....

Dale Junior gets pole position in Atlanta 2010!

Thanks NASCAR!

10th in first practice. Let's go racing boys!