The 43 Days of Daytona - 19th Place in 2005
Over the 43 days leading up to the Daytona 500, I'll be doing a short review/preview of the Top 43 Drivers of 2005.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr.
#8 - Budweiser
It is amazing that Dale Jr. finished this low. He was destined to finish higher than this. He is a great driver, in great equipment...what could have gone wrong?
Could it be the media has built him into something beyond what he truly is? Could it be that all of the crew turmoil and flip-flopping at DEI made it impossible for him to perform.
This year, he has his choice of crew chief back. His crew is back in place. He expects to win 7 or 8 races this season. Yes...you read that right, Dale Earnhardt Jr. expects to win 7 or 8 races this year...before the Chase begins.
Last year's record was 1 win, 7 Top 5's, and 13 Top 10's for winnings of $5,761,830.
He has his father's legacy, his company's dreams of greatness, and the media and fans high expectations riding on him. I hope he can deliver.
What we've seen so far is a very good race car driver. To be the champion that he, the media, and the fans expect him to be, he will have to step it up another level.
We'll see.
This makes it sound like I expect him to fail or want him to fail. I don't. The bar is extra high for him because he's Dale Earnhardt's kid. I hope he gets over that bar. It would be great for the sport we all love and a fitting tribute to his inspiration, and the hero of many a NASCAR fan, the Intimidator, Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? The Budweiser sponsorship is a solid, long term NASCAR partner.
Do I think he could go win a championship? Yes, provided they win beyond the restrictor plates at Daytona and Taladega.
Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Yes. He will win a race. And the possibility is there for more.
----------------
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
#8 - Budweiser
It is amazing that Dale Jr. finished this low. He was destined to finish higher than this. He is a great driver, in great equipment...what could have gone wrong?
Could it be the media has built him into something beyond what he truly is? Could it be that all of the crew turmoil and flip-flopping at DEI made it impossible for him to perform.
This year, he has his choice of crew chief back. His crew is back in place. He expects to win 7 or 8 races this season. Yes...you read that right, Dale Earnhardt Jr. expects to win 7 or 8 races this year...before the Chase begins.
Last year's record was 1 win, 7 Top 5's, and 13 Top 10's for winnings of $5,761,830.
He has his father's legacy, his company's dreams of greatness, and the media and fans high expectations riding on him. I hope he can deliver.
What we've seen so far is a very good race car driver. To be the champion that he, the media, and the fans expect him to be, he will have to step it up another level.
We'll see.
This makes it sound like I expect him to fail or want him to fail. I don't. The bar is extra high for him because he's Dale Earnhardt's kid. I hope he gets over that bar. It would be great for the sport we all love and a fitting tribute to his inspiration, and the hero of many a NASCAR fan, the Intimidator, Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Will sponsorship be big enough to allow the team to field a car every week? The Budweiser sponsorship is a solid, long term NASCAR partner.
Do I think he could go win a championship? Yes, provided they win beyond the restrictor plates at Daytona and Taladega.
Do I think he could win a race or two and have a good season? Yes. He will win a race. And the possibility is there for more.
posted by Mark "Puff" Anderson | 7:33 PM
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