What do you suppose DEI pulled out of the Garage Mahal and put under Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s hood this weekend?
Will he get an engine that lays all it's cylinders on the track up front and craps out before the halfway mark like in Fontana? Or will he get a teaser that takes him all the way to the end providing hope of a top 5 finish only to give up on the last lap like last weekend in Martinsville?
It's quite laughable that the #8 car was labeled still running in the Subway 500 results, but I guess that's accurate--it did, after all, sprint backwards from the fourth position to a 23rd place finish. But if the race had been even one lap longer, this would have been his eighth DNF of the season--seven due to engine failures.
Is it enough for conspiracy theories? Depends on who you ask. It's sure enough for Dale Jr. fans--and any other NASCAR fan whose got brain enough to recognize his talent and ability to put the car at the front of the pack.
Whatever it is they got him running in Atlanta was good enough for a top 5 start. But will it be good enough for a top 5 finish?
FanHouse
Blog Roll
- Armchair GM
- Awful Announcing
- Ballhype
- Barstool Sports
- Baseball Musings
- Brahsome
- Can't Stop the Bleeding
- D.C. Sports Bog
- Dan Shanoff
- Dave's Football Blog
- Deadspin
- Epic Carnival
- Every Day Should Be Saturday
- Foul Balls
- Free Darko
- Hardball Times
- Kissing Suzy Kolber
- Ladies ...
- Larry Brown Sports
- Lion in Oil
- Mondesi's House
- Most Valuable Network
- Mr. Irrelevant
- Off Wing Opinion
- Playing the Field
- Quick Hits
- Randball
- Rumors and Rants
- SB Nation
- Sports By Brooks
- Sportz Assassin
- The 700 Level
- The Big Lead
- The Big Picture
- The Extrapolater
- The Ghost of Wayne Fontes
- The Offside
- The Sports Hernia
- The Starting Five
- TrueHoop
- We Are the Postmen
- With Leather
- Yardbarker
- Y! Sports Blogs
Is DEI Giving Junior Horses or Hamsters?
Add your comments
ADVERTISEMENT
Breaking News
ADVERTISEMENT


Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-26-2007 @ 11:38PM
drgrcr601 said...
Jr was a guest on Dave Dispain Sunday night and said something to the effect that he didn't believe any conspiracy was going on at DEI but that he was probably getting a few experimental parts in his engines due to the fact that DEI/RCR are trying to get their engine program up and running. Could be I guess. Where else would it be better to try some experimenting than with a soon leaving driver. Blows up? So what! They have been leaching off Jr for years. Whats another few races.
Ron
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 12:15AM
Don Emerson said...
Until Jr learns how to take care of his equipment no one can buld an engine that will get him to the finish line consistantly. As he admitted in an interview a few weeks ago, Jr does play to the crowd with his driving. He knows he doesn't have to win to keep his fans loyal. All he has to do is charge to the front and lead a few laps to have them on their feet and foaming at the mouth .I'm glad he makes his charge early in the races. That way, once he fades out of the picture, we can see who's serious about winning the race. To sum things up, Jr's a part time driver with a full time ride.
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 3:54AM
Ms. Junebug said...
An article people may have missed:
Gordon not surprised by Earnhardt's woe's
Associated Press
By Don Coble | don.coble@morris.com | Story updated at 11:19 PM on Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Robby Gordon isn't surprised by Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s continued engine problems. A year ago he went through the same problems.
Earnhardt's engine blew during the final re-start of last Sunday's race at the Martinsville Speedway. It was the seventh engine failure for Earnhardt this year - five since he announced in May he was leaving Dale Earnhardt Inc. at the end of the season.
A year ago Gordon bought engines from DEI. After he announced he was leaving Chevrolet for Ford in October, he had five engine failures in the final six races.
"It doesn't surprise me a bit," Gordon said. "I've been there. I don't think they're giving him bad engines, but I do think they're probably giving him some experimental engines. He's probably getting some (research and development) stuff."
Earnhardt said his engine was running on seven cylinders for most of last Sunday's race. It finally blew up on the final lap, dropping him to a 23rd-place finish.
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 11:25AM
Barry said...
Don Emerson i dont know what races you watch but the ones ive been seeing JR has tryed to win.its easy for you to sat he runs up there to the front then drop back but thats been happening ever since he got a new ride. his car isnt as good as they should be as hes a test driver know to DEI
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 11:26AM
Kim said...
As many of you know, I used to be a "believer" that Jr. was abusing his equipment. Not so much anymore. I agree with what Jr. and Robby Gordon have stated. Apparently once DEI learned that Jr. was leaving and wasn't going to make the chase, they decided to give him experimental parts to test out some new kinds of engines. Fine, but clearly not working! I am actually starting to feel sorry for Jr. He was running well last weekend, the entire race, and then to blow up on the final restart had to have just been infuriating, yet he always remains patient afterwards (a quality I admire). I am sure he can't wait to get to his new team at Hendrick. May you find "good luck" at Hendrick, Jr. I sincerely hope he has a good year in 2008.
Kim
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 11:26AM
drgrcr601 said...
Still spewing that old garbage Emerson? That old tale is running out of gas. Anyone with an IQ over room temperature can see thats not the case. Your Nascar logic leaves a lot to be desired but then again it's obvious that your rants aren't based on anything logical but only an attempt to irritate others. What happened to your "conspiracy" bullshit? Even that makes more sense than than "abusing his equipment" rhetoric and more entertaining.
Ron
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 11:27AM
Jane said...
Don,
Your statement makes no sense when you look at actual facts (instead of your Jr hating emotions). Are you saying Jr SUDDENLY abuses his equipment? He's had more engine failure this year than in his previous 7.5 years. His equipment managed to last to the end well enough for 17 wins in those years. Its ridiculous to pin his engine failures on Jr.
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 1:08PM
Brad said...
Come on Don,
Jr. was running in the top 10 or just outside the top 10 on 7 cylinders for most of last weeks race until his engine let go. Wow I wonder where the frig he would have been if he got serious????????
ALOHA, BRAD
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 1:55PM
drgrcr601 said...
Good post Kimbo! I'm glad you can see a more logical explanation for Jr's woes. Maybe we can even get you to be a little bit of a Jr fan. We wont expect you to be full blown fan but it would be nice to have you aboard for just a "little bit" of a fan. Here's hoping. :-)
Ron
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 3:46PM
Bob said...
Did anyone notice in the interview with Chevy and DEI anounncing their new agreement that the Chevy represenative said DEI was running TWO teams this year and were expanding to four teams next year. I was sure DEI had three teams this year; Dale JR Martin JR and Paul Menard. Does this mean someone was not really a driver for DEI maybe only a test pilot?
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 3:50PM
WDR said...
The cartoon is hilarious. :) I agree with the experimental parts. If Junior was running his equipment the wrong way and abusing it, it would have been obvious in the seasons before this one. He's no rookie! I doubt he is suddenly going to change the way he drives his car. Looking forward to next year and matching up a reliable driver w/ reliable equipment! :)
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 6:03PM
Ken in Va said...
I go back a long way. Jr. may be the modern day Junior Johnson. Junior was determined to win every race or blow the engine trying. He frequently led laps but the engine would go up in smoke before the end of the race.
DEI would have no good reason to give Jr. bad or experimental engines because it would damage their engine program's potential to sell to others and it would hurt their ability to lure sponsors and drivers. Jr. may be abusing the engines to get even with "evi;" stepmother.
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 8:17PM
Maureen said...
Do any of you think that TEI would give Jr. any decent race car now that hes leaving. Oh get real. Not is she only screwing Jr. but shes screwing Truex too. Wake up people shes a money hungry bitch and dosent have the brains of a pea to realize that DEI is gone and she is burying it. Rest In Peace
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 10:30PM
jeff martin said...
I find it too coincidental that JRs engine woes coincide with his leaving DEI. It is my contention that the engines or parts he is running are NOT experimental,but rather parts that have been re-cycled from other engines in order to concentrate their best available equipment on drivers they can count on for at least the next contract year. Remember Murphys golden rule."He that has the gold, makes the rules" I think the move to hendrick motorsports will be a positive one,but not without it`s own set of problems. Good luck jr.
Reply
10-27-2007 @ 11:06PM
DavesRaves said...
If a driver can't win at Hendrick, he can't win. Any problems Dale Jr. may have there will be self-imposed.
Reply
10-28-2007 @ 2:08AM
l buckelew said...
I certainly agree that the engines that JR have been given are experimental. Why not try them on him after all he is leaving DEI and Theresa doesnt think he is a serious race car driver. She has already stated that he needs to make up his mind whether he wants to be a race car driver or a celebrity. Where is she when all this is happening?? Has she ever come out and said she is sorry that all this is happening to him?? No she is in her ivory tower counting her money. JR is nice enough not to say anything bad about her and asking the fans not to keep bein critical of her. What more can he do. All of a sudden he is trying to ruin the engines. Get real !!
Reply
10-28-2007 @ 9:23AM
Kim said...
Hi Ron:
Yes, I am slowly becoming a Jr. fan afterall, although not a rabid one. :-) I even bought one of his new shirts last week. I thought you would like that. Since I am a fan of Hendrick and ALL of their drivers, then I have to become a Jr. fan to throw my support his way, too. I sincerely hope he has a good ride with Hendrick. I truly think he will & believe he will be so much happier. This was the best decision he could have made for himself, truly. :-)
Take care, Ron!
Kim
Reply
10-28-2007 @ 1:41PM
Spacesin said...
Bottom LINE ... If Dale wanted JR to have more of DEI he would of left him more . Jr Is not Dales only child nor his only son. I cant stand Jr He would not be nothing close to where he is today if he didnt ride on Daddy's coat tailes , So Stewart talking crap about Edwards ride pass from his Parents well Maybe, But he Obviously is not the only one , for some reason Jr thinks though he deserves more than His Father left him .. GET OVER Yourself Jr !
Reply
10-28-2007 @ 6:13PM
Brian said...
Jr motorsports shows what Jr. can do and what he is capable. His two bush champs are because of his talant and the equipment that Sr. was able to place him in. I believe that Henderick will provide him with as close to if not better equipment than daddie did. Big Jr fan, hope for him 08 is great change for the better. I wished things could have been different. I dont understand why step mom wouldn't just sit back and let the most like driver have more say in day to day operations and cash in at the end of the day. She could of had her cake and ate it to. Go Jr.
Reply
10-28-2007 @ 6:51PM
D said...
After today's wheel incident, I think it's fairly obvious that someone at DEI is sabotaging Dale Jr.'s vehicles. I hope to GOD he isn't planning on taking anyone with him to Hendrick Motorsports besides Tony Jr.
Reply