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Teammates 'Gift-Wrap' Junior Win

BY MONTE DUTTON,

AOL

Posted: 2008-03-17 08:30:43

Filed Under: NASCAR

Sports Commentary

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. overrated? It's not a fair question. Given his popularity -- who he is and, more notably, who was his father -- he couldn't possibly be underrated. When has there ever been a star in any sport who was adored more while achieving less? That's not his fault. It's more like his burden.

Rob Davis, Reuters

Thanks to help from his start-studded teammates, Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his first event, the Bud Shootout this past Saturday night, driving for his new team.

More Coverage: Latest Dale Jr. Photos | Visit NASCAR FanHouse

Imagine if Elvis Presley had had a son.

So far, so good, though, in Earnhardt Jr.'s personal quest for the Holy Grail. It's the one his father found seven times, not the one sought in the movies by the comedy troupe Monty Python. Nowadays it's called the Sprint Cup.

Earnhardt, who left the family team this year to seek his fortune with Hendrick Motorsports, won the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday night. The victory was impressive, but it doesn't count toward the Cup. Since the Shootout doesn't reward its winner with championship points, the victory has no pertinence. It was reassuring for Earnhardt and the millions who watch his every move. It was a great way to start, but regardless of what happens from here, winning the Shootout will end up being, in hindsight, no more than a footnote.

What the opening salvo in his crusade demonstrated was the many advantages of being a member of the Hendrick juggernaut. Roaming the high banks of Daytona, Earnhardt might as well have been the lead pilot in the Air Force's Thunderbirds. It was formation flying. Teammates Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Casey Mears had his back in the Daytona draft. They finished third, fourth and sixth, behind him, and together they sealed his victory over the considerably more lonely Tony Stewart, who fought the good fight and managed to hold on to second.

Photo Gallery

Gary W. Green, Orlando Sentinel / MCT

Burning Questions
For This Season

1 of 5

1. Can Jimmie make history? Only one man, Cale Yarborough, has ever won three titles in a row. Yarborough's feat ended exactly 30 years ago. For Johnson, the timing certainly seems right.

At most NASCAR tracks, formation flying won't be so powerful a factor. The horsepower-sapping restrictor plates facilitate teamwork. Earnhardt led a record 47 laps, but his teammates went beyond the call of duty to gift-wrap this victory. It was the opening scene in a "buddy movie": Hell, boys, let's show him a good time.

About all we know so far is that they all -- Junior, Jimmie, Jeff, Casey -- get along famously.

"Me and Jeff have always been competitors and always raced to beat each other, but now that we're on the same team, we need to work together for the better of the company," said Earnhardt. "I mean, it's obvious, so that's what we do.

"Me and Jimmie get along great. We always have. ... We had three Hendrick cars on the outside line, and first we had to get one of us out there and I just happened to be the guy in front of the line."

All for one, and one for all.

In terms of the season -- and races that mean something -- camaraderie can take Earnhardt only so far. He's in the best place he could possibly be, but it's still going to be tough as February works its way to November and the traveling show moves from Daytona through places like Martinsville and Watkins Glen to Homestead, to beat Johnson and Gordon. Just look at the numbers.

Will Earnhardt win more races? Absolutely. Will he make the Chase? Yes. Will he finally win the championship? Given the format, he's got a shot, but the odds don't favor Earnhardt being able to outperform teammates Johnson and Gordon, much less the likes of Stewart, Matt Kenseth and others.

Latest NASCAR Photos

Casey Mears gets a hug from his girlfriend Trish Grablander before the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Best Buy 400 auto race, Sunday, June 1, 2008, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Pat Crowe II)

Casey Mears waves to the crowd after being introduced before the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Best Buy 400 auto race, Sunday, June 1, 2008, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Pat Crowe II)

** FILE ** In this April 6, 2008 file photo, NASCAR driver Kyle Busch smiles before the NASCAR Sprint Cup series Samsung 500 auto race in Fort Worth, Texas. The journey hits historic levels this weekend, when Busch becomes the first driver in NASCAR history to attempt all three national series on one weekend at three different tracks. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Casey Mears waits for the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Best Buy 400 auto race, Sunday, June 1, 2008, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

Casey Mears drives out of turn four during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Best Buy 400 auto race, Sunday, June 1, 2008, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

Casey Mears, right, talks with Reed Sorenson before the start of the NASCAR Best Buy 400 auto race, Sunday, June 1, 2008, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Pat Crowe II)

Tony Stewart climbs into his car before practicing for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Best Buy 400 auto race, Friday, May 30, 2008, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Russ Hamilton)

Tony Stewart waves to the crowd during driver introductions before the start of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Best Buy 400 auto race, Sunday, June 1, 2008, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Pat Crowe II)

Formula One driver David Coulthard, of Scotland, talks with reporters before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Best Buy 400 auto race, Sunday, June 1, 2008, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. Formula One's Canadian Grand Prix is June 8. (AP Photo/Pat Crowe II)

Members of Tony Stewart's pit crew work on his car in the garage area after Stewart and several other drivers were involved in a wreck on lap 17 of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Best Buy 400 auto race Sunday, June 1, 2008, at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Russ Hamilton)

Since the Shootout doesn't actually count -- even though it was a hell of a preseason game -- Earnhardt's losing streak is still 62 and counting. Moving from DEI to Hendrick Motorsports will fix that.

Earnhardt Jr.'s a fine driver, and now he's got a shot at the championship, but it's still a long one. Let the magic commence.

2008-02-11 12:20:46

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871 comments

lanesvc11 07:44:37 PM Feb 16 2008

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Top 10 Nascar punks
1. Jeff Gordon lowest form of scum on the planet far and away #1 Punk
2. Kurt Bush Either Bush brings the word Punk to mind
3. Kile bush
4. Carl Edwards What an A-hole this guy is #4 punk and climbing
5. Jamie McMurray should change name to Jenny
6. Brian Vickers Wrecked Jr. for cheap ass win very hated PUNK
7. Ryan Newman A true punk
8. J. P. Montoya First foreign Punk
9. Casey Mears I am only Here because of last name Punk
10. Scott Wimmer Not so much a Punk as a P US S Y

alaskanman0 07:16:17 PM Feb 16 2008

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We see who laughs last Gnrlie when Junior wins 2 races this season lol He may be popular,but he isn't a very good driver,he may be the 4th best behind Mears on that team,his dad was a prick but least he could drive a little.

bieuxrj 09:24:07 AM Feb 16 2008

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88 in 08

gnrlies30 02:16:22 AM Feb 16 2008

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im going to laugh at everyone who is saying that jr is talentless once he dominates the season like earnhardt sr.

moonbeem317 10:06:35 PM Feb 15 2008

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oh, and for jr.'s teammates giving him the win because they were working with him, whatever!! at least he has a chance now that he isnt teamates with that wimpy behind micheal waltrip (who looked like an idiot last year in his toyota) and selfcentered truex!!!!! and i completely agree with whoever said that stewart now hold the title of whiniest driver!!! (right next to him on that podium is busch)

moonbeem317 09:59:47 PM Feb 15 2008

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there is no way you can put gordon over earnhardt sr.!!!! as for racing losing fans, look at how much they have changed, they moved some of the most respected races from their homes (darlington in sept) to california......most of your diehard nascar fans are in the south! thats were it was born, and now they wanna make it mainstream and are doing things that longtime fans cant stand! this whole new car thing is stupid, they all look the same and the restrictor plates almost make things boring. as for gordon, if he wasnt so dang whiny, i might like him, but coming from concord, nc its earnhardt (now jr.) all the way.

youngclan 12:17:19 PM Feb 14 2008

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Good point, pgallstar42; I was beginning to think I was the only person who saw Jeff's sacrifice to the middle. There was absolutely no other reason for the 24 to make that move other than to get off the 20 and leave him hanging. I was surprised no announcer saw it. To me it was obvious. That and the 48 bump combined to give Jr the win. But, thats what team mates do. Especially in a non poiints race and under the circumstances. Starting this week, the 88 will get support, but not to that extent; Jeff, Jimmmy and Casey will look out for their own interests a bit more.

glarmer 01:49:14 AM Feb 13 2008

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JR. ABSOLUTELY SUCKS----CAN'T DRIVE A CAR FOR S----.

babygirl4u7o 10:07:49 PM Feb 12 2008

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Jeff never gets credit for anything he does for his team mates. Jr. coming to Hendrick just adds another great driver to the list. Come on people face it Gordon will go down in nascar history as the second best ever. Only one above him Richard Petty. Believe me Rick Hendrick talked it over with Jeff Gordon before he made the move to pick up Jr. If Jeff didn't want him there Jr. would have never been brought aboard.

pgallstar42 09:46:23 PM Feb 12 2008

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I think if Jeff Gorden decided to stay in the draft behind Tony Stewart there could have a good chance Junior could have lost. Nobody is giving Jeff any credit for just pullin out to the middle line as soon as he saw Junior and Jimmy drafting. That just doesnt make sense to me

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