NASCAR Jack: Dale Earnhardt Jr. shouts out
By NASCAR JACK
Some of you might remember the old TV ads for an investment company that went something along the lines of: “When E.F. Hutton speaks, everybody listens.”
In the NASCAR world, that guy is Dale Earnhardt Jr. (30-1).
In his usual humble way, he uttered a few words Friday about the CoT and the excitement factor for fans. Anybody else would be regarded as whining but for Junior to have to speak out it should be like a clap of thunder to NASCAR officials. We need more emphasis on winning and less on consistency to make the Race for the Chase meaningful.
Let’s see now, Carl Edwards (7-1) or Mark Martin (5-1) to win the Carfax 400 at Michigan. Edwards has two wins, six Top 5s, nine Top 10s and a AF of 6.3 while Martin has five wins, 17 Top 5s, 29 Top 10s and a AF of 12.9. If I had a daisy in my hand I would pluck the petals.
The top four qualifying spots are a great place to be at this 2-mile oval. Brian Vickers (10-1), who has yet to win this year, won his sixth pole of the year. The pole has produced 15 winners in 80 events. Next to him on the front row, from which eight winners have come, is Martin. The third-fastest qualifier was Juan Pablo Montoya (20-1) who sits where 10 checkered flags have flown and in fourth is Jimmie Johnson (4-1), sitting where 12 previous winners started.
Jimmie has never won here. After pointing out all this it would be important for me to mention that four of the last five winners started outside the Top 10.
The hottest driver over the past six weeks, Tony Stewart (9-1), is starting 18th. I don’t think it matters if he starts from South Dakota, he is an absolute threat to win. Meanwhile, Jeff Gordon (12-1) starts in 21st. He is getting angry about having to keep answering questions about his back after last week’s bone-cruncher at Watkins Glen. He says his back is fine. I can tell you that crankiness is a sign it isn’t.
NASCAR Jack 8/16
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