5 More Years! 5 More Years!

by Charlie Turner

Thanks for stopping by OnPitRow.com and the Bench Racing with Steve and Charlie blog. The best NASCAR and IndyCar news and opinion, exclusive pictures and video. I'm Charlie Turner. Follow me on Twitter @onpitrow

September 2, 2011 12:57 pm EDT 1 Comment

The news that Rick Hendrick has agreed to extend the contract of Dale Earnhardt Jr for five more years is no surprise. It should be music to the ears of Junior Nation as well, since there is no place else where NASCAR’s most popular driver has a better chance to get back to winning than at Hendrick Motorsports.

But can he?

Junior has one win - and that on a fuel strategy gamble at Michigan Speedway - in his HMS, Sprint Cup career. He currently sits ninth in Sprint Cup Series points, a precarious spot to be in, without a win or two. If he falls from the top ten, he won’t make the Chase. Again.

Everybody likes Junior. Well, most everyone. For fans, he brings an honest, down-to-earth air to the sport. You don’t get much “Driver Speak” from him. And he wears his frustration where we can see it. Kind of vulnerable. Chicks dig that, I’m told.

Owners dig that they don’t have to worry about sponsorship on Earnhardt’s car. Every team is looking for money. But that won’t be an issue on the #88. Ever.

And NASCAR still seems to peg their popularity to the success of that #88. Early this season, when TV ratings were up a bit, we heard many anecdotal opinions that said - “No wonder. Junior’s doing well…”. I have doubts about that being the reason. But it sure isn’t because of the economy.

So here’s to five more years. Go get ‘em Junior.

Photo credit: Glenn Bure - OnPitRow.com

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR, NASCAR Bidness, NASCAR business

Tagged with: #88, Junior

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Comments

One Response to “5 More Years! 5 More Years!”

Richard Petersen on September 7th, 2011 1:51 am

I mean lets face it, what is one win for a team so powerful, going to do for you? Really? On a fuel mileage race at that. Rick Hendrick himself promised Earnhardt, Jr. wins and championships. A Moon with a fence around it. All he has to show is that one win. For a driver who is NASCAR’s Most Popular, that is pretty sad if you ask me. All Rick Hendrick sees in him is money, that’s it, just money, and if you ask me that where I draw the line there. If you hire a driver to wheel your cars, it will be because of his talent and his ability to drive, not for the money he is bringing in, that is pathetic. You know, to this day I have no idea why Dale left Dale Earnhardt Inc., I really don’t. All him and Teresa had to do were work out their differences, just like family should. Look at the pres-conference when they unveiled the No. 3 Wrangler Chevy for Dale, Jr., which he won in by the way for none other than, Richard Childress. Earnhardt and Teresa got a long so well, laughing, having a great time. That’s is what I like seeing. If Earnhardt would have not blown those engines in 2007, he would have had wins and a Chase spot for sure. And a Championship in 2004 as you pointed out. When Kasey Kahne does join the Hendrick team, does it really pay dividence to him getting tops tens or wins? Honestly, I don’t see much happening in 2012, I really don’t. I would love to see Earnhardt, Jr. by now in a Childress Chevy, back in a DEI car, but since that is no more, EGR is good? Go kick Chip out and over roll that team to its gory days again. Hendrick ruined Earnhardt’s chances, I would love to see Richard Childress Racing come back and win races. Sadly, I wish Earnhardt, Jr. would be apart of the RCR express.

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