NASCAR’s magnificent twelve is set

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 9, 2007 12:25 am UTC 2 Comments

With a final puff of smoke Dale Earnhardt Jr exited the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway and the 2007 Chase for the Nextel Cup.

Jimmy Johnson won the race and the coveted ten bonus points for the Chase to the Nextel Cup. Tony Stewart ended in second place – after racing with the Budweiser Chevy hard before the DEI/RCR motor let go. 300 pond gorilla Jeff Gordon finished a bonus-pointless fourth.

It seems somehow appropriate that Dale Junior went out with a blown motor. It was the fifth such for the famous #8 Bud Chevy team this year. With better engine reliability who knows what might have happened for these guys.

In post race interviews, Earnhardt was complementary of his team. He expressed his and the crew’s determination to finish strong and strive for wins that have, so far in 2007, eluded them. But bitterness was there. I got a sense of lingering doubt as to why his motors were the ones that broke. No one will ever know.

In the post race group grope that the cameras caught between the two Juniors – Earnhardt and Eury – I thought I saw relief too. It might be my imagination. But the pressure of 2007 is, I would think, now off. These are racers and there are ten races left. Races now that they, maybe, can enjoy in a lighter way as they prepare for a brand new adventure with Hendick Motorsports in 2008.

Picture credit: Rusty Jarett – Getty Images

Filed under: Chase for the Cup, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jimmy Johnson, Nextel Cup Series, Tony Stewart

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Comments

2 Responses to “NASCAR’s magnificent twelve is set”

robert bourne on September 9th, 2007 10:53 am

I have to give kudos to Junior for driving the wheels off the thing all night..the 8 team never gave up….You could see the relief on both of their faces …I can see them finishing the season on a high note…Junior could be a spoiler
Clance' on September 9th, 2007 2:34 pm

I am sure that both Jr.’s are disappointed, yet relieved. I too find it interesting that he had so many engine kaboom;s and that now Martin Jr.’s car suddenly started performing almost flawlessly. Aw…nothing like a good conspiracy theory. Perhaps we will see Jr. do a repeat of Tony Stewart last year.
Sweet Revenge!

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