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NAPA 500 - Chevrolet Notes and Quotes - Nov. 14, 2000
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DALE EARNHARDT Jr. (No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet Monte Carlo)
ABOUT PEOPLE MAGAZINE PHOTOS: “It’s pretty cool. It’s very flattering. A lot of drivers in it with me seemed to enjoy it (People article, photos). That’s what we need. Whether you’re doing good or not on the race track, it doesn’t hurt to be in People Magazine. We’ll see who calls.
“We’ve had a lot of good times at the beginning of the year. Things went downhill at the midpoint of the season. We’re still optimistic about the future. Everybody on the team seems to be positive and that’s important. Park’s team has definitely turned it around since their win at Watkins Glen. Hopefully with Michael coming aboard and with the experience he’s got, we can get up and run with them pretty quickly. Hopefully what we see as a legitimate goal is having all three teams in the top 15 in points next year.
“I think it depends on what’s going on that day. He’s definitely not going to show any favoritism to anybody. It doesn’t really matter. When Park wins a race, dad is real happy about it and that’s what he’s going to talk about. When I win, he’s very happy about it and that’s what he’s going to talk about. If Park’s running in the top five four or five weeks in a row, he’s not going to get lunch and dinner at the house, you know what I’m saying.
“Some of the things we enjoy and like is what’s happening now, it’s what’s going on in this world now. We’re just products of the people we grew up around and the stuff we see on TV and hear on the radio. That’s all we are. They’ve already got the market of my dad’s generation. They’ve probably got less than 40 percent of our market, our generation, people from 20-28 years old. I think if they gear their advertisement toward that, to be able to attract those type of people, they’re going to be able to have a bigger audience. I know these people my age would love this stuff if they would just turn it on. They’re out doing different things. I’d be doing the same things if I wasn’t driving race cars. If they’d turn the TV on one time and watch for five minutes, that’s all it takes.
“I’m just ready to get the year over with so I can get a little time off. It’s pretty much over (chance to win rookie title) now. It was a goal at the beginning of the year because we had a chance to do it.
“I think everybody up and down the garage area wants to do well in the last race, particularly our team. It would be cool to run well and end the season on a good note. It would keep everybody pumped up throughout the off season.
“I think if you look a lot deeper into the situation (Dale Earnhardt), you’ll see improvement on his team and his cars, how his cars drive. Even himself, he’s made some improvements with some operations he had over the winter. He’s improved his health and the way he felt about driving and his comfort level in the car. You can’t drive if you’re in pain and you’re hurting.
“The first win at Texas, the win at Richmond, passing my dad for that. The win at Charlotte in The Winston, running well in the 600 was a lot of fun. Being in People Magazine, Rolling Stone Magazine, other things off the track were enjoyable. We’ve been pretty well publicized.”
Thanks to Jade from BudPR for sending this information! Jim 8-)
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