Dale Jr. Quotes for Talladega
The No. 8 Budweiser team and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are eligible to win a $1 million bonus from Winston if they are able to win this weekend at Talladega The team has won the last two races at Talladega, including this event last season, where the earned the $1 million bonus for the first time.
"Forget the money. I love running at Talladega, and I'd get out there and run just as hard if they paid me a dime to win. The team needs to win, I need to win, DEI needs to win. This is one of my favorite places to race, and it's just the most intense feeling to be running three-wide lap-after-lap. You have to be totally aware for 500 miles so you know who's beside you, who's behind you and who's ahead of you. Of course, my strategy is to get up front and then stay up front. Let's go for it. I know a lot guys sit around for the first 450 laps and then try to race at the end, but that's not me and that's not my team. We're gonna lead 'em all we can. I don't think it's bragging to say we should be the favorite going in - we have always been up front here and I know we have no intention of giving up that trend.
"Wait… a million dollars? OK, I take it back. DON'T forget the money… I might need a new tractor for the land I just bought. What makes that deal (the Winston bonus) so cool is not that the teams win a million, but that a fan can win a million as well. You know, it's a lot of money for anybody, but can you imagine making $40 thousand a year and all of a sudden getting a million dollars? That has to be unbelievable."
Dale Jr. and the No. 8 Bud Team at Talladega
Previous Winston Cup Starts: 6
Best Start: 3rd (Sept., 2000)
Best Finish: 1st (Sept. 2001, April, 2002)
This Race, Last Year: ST: 6th
FIN: 1st
Led: 67 laps
The Bud team has won the last two races at Talladega, including this event last season. In six starts, they have led five races for a total of 259 laps including an even 200 laps in the last two events. (The only Talladega race they did not lead was their first race here in 2000 after being involved in a crash on the first lap.)
What:
EA Sports 500
Where:
Talladega Superspeedway, Talladega, Alabama
2.66-mile oval / 188 laps / 500 miles / Race #30 of 36
When:
Sunday, October 6 / 1 p.m.
Watch:
NBC / Pre-race 12:30 pm
You can also tune in on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) on
a radio or computer near you… you know the drill by now…
Bud Pole Qualifying:
Bud Pole qualifying can be seen live at 4:00 pm Friday on the Speed Channel and heard on MRN affiliates across the nation. (All Times: Eastern)
Thanks to Jade for this Budweiser Race Preview!
www.Budweiser.com |
