Quotes from: DALE EARNHARDT JR. / Driver, #8 Budweiser Chevrolet:
On the return to California:
“We’re going with the most optimism we’ve had in several years leading into a Fontana race. It was a sore subject for us for a long time. I felt we made big gains at that track in February, just missing a top-10. My guys are real excited and I'm following their lead. Hopefully once we get there, I'll feel like I've known my way around there all along. Our finishes at Michigan this year (third and sixth) give us a lot to work with. We’re taking the same car we ran at Michigan, same motor, and probably the same set-up.”
On his climb from 10th to ninth in the point standings with two races to go before the Chase: “I’m in ninth by two points, but I’m 19 points out of sixth. It’s a tight race. Getting out of Bristol with a third-place finish was really big for us, because I was nervous about that race… wasn’t much fun to be around. I feel like we’ve got the upper-hand to make the Chase. It’s still too close for comfort. I saw how quickly we dropped out of third place in the standings a month ago. One bad race, one wreck, one blown motor can send you spiraling. But surviving Bristol was a step in the right direction. I feel confident at Richmond (the last race before the Chase) that I can run in the top-10 there. I think all of us from sixth on back are going to really have to take advantage of every opportunity to gain points, whether it’s leading a lap, using pit strategy to gain track position, that kind of stuff. Maximize every moment on track each week.”
The No. 8 Bud Team at California Speedway:
Previous Starts: 9
Best Start: 8th (April 27, 2003)
Best Finish: 3rd (April 29, 2003)
This Race, Last Year: ST: 41st / FN: 38th
Last Time at Fontana: ST: 18th / FN: 11th
This Week’s Bud Car: #39
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the #8 Budweiser team enter the Fontana race weekend after a third-place finish at Bristol on Saturday. With two races to go before the Chase begins, Dale Jr. is ninth in the Nextel Cup standings and in Chase contention by 92 points over 11th-place Kasey Kahne. Only 19 points separate him from sixth-place Denny Hamlin. In 23 races, Dale Jr. has one win (Richmond), seven top-fives, and 11 top-10s.
Fontana Weekend Notebook:
* In nine career races at Fontana, Dale Jr. has one top-five and two top-10s. He has led two races there.
* Dale Jr. has 17 top-15 finishes this season
* The Bud team has led 11 races this year for 203 laps. Dale Jr.’s 35 laps led at Bristol on Saturday were the third-most this season, bested only by his 47 laps led in the Richmond victory and the 40 laps led at Michigan two weeks ago.
* Dale Jr. has been in the top-10 in points in all but two weeks in 2006, and never worse than 11th.
* Dale Jr. has finished sixth or better in three of four races.
* The Bud team will be taking the same car (chassis #39) that it finished sixth at Michigan two weeks ago.
Race Details:
Sony HD 500
California Speedway / Fontana, California
2-mile oval / 250 laps / 500 miles
Sunday, Sept. 3, 2006
TV: NBC, 7 p.m. ET
Radio: Motor Racing Network, XM Radio.
Bud Pole Qualifying: SPEED Channel / Friday, Sept. 1 / 3:30 p.m. ET
2005 winner: Kyle Busch
Budweiser. This is Beer.
Thanks to Jade Gurss and Mike Davis from fingerprint inc. for sending the race reports and updates.
fingerprint inc. -
-- Anheuser-Busch NASCAR Publicity
-- Dale Earnhardt Jr. / No. 8 Budweiser team
blogs and info: www.fingerprintonline.com
www.Budweiser.com |
