The North Carolina News Network

The Difference A Year Makes For Jr.

(UPDATE) -- While Dale Earnhardt Jr. did not have his best finish of the season on Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, he is happy about what he has accomplished after just seven Sprint Cup Series races in his first year with Hendrick Motorsports. "We're proud about being able to go out and get five top-10s," said Earnhardt.

He said he is still trying to get use to the success he has had this season. "I've never had those statistics. I felt like I was that kind of guy, but wasn't ever able to make it happen, so I'm enjoying that."

Currently, Jr. is fourth in the series standings. At this same time last year, in his final year with Dale Earnhart Inc., he was 18th in the standings. "And I'm humbled by it, so you might not think that I'm as hungry for the win. It might not show in how I talk to you or how I am or how I act -- it's in there."

Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Dale Jr. are tied for the most wins of any active driver at upcoming Phoenix International Raceway. The all have two wins a piece at the one mile oval.

Last Updated ( Thursday, 10 April 2008 )

RCR Dominates The Top-12

RCR driver Clint Bowyer

(UPDATE) -- Seven races into the Sprint Cup Series season and all three Richard Childress Racing drivers are in the top-12 of the driver standings. Jeff Burton and Kevin Harvick are one and two respectively. Then there is one of the season's most improved, Clint Bowyer, ranked 11th in the driver standings. He started the season with weak results in the first three races. He wrecked at Daytona and chalked up the season opening 500 to bad luck, but that was not the case at California and Las Vegas. "We were way off, way, way, way loose with no grip at all. Gil made some aero changes and worked hard in gettin' the car to handle and got to Atlanta and it took off," said Bowyer.

Bowyer has not performed well in Cup Series races at the upcoming Subway Fresh Fit 500 at Phoenix International Raceway, but he thinks Crew Chief Gil Martin has found the fix. "Over the off season we've probably put two or three tests forward to just brakes and things like that to try to pick it up, and from the tests that I've seen so far I think we'll be just fine."

Bowyer has posted one top-five and four top-10 finishes so far this season.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 April 2008 )