Most of the time we look
for story book endings, but Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway (DIS), Dale Earnhardt Jr. got a story book start
to the 2008 season. In fact, it is doubtful that either Earnhardt Jr., or Hendricks Motorsports (HMS), or even NASCAR
could have written a more perfect beginning to the 2008 Sprint Cup season than what occurred during the 30th running of the
Budweiser Shootout at Daytona.
In a race where Earnhardt
Jr. prevailed for much of the race, it came down to racing Tony Stewart, his long time rival and many times partner in restrictor
plate races, to vie for the victory. In the final laps with Earnhardt running the outside and Stewart the inside, Earnhardt
was able to win, aided considerably by the support of his new teammates from HMS. On several occasions over that last 50 lap
segment, Earnhardt found support from both Jeff Gordon and Casey Mears. However, his best support in the end may have
been from two-time defending Cup champion Jimmie Johnson who helped push Earnhardt passed the fast Stewart and into victory
lane.
Much of the off season
has been devoted to the move of Earnhardt Jr., to HMS. Many of the Earnhardt Nation was dismayed by the move to the “Arch
Enemy”, while some of his fans thought the move could be an opportunity for Dale Jr. to finally realize his potential.
This first race (a non-points
race) of the Sprint Cup season was met with great anticipation and Earnhardt was nearly pushed off the front page by the practice
sessions for the Bud Shootout. Two major incidents during practice which sent not only Johnson, but also Gordon, to back-up
cars, as well as extensive issues with Kurt Busch, Tony Stewart, Ryan Newman and several others, forced the Earnhardt Jr.’s.
debut with HMS to the back page.
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But from the beginning,
Earnhardt served notice that his move from Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI), the company his late father Dale Earnhardt started to
HMS was one to be reckoned with. In the early laps of the Bud Shootout, Earnhardt moved to the front, and working with his
newfound teammates he stayed there.
In the end, it is doubtful
that Dale Jr., Rick Hendrick and NASCAR which needed a shot in the arm after a disappointing 2007 season, could have directed
a better start to the 2008 season. In fact it was a story book start to the 2008 Sprint Cup season.
2006 StockCar Review.
