Earnhardt Jr Gambled for the Win
Posted on June 16th, 2008 by Ron Ripple under Dale Earnhardt Jr, Nascar Crashes, Nascar Racing, Nascar WinnerDale Earnhardt Jr must be on cloud 88 right now after a HUGE win at Michigan International Speedway! It took 76 races for Jr to finally get back in the winner’s circle and who does he have to thank but gambling man Crew Chief, Tony Eury Jr (and himself of course). Like any other race this season, it came down to strategy. I was on the edge of my seat when I heard the Amp #88 was going to be staying out on the track with not enough fuel to finish the race. I thought at that moment, gas prices are up… try to conserve as much as you can and save the Hendrick’s team a buck! It was going to come down to a yellow flag for Earnhardt to conserve as much fuel as possible to coast for a win. All and all it was a well deserved win and I couldn’t have been more proud. Just watching him turning the engine off and on while coasting through the caution laps I for a second there didn’t think it was going to happen. Did I mention they tacked on two more laps for the green white checkered?
The one thing I love about NASCAR is the fact that every team is out for the win! It’s decisions like Sunday that show the true champions and just a top 10 finish. It’s not often you’ll hear a post race interview with a HAPPY second place or third place driver. They seem to always be disappointed and why not? They had the chance to take home the victory and they fell short.
Not everyone had a good day, Greg Biffle decided on lap 186 to come into the pits to change two tires and to also clip his tire changer knocking him over. We know the tire changer had a bad day, he might be a little sore for a while! We can’t forget Sam Hornish Jr as he was leading towards the end of the race battling with Jimmie Johnson. Hornish finished in 22nd after spinning out on lap 198 but fortunately being able to fire it back up and stay on the lead lap. Whew, a guy with an even worse day was team owner Chip Ganassi. His three drivers finished with a DFL which stands for dead f… last (Dario Franchitti), 38th place (Juan Pablo Montoya), and 34th (Reed Sorenson)… Ouch.
A big congrats to Joey Logano and his first victory after only 3 races in the Nationwide Series. He is officially the youngest driver to ever win a Nationwide Series Race. Eighteen years and 21 days old! We’ll be seeing a lot of this kid. What are your thoughts and what are the major events that stuck in your mind this weekend? Is anyone surprised I didn’t mention Kyle Busch? Oh wait I had too!
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June 16th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Kyle had no chance keeping up with Joey Sat. night. My phone was ringing off the hook because I had picked him.
Glad to see Jr. get a win even if he needed some help with the yellow!
I think Kyle is done fooling around with the feeder races after he saw Ron H. after him at the end of the truck race.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
That was definately a nail bitter finish. I was on the edge of my seat watching Jr turn the car off and on to conserve. Glad he finally got his first win.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Junior got lucky to win this one…. he wouldn’t of had enough fuel at the end, and even junior admitted it hehe.
I’ll tell you what I am not happy about nascar…. The truck race, on Saturday, if you saw, there was a wreck, but they let the green flag stay on the track, so they could race back. This time at Michigan, Junior is leading, and they immediately pull the yellow flag.
Daytona…. Remember Martin vs Harvick at the end? A big wreck, and nascar kept the green flag out, and did not draw the yellow.
Thats the one thing I don’t like about Nascar, inconsistency, and playing politics.
I was really disappointed to see the caution for debris, after the long green flag run. Was it just me, or did they camera point to a bouncing beer can?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXjccBI7EfM
June 17th, 2008 at 8:05 am
From what I understand, it depends on what lap and where on the track to wreck happens if they throw the yellow flag. If the leaders are going into turn 3 and the wreck happens on the back stretch, NASCAR isnt going to call a caution on the final lap.
June 17th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
With the high gas prices, man I feel like i’m in a a Nascar race every week going to and from work; Trying to conserve gas a 1/2 tank of gas to last me the whole week. With my drafting and throttle control techniques I think I could teach Jr. a thing or two about saving gas. You Think he would hire me?
R.I.P Jim McKay
June 17th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Draft a truck on the highway, (50 feet behind) and you will see a tremendous amount of savings on fuel millage
and if you have a manual transmission, always run in the highest gear on the highways, 4th gear, or 5th gear, etc….. 
June 17th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Now that’s funny! Ronripple.com is turning into a “how to” on saving gas…. NASCAR style
June 22nd, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Go Dale Go!