One of the big stories of much of the NASCAR season was that it appeared that Dale Earnhardt Jr. was back. He had nearly won a couple of races and after a string of three consecutive Top-10 finished reached a season-high third in the points standings. Now, however, Junior is in a bit of a free-fall and needs a great result at Sunday?s Lenox Industrial Tools 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. He opened at 20/1 on Bodog?s NASCAR odds to win.
Earnhardt was a disappointing 30th last week at Kentucky after blowing a tire and bringing out the next-to-last caution on Lap 253 of 267. In the past four races, Earnhardt has finished 21st, 41st, 19th and 30th. For comparison, Earnhardt had finished outside the Top 20 just once this season prior to his current slide after wrecking late in the Daytona 500. Once considered a lock to return to the Chase for the first time in three years and after spending eight straight weeks in the top five in points, Earnhardt Jr. has fallen five spots in the past four weeks and is down to eighth.
Remember that finishing in the Top 12 doesn?t guarantee a spot in the Chase. This year, for the first time, the number of wins by drivers in positions 11 through 20 in the standings after 26 races will govern who makes the Chase and who doesn?t. Another bad result this week could slide Junior out of the Top 10.
The bad news is that Junior has never won at NHMS. The good news is that among all drivers, Earnhardt's career average running position of 11.3 at Loudon is good for fifth. Despite qualifying outside of the Top 30 in each race at the site a year ago, Earnhardt rallied to finish eighth in the summer and fourth in the fall.
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Earnhardt was a disappointing 30th last week at Kentucky after blowing a tire and bringing out the next-to-last caution on Lap 253 of 267. In the past four races, Earnhardt has finished 21st, 41st, 19th and 30th. For comparison, Earnhardt had finished outside the Top 20 just once this season prior to his current slide after wrecking late in the Daytona 500. Once considered a lock to return to the Chase for the first time in three years and after spending eight straight weeks in the top five in points, Earnhardt Jr. has fallen five spots in the past four weeks and is down to eighth.
Remember that finishing in the Top 12 doesn?t guarantee a spot in the Chase. This year, for the first time, the number of wins by drivers in positions 11 through 20 in the standings after 26 races will govern who makes the Chase and who doesn?t. Another bad result this week could slide Junior out of the Top 10.
The bad news is that Junior has never won at NHMS. The good news is that among all drivers, Earnhardt's career average running position of 11.3 at Loudon is good for fifth. Despite qualifying outside of the Top 30 in each race at the site a year ago, Earnhardt rallied to finish eighth in the summer and fourth in the fall.
Bet on NASCAR now at Bodog!
