What Dale Jr. says is the challenge to remain strong this year; Changes for Talladega?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was among the first drivers to talk to the media on Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway. Earnhardt, who also is running in the Nationwide race this weekend, spoke about his fast start.

 

Dale Jr. also talked about what will the challenge in contending for a Chase spot throughout the season:

 

(YOU GET THE FEELING THAT STEVE LETARATE WANTS TO BE THERE AND THERE WERE TIME LANCE WASN’T)

 

“I don’t want to think that Lance had any times where he didn’t want to be there. It s a real tough job. Lance was put into a very challenging and tough position. He did a really good job being put in that position and how we handled it. We got along good. I think me and him did as good as we could under the circumstances. I wish we would have done better. I know he wishes we would have done better. The clean slate and the different personalities, it’s just such a clean slate starting for this season that it’s allowed me to sort of reboot a little bit. Me and Steve are getting along really good.

 

“Hopefully we can maintain that. That’s going to be the challenge, me and him maintaining the positive attitude, maintaining the communication and the consistency of how it’s working right now. That’s going to be the part that is the hardest and that will determine whether we will succeed or not is whether we can keep that going over the entire season. The season is long, you get pissed off, things don’t go right, you get pissed off, and you got to get through those points when they happen and whether it be in practice or whatever.

 

“Even the littlest thing, you’ve got to be able to manage it and not let it ruin (things). I have a hard time not letting certain things just ruin my day and getting pissed off at everything around me. I’ve always had that problem. That’s going to be the tough part, the hardest part, is just trying to keep the relationship as it seems and as it is right now, keeping that throughout the season.

 

(IS THAT WHAT STEVE IS REALLY GOOD AT, MAKING SURE THOSE LOWS DON’T GET TOO LOW?)

 

“I think that’s what he’s great at, and I think that’s what he’s doing right now. He gives you the impression that when you get yourself in a hole or the car isn’t quite going like you want it to go or the car is not responding like you think it should, it gives you the impression that you’ll get it fixed before the end of the day. As long as he doesn’t fool me too many times, nah (and smiles). He does a great job of keeping you in the game. You’re a part of the puzzle and everybody needs to be pulling in the same direction. He’s good at what he does.’’

 

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MODEST CHANGES FOR TALLADEGA

 

I talked with Robin Pemberton, vice president of competition for NASCAR, and asked him about any major changes for the cars for Talladega. There had been some talk of major changes to the radiator or a different radiator to control how long the cars can run in that two-car draft as they did at Daytona.

 

Said Pemberton: “Any possible change of any type of cooling has been toned down quite a bit. We’re working with the teams on some parameters which we’re not ready to go public yet, but nothing is earth shattering. I would say the changes would be very minimal.’’

 

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ODDS AND ENDS

 

# Mark Martin on his crew chief, Lance McGrew: “Lance is fun. I enjoy working with him. I feel very comfortable working with him. We have some fun while we’re doing it. He has a great bunch of guys working for him, and they all seem to be comfortable and know what their role is. It’s a very, very strong race team.’’

 

# With the new Nationwide car, teams have four practice sessions today. Cup teams have one.

 

# Elliott Sadler brought out the caution in the first Nationwide practice session after a tire issue and suffered enough damage that he went to a backup car for Kevin Harvick Inc.

 

# Cup qualifying is at 3:40 p.m. Eastern today

 

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