The biggest story of last year was Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s. jump to Hendrick Motorsports. There is a good chance that his 2008 efforts will be a spillover of that.
I doubt in the history of racing, there has been a more beloved figure than Dale, Jr. The combination of his easygoing charm and having to step in because of his father’s death has made him very popular — popularity he deserves and wears very well.
This year will be different. He’ll have to perform. I doubt if the pressure will be very obvious to him. He’ll be the same laid-back, fun-loving guy he always has been.
While his charm is never under scrutiny, his driving will be. Is Junior in the same class as Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart? We really don’t know. The cars under him may not have been suitable enough to truly test him.
Remember, he is going into Hendrick Motorsports, which won 18 of the 36 races last year. And with all races employing the Car of Tomorrow, which proved dominant for Hendrick, Junior will have top-notch equipment.
The guy who really will be under the gun is Junior’s crew chief and cousin, Tony Eury, Jr. It will be discovered if he was the link between success and mediocrity. If the No. 88 underachieves like the No. 8 did, Eury will feel the wrath.
The real test of the new team will not be the Daytona 500. Restrictor-plate tracks don’t show much. Junior’s problems have come mostly at the “cookie cutter” tracks where the majority of races are run.
Every bit of success or failure on the part of Dale, Jr. will be analyzed. I wouldn’t be surprised if Speed doesn’t have a weekly show devoted just to him.
Also getting huge notice will be the Gibbs team’s switch to Toyota. If Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart have good seasons, you can bet Toyota will be doling out more big money to secure other teams. Toyota sold more than nine million domestic cars last year, the first time General Motors did not lead in that category. There will be a lot of money on the table, and under it, too.
But if Toyota runs midpack, it would be a big flop for them. Stewart’s contract with Gibbs is up for renewal. You know Smoke will not tolerate a season of mediocrity.
• Over the holidays, I got to enjoy Lynn Schaeffer’s latest “Thunder in the Pa. Mountains” video. As always, the production is first rate. It’s just $40, including S&H. The address is 659 Lynes Road, Dillsburg, Pa. 17019.
• It is nice to see the resurgence of the ARDC. I have not seen an ARDC race in many years. The last few times were rather forgettable. Now, it has new drivers and teams and has a weekly show at Susquehanna Speedway Park. Running wingless is a big plus, too.
• The holidays brought some sadness. Old friend Vic Novell died at age 74. His TQ midgets driven by Bobby Albert and Russ Klar were fast and immaculate. Vic was going to paint and sponsor my stock car, but it got wrecked and he never had the chance. He moved to Springfield, Ohio, years ago. My sympathies to his wife, Barbara.
Getting mauled by my Chia Pet at 25 Emerson Place, Valley Stream, N.Y. 11580.