(photo courtesy Tom Whitmore/Getty Images)

Could it be that Dale Earnhardt,Jr.’s rise in the standings this season is related to the fall of Mark Martin?

Earnhardt finished fourth last Saturday night at the Coke Zero 400 and climbed up to 12th position in the Chase.  Meanwhile Martin was caught up in one of the “big ones”, finished 28th . . . → Read More: Is Dale Jr’s Fortunes Martin’s Misfortunes?]]>

(photo courtesy Tom Whitmore/Getty Images)

Could it be that Dale Earnhardt,Jr.’s rise in the standings this season is related to the fall of Mark Martin?

Earnhardt finished fourth last Saturday night at the Coke Zero 400 and climbed up to 12th position in the Chase.  Meanwhile Martin was caught up in one of the “big ones”, finished 28th and fell out of the Chase to 13th place.

Is this just racing luck or is there something to this analysis?  If you look at the bigger picture, maybe there is something here.  During the off season Rick Hendrick made some changes to try to bolster the sagging performance of “NASCAR’s rock star”, Dale Jr.  and the #88 race team. Hendrick moved some “key players” from Martin’s team over to Earnhardt, Jr.’s team.  It was explained as part of “reorganization “ effort to help both teams.

After last year’s performance, Mark Martin’s team really didn’t need any help, they had 5 victories to show for themselves.  What needed help?  Now 18 races into the season, Martin has zero victories and has fallen out of the Chase.

There is also this small item, what to do with the new Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Kasey Kahne, for the 2011 season?    There is much conjecture on the future of Mark Martin, Kasey Kahne, and Hendrick Motorsports.  Martin has a contract to drive full time with HMS in 2011, but the water is still very murky as to how the pieces of this puzzle will fit together.

Does any or all of this Kahne, Martin, and HMS negotiations have an affect on the Martin’s 2010 performance?  One thing that is for sure, winning in NASCAR requires a multitude of factors to fit together snugly, from mechanical to mental, and many things in between.  There are some people that may wondering if Hendrick’s tinkering may have upset the apple cart.

Nevertheless, there is some happy news for the ardent Mark Martin fan.  Martin is only a handful points out of 12th place.  The driver currently in 12th place is  Carl Edward, hardly a powerhouse and winless in 2010.

What is your view on Martin’s slide and Junior’s ascent?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images)

It was the third time that the #3 Chevy had been on the track since Dale Earnhardt, Sr. lost his life back in February 2001.  It was the second time that Dale, Jr. had driven the #3 Chevy since his father’s death.

Earlier Saturday afternoon Dale Jr.qualified the blue and yellow #3 Wrangler . . . → Read More: It’s A Family Tradition]]>

(photo courtesy Rusty Jarrett/Getty Images)

It was the third time that the #3 Chevy had been on the track since Dale Earnhardt, Sr. lost his life back in February 2001.  It was the second time that Dale, Jr. had driven the #3 Chevy since his father’s death.

Earlier Saturday afternoon Dale Jr.qualified the blue and yellow #3 Wrangler Chevy into the 3rd position for the Subway Jalapeno 250 at Daytona International Speedway, the very same track that his father lost his life in a last lap wreck.  It was also a cumulative effort by three different entities, JR Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Dale Earnhardt,Inc.

On the third lap of the race Dale Jr momentarily took the lead.  Simultaneously, the crowd was on its collective feet with their hands held high with three fingers extended in honor of  “The Intimidator”, “Ironhead”, or just “The Man In Black”, Dale Earnhardt,Sr.!

For most of the race the #3 Wrangler Chevy hung around the top ten.  However, with 26 laps to go Dale Jr. made a pass for the lead and the entire crowd rose to their feet in a joyous celebration, as an Earnhardt driving the # 3 was bolting to the lead!

From that point it was Earnhardt,Jr’s race to loose.  The the unthinkable happened, a yellow flag signifying what would be a green-white-checkered finish.  On the restart Joey Logano pushed Dale Jr. to the lead and it was all that was needed to secure a very emotional victory for Dale Earnhardt, Jr., JR Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and for all of Junior Nation!

All is well in Junior Nation!

This victory leaves Dale,Jr. one shy of his father’s record at Daytona.  After all, Daytona and Earnhardt victories-that is just a family tradition!

What is your view of the Subway Jalapeno 250?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo Jeff Gluck/SB Nation)

This weekend the Nationwide Series brings their new generation race cars to the track for their first introductory race of 2010.  These new cars will incorporate all of the new safety elements from the Sprint Cup CoT (Car of Tomorrow/Today).

The new Nationwide cars will move the driver a little further to the center . . . → Read More: Nationwide New Cars Appear]]>

(photo Jeff Gluck/SB Nation)

This weekend the Nationwide Series brings their new generation race cars to the track for their first introductory race of 2010.  These new cars will incorporate all of the new safety elements from the Sprint Cup CoT (Car of Tomorrow/Today).

The new Nationwide cars will move the driver a little further to the center of the car, a bigger “greenhouse” (cockpit area), and increase side protection from possible T-bone crashes.  The body is wider and the wheelbase has been increased from 105 inches to 110 inches.

Ford, Dodge, Chevy, and Toyota all have their respective versions of the new car on display this weekend racing at Daytona.  Ford has badged their new car the Ford Mustang. Dodge has elected to have their Dodge Challenger the name badge for their entry.  However, both Toyota and Chevy have kept the Impala and Camry, respectively, as their entries.

The Nationwide officials are very quick to point out that these new rides are not to be confused with the Car of Tomorrow (CoT) moniker bestowed on the Sprint Cup cars a couple of years ago.  Could it be that the Nationwide is really using the Car of Yesterday?

This new designed race car is a far departure from the homogenized look for the past decade or two. The only way to decipher a Ford, Chevy, Dodge, and Toyota in the past was to read the decal on the front or rear bumper.  Conversely, these Nationwide cars are designed to resemble the actual lines and the look of that car!

Workingonmyredneck, (WOMR) is very excited to see these new race cars out on the track this afternoon.  But of utmost interest, is the first view of the Wrangler #3 Chevy driven for this race by Dale Earnhardt, Jr.!  When he first rolls off pit lane in practice this afternoon there will be some old memories conjured up in the race fans’ minds constituting some big smiles, there will be most definitely huge cheers, and quite possibly some tears from some of the die-hard Black #3 fans!

What is your view on the new Nationwide race car?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING N MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy Leon Hammack)

After the NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremonies Rick Hendrick and Richard Childress were joking when they announced that they had formed a joint company in order to put Darrel Waltrip back into a race car.  Quite honestly a meeting of those two minds isn’t a bad idea.  Childress and Hendrick ought to . . . → Read More: Is There A Change In Dale Jr’s Future?]]>

(photo courtesy Leon Hammack)

After the NASCAR Hall of Fame induction ceremonies Rick Hendrick and Richard Childress were joking when they announced that they had formed a joint company in order to put Darrel Waltrip back into a race car.  Quite honestly a meeting of those two minds isn’t a bad idea.  Childress and Hendrick ought to put their minds together to solve a problem that is clearly growing, that of Dale Earnhardt, Jr. at Hendrick Motorsports.

It is obvious that the Earnhardt-Hendrick equation has not added up in 2 1/2 years.  Junior has only won two races for HMS, the 2008 Bud Shootout and the June 2008 Michigan race.

The shape of thing to come may appear to be nebulous right now, but there may be clues to what the future may hold for Dale,Jr.

Last September Austin Dillon, Richard Childress’ grandson, made his Camping World Truck Series debut at Iowa Speedway driving a black # 3 Chevy Silverado.  Even though the paint scheme commemorated the 40th anniversary of RCR in NASCAR, it was eerily reminiscent of the black #3 Goodwrench Chevy by Dale Earnhardt,Sr.  The bottom line is that the black #3 was back on the race track in one of NASCAR’s elite series.

In late April there was an announcement that Dale,Jr. would drive the #3 Wrangler Chevy in the July Daytona Nationwide race.  The paint scheme is a replica of the blue and yellow Wrangler car that Dale,Sr. drove before the Goodwrench sponsorship.

Richard Childress Racing, Dale Earnhart, Inc., and JR Motorsports are jointly putting this deal together and all have a piece of this action.  RCR is the owner of record, Jr Motorsports will build and prepare the car, Hendrick will supply the motors.

If introducing the #3 into the truck and nationwide series was the start, then the next logical step seems obvious.  An Earnhardt in the #3 RCR Chevy would solve a litany of impending problems, maybe after an interim move to JR Motorsports for 2011.  That would solve the question of Kahne’s ride in 2011.

However, is Hendrick willing to sell his interest in Jr Motorsports?  That would be required if JR Motorsports were to have a Sprint Cup team in 2011.  Is the Wrangler #3 truly a “one off” deal?  Is Childress really interested in making that kind of move?  Is Dale,Jr really serious about not moving his Nationwide team up to the Sprint Cup level?  Is this a move that Dale,Jr. really would contemplate, moving back into his father’s shadow in the black #3?

What do you think about these scenarios?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

JR Motorsports made it official with its announcement of a joining of forces between JR Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Dale Earnhardt, Inc.  With that announcement and the unveiling of the new JR Motorsports #3 Wrangler Chevy NASCAR fans will see this car race in the July Daytona Nationwide Series.

For the first . . . → Read More: JR Motorsports/RCR/DEI Join Forces]]>

(photo courtesy Jeff Gluck/SB Nation)

JR Motorsports made it official with its announcement of a joining of forces between JR Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Dale Earnhardt, Inc.  With that announcement and the unveiling of the new JR Motorsports #3 Wrangler Chevy NASCAR fans will see this car race in the July Daytona Nationwide Series.

For the first time since Earnhardt Jr.’s widely publicized split from Dale Earnhardt Inc. – the team his late father owned and founded – the driver sat alongside DEI president Teresa Earnhardt, cameras and eyes focused on their every interaction.

It looked awkward, though Earnhardt Jr. softly said it wasn’t as bad as it may have appeared. Though he wasn’t sure what to expect, he and his stepmother aren’t as odds as much as people think, he said, and this day was all about something greater.

This was something they could all agree on: Honoring Dale Earnhardt Sr.

And so an opportunity that not many would have thought was realistic has become a reality: Earnhardt Jr. will be behind the wheel of a No. 3 car – albeit in the Nationwide Series – with one of the famous Wrangler paint schemes that marked his legendary father’s early career.

He will drive the #3 for the first time since 2002 in the July 2 Nationwide race at Daytona International Speedway, his only schedule appearance in the car.

The combined effort meant cooperation was needed from not only Wrangler, but from Richard Childress Racing (which will enter the 3 car under its banner), DEI (which tightly controls Earnhardt Sr.’s legacy) and Hendrick Motorsports (which gave its blessing for Earnhardt Jr. to drive for another team).

And it all started with Earnhardt Jr.’s idea. The team had an opening for sponsorship at Daytona in July, and he suggested getting Wrangler involved.

A major NASCAR history buff, Earnhardt Jr. had long thought about what it would be like to drive the Wrangler car. He floated it out to his sister Kelley – who runs the JR Motorsports team – and by the time he heard about the idea again, plans were already underway for the car to race.

It was a happy, exciting day for Earnhardt Jr. He took out his phone and proudly showed reporters a picture of himself in a Wrangler firesuit from a recent photoshoot in advance of the Daytona race.

But with all the tension between Teresa Earnhardt and the stepchildren whose failed power play to control DEI forced them to leave their father’s team in 2007, how were all parties able to work together?

As Kelley Earnhardt said, if everyone would remind themselves of the ultimate goal – honoring Earnhardt Sr. – then their differences could be put aside.

And there are differences, still. Earnhardt Jr. and Teresa sat alongside one another during the news conference –which took place on Dale Earnhardt Day, the celebration of what would have been the seven-time Cup champion’s 59^th birthday – but it wasn’t the most comfortable of scenes.

Though everyone smiled politely, an awkward hug between Teresa and Martha Earnhardt – the matriarch of the Earnhardt family – and hints dropped during the news conference indicated time had not healed all wounds.

For most all of the NASCAR fans, seeing the #3 Wrangler Chevy return to the track in Daytona will be a thrilling and joyous occasion!  Not only will the July 4th weekend be a patriotic ordeal, but the die-hard NASCAR  will be flocking to the track for a glimpse of Dale Jr. driving the car honoring his father, “The Intimidator”!

(photo courtesy Leon Hammack)

Well it looks like some of the die-hard NASCAR fans may possibly get their wish.  It appears that there are negotiations going on that would allow the #3 Wrangler Chevy to reappear on the same race track where it last raced, Daytona.  There is a collaborative effort initiated by JR Motorsports, Richard Childress . . . → Read More: The #3 Wrangler Chevy At Daytona]]>

(photo courtesy Leon Hammack)

Well it looks like some of the die-hard NASCAR fans may possibly get their wish.  It appears that there are negotiations going on that would allow the #3 Wrangler Chevy to reappear on the same race track where it last raced, Daytona.  There is a collaborative effort initiated by JR Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing, and Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

If this plan is finalized, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will race the #3 Wrangler Chevy for JR Motorsports in the July 2 Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

A formal announcement is expected on April 29th.  According to team sources the engine will be provided by Hendrick Motorsports.  Currently Dale, Jr. has a personal services contract with Wrangler, continuing a family legacy with that brand name.

Here at WorkingOnMyRedneck ( WOMR), the thought of seeing the #3 Wrangler Chevy on the race track racing at Daytona is awesome.  Daytona is the track that Dale Earnhardt,Sr. thoroughly dominated the competition and is so intertwined in his legend and legacy.  Additionally that Dale, Jr. would be driving that #3 car fielded out of his own JR Motorsports will really AMP up the already devoted JUNIOR NATION!

This July at Daytona there will be huge prideful smiles of joy, as well as emotional tears flowing from Earnhardt Nation in the stands!

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

Jeff Gordon pulling into the garage area at Atlanta (photo courtesy Leon Hammack)

A Forbes’ report released Wednesday shows NASCAR’s top team, Hendrick Motorsports, is worth $350 million. But the report claims the average team value has declined $5 million over the past year.  Forbes magazine annual rankings show that Hendrick Motorsports is the most . . . → Read More: NASCAR Team Values Drop Except Hendrick Motorsports]]>

Jeff Gordon pulling into the garage area at Atlanta (photo courtesy Leon Hammack)

A Forbes’ report released Wednesday shows NASCAR’s top team, Hendrick Motorsports, is worth $350 million. But the report claims the average team value has declined $5 million over the past year.  Forbes magazine annual rankings show that Hendrick Motorsports is the most valuable team in NASCAR for the second straight year.  That organization has thoroughly dominated NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series over the last 15 years!

Second in the rankings of NASCAR race teams is Roush-Fenway Racing valued at $238 million.  Third in value in the Forbes ranking is Richard Childress Racing valued at $153 million.  Coming in fourth place in the Forbes ranking is Joe Gibbs Racing valued at$144 million.  Rounding out the top five is Richard Petty Motorsports, a merged entity of Petty Enterprises, Gillette-Evernaham Motorsports, and Yates Racing valued at #124 million.

Forbes said that the NASCAR  race teams decreased in value an average of 10% since 2008, with the exception of Hendrick Motorsports.  Forbes also ranked three Hendrick drivers as the highest paid drivers in NASCAR.  The three drivers are Dale Earnhardt, Jr. earning $30 million, Jeff Gordon earning $27 million, and Jimmie Johnson earning $23 million in 2009.

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy Jason Smith/Getty Images

This past week Darrell Waltrip suggested that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. should go out get a Camping World Series Truck ride, have some fun, and win some races.  Waltrip suggests that by doing that, racing in the Truck Series, possibly winning some races, that it would greatly increase Dale Jr.’s confidence and make . . . → Read More: Go Backwards To Go Forward?]]>

(photo courtesy Jason Smith/Getty Images

This past week Darrell Waltrip suggested that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. should go out get a Camping World Series Truck ride, have some fun, and win some races.  Waltrip suggests that by doing that, racing in the Truck Series, possibly winning some races, that it would greatly increase Dale Jr.’s confidence and make him a better Sprint cup driver!

Waltrip’s philosophy, go backwards to go forward!  That is to say go back to the lower rung of elite NASCAR series, the Truck Series, have some fun and win some races, gain some confidence, and apply that to the Sprint Cup Series!

GO BACKWARDS TO GO FORWARD!

“He needs to get somewhere where he can win, and I’d get him in a truck,” Waltrip has said.  ” Not a Nationwide car, a truck, they’re fun to drive!”  “I’d go out and win me a couple of races.  I think that is what he needs, it would really help his confidence, and I think his fans would really like to see that.  I think that it would be a win-win,” ol DW continued.

I think that ol DW has got something there!  I think that if I was Dale Earnhardt, Jr., I’d go out and win me a couple of Truck races, get my confidence back, then show the Sprint Cup boys the fast way around the track!

So there just might be something correct in that phrase, ” you got to backwards to forward”!

What do you think?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!

(photo courtesy Leon Hammack)

Who was the highest paid driver in NASCAR in 2009?

Here is a list of those individuals and their ranking according to Forbes magazine.

No. 1 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Earnings: $30 million No. 2 Jeff Gordon: Earnings: $27 million No. 3 Jimmie Johnson: Earnings: $23 million No. 4 Tony Stewart: Earnings: $19 million No. 5 Carl Edwards: Earnings: $14 . . . → Read More: Who Is NASCAR’s Highest Paid Driver?]]>

(photo courtesy Leon Hammack)

Who was the highest paid driver in NASCAR in 2009?

Here is a list of those individuals and their ranking according to Forbes magazine.

No. 1 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Earnings: $30 million
No. 2 Jeff Gordon: Earnings: $27 million
No. 3 Jimmie Johnson: Earnings: $23 million
No. 4 Tony Stewart: Earnings: $19 million
No. 5 Carl Edwards: Earnings: $14 million
No. 6 Kevin Harvick: Earnings: $13 million
No. 7 (tie) Kyle Busch: Earnings: $12 million
No. 7 (tie) Kasey Kahne: Earnings: $12 million
No. 9 (tie) Matt Kenseth: Earnings: $11 million
No. 9 (tie) Mark Martin: Earnings: $11 million

For the second year in a row Dale Earnhardt, Jr. made the most money of any driver in NASCAR.

For the full story from Forbes magazine, click here.

Not bad for driving a race car 36 Sundays a year, huh?

TIL NEXT TIME, I AM STILL WORKING ON MY REDNECK!