AT NHMS: While Dale Earnhardt Jr. has yet to win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, he has racked up some solid stats at the 1.058-mile oval. In 33 starts, he has eight top-five finishes, four of which have come since his transition to Hendrick Motorsports. He missed both races at New Hampshire last year while recovering from a concussion, but he’s scored top-10 results in five of his last eight starts at the Loudon, New Hampshire, facility. While his career average finish at the track is 15.3, in his most recent eight races dating back to 2012, the driver of the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS has improved that number to a 10.75 average finish.
LOOP DATA: According to NASCAR’s loop data statistics since 2005, Earnhardt has the sixth-best driver rating among active drivers at New Hampshire with an average of 97.4. The driver rating is a formula that combines wins, top-15 finishes, average running position while on the lead lap, average speed under green, fastest lap, most laps led and lead-lap finishes. Additionally, the Kannapolis, North Carolina, native tops the chart in green-flag speed (125.183 mph) and ranks third in green-flag passes (1,242), sixth in average running position (11.396) and eighth in fastest laps run (273).
Q&A: The driver of the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS is scheduled to participate in a track question-and-answer session on Sunday, July 16, at 12:30 p.m. local time in the infield. For more information, click here.
PINK GLOVES: Earnhardt will continue to wear gloves accented in pink during the month of July to represent Therapeutic Recreation Week on behalf of 10-year-old Patient Champion Maddie Delaney as part of The Dale Jr. Foundation’s ongoing Driven to Give Gloves program. The driver of the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS reunited with his friend Maddie during his visit to the Nationwide Children’s Hospital last week and she also came to Kentucky Speedway last Saturday to support the No. 88 team, along with the three other Patient Champions – Tristen Cooper, Ailee Gilliland and John Roger Curry. Earnhardt’s race-worn gloves will be auctioned off to raise funds for NCH’s clinical and research programs.
RECAPPING THE VISIT TO NCH: Last Thursday, July 6, Earnhardt and five other members of the No. 88 team – crew chief Greg Ives, Adam Jordan, Cale Johnson, Jason Seitzinger and Doug Wojcik – made a special visit to NCH. While there, the group toured the NICU and rehabilitation floors, met with patients and their families, visited with the Patient Champions and participated in a kids press conference. As America’s largest pediatric hospital and research center, NCH is dedicated to making sure that all patients are given the care they need, regardless of the family’s ability to pay. Families travel from around the nation – and some even come from other countries – to gain access to the Columbus, Ohio-based hospital’s life-saving treatments. In many cases, NCH is the only hospital able to provide that care and is their last hope for treatment. More information is available at www.NationwideChildrens.org.
NATIONWIDE PET PROMOTION: Pet owners can visit www.pawsandracing.com to learn more about Nationwide’s pet insurance and submit a photo of their pet(s) to enter to win a VIP race experience including travel to the Sept. 24 race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a meet-and-greet with Gus and Earnhardt and their pet’s image will be featured on the TV panel of the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet SS during the Sept. 24 race weekend. Additional first prize winners will receive a Nationwide Pet Accessory Kit plus a No. 88 Nationwide diecast car signed by Earnhardt. |