Dale Earnhardt Jr. Set to Enter Final Spring Event at Talladega, the Track He Calls a Second Home

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With six-time Talladega Superspeedway winner and 14-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. announcing his retirement after the 2017 season, the GEICO 500 on May 7 at the track he considers a second home – Talladega Superspeedway – will be his last spring event at the Biggest and Baddest track on the planet.

Dale Jr. has had plenty of success at “Sweet Home Talladega” throughout the years. He leads all active-drivers in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) wins at TSS, and three have come in the springtime classic – GEICO 500. Here are additional statistics for his efforts in the GEICO 500:

Springtime at Talladega for Dale Jr.

GEICO 500

  • Total Races: 17
  • Wins: 3 (2002, 2003, 2015)
  • Top-5 Finishes: 6 (including 2 runner-ups)
  • Top-10 Finishes: 10
  • Laps Led: 458
  • Average Finish: 13.4
  • Poles: 0 (5 top-five starts)
  • First Race: 2000 (Started 6th; finished 42 – Blown Engine)

Other Springtime TSS Events

  • NASCAR XFINITY Races: 9 (1 win in 2003; four top five finishes)
  • International Race of Champions (IROC) Races: 2 (11th best finish in 2000)

Dale Jr.’s three MENCS victories in the spring rank him tied for second on the all-time GEICO 500 win list, trailing only Jeff Gordon. His trio of triumphs have him knotted with Alabama Gang members Bobby & Davey Allison, along with Buddy Baker, defending GEICO 500 champ Brad Keselowski and his Dad – Dale Earnhardt, Sr.  (who leads all drivers with 10 overall TSS first-place efforts). Dale Jr. learned about Talladega Superspeedway by watching his dad – something he believes was pivotal to his development as a restrictor plate racer as he tried to follow in his footsteps.

“I learned a tremendous amount because I solely watched him where, someone else who grew up around the sport may not have focused as much on one particular driver. That really helped me develop into a better plate race car driver than the average guy,” he said.

The first-time Dale Jr. saw Talladega’s 2.66-mile venue from behind the wheel was thanks to his father. That day back in 1997, the younger Earnhardt, who had never driven a MENCS car, knew he was going to Talladega, but he didn’t know why.

“Dad called me at the dealership (Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet) and told me to grab my helmet and to be at the airport the next morning, not to ask any questions or tell anyone where I was going,” he said. “We got there and he told me to put my stuff on and get in the car, go out and run, and to hold it wide open.” He would compete in two NASCAR XFINITY Series races the next two years (1998-99) at TSS where his best finish was sixth in ’99.

In the spring of 2001, driving the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Incorporated Chevrolet (DEI), Dale Jr. recorded his first top-10 at the 2.66-mile Superspeedway, leading 33 laps and coming home eighth. When the MENCS returned the following spring, it seemed he had the place figured out. He led 133 of 188 laps and beat teammate Michael Waltrip to the line by only .06 seconds, recording a one-two finish for DEI.

In the spring of 2003, Jr. found himself in victory lane again after leading 34 laps. “We were winning so many races there in a short period of time and some places you feel almost like you are at home, and this is one of them,” Dale Jr. said of Talladega.

It would be 12 years until he recorded his third spring victory at ‘Sweet Home Talladega’. This time, he drove into Gatorade Victory Lane driving the No. 88 for Hendrick Motorsports. In the 2015 GEICO 500, led a race high 67 laps, including the final 27 circuits, holding off teammate Jimmie Johnson to the roar of Earnhardt Nation in the grandstands.

It had been a long time coming for Dale Jr. to get back into the winner’s circle at his special track. “I just feel real emotional,” he said afterwards. “I hadn’t won here in a long time. It was Daddy’s birthday a few days ago. I’m just really emotional right now. What a place.”

The emotions will certainly be present when Jr. enters his final spring event at Talladega next weekend, May 5-7. “Our fans love to see us win and lead the race here,” Jr. said. “They want us to lead every lap. I’m appreciative of all their support and can’t wait to be back on the track at Talladega.”

TSS PR

Speedway Digest Staff
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