Pocono 500 - Dale Earnhardt Jr. Notes

Earnhardt Jr. Budweiser Race Preview

Dale Jr. Quotes for Pocono
“Pocono was a track that was brand new to all of us on the team when we started in Winston Cup. It’s a weird, unique place, and it’s tough to get comfortable as a driver and for a teamt o find a fast and consistent set-up. If there has been a trend at Pocono, it seems like things happen here early in the race, where we fall back and then make our way back to the front. Everytime I leave this place, I’m tired and sore because I feel like I’ve passed 1000 cars. This week, maybe we’ll pass that many while we’re lapping them from the front of the field, rather than passing them to catch up.

“I wasn’t happy with 11th this week (at Dover), but I was proud that we started at the back and were able to move up like we did. No one on the team was panicked when we had to start at the back with a car that hadn’t turned a lap. We were confident that we were going to be alright.” v “By far, the best moment for me at Pocono was racing Bobby Labonte so hard for the win (at the July, 2001 race). I wish we would have won – but we were lucky to even finish second because we ran out of fuel in the final turn. It was a great race, back and forth with Bobby. That’s what is really fun – going as hard as you can and racing with guys like him – drivers that you respect and that you know will race you hard and clean. I was weaving and blocking and doing all I could to keep him behind me, but he managed to get past me with two- or three-laps left. That kind of racing is great for the fans, but it’s awesome from my seat too.”

Dale Jr. and the No. 8 Bud Team at Pocono
Previous Winston Cup Starts: 6
Best Start: 6th (June, 2001)
Best Finish: 2nd (July, 2001)
This Race, Last Year: ST: 14 / FIN: 12
(After running out of fuel, the Bud team recovered from one lap down to finish 12th, gaining more than 10 positions in the final 30 laps.)

--- The Budweiser team have now been in the top-10 in points for 10 consecutive weeks, and have been in the second position since winning the race at Talladega in early April.

What:
Pocono 400
200 laps / 500 miles / Race #14 of 36-race Winston Cup Series

Where:
Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, PA
2.5-mile scalene triangle

When:
Sunday, June 8 / 1:00 p.m.

Watch:
Fox-TV (pre-race: 12:30 pm)

Bud Pole Qualifying:
Bud Pole qualifying can be seen Friday at 3:00 p.m. on Speed Channel. You can also hear qualifying and race action on the Motor Racing Network (MRN) on a radio station or computer near you. The radio programming is also heard on the 24-hour NASCAR channel on XM Radio. (All Times: Eastern)

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