Just win baby. That is the famous saying of Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis. It's been awhile for old Al and Raider Nation. It has been too long for two of NASCAR's most popular and talented stars, as well.
Two days of press conferences, sponsor and number talk are over. Dale Earnhardt Jr and Kasey Kahne have announced their liveries for 2008. A summer of rumors and tumult can now settle in to an autumn of racing, at last.
The blogatorials will redirect focus on the Chase to the Nextel Cup Championship, the crowning of Carl Edwards as the last Busch Series champ and tight and interesting Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA ReMax Series stretch runs.
I wonder if either Earnhardt or Kahne can get it together enough to win a race this year.
Kahne was a six time winner in 2006. His Evernham Motorsports team fell behind the curve early in 2007. Recent strong qualifying runs and a near dominating performance at Bristol in the night race - if it wasn't for that #99 car - have had Kasey close.
Dale Junior drove desperately in the closing races of the Race to the Chase for the Cup. He seemed always to be running in the top five, only to be taken out by engine problems or a dominant drive by someone else.
With the pressures of the business end of NASCAR reduced a bit, I look for both of these guys to get a win in somewhere in the final nine races. How about Kasey at Charlotte and Martinsville for Junior?
Picture credit: Beth Anne Heisler - ON PIT ROW
yes... at last indeed
Posted by: michael | September 20, 2007 at 05:27 AM
You kind of have to feel bad for these guys. They haven't been able to concentrate on just the race, you know? Maybe you're right and they'll settle in and get a win before the year is out. Jr. needs to break those fancy new cars in with something worth celebrating.
Posted by: Don | September 20, 2007 at 01:54 PM
You kind of have to feel bad for these guys. They haven't been able to concentrate on just the race, you know? Maybe you're right and they'll settle in and get a win before the year is out. Jr. needs to break those fancy new cars in with something worth celebrating.
Posted by: Don | September 20, 2007 at 01:55 PM
Good picks for the both of them....I figure Junior is good for one before the years out...Kahne not so much....Busch Series is a forgone conclusion..Truck is going to be a battle to the end..I'll go with HornadayArca Kimmel but I think Mcdowell is the real deal that someone needs to snap up...
Posted by: robert bourne | September 20, 2007 at 07:06 PM