Man, I would have loved to be at Atlanta Motor Speedway for the CoT tests on Monday. Of all the places that I could have been this year, that's the one I pick. Dale Earnhardt Jr's first real day with the Hendrick Motorsports team.
Driver's number one and one "A" weren't there. Jeff Gordon and Jimmy Johnson were elsewhere for the test. The actual testing for HMS was being handled by team CoT test pilot David Green, Cup driver Casey Mears and the new guy. The new guy being - excuse my assumption - driver one "Aa", Dale Earnhardt Jr.
I have seen the following quote a couple places. This is lifted from Lee Spencer's column.
"It's been wild how all this has worked out, how much attention this got, how hard some of it was and how much fun some of it was," Earnhardt said. "As excited as it was, I don't ever want to do it again. Hopefully, we'll have a great time at Rick's and he'll keep me as long as I want to drive."
I'm betting that the great time started in earnest yesterday at AMS. Still sore from the latest weirdness in the (I'll bet he won't miss it much) #8 car, Sunday - Earnhardt's recent memories of life at DEI might have faded for a few hours.
Only three more to go Junior. They'll keep the seat warm for you.
Picture credit: Rusty Jarrett - Getty Images
sharp looking car ...a throw back to Hendrick's first foray with Bodine at the wheel...
Posted by: robert bourne | October 30, 2007 at 05:52 PM
The paint scheme makes the CoT look even more retro. I like it.
We know Jr is one of the best at car control. Just look at how much his driving style in the last couple of races looks like his dad's, because the set up just hasn't been there.
It will be interesting to see how he does in the HMS equipment. I would like to see him finally get the credit he deserves.
Posted by: RevJim | October 31, 2007 at 02:54 AM
Man, do I just hate Hendrick Motorsports ... well, with the exception of Casey Mears (and Dale Jr) ... so, I guess technically, next year I'll have to revise that statement to "Man, do I just hate Gordon and Johnson". Nonetheless, I think it woulda been pretty cool for Jr to get to hook up with Gordon and Jimmie Jo for this event. Oh well, I'm sure it was a blast anyway.
Posted by: TZ | November 01, 2007 at 03:40 PM