Posts Tagged “AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet”

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

NASCAR’s most popular driver once again looks like one of NASCAR’s best drivers.

That’s a summation of Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 2008 season, with three weeks remaining. It’s also solace for the millions of fans who support the driver of the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet.

Earnhardt has fallen out of contention for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship, but from a big picture perspective, what’s important is that he was in contention to begin with. Earnhardt returned to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field this season, his first season with Hendrick Motorsports following his dramatic departure from Dale Earnhardt Inc.

Earnhardt comes into Texas 10th in the series standings He also comes in with a lasting memory: In 2000, as a rookie fresh off winning back-to-back championships in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Earnhardt got his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series victory at Texas.

Afterward, he was joined in Victory Lane for an emotional celebration with his father, seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt.

“I feel pretty good about how we ran this year and how we have been able to be fast pretty much every week,” Earnhardt said last week at Atlanta, where he finished 11th. “I will just try to go in, do it again, do it better next year … I’m real confident in our ability to go out next year and make a better showing.”

Granted Dale Earnhardt Jr. has already had some issues this weekend at NASCAR’s largest track. On Friday he blew an engine in his primary car, after replacing that, his right rear tire exploded in practice, destroying the entire rear of his race car. Dale will have to race in his backup car, and start in the rear of the field, which at Talladega is not so bad.

The Earnhardt Factor: It Can’t be Overlooked
Talladega is the track where Dale Earnhardt Jr. has enjoyed his most success in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, with five victories. It’s obviously a good time for this week’s trip to the big track, as Earnhardt comes in eighth in the series points, 190 behind leader Jimmie Johnson.

Are the stars aligned for an Earnhardt victory? His team’s sponsor is also the race sponsor. And rest assured the usual pro-Earnhardt crowd will be in full vocal force at Talladega for the Amp Energy 500, knowing that Earnhardt’s championship chances need a serious boost.

 The Final Lap TALLADEGA - NEWS

Q: Dale, very big weekend coming up. A lot going on and off the racetrack. Tell us about that to open up.

DALE EARNHARDT JR.: This has been a good track for us. Always run good there. Got a lot of fans there. We’re going to have a special paint scheme with all the fans that signed into the promotional deal with Amp. All their names will be on the car, about 70,000 names. We’re pretty excited about that.

I don’t know, it’s just a good track. Look forward to it. It’s always a lot of fun. It’s a real easy weekend. It’s more of a mental race than a physical race. It’s not really who has the best car; it’s the guy who makes the best moves and makes the right decisions there at the end of the race.

Q. This is a track where it seems like anybody can win. During the Chase, you don’t see many non-Chase guys win. Can you imagine what it’s like for a non-Chase guy to win a race this time of year?

DALE EARNHARDT JR.: Yeah, I mean, it’s just like any other race, I guess, during the season, a win’s a win. They’re fun to celebrate. That’s really what you show up for, is to be able to go to Victory Lane, get that feeling, celebrate with your team.

I think if you haven’t made the Chase, that’s sure vindication I guess for the season and beyond. Gives you a lot of momentum going into the off-season, too, if you can get a win.

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Bidding Starts Today in 10-Day Charity Auction for a Ride with Dale Jr.
Wrangler® and NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Team up to Raise Money for Children’s Camp

Greensboro, N.C. (Sept. 23, 2008) – Three laps, four and a half miles, three and a half minutes, 170 mph…. No matter how you look at it, a breakneck ride shotgun next to Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a thrill of a lifetime! And, thanks to an online charity auction from the Wrangler® brand, one lucky fan will get the chance to climb in the passenger side of the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet for a thrilling ride around Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte.

Fans can get more information or place bids by visiting www.wrangler.com or www.ebay.com/wranglerjeans.

Bidding opens today at 7:00 p.m. EDT on eBay and will continue through Friday, Oct. 3. Following the final bid, Wrangler® will donate 100 percent of auction proceeds to the Victory Junction Gang Camp, a NASCAR-themed medically sound camp that enriches the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses.

The denim giant is also hosting two additional auctions of autographed memorabilia to further help raise funds for Victory Junction. Up for grabs are a pair of signed Wrangler® jeans worn by Dale in a photo shoot for the brand’s current ad campaign, and a door panel from the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet Dale drove during this year’s Auto Club 500 at California Speedway. Dale was unfortunately involved in a crash during the February race, resulting in the blue paint streaks still marring the front of the panel.

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