Dale Jr. engine Jinx?

[Candlewood]

AP - "As megateam Hendrick Motorsports suffered camshaft lifter failures (the camshaft controls the flow of fuel and air through the engine) and was forced to tear down its Chevrolet engines at Daytona International Speedway on Wednesday, other teams were having trouble keeping NASCAR's new car squarely on the track.
Crews for owner Rick Hendrick changed engines in the cars of defending Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Casey Mears, while Joe Nemechek, who drives the No. 78 Chevy for Furniture Row Racing, did the same with his Hendrick-supplied engine"

This means Junior will go to the back of the pack for the dual today. Do you all think he makes it to the front anyway? I hope this isn't a sign that Dale Jr. is doomed for more engine failure. Wouldn't that be ironic if he starts blowing up Hendrick Power after the let down with the DEI Motors last year?

Go #88

[FeartheSpur]

so all the hendrick cars are starting in the back?

[Candlewood]

Only the 48 car will not be moved to the back since he is already the polesitter for the 500 based on time.

#88 and #5 go to the back in one of the races

#24 to the back in the other one all by himself

I hear that this is not isolated to Hendrick though, the Red Bull Toyotas did the same thing and will be going to the back also.

[Mecklenburg Cock]

Considering how close the cars run at Daytona this probably will be a non-issue. Unless there's a big wreck early that wipes out all the drivers in the back then it won't be anything new to go from the back to the front with the way the cars shuffle.

[Candlewood]

If I remember correctly, 48 and 24 rode around in the back of the pack for the early stage of the Bud Shootout and they drove to the front.

I want 88 to sweep Daytona - bud shootout, win the dual, then the big one!

[FeartheSpur]

48 all the way to the front!!!

[bgallup]

Jr will be in the front by the end of the race. I dont know how long he wll hang back, but he will be able to drive to the front !

[statboy8]

Only the 48 car will not be moved to the back since he is already the polesitter for the 500 based on time.




um... I'm not sure about that. I know that all HMS cars will move to the back for the qualifying races today, but I don't know about your statement about the 48 car. I remember Greg Biffle won the pole for the 2004 Daytona 500 and he had to go to a backup or change an engine and he went to the back, allowing Junior to start from the pole that race.

[Candlewood]

Statboy-

You are correct. I read the article wrong. 48 will start in the back today. His pole spot is set for the 500. Thanks for correcting that.

I think this is actually better. Johnson, Mears, and Jr. can line up together in the back and cruise to the front.

[hardcock2]

I hope a wreck takes out all the Hendrick cars in the first 20 laps of the 500....with no injuries of course.

[USCocks3]

I hope a wreck takes out all the Hendrick cars in the first 20 laps of the 500....with no injuries of course.

Not cool man...not cool. Never thought I'd be a Hendrick fan myself until Jr. started driving for them. I still don't really consider myself a "Hendrick fan," it just so happens that if there are more Hendrick cars doing well then it probably means that Jr. is doing well too. I still hate Gordon. I don't care if him and Jr. end up being twins seperated at birth.

[sc455]

there is scuttle that jr just doesnt have it anymore. some people think it is impossible to come close to daddy

[donbgamecock]

I think it would be great to see jr run right up ole jeffweys ass!

[Zee]

Starting position at Daytona doesn't really matter. As long as the engines are in good shape, they'll all end up towards the front. Hell, Tony Stewart and Jeff gordon prefer hanging out in the back of the pack until the end..

[cack]

oh yeah ... what a great idea ... a car of the future ... just makes it even and sucks for everybody

[hardcock2]

I think it would be great to see jr run right up ole jeffweys ass!

Yeah, I can't wait until he starts pulling those little stunts like he did with his own cars and former teammate Michael Waltrip.

[bgallup]

Well he started in the back of the field and after 18 laps he is now the leader!!!

[Candlewood]

From USA today sports scope blog:

3:20 p.m.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. follows his Budweiser Shootout victory with a win in the first Gatorade Duel.
Reed Sorenson's Ganassi Dodge pressured Earnhardt on the restart but didn't have enough to power past Earnhardt.
Sorenson settled for second, followed by Ryan Newman, Casey Mears and Carl Edwards.
In the all-important battle for transfer spots into the Daytona 500, Brian Vickers finished 11th in the Red Bull Racing Toyota and Kenny Wallace 12th in the Furniture Row Chevrolet to make the race

[Spurrier_Superior_One]

The only good thing is if Junior doesn't go along with the boss he will be out of a job. Now Junior has top equipment, if he does not win a championship now he never will. I'm a Gordon fan and a Hendrick fan but I still hate Junior.

[Candlewood]

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