Tag Archives: Dale Earnhardt Jr

Alex Bowman Happy to be Aligned with Hendrick

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Alex Bowman, driver of the #88 Nationwide Chevrolet, stands in the garage during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Advance Auto Parts Clash on February 17, 2017 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

After a stellar performance as a substitute driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr. last year, Alex Bowman got several offers of NASCAR rides – but none that could induce him to leave Hendrick Motorsports, where he spends most of his time driving a simulator. Continue reading →

FOX Sports and NASCAR Productions Commemorate Jeff Gordon’s First Daytona 500 Victory in Original Documentary

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DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 16, 1997: Daytona 500 1997 winner Jeff Gordon (center) celebrates with teammates Terry Labonte (left) and Ricky Craven (right) following their sweep of the first three finishing places by Hendrick Racing. Photo – Getty Images

FOX Sports and NASCAR Productions Commemorate Jeff Gordon’s First

Daytona 500 Victory in Original Documentary

Actor Luke Wilson Narrates “Beyond the Wheel” Short Film in One of Three Daytona-Themed Specials 

In advance of the 59th annual Daytona 500, FOX Sports and NASCAR Productions have teamed up to deliver a rare behind-the-scenes look at four-time champion Jeff Gordon’s first win in the “Great American Race” with an original film entitled “Refuse to Lose.” On the 20thanniversary of Gordon’s milestone triumph, the documentary takes viewers inside his journey to victory lane using never-before-seen footage of the No. 24 team captured in the ten days leading up to the event.

Featuring interviews with Gordon and crew chief Ray Evernham, both executive producers on the project, the film premieres on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 10 p.m. ET immediately following FS1’s coverage of the Can-Am Duel at Daytona International Speedway. Continue reading →

Dale Jr Surprisingly Excited about Phoenix Testing

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Monster Energy NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (L) laughs with crew members in the garage during NASCAR testing at Phoenix International Raceway on January 31, 2017 in Avondale, Arizona.
Photo – Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images

Last Tuesday, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers headed west to Phoenix International Raceway for testing. Among the teams showing up was Dale Earnhardt Jr, driver of the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.

This was Earnhardt’s first time behind the wheel of his race car since taking time off for concussion-like symptoms that sidelined him late last season. So test day at Phoenix was, perhaps no so surprisingly, exciting from that perspective and his team was happy to have him back in the No. 88. Continue reading →

From Small Beginnings, Rick Hendrick Reached Pinnacle of Success in Business and NASCAR

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HOMESTEAD, FL – NOVEMBER 17: Jimmie Johnson (C), driver of the #48 Lowe’s/Kobalt Tools Chevrolet, poses with team owner Rick Hendrick (L) and crew chief Chad Knaus (R) in Champions Victory Lane with their six trophies after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 17, 2013 in Homestead, Florida. Photo – Robert Laberge/Getty Images

It’s said reaching the top is the easy part; staying there is more difficult.

For Rick Hendrick, the climb up the mountain required a decade of hard work culminating in Hendrick Motorsports capturing its first NASCAR premier series championship in 1995.

Two decades later, Hendrick’s Chevrolet team remains stock car racing’s platinum standard: a record 12 NASCAR premier series titles – including Jimmie Johnson’s record-matching seventh crown in 2016 – and 245 victories with 16 different drivers.

“It just seems like yesterday we didn’t think we’d even make it through our first year (1984) and now we’ve won 12 of these things, and it’s hard to do,” said Hendrick following Johnson’s title-winning victory last November at Homestead-Miami Speedway in south Florida.

The 67-year-old Hendrick will reach yet another career milestone on Friday when he’s inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame (8 p.m. ET on NBCSN). The Class of 2017 includes fellow team owner Richard Childress, former Hendrick Motorsports drivers Mark Martin and Benny Parsons and pioneer car owner Raymond Parks. Continue reading →

Crew Chief Chad Knaus is an Integral Part of Jimmie Johnson’s Record-Tying Effort

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Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet, stands on the grid with Crew Chief Chad Knaus during pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20, 2016 in Homestead, Florida. Photo - Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe’s Chevrolet, stands on the grid with Crew Chief Chad Knaus during pre-race ceremonies for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 20, 2016 in Homestead, Florida. Photo – Jerry Markland/Getty Images

All Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus wanted was another shot, and when Dylan Lupton hit the turn two wall on lap 252 to bring out the fifth caution of Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400, Knaus clenched his fist in anticipation.

At the time, Johnson was running sixth, trailing the three Championship 4 drivers—Joey Logano, Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards—he needed to beat to claim a record-tying seventh title. But the caution with 15 laps left in the scheduled distance breathed life into the No. 48 team.

Three restarts later, Johnson passed Kyle Larson for the victory and earned his seventh championship, tying NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the series record. Continue reading →