Sunday, March 30, 2008
Big day for Little E?
Aaron McFarling
Recent columns
MARTINSVILLE -- They flock here every spring and fall. Tens of thousands of them. They stand every time he makes a move, waving their arms, urging him to get up to 11th place, or eighth place, or sixth.
They've seen him do progressively better here, year after year. They've watched him grow from a young kid who was simply trying too hard into a man with patience and touch in the tight corners.
But something's been missing for Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans at Martinsville Speedway.
They've never seen him win.
After all the trips, all the years, all the urging, all the near misses, they can wake up today with legitimate hope that this race will be different. At 2 p.m., when the green flag drops on the Goody's Cool Orange 500, Earnhardt will be one of the favorites. His quick start to the season, combined with a new affiliation with the only team that ever seems to win here, gives him an edge he's never had before.
Fastodds.com lists Earnhardt as an 8-to-1 choice to win the race. Only five drivers in the 43-car field -- Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Denny Hamlin, Tony Stewart and Kyle Busch -- have lower odds than Little E.
But it's not just fans and oddsmakers who like his chances. If the NASCAR garage had a pool, Earnhardt's rivals probably wouldn't mind drawing his name.
"I look for [Earnhardt] to be running strong and to see him break through here at Martinsville," fellow Cup driver Kurt Busch said. "I think the place would probably get torn down like goalposts get torn down in football."
Busch laughed when he said that, but security might want to stay alert. Goalposts or not, there would be one heck of a celebration at this old racetrack.
And it wouldn't just be because Earnhardt won. It would also be a celebration of irregularity, a toast to the unexpected.
Let's face it: Martinsville has become too predictable. The past seven winners have been, in order, Johnson, Gordon, Gordon, Stewart, Johnson, Johnson, Johnson. At a short track that prides itself on volatility, this has sapped much of the life out of one of our region's marquee events.
Hendrick Motorsports has figured the place out.
The organization's money, knowledge and talent trump all. Gordon and Johnson have spent the past four years trading the title of "Mr. Martinsville" while everybody else stands around and gawks.
Hendrick cars have won 16 races at Martinsville, more than at any other track. And despite their early struggles this season, Gordon and Johnson remain the odds-on favorites today.
But Junior has joined them -- in more ways than one. He's finished in the top 10 in four of the season's first five races, ranking him fifth in the points standings.
Once flummoxed by Martinsville, Earnhardt has quietly earned seven top-10 finishes in his past 10 starts here. And now that he's a part of the Hendrick team, he's as optimistic as he's ever been coming into a weekend here.
"They've always run really good and won races here," Earnhardt said of his new teammates. "We seem to be able to run in the top 5 quite often. I do like the track, and I would like to win a clock.
"We've got a good shot."
It will take some work. Earnhardt starts 18th at a track where passing is difficult.
Trouble is always just one slip-up away here.
But as the sun begins to set over this historic track, look for those tens of thousands to be standing and urging. Not for Earnhardt to get up for 11th, or eighth, or sixth -- but for first.
Gentlemen, guard your goalposts.
