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You would never know Junior had a race winning car if you took him at his word over the radio. For much of the day Junior's car was too loose and will only come to life towards the end of a fuel run. The driver complained incessantly and explicatively about his car. Crew Chief Tony Eury Jr. remained calm and put together a strategy that was the race winning move.
Fuel mileage races aren't necessarily my favorite type of racing. Once in a while they do provide the drama and intensity that we race fans crave. Today was one of those days. A late caution, a question of whether or not the leader could make it to the finish, set the run for the checkered flag.
Junior did everything right, as did Kasey Kahne. If Junior faltered, Kahne was right there to take advantage and possibly win his third points race and second in a row. But the day belonged to Junior. The HMS driver took every precaution he could possibly take to ensure he not run out of fuel. Coasting on the apron, shutting the car off, and backing off earlier in the race to conserve fuel. Everything came together perfectly for the Hendrick team and they coasted to a win.
More importantly than just winning the event, Junior for the second week in a row cut into point's leader, Kyle Busch's lead. Busch leads Junior who sits in third by 84 points. After Dover three weeks ago his lead was 241 over Earnhardt Jr and 142 over second place Jeff Burton. Perhaps all the extra-curricular activity has taken it's toll on the youthful Toyota driver.
For the first 14 races of the season the questions abound, when would Dale Jr. finally win in his Hendrick machine? The No. 88 team answered the critics with a win on strategy, something that we have not seen out of this team before. Dale Jr. and his team have put together a solid, week in and week out race contending team, but more importantly the team is quietly proving they are the championship caliber team we all expected them to be.
Sharon@insidethepitbox.com
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