• • Earnhardt Jr., Dale
  

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Latest News:

• 11.03.09

  Earnhardt Jr. climbed from his 24th-place starting spot to run in the Top 5 at Talladega. He led five times for nine laps and crossed the finish line 11th in Sunday's AMP Energy Drink 500, hendrickmotorsports.com reports.

  Impact:
  While it wasn't a dominant run for the No. 88 team it was an encouraging effort for the struggling Earnhardt. He presents little fantasy racing value in the remaining races of 2009, but he looks like a wild card heading into next season.

• 10.30.09

  Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick has named Lance McGrew the full-time crew chief of the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevys driven by Earnhardt Jr., hendrickmotorsports.com reports.

  Impact:
  After weeks of speculation about Earnhardt's crew chief position going into next season, Hendrick has put those rumors to rest by naming McGrew the full-time crew chief of the No. 88 team from this point forward. Earnhardt has still struggled since McGrew took over the position several weeks ago, but hopefully the two are developing chemistry right now that can pay off in 2010.

• 10.28.09

  Hendrick Motorsports' Earnhardt Jr. must be happy to see Talladega Superspeedway on the schedule this weekend since it's the track where he has collected the most wins in his career, scenedaily.com reports.

  Impact:
  For Earnhardt Talladega could be a port in the storm. His best finish in the last eight races is a mere 17th-place effort. However, it's difficult to have much fantasy racing faith in the No. 88 team in light of their disappointing finish at Martinsville last week. Earnhardt is a very risky fantasy racing play for Sunday's AMP Energy Drink 500, but for those willing to gamble he comes with a tremendous upside.

• 10.17.09

  On Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Earnhardt Jr. didn't sound like a driver who was sure Lance McGrew should be his crew chief in 2010, ESPN.com reports.

  Impact:
  "I'm about to the end of my rope," Earnhardt said. "Yeah, I feel like I don't have any control, you know, [Rick Hendrick has] put me in a great position, but I haven't made the most of it or for whatever reason we're just not getting it done. I don't know what to do." The frustration is beginning to set back in with Earnhardt. Their miserable practice at LMS this weekend was likely the last straw for his morale. The No. 88 team's situation looks very unstable heading into next season.

• 10.06.09

  Hendrick Motorsports officials will sit down and determine whether Lance McGrew will remain as Earnhardt Jr.'s crew chief probably in the next couple of weeks, scenedaily.com reports.

  Impact:
  It hasn't been an easy transition to crew chief for McGrew, but he's shown some flashes of promise while with Earnhardt and the No. 88 team. We would expect that Hendrick will resign him given how well Eanhardt and McGrew work together and the praise that Earnhardt has had for him since taking over the position.

• 09.20.09

  Earnhardt Jr. finished 35th in the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Sunday.

  Impact:
  It was a disappointing day at the track for the struggling No. 88 team. Earnhardt had run well the entire race and was challenging for a Top-5 finish in the closing laps, but a late-race tangle with David Reutimann's No. 00 Toyota sent Earnhardt crashing into the wall. The DNF was his third of the season.

• 09.17.09

  In 20 Sprint Cup Series starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Earnhardt Jr. has scored five Top-5 finishes and eight Top 10's. Last September, Earnhardt scored his most recent New Hampshire Top-5 finish driving Hendrick Motorsports' No. 88 Chevrolet. He started the race fourth and led 79 laps before finishing fifth, dalejrpitstop.com reports.

  Impact:
  Earnhardt is looking to clear the slate in these last 10 races of the season and prepare for next year. Earnhardt is capable of cracking the Top 10 in Sunday's Sylvania 300, but his recent struggles would indicate otherwise. The No. 88 team may only be a Top-20 finisher at Loudon.

• 09.05.09

  Earnhardt Jr. finished third in the Degree V12 300 Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday night.

  Impact:
  The No. 5 team tried to play fuel mileage late in a gamble to win, but it didn't pay off. Earnhardt led 16 laps from the pole and was able to hang on to finish third. It was his third Top 5 of the season in just his seventh start in the Nationwide Series.

• 09.05.09

  Earnhardt Jr. won the pole for the Degree V12 300 Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday. He turned a fast lap of 174.121 mph.

  Impact:
  It was his first pole of the season and just the 10th of his Nationwide Series career. Earnhardt owns two career Top 5's in three starts at AMS, so he should challenge the Top 5 again on Saturday night in this Nationwide Series event.