The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

NASCAR WCUP: Dale Earnhardt Jr ready for Michigan wide lanes

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
August 14, 2001

“How cool is it that we are so disappointed with a 12th place finish on a road course!? That was our best finish on a road course in Winston Cup, but we knew that we had a top-five in our hands if the last few laps hadn’t gone so badly. This team just continues to get better and better and we’re reaching that point where we expect to be up front every week. I want to be on that stage in New York so badly, and we’re climbing up there in points.” (The top 10 teams are honored at the Winston Cup banquet in NYC at the end of the season)

“Michigan has always been good for us, even though the finishes don’t always show it. We were on the Bud Pole for this race last year, and we led the race in June. In fact, we had a top-three car until we ran out of gas and burned a piston. Since then, Richie Gilmore and all of the guys that work in the DEI engine shop have really worked on getting better fuel mileage and it has really paid off. Now, I think we’ve got the horsepower and the fuel mileage to run with anybody.”

Dale Jr. and the No. 8 Budweiser Team History at Michigan

  • Winston Cup Races: 4
  • Best Start: 1 (August, 2000)
  • Best Finish: 13 (June, 2000)

Dale Jr. has led the last two Michigan races, and won the Bud Pole at this event in 2000. That race last year also marked the first time a father and two sons started a Winston Cup race in 40 years, as Dale Jr’s brother, Kerry, made his Cup debut.

  • What: Pepsi 400 / 200 laps, 400 miles / 2.0-mile oval / Race # 23 of 36
  • Where: Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn,MI
  • When: Sunday,August 19 / 2:00 pm
  • Watch: TNT Pre-race: 1:30 pm (All Times: Eastern) (Now that's drama. No, really. It IS.)

Bud Pole Qualifying: Bud Pole qualifying will be seen live Friday at 3:00 pm on CNN/SI. TNT will also air the final practice session Saturday at 3 pm.

What to Watch

The last Winston Cup race with the same name as this one turned out to be quite a stirring finish, as Dale Jr. and the No. 8 Budweiser team won the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. The Michigan track has always been a favorite of Dale Jr. and the team, and despite a finish of 39th here in June, they were easily among the fastest cars until fuel mileage problems knocked them out of contention for the win. The track is also very similar to the California Speedway, where the team fought from one lap down to finish third earlier this season.

Text provided by Jade Gurss

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.