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Sprint Cup - Junior Express Rolls On


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Kannapolis, Jul. 18, 2012: Call it the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Express. It just keeps on rolling down the line.

With a fourth-place finish at New Hampshire on July 15, Junior extended his record streak of lead lap finishes to start a NASCAR Sprint Cup season to 19. Standings leader Matt Kenseth held the previous mark of 14 in 2007.

Earnhardt and Kenseth have another connection this season – the championship race. Earnhardt moved back into the No. 2 spot in the standings with his eighth top-five finish, his best since posting 10 for the entire 2008 season, his first with Hendrick Motorsports.

Kenseth’s lead over Earnhardt with seven races remaining until the post season is 16 points. Each has won one race. Junior is 24 points ahead of third-place Greg Biffle, also a one-race winner.

Although Earnhardt remains optimistic about his title changes, he admits there’s work to be done before the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup™ begins Sept. 16 at Chicagoland Speedway.

“We just need a tick more speed. We’ve gotten faster. We’ve found speed and improved,” he said. “You just need a little bit more to really be one of those dominant cars every week.”