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The Final Word on 2015

The gifts are open, the tree is on borrowed time, and a New Year is almost upon us. Seems like a good time to reflect on the year that was, as we embark on the one that will be.

Once again, 2015 brought us a satisfying champion. He might not have been the one you were cheering for, Junior fans, but you cannot quibble about the great story that was Kyle Busch. Hurt in the opening junior series race, he missed the opening 11 of the Cup schedule. In the old days, he would have been an also-ran, but that was before a win and a Top 30 position in the standings forgave such things.

With just 15 races to accomplish what needed to be done, Busch won some. No surprise there. The fact he got into position to make those wins count was in doubt, at least, we thought so. We of little faith. It would appear that those who really have what it takes to challenge for the title need not bother to appear until May, which helps explain why NASCAR insists drivers run all the races rather than pick and choose.

Not only did Busch win the title, as he and Kurt join the Labonte brothers as champion siblings, but he also came up with a rule change that makes sense. If you lead the pack entering the Chase, you should get a free pass into the second round. Other sports give a bye or, at least, home field advantage to those with the best record entering the playoffs, why not NASCAR? Some might argue the front trio should have such an advantage, but I would settle for one. Like Kyle’s championship, that driver would have earned it.

Four-time king Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart have earned their eventual invitations to enter NASCAR’s Hall of Fame. Gordon left his famed No. 24 only after his 93rd career victory at Martinsville and finishing third in the battle for the championship. Stewart has one more round left in him, as he embarks on his farewell tour at Daytona. The three-time champion lost the magic suddenly in 2013 after a pair of sprint cup race mishaps, one that broke his leg, the other that took the life of another driver in 2014. May 2016 bring him some deserved satisfaction.

It was also a tough season, at least at the start, for Kurt Busch. A domestic violence accusation got him a three-race suspension to start the year. Matt Kenseth ended on a sour note, as he was gone for two after delivering some on-track justice that left Joey Logano’s title hopes about as shot as Kenseth’s own. Michael Waltrip Racing went the way of the dodo, as the outfit never recovered from Clint Bowyer’s 2013 spin that almost got Martin Truex Jr. a Chase place. Instead, after the controversy they lost the NAPA sponsorship and the Truex entry, and during this season, Waltrip’s financial backer backed out.

That means Bowyer moves to the seat of Harry Scott’s No. 51 for a season before taking over Stewart’s No. 14 in 2017. Brian Scott replaces Sam Hornish Jr. in the Petty No. 9 while Chase Elliott replaces Gordon in Hendrick’s No, 24. Jeffrey Earnhardt will drive most of the season in the GoFAS Racing No. 32, with the Front Row No. 34 taken over by Chris Buescher. Ryan Blaney returns with the Wood Brothers No. 21, which returns to running a full schedule in 2016.

2015 was when we had to say goodbye to broadcaster Steve Byrnes. We lost Buddy Baker over the past year. Red Farmer mourns his wife Joan, and Bobby Allison lost his wife Judy. My own mother, Mae, passed away this past August.

As for 2016, it will bring us a new rules package, supposedly making the cars slower, less comfortable to drive, and closer in some regards to the XFINITY model. It is hoped this will make the racing more exciting, which we have heard before, but could also see more Cup guys in the XFINITY series to tune up. If so, that would, in the parlance of my youth, blow chunks.

I am sure you would agree that would be something to avoid come New Year’s Eve as we have just seven weeks to go before they go again in Daytona.

December 29, 2015
Jeffrey Earnhardt Nabs Sprint Cup Ride for ‘16

By Staff report | NASCAR.com

Jeffrey Earnhardt signed a multi-year deal starting with the 2016 season to drive in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with Go FAS Racing.

Earnhardt, 26, will pilot the No. 32 Ford Fusion and Can-Am will be on board to serve as a primary sponsor for 11 events and an associate-level partner for all other events in 2016.

“I’m really excited to join GFR,” Earnhardt said in a release provided by the team. “I’m thrilled to have Can-Am on board as our partner for 2016. I’m an avid outdoorsman and their products are the gold standard for outdoor sports, so it’s a perfect fit. With Can-Am supporting our team, we’re certain to increase our competitiveness throughout the 2016 season.”

Earnhardt will compete for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year award.

Veteran driver Bobby Labonte will also drive several events in the No. 32 Ford.

“We are all really excited about this new partnership with Can-Am and Jeffrey Earnhardt for 2016”, team owner Archie St. Hilaire said in a release. “This deal will improve our program and make us much more competitive in the upcoming season while giving Jeffrey all the tools he needs to succeed at this level. 2016 can’t come soon enough for myself and everyone at GFR.”

The Mooresville, North Carolina native made his Sprint Cup debut at Richmond earlier this month, finishing 40th in the Federated Auto Parts 400. He was on the entry list for the Sylvania 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Sept. 27, 2 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

For his career, Earnhardt has made 66 starts in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and 10 starts in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Earnhardt is the grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt, nephew of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the son of Kerry Earnhardt. Kerry made seven starts in the Sprint Cup Series, 72 starts in the XFINITY Series and 27 starts in the Camping World Truck Series. The Richmond race that Jeffrey ran marked the first time two Earnhardts were competing in the Sprint Cup Series in over a decade.

The team also announced in a release that Go Green Racing will be competing under the Go FAS banner starting with Daytona Speedweeks in 2016.

September 19, 2015
Jeffrey Earnhardt To Race At Brands Hatch

Jeffrey Earnhardt To Race At Brands Hatch – Will Drive The #55 Whelen – Amai.fr Chevrolet Camaro

Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson of all-time NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, and nephew of Sprint Cup front-runner Dale Jr, will compete in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (NWES) when it returns to Brands Hatch as the headline act at American SpeedFest III on Sunday 7 June.

The 25-year-old North Carolina native will drive the number 55 car, as he does in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in North America, with the car emblazoned in a distinctive livery showcasing series title sponsor Whelen. This will be Earnhardt’s first appearance in European motor racing, following many competitive showings in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series, and 24 Hours of Daytona in recent years.

Reigning NWES Champion Anthony Kumpen recently competed in one of the regional American-based championships, the K&N Pro Series East at New Smyrna Speedway, but this marks the first time that an active driver from one of NASCAR’s big three categories has appeared in the NWES. American SpeedFest III has established itself as the showpiece event of the NWES calendar, making it the perfect occasion for a big name to appear, further strengthening the NASCAR’s trans-Atlantic links.

Earnhardt said: “This is my first time racing in England and I’m really excited to have this opportunity. I look forward to driving in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series next weekend. My NASCAR XFINITY Series team sponsor, Fronius, has European roots so it will be great to meet more of their team. Should be a lot of fun to see all the race fans in England. Thank you to everyone who was involved in this to make this happen. See y’all soon!”

Jerome Galpin, President/CEO of the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series, commented: “We are very happy to have Jeffrey racing with us at Brands Hatch. The Earnhardt family is one of the most famous in motorsport and it demonstrates, once again, the close relationship between the European and American NASCAR series. More and more drivers are crossing the ocean: Euro drivers to race NASCAR in the USA and US drivers to join the Euro-NASCAR pack which is fast becoming one of the premier series in Europe. English fans will have a great opportunity to attend a unique event – we are ready to roar!”

David Willey, Brands Hatch Motorsport Events Manager, added: “The Earnhardt name resonates not just with NASCAR fans, but all of us who are involved with motor racing across the globe. I would like to extend a warm welcome to Jeffrey and hope to see him competing at the sharp end at American SpeedFest III and put on a great show for the fans on the Indy circuit.”

June 2, 2015
Jeffrey Earnhardt Continues the Family Tradition

Jeffrey Earnhardt may have a famous last name but he’s determined to make his mark in NASCAR on his own terms. His determination is unmistakable and his desire undeniable as he talks racing.

This season he has a full-time ride in the Nationwide Series with a new team, JD Motorsports. Jeffrey is committed to the team for believing in him and giving him the opportunity to drive even when he hasn’t had sponsorship.

“Being out there every week has been huge for me,” he said. “It’s definitely helping me learn to be a better driver. I’m fortunate to have an awesome group of guys that I get to work with every weekend.”

However, many of his fans continue to ask about the possibility that Jeffrey will partner with his uncle, Dale Earnhardt Jr. at JR Motorsports. Dale Jr. spoke to the media about his nephew at Darlington Raceway this past weekend.

“I watch him every week during the Nationwide races, he stated. “I think he’s done a couple of good things with that team, had a great qualifying effort at Bristol and got spun out the first lap of the race. He has had some other good situations that I’ve seen where he’s had some speed in practice or in qualifying and in particularly in the race he has done well on a few occasions. We keep an eye on him. Him and I are close; he lives real close to me. He’s supposed to come over to the house Sunday to hang out a little bit. I mean we stay pretty tight.”

While it’s conceivable that Dale Jr. and Jeffrey will team up at some point in his career, Jeffrey is especially pleased that they are forming a closer personal bond and spending time together away from the track.

“I’m not looking for him to hand me a full ride. It would have to be the right scenario,” he explained. “The fact that he’s reaching out to try and create a better relationship, because we didn’t used to have one, he was always busy and I was off doing my own thing, it’s pretty cool.

Photo Credit: David Yeazell

Jeffrey was competing at Darlington for only the second time in his career. His first experience at the track was in 2011 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. Before the race we talked about his goals and the challenges he would face during the race.

“Darlington is a unique track,” he continued. “It’s really hard to learn and get used to. The biggest thing that everyone has always told me about this track is to race the track and not to race other cars.”

Jeffrey qualified in 26th and brought home a 20th place finish. It is his second top-20 of the season and he is currently ranked 17th in the point standings.

“I feel like this team is very capable,” he told me. “It’s my first year with them and we’re still learning but I think we’re capable of a top-15 every weekend. We want to get better each weekend and get everything we can out of these cars.”

NASCAR will take a week off for Easter break but you can catch up with Jeffrey when the action resumes at Richmond International Raceway on April 25th.

April 15, 2014
The Earnhardt Legacy Continues to Evolve

With Preseason Thunder testing at Daytona International Speedway, thoughts of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and his legacy on the sport of NASCAR are only natural.

Yet, in spite of his being gone for thirteen years now, with his fatal crash in the Daytona 500 in 2001, his legacy continues to not only live on but evolve significantly.

One of the biggest evolutions in the legacy of Dale Earnhardt Sr. is of course the return of his infamous No. 3 car to the track with Richard Childress’ grandson Austin Dillon behind the wheel.

Both Childress and Dillon were most mindful of their impact on the Earnhardt legacy as they made the announcement prior to the start of the season.

“I know in my heart, today, as I sit here, Dale Earnhardt is smiling down,” Childress said. “He would want to see this 3.”

Childress also stated that he believes the return of the No. 3 car actually will serve to preserve the legacy of his friend ‘The Intimidator’ and will provide teachable moments about his place in the sport to new and the new and up and coming fan base.

“My hope is that Dale Earnhardt fans will be re-energized,” Childress said. “We are going to do our best to make them proud and I know Austin will.”

“I think the new fans will learn a lot about the great Dale Earnhardt by watching this.”

Indeed, the No. 3 car has indeed been the talk of the town during preseason testing, atop the speed charts at 195.109 mph when the rain finally stopped enough for the Cup cars to take the track.

An additional evolution in the Earnhardt legacy occurred this week with the announcement of the dropping of the Earnhardt name from the Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates banner.

While Dale Earnhardt’s widow Teresa Earnhardt has not been involved in the ongoing operations of the team, it is unclear what, if any, her role is moving forward.

“It’s been an honor to have the Earnhardt name affiliated with our team,” Chip Ganassi Racing President Steve Lauletta said. “Dale and Teresa have done a tremendous amount for the sport.”

“We’ll continue to do business with those (DEI) companies,” Lauletta continued. “The relationship with Teresa and DEI was a benefit to the organization and we certainly want to continue to be affiliated with them.”

“But for our partners and for the way we operate the organization, we’re changing the brand to Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.”

While the Earnhardt name may be going away at the Cup level, the legacy continues on with another team that is affiliated with that famous moniker, JR Motorsports.

This team, headed by General Manager Kelley Earnhardt Miller, daughter of Dale Earnhardt, Sr., recently announced their new up and coming driver Chase Elliott. The 18 year old will be behind the wheel of the No. 9 NAPA car in the Nationwide Series and will team with Regan Smith.

“This will be the strongest lineup we’ve put on the track since we started racing full time in 2006,” JRM General Manger Kelley Earnhardt Miller said. “He’s that good.”

Another major evolution in the Earnhardt legacy occurred this week as well, with the announcement that NASCAR’s most popular driver and reigning Earnhardt heir Dale Junior will be losing his crew chief Steve Letarte in 2015.

NBC Sports made it official that Letarte will be joining the network in the broadcast booth, leaving the pit box of Earnhardt Jr. after this season.

“I had a pretty good understanding what his decision was going to be when I left Homestead, so I’ve had time to really wrap my brain around it,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “It was a huge shock at first, just for me personally.”

“I sat down with him and talked about it, the more it made sense and the more I understood his situation and I could put my own selfishness aside and kind of understand what was important to him and how this was good for him.”

While Dale Earnhardt Jr. is experiencing his own changes, the next generation of Earnhardts are experiencing their own evolutions on the track.

Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson of Dale Earnhardt Sr., announced this week that he will be racing full-time in the Nationwide Series. The 24 year old driver will be behind the wheel of the No. 4 Chevrolet, teaming up with Landon Cassill, for JD Motorsports.

“It’s a great opportunity for me,” Jeffrey Earnhardt said. “This sport runs in my family, and it’s where I want to be every week.”

“Racing with Johnny and Gary and the guys will give me a shot at running well every week and adding on the experience I need.”

The final cog in the Earnhardt legacy evolution is another grandchild, however, this one is female. Twelve year old Karsyn Elledge, daughter of Kelley Earnhardt Miller, has been making her own name in the sport, racing her grandfather’s No. 3 in sprint cars with sponsor Nickelodeon.

“I didn’t get to meet him, but I know that it makes my mom and my dad proud that I run this number,” Earnhardt Elledge said. “I’ve only heard how great it was with this number and this legacy and I am excited to carry it on.”

Perhaps Dale Earnhardt Jr. summed up the evolution of the Earnhardt legacy best, as he discussed the changes in his own professional career including his crew chief.

“Life is full of change,” Junior said. “And we have to adjust and be able to move forward.”

January 11, 2014
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Jeffrey Earnhardt

The name Earnhardt will always be linked to NASCAR. No one knows that better than Dale Earnhardt’s grandson, Jeffrey Earnhardt. It’s a legacy that comes with advantages and expectations. It can also overpower anyone standing in its shadow.

I sat down with Earnhardt this past weekend to learn more about the driver with the famous last name. We talked about everything from racing to hunting to family to glitter tattoos.

He will run a full-time schedule this year in the NASCAR Nationwide Series with Go Green Racing. When I asked him about his goals for the season, he answered without hesitation.

“Personally, I‘d like to win Rookie of the Year,” he said. “That’s the number one priority for me this year and to finish in the top 10 in points.”

He doesn’t expect it to be easy but he’s confident that he is with the right team and is determined to make the most of the opportunity.

“I know the first half of the year is probably going to be tough,” Earnhardt said. “With a new crew chief and new team, there’s a connection that’s got to build there. But I think after the first couple of races, everything will start to click and we’ll get the chemistry going to where we’re having consistent runs every weekend and finishing in the top 15.”

He will be racing on most of the tracks on the schedule for the first time. Does he feel intimidated by that fact?

His answer was a resounding, no.

“I have fun facing new challenges. It’s the competitive side of me to want to go to a new track that I’ve never been to and by the time I leave be able to say to myself, ‘I own this place.’”

Earnhardt continued, “That’s how I feel at every track, even tracks I’ve been to before. You think this time; ‘I can do better than that.’ It’s always a competition within yourself to want to do better.”

Do you prefer old school or new school racing?

“Old school, for sure. I feel like today there’s a lot of people who don’t seem to want it as bad. I feel like I was in that situation. When I was at DEI (Dale Earnhardt Inc.) I thought the streets were paved with gold and I had that taken away from me.”

He went on to add, “Since then, I learned a lot. I learned about fighting for something you want really bad and that’s how it’s been the last couple of years. I took the opportunity for granted and didn’t appreciate what was given to me. It was a rocky road and a huge learning experience.”

Do you prefer country music or rock and roll?

“Country, big time.”

His favorite group used to be Brooks and Dunn but since the duo disbanded, Jeffrey’s favorite singer is Justin Moore.

Photo Credit: Lisa Berard

Do you prefer hunting or fishing?

“Hunting. I grew up fishing a lot as a kid but I’ve really taken to hunting. I like to bow hunt now so bow hunting is one of my favorite things to do.”

Earnhardt recently mentioned that he had taken his 9-year-old sister Kayla hunting. When I asked him about this, his face lit up with a huge smile.

“She is spoiled rotten and she’s the world to me. I’d put my life on the line for her, hands down, for that little girl. She’s just adorable.”

“She came over and spent the night so we had a little sleep over. We did these glitter tattoos. It was all kinds of fun,” he said laughing.

I had to ask, ‘Did you get a glitter tattoo?’

“I let her put one on me,” he admitted. “That was it. It was a lot of fun. She begged me to go hunting so we went out hunting the next morning. We didn’t kill anything. But we had fun.”

Did you have a favorite driver, other than your grandfather?

“No, but when I was a little kid I really liked Kyle Petty for the simple fact that when I was over at their shop one day and peeking through the window, he was nice enough to come out and speak to me. That meant a lot to me as a kid for him to take the time to come out and talk to me. That was cool.”

However, it was obvious who his real hero was.

“My grandfather was one of a kind,” Earnhardt said. “There are things he’s done on the track that I’ve never seen anyone else do. It’s hard not to like someone like that who has that edge.”

Are you an aggressive driver?

“I don’t like to think I’m aggressive. I like to think I race fair. I’m going to race you the same way you race me but I do have my aggressive side where I will do whatever it takes. But you also have to be respectful of other drivers. I’ve learned through this whole journey I’ve had, the hard work and the money that goes into this sport. It’s not cheap. To be a smaller team and have a good run going and have it taken away by someone is very hurtful so I’m respectful of that.”

Do you look at this year as a pivotal point in your career?

“It’s definitely a turning point and a chance to prove what I can do in solid equipment. Going into this season I feel very confident that the team I’m with, Go Green Racing, that they’re going to put me in the best opportunities to go out there and perform. Being out there every weekend and keeping everything fresh on my mind and keeping that rhythm, that’s a big part of it.”

What was your most embarrassing moment on the track?

“I ran a UARA late model race at Bristol. It’s been quite a while back. We were out during practice and it was starting to sprinkle. They wanted the cars to stay on the track and help keep it dried off because it wasn’t raining that hard.”

“I was out there cutting the steering wheel back and forth, keeping the heat in the tires and all of a sudden the car turned and it didn’t turn back to the right like I wanted it to and then I slid head on into the barrels on pit road and knocked the entire front nose off the car. It was terrible. We were just out there trying to keep the track dry and I wrecked.”

“It was hard to climb out of the car and take the helmet off after that one.”

What has been the proudest moment of your career?

“It’s probably between two things.”

“One is the good run we had going at Daytona last year. The finish wasn’t there but to be able to take a small team like that and be up there running fourth with the best cars in the field, to be able to do that, it really meant a lot to me and it meant a lot to the guys back at the shop.”

Earnhardt’s hopes for a good finish were ruined after an off-center push from Ricky Stenhouse Jr. turned him sideways in front of the main pack of cars.

“Besides that, it was qualifying on the pole (his first) in the (Camping World) East race at Dover. It’s been several years ago but it was cool to go out there and out-qualify someone like Joey Logano who is now a Cup driver.

At that point in time, I was just as good as those guys. I feel like I still am.”

When all is said and done, Jeffrey Earnhardt is not that different from any other driver, despite his last name. He is confident, yet humble, aggressive but fair and passionate about racing. He is appreciative of his legacy but determined to find his own way. He embraces life with a smile on his face and fire in his heart. And his journey has just begun.

February 13, 2013
One on One with Jeffrey Earnhardt

At first glance, he doesn’t stand out in a crowd. You might wonder who this young man is as he signs autographs and talks with his fans. His smile is reminiscent of someone familiar.

He straps into his race car and the easy going demeanor is replaced by one of determination and focus. The unflinching resolve in his eyes is immediately recognizable when you realize that this is Dale Earnhardt’s grandson.

Jeffrey Earnhardt began racing when he was 14 years old. He got a later start than most young boys who aspire to a career in racing. His father, Kerry, wanted his son to be certain that he was making the right choice. Kerry knew better than most that his son’s journey would not be easy.

“When I was about 12 years old, I really wanted to race,” Jeffrey told me. “It took me two years to beg my Dad into letting me do it. He wanted me to be prepared and know what would be involved. So he made me buy my own race car, get it ready and find sponsors. Once I did that and proved it was something I was willing to put a lot of effort into, he let me do it.”

Once the decision was made, his parents have been behind him all the way.

His first race was in the Hornet Division on a half mile dirt track at Wythe Raceway in Virginia. He went on to score three feature wins and finished in the top five in points. Jeffrey also won the Rookie of the Year award.

In 2006 he was part of the General Motors driver development search program. Select drivers were invited to test both a late model car and a Nationwide Series car at two different tracks. Jeffrey proved to be one of the best and moved on to the final cut.

The following year he progressed to the NASCAR Camping World East Series (now NASCAR K&N Pro Series East). He finished the season in fifth place in the points standings and won the Most Popular Driver award. In 2008, Jeffrey ran 11 races in the series with four top-five and six top-10 finishes.

Over the next three years, he ran a variety of races getting as much seat time as possible competing in the Nationwide Series, the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series.

In 2010 Jeffrey began his partnership with Rick Ware Racing and was scheduled to run a full season in the Camping World Truck Series in 2011. However, because of sponsorship issues, he was only able to run five races.

In 2012, Jeffrey’s emphasis has been on the Nationwide Series program. He has competed at Bristol, Talladega and Daytona. He’s looking forward to his next scheduled race which will be in Indianapolis for the Indy 250 on July 28th.

“I’m excited to be going to Indianapolis the first year that the Nationwide Series is running on the big track,” Jeffrey said. “It should be a lot of fun.”

The team also plans to run at Charlotte later this year and end the season at Homestead. The goal for next year is to run full time in the Nationwide Series.

Jeffrey feels that he is gaining momentum and says that he is “very hopeful for next year and I think we’ll be able to pull something together and contend for Rookie of the Year next season.”

While growing up as an Earnhardt has probably opened some doors for Jeffrey, he has worked diligently to take advantage of those opportunities. Nothing has been given to him and he has fought hard every step of the way. But, he’s not complaining.

“When you go out and work hard for something you appreciate it a lot more. You’re a better person and a better driver in the long run.”

What has all the hard work taught him?

“I think I’ve become more patient and I’m better at putting myself in the right position to win races,” he said.

Before we ended the interview, I talked to Jeffrey about his famous grandfather and he shared a couple of his favorite memories.

One of his most cherished moments was watching Dale Earnhardt win the Daytona 500 in 1998. Jeffrey describes him as a complex man who could be intimidating both on and off the track. But he could also just as easily be your best friend and had a soft side that a lot of people didn’t see.

I couldn’t help but smile as he told me that Earnhardt would not let Jeffrey call him “PaPa Dale” because that made him feel too old.

“He said I had to call him Mr. Earnhardt or he wouldn’t answer me,” Jeffrey told me.

The Earnhardt name is a legacy that Jeffrey is proud of but he is also determined to prove that he can make it on his own terms.

“I respect everything that my last name means and everything my grandfather has done but at the same time, I want to be my own man. I want to do things my way and make my own path. “

July 22, 2012
One-On-One with NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Driver Jeffrey Earnhardt

With the last name Earnhardt, everybody automatically expects you to do well, once you hit the track. That’s no exception with Jeffrey Earnhardt as there are already the predictions hitting the floor.

[media-credit name=”Flickr” align=”alignright” width=”248″][/media-credit]He came out of the gate with a top 10 at Daytona and went to Phoenix and finished 19^th. While everybody is looking for this success, he right now is set on learning lessons and moving forward with them.

While preparing for Darlington this weekend, he took some time to answer some questions for the readers.

Ashley McCubbin: What are some of your thoughts on the year so far?

Jeffrey Earnhardt: So far, I’ve had a pretty good season starting off. We finished seventh at Daytona and we finished 19th at Phoenix – didn’t have the best shot, but we ran it right to the end of the race and we didn’t have a single scratch on the truck. Anytime you can finish out a race like that it’s definitely progress. We’re just slowly working on making our entire program better. We’re just waiting for everything to fall into place to run upfront, but for now it’s just having everything work in order, giving the feedback and getting the seat time to learn these trucks.

AM: How’d you get involved with Rick Ware Racing?

JE: Well, I guess it was like two or three years ago, I got the opportunity to drive some Nationwide races for him. We went to Dover and tried to make the race and ended up not making the race, but that’s when I first met him. This opportunity came about to do five races and obviously the five races last year led to a full season this year.

AM: What are some of your expectations for this year?

JE: Just the seat time. We want to go out here and run the best we can, but also we want to go out and learn as much as we can with finishing races. I mean, if we do that then I don’t see why we can’t be competiting to win rookie of the year. There’s definitely a possibility as we’ll see how the year goes and where it takes us, but to start, it’s just to get as much seat time and just go from there.

AM: Speaking of lessons, what are some of the lessons you’ve learned so far this year?

JE: Just to get to the finish and figure out what the truck needed and if you do that, you’ll come out in one piece and if you’ll have a decent finish. Even though you’re getting the finishes, you got to understand that you’re still learning and probably the biggest thing I’ve learned is to be there at the finish.

AM: What are some of your thoughts going into Darlington?

JE: I actually just rode around with Todd Bodine in a pace truck and it is quite a strange track. It’s got totally different corners and seems to be a tough track as we talked about how he did, how tough it is and how easy it is to take yourself out of the race. It seems that’s the toughest part, just getting used to the track, but not stepping over that boundary.

AM: With the last name Earnhardt, there are a lot of expectations. Care to share any thoughts on that?

JE: There’s a lot of expectation and a lot of pressure that gets put on you. It’s just that you got to learn how to deal with it and if you can handle it the right way, you’ll be fine and I think I’ve done a pretty good job of not letting it get to me. Just doing my thing and I’m just here to learn and be a racecar driver and I try not to worry about all that.

AM: Which race track are you looking forward to?

JE: I look forward to all of them. I mean, I’m looking forward to go doing to Dover for simple fact I ran good there before and I think we can get out of there with a successful run. I mean, I look forward to each and every race and each race I am just as excited as the next one and there’s really no special one I’m really look forward to.

AM: Where do you see yourself in five years?

JE: I would like to be up in the Cup level. Obviously, my goal is too potentially to end up at that level and five years from now I should be there. And hopefully won a championship in one of the three NASCAR series, whether Nationwide or Truck, but I’d like to be at the Cup level in five years.

AM: What is your advice for other people getting into racing?

JE: Just don’t ever give up. It’s tough and it’s not as easy as some people may think. If you really want it bad enough, you can get it accomplished. You just gotta really stick to it and push hard to get what you want. It may seem tough and you may want to get down, but if you push hard enough, eventually you’ll get it and the reward is definitely worth the wait.

AM: Who do you admire outside of racing?

JE: Johnny Cash was definitely a good one for me just because he was his own man and he was just kind of a man’s kind of man and more of that kind of person, but I know, really, I’ve just always been in racing and never really worried about anything else. I’ve been around racing my entire life and haven’t really cared about watching anything else.

March 12, 2011
The Future of NASCAR – Spotlight on Trevor Bayne

Trevor Bayne, one of NASCAR’s rising stars, began racing at the age of five. Since then, the 18-year-old rookie from Knoxville, TN, has earned 22 championships.

In eight years on the go-kart circuit, he amassed 3 World Championships, 300 feature wins and 18 State and Track Championships combined. From there, he entered the Allison Legacy Race Series and at 13 became the youngest top rookie in the series. During his two years in the series, Bayne had 14 wins, 19 poles and 30 top five finishes in only 41 starts. In 2005, he became the series National Champion.

One of Bayne’s grandfathers raced cars and the other raced boats so you might assume that he grew up surrounded by a family of racers who encouraged him to go in that direction. But, he explains that when he began racing, he wasn’t aware of the family connection.

“Well I don’t know if the family deal was really a big factor in that. My grandfather did race but that was before I was ever around and so that was kind of already washed away by the time I was growing up and knew what was going on. Once I got involved in racing then that’s when I realized that he used to race and that’s when the support factor came in from him and from my Dad because my Dad was around the racetrack with his Dad. So I had a lot of support.

“But that wasn’t the reason that pushed me into racing. Sometimes you see the Dads with the sons and they say Hey I’d like my son to race so this is the only option I’m going to give him. But I did everything, I played Tee Ball when I was little, I played football, I played quarterback for a little while. Then when I was five years old I started racing. And, you know, I had my options. It was like, ‘hey I want to be good at one of these things, now which one am I going do?’ And it was up to me. My Dad said ‘whatever you want to do, I’m going to support you.’

“So, I chose racing and it’s been on since then.”

It was while racing in the Legacy Series that Trevor met Donnie Allison. Allison proved to be one of Bayne’s biggest supporters and helped guide the young racer as he rose through the ranks.

“Somebody else that has really helped me out as a driver is Donnie Allison. I had the chance to work with him when I was 13 years old running the Allison Legacy Series. He actually helped crew chief alongside my Dad for the second season in the Allison Legacy cars when we won a National Championship. He’s taught me a lot about momentum and really about how to treat people.

“Donnie’s a great guy. He’s taught me a lot on and off the track.”

After the Legacy Series, Bayne transitioned to the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series Southern Division and at the age of 15 became the youngest in the series to win top rookie honors.

His big break came in 2008 when Dale Eanrhardt Inc. signed him to their driver development program. Bayne and Jeffrey Earnhardt became the first two drivers enrolled in the DEI driver development program. He began competing in the Camping World East series and got his first win at Thompson International Speedway in July 2008. By the end of the season, he had six top-fives, seven top-10s and finished fourth in the points standings.

In 2009, he started off the year by finishing second in the Toyota All-Star Showdown at Irwindale Speedway. This outstanding finish helped him capture the Sunoco Rookie of the Race honor. His season, however, came to an abrupt halt when he lost his ride with DEI due to economic concerns and lack of sponsorship. He found himself out of a ride for the first time in his career.

I asked Bayne what he considered to be the turning point in his career. It wasn’t the success that he had previously earned that drove him forward but the disappointment of losing his ride with DEI. It taught him what he needed to do to become successful in this sport. Instead of letting it discourage him, he used the experience to help propel him to the next level.

“At the last minute in December, going into the year thinking we were running a full time Nationwide Series this year, the deal was gone away. And I was put back on the ground trying to find a ride and most of the seats were already taken because it was so late in the game.

“So I spent half a season just trying to get my hands on anything I could drive. I ran a couple of races. I ran the Hooters Pro Cup race in Concord and we actually won that. And I ran the All-Star Showdown in January and finished second. And I ran a couple of other races.

“It’s devastating to see what can actually happen. You know, I was kind of put in a bubble growing up my whole life because everything went so smooth. We were always running good in races, and that just created more opportunity. And then, the economy, when that happened, it didn’t matter the amount of talent that you had, or the ability, because nobody could fund it at that point.

“It kind of brought me back down to earth and I realized that we needed to work on some other things too. We met with a lady named Danielle ( Danielle Randall-Bauer, President of Everest Marketing Group) in February at Daytona and we started talking to her about some sponsorship opportunities. She introduced us to Gary Bechtel (former owner of Diamond Ridge Motorsports) who became a great friend of ours.

“He turned around and started talking to MWR (Michael Waltrip Racing). We’d already talked with MWR a couple of times and they said they had eight races available for the season that weren’t sold yet. We put together a deal between MWR and Gary Bechtel to put me in the seat for those eight races. Well those eight turned into four more races so we had 12 total. We were able to prove ourselves in that amount of time. It’s drawn a lot of opportunity and I’m really appreciative for that chance to show what we can do.

“I would say that’s been the biggest turning point, just being able to get back in a race car and show what we can do and help create that interest. It’s been pretty awesome.”

On September 11, Bayne competed in his first race at Richmond in the No. 11 car for CJM Racing, qualifying ninth and finishing in the seventh position. This impressive run has generated increased interest and will almost certainly result in more future opportunities for Bayne.

He’s hoping for a full time Nationwide ride with the possibility of some Cup experience as well. This desire is tempered with the awareness that he needs to take his time and gain all the experience he can along the way.

“I don’t want to go too fast either. I want to learn things as I go. You can always step up but you can’t really take that step down and then step back up. So when I move to the next level I want to make sure that I’m doing it at the right time and that I’m ready to go.”

Bayne’s father has been there for him every step of the way and has never missed a single lap that his son has run. This family support and his faith in a higher purpose have given Bayne a firm foundation on which to build his career.

“God’s got a plan for my life and he’s shown that. Every time that I’ve been in a tough spot, he’s always prevailed and pulled me through. I know that he has a plan for everything. And at the time it seemed like the worst thing in the world that could possibly happen, losing the deal at DEI. But now, the opportunities that have been created, it’s been amazing to me. To see the plan going into action that God has laid out for my life, it’s pretty awesome.”

His calm self assurance and media friendly good looks are reminiscent of Jeff Gordon. He also has the competitive edge of Kyle Busch, without the brashness. These qualities combine to make Trevor Bayne the perfect candidate for the future of NASCAR.

October 4, 2009