Replies

snip~

If it was Sterling (Marlin) or one of those guys I think everyone would have saw it for what it is. This (sport) is so corporate, so sponsor-, so funding- and money-driven that people have forgotten some of the real core values of what it’s like to be in the garage and what it’s like to know the other guys on the other teams and be friends with them.” [AMEN]

Earnhardt searched for DEI VP of competition Richie Gilmore to ask for approval before hopping into the No. 5 car last Sunday to substitute for Busch — who was under the impression the car was toast. When Earnhardt could not find Gilmore, he sought out his crew chief Tony Eury Jr. for consent, then rolled. Consequently, Earnhardt not only helped a friend, he helped himself.

“There were only 20 laps left in the race and they needed me to run seven or nine or so we had to be quick about it,” Earnhardt said. “I learned a little bit about what their cars drive like and relayed that information to Tony Jr.

“From a competitive standpoint, even though the car’s wrecked, it’s a good opportunity to get in there and just see what the other half is living like. Not that I can look in there and see what springs and shocks they got, but I could definitely tell about the attitude of the car, the grip that car had and take that information and try to work with it.”

Hendrick Motorsports senior driver Jeff Gordon was amazed when he heard Earnhardt was in the car.

“I was shocked and surprised that, one, somebody asked him to get in, and that there was even a reason for him to get in,” Gordon said. “The other thing is that he agreed to drive. It was very cool, though. That was an awesome thing that he did for a friend and speaks volumes about Junior. The smile on his face getting out of the car said a lot about Junior, too. Obviously surprised.”

Gordon added that “there’s only certain teams” with a legitimate shot of winning the championship. Hendrick, Roush-Fenway, Richard Childress Racing and Gibbs Racing, were the operations that topped his list.

“I think Junior knows if he wants to win a title he’s going to have to go to a different team,” Gordon said Thursday after winning his 59th career pole and third at Phoenix. “We don’t have a spot open, but I’d love to be his teammate. I’d love to see him with a team of our caliber. That would be interesting.” [:( OY]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/6708918