2017 Talladega - Alabama 500 - Pre Race Thread

Historic car gift from Talladega leaves Dale Jr. beaming

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TALLADEGA, Ala. – It was an Earnhardt behind the wheel and it was at Talladega and one of the places that helped make his father a legend in the sport of NASCAR had a grand parting gift for the son.

Talladega Superspeedway officials, in conjunction with the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and the state of Alabama, handed Dale Earnhardt Jr. the keys (figuratively speaking) to the 1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo that his father drove to the Rookie of the Year title that year, and possibly wheeled in a few ’80 races as well.

Earnhardt the elder won the first of his seven Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series titles in ’80 while driving for team owner Rod Osterlund.

“This car is a 1979 Monte Carlo,” a beaming Earnhardt Jr. told NBC after taking the car for a spin on the 2.66-mile Talladega layout. “Dad drove this car in his rookie season; he probably ran it in his championship season too in 1980.

“They ran a Monte Carlo here in ’79 but in ’80 they ran an Oldsmobile 442. This was the kind of car he ran at Bristol and all the short tracks and the mile and a halves.”

The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is located on the grounds of Talladega Superspeedway.

https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2017/10/13/dale-earnhardt-jr-gifts-talladega-dad-car/

 
SeventyGTX said:
I dread it every weekend. These television buffoons cannot string a sentence together without the word "playoffs" in it.
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And the name playoffs is so stupid for racecars.
Too bad runoffs is a trademark of the scca.
Maybe raceoff.
 
I think the 24 team has only had 3 or 4 non front row starts at plate tracks in the last 3 years. That's incredible. One of those was a rained out Daytona qualifying.
 
As much as I couldn't stand Dale Sr. going through the 80's and 90's, I really grew to respect what he had done for the sport. I hated Gordon right away, right along with Sr. I grew to appreciate Sr. as Gordon started taking over, especially when times got tough for Big E in the later years. As I kept visiting track after track watching Gordon win, and seeing Dale "struggle", I felt like it was time to see him win again.

He did just that at Daytona. Then Talladega. He almost won it all in Bobby Labonte's year. He was still great. He had this kid coming up through the ranks, the Nascar version of Tiger Woods. The kid won in the Busch series, twice! He was gonna drive the # 8. Dad and I went to the Darlington race that got rained out, over and over, giving Labonte the win. The best thing I ever seen on a track is at Darlington. It was still old school, seats right over the track. Watching the Earnhardt #3 and the Earnhardt #8 was absolutely mesmerizing. That was the day I gave up my Earnhardt hatred, because the boy was still just a child, and the man was still the man.

Being fortunate enough to have seats for the July race after Mr. Earnhardt died was a gift. We started those seats the year that Spencer beat Irvin, and drank our way through the next few years waiting till a meaningful race. Dad saw the 98 win live, but he was on the backstretch, so that doesn't count. When they turned the lights on, after the fires in 97, we had to watch Jeff Gordon win again.

I will never forget the feeling in the stands when Jr. won the July race the year his father died. They will never be as full, and they will never be as loud as they were that night. That's when Jr. became Jr. no matter whom he raced for. I will always be a fan.

What I love about Dale Jr, is the fact that I think he might love the vision, aspect, and presentation of Nascar more than the racing itself. He can be Mikey, Darrell, and his Dad all rolled into one. He can be Jeff Gordon's best friend and his competitor during a race or a broadcast. The boy sees racing the way the greats did, he just never had the results.

I see Dale Jr. going on to be a huge ambassador for the sport, much in the vain that his father was. I truly believe that Dale Jr's calling wasn't in the car, but what he could bring outside of the car.

That said, Id love to see him win one more, not for us, but for him. He'll always carry a win for the 3 and the 8 in my book.
 
Donnie Allison to lead the field to green in Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s #2 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
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TALLADEGA, AL - Donnie Allison, two-time Talladega Superspeedway winner and original member of the famed Alabama Gang, will lead the field to green in Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s historic #2 Chevrolet Monte Carlo for Sunday's Alabama 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) playoff race. The blue and yellow, white numeral machine was driven by Dale Sr. during the 1979 and 1980 MENCS seasons and was presented to Dale Earnhardt, Jr. as a retirement gift from the International Motorsports Hall of Fame and Talladega Superspeedway on Friday.
http://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2017/story/_/id/21022453
 
As a lifelong fan of the Earnhardts, Talladega has always been special. A place that regardless of how the rest of the season had been goin I've always felt the guy I pull for could definitely win (both Sr. & Jr.) With no disrespect to Jeffrey who may very well run here next season, tomorrow is the end of an era. The Earnhardts have feasted at Talladega.............go get it more time tomorrow Jr.
 
Jr and HMS know how to setup for plate races. Chase on the outside front row. JJ 8th, even Kane starts 11th. I want Dale to win one more, and this is his best chance. Challenge will be to maintain status up front, which they haven't been able to do throughout the season.
 
I'm a bit lost on the gift that Talladega gave Dale Jr. The vehicle is owned by the State of Alabama. How does a 3rd party permanently loan an item to somebody? Can somebody explain this all to me?
 
Conover said:
Jr and HMS know how to setup for plate races. Chase on the outside front row. JJ 8th, even Kane starts 11th. I want Dale to win one more, and this is his best chance. Challenge will be to maintain status up front, which they haven't been able to do throughout the season.
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Hard to tell how fast they are, Like Jr said he wanted the car to be comfortable in traffic. Remember him spinning out suddenly. Hope it isn't the case. Cautionally optimistic here.
 
StandOnIt said:
Hard to tell how fast they are, Like Jr said he wanted the car to be comfortable in traffic. Remember him spinning out suddenly. Hope it isn't the case. Cautionally optimistic here.
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True. Ever since the 500 last year they've seemed to fix the handling issue and race a lot better. Chase has had a lot of driveability in his cars this year on the plate tracks.
 
After reviewing the "future" weather maps, I am going to scrub the 2 hour drive
to Talladega to see the race live. There are some weird pop up showers (25%) showing up
in the mid afternoon hours before the steady showers get there at night. Its been a really busy
week and I don't have the slightest patience for even a short rain delay today. If you have ever
sat through a 2.5 hour rain delay at a superspeedway you know how un-fun they can be.
 
SUNDAY, OCT. 15
2:00:00: Intro Presentation of Colors by: Alabama Army National Guard
2:00:20: Invocation by: Buster Taylor, Alabama Raceway Ministries
2:00:45: Intro National Anthem
2:01:00: National Anthem: 313th United States Army Band out of Birmingham, AL
2:02:15: Flyover By: USAF Heritage Flyover, F-16 Fighting Falcon and P-51 Mustang (Turn 4 to Turn 1)
2:07:30: “Driver’s, Start Your Engines” by: Kay Ivery, 54th Governor of Alabama
2:19:30: Green Flag — Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Alabama 500 (188 laps, 500.08 miles), NBC (Follow Live) (Canada: TSN 3)

PRESS PASS (Watch Live)
11 a.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
11:20 a.m.: Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award Finalist Julian Maha
5 p.m. (approx.): Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race
 
Doesn't look like Dale Jr. is wearing wrangler jeans in the car picture. Looks to be a different brand
 
Hotrod said:
After reviewing the "future" weather maps, I am going to scrub the 2 hour drive
to Talladega to see the race live. There are some weird pop up showers (25%) showing up
in the mid afternoon hours before the steady showers get there at night. Its been a really busy
week and I don't have the slightest patience for even a short rain delay today. If you have ever
sat through a 2.5 hour rain delay at a superspeedway you know how un-fun they can be.
Click to expand...

I've sat through some ALL DAY ones, including some where I drove 4+ hours and then have the race rescheduled for a month later. Just this year I was at the 24 Hours of the Brickyard. It just is what it is. Suck it up and move on.
 
Enjoy the race today everybody!
 
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His first pole at Dega?!?! Wow that was a surprise to hear.
IMO His demeanor after winning the pole was cool and calm. I feel he's full of confidence.
When he wins later today, not if, hundreds of thousands will lose their minds and I'll be one of them! :headbang:
 
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Bobw said:
His first pole at Dega?!?! Wow that was a surprise to hear.
IMO His demeanor after winning the pole was cool and calm. I feel he's full of confidence.
When he wins later today, not if, hundreds of thousands will lose their minds and I'll be one of them! :headbang:
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So we are all in agreement there is no way Jr doesn't win this?
 
Formerjackman said:
I've sat through some ALL DAY ones, including some where I drove 4+ hours and then have the race rescheduled for a month later. Just this year I was at the 24 Hours of the Brickyard. It just is what it is. Suck it up and move on.
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Yeah , been there done that 10 or 15 times over the years. The older I get, the more of a fair weather only nascar fan I become.
No problem with sportscars or Indy cars, just bolt on the wets. One year we sat through 2 drying cycles at Talladega. Then when
the 3rd one came we headed home 2 hrs away and watched the finish on tv. I think Ragan one that year right at dark.

Looking forward to seeing some Jr. coverage on TV . Story book he is on pole. Gonna to be an exciting day!
 
NOooooooooooo this is how it goes....DP is drafting late with Jr jr is 1 dp is 2.....and Jr has a tire issue.

Great save by DP and she inherits the lead.... and then Ricky who is behind DP pushes her to victory lane
 
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