Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the number 88 team will try and rebound after a tough finish last weekend at Richmond International Speedway due to pit strategy. The AMP Energy team is now fourth in points, after falling from third position.
The team will field a new paint scheme this weekend at Darlington as well as next weekend at Dover - the AMP Energy Sugar Free scheme. Not only is the paint scheme something new, the car is as well. The team will unload a car that has never been raced or tested before(for folks who are interested in the actual chassis number, its 88-657).
Earnhardt says Darlington is a slick track and it is important to find that edge.
"Darlington is a slick track. It is a difficult track to drive around. It is real smooth, and you have to find that edge. There is a lot of load change like driving into Turn one and then the load comes out of the car through the center and then the load increases on the exit of Turn two. The car just really changes a lot as you are going around the corner, and it can just snap on you."
Darlington Raceway, due to its odd shape and narrowness, is hard on many drivers and teams, and tends to give everyone a 'Darlington Stripe' at least once in a weekend, however it has been a fairly good track for Jr. in his career. NASCAR's most popular driver has three top-five finishes and seven top-10s and has completed 98.1 percent of the laps he has attempted.
It has not always been the same Darlington in Earnhardt's career - a repave a few years ago has changed the track somewhat according to crew chief Steve Letarte.
"It's changed a little with the new pavement. Tire wear is not really an issue. The key to success at Darlington is to take care of your equipment. The track will lull you into complacency. You go there with heightened senses because you know it tears up a lot of right sides. Over a couple of days you get more relaxed and the risks become normal. In Turns 1 and 2 you are right against the wall and not many people make a lot of mistakes down there because there is a lot of room. Turns 3 and 4 are just the opposite. You drive in really straight, and you have to make the car turn right up against the wall. To be good all day long at Darlington, you have to stay out of that Turn 3 and 4 wall."
Earnhardt's second worse finish of the year came last weekend(19th). Other than Richmond and Daytona, the 88 team has finished no worse than 12th this season.
Thanks to the 88 team PR for the quotes
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