*FAN SUBMISSION from Peyton Hook of Galesburg, Illinois. Follow him on Twitter @PeytonHook.
Courtesy: MotorSport.com
Dale Earnhardt Jr. will try to win a first Cup championship this season, like his dad did seven times. We all know Dale will win some races this year and be more aggressive than he was last year, I pick him to win three races and be in the final four for the championship. Now that Jeff Gordon is gone, Jr. goes from third best to second best on team behind Jimmie Johnson. Here is the five races Dale can win. You probably should put Jr. on your NASCAR fantasy team for these races at least.
Daytona: No matter if it is the Daytona 500 or Daytona 400, Jr. is a success at NASCAR’s grandest track. He won the 2014 Daytona 500, then the Daytona 400 last season. Jr. is a two time Daytona 500 winner and a two time Daytona 400 winner. Dale Earnhardt Jr. can win both this season. Just like his dad, Jr. can race at Daytona. This should be a place you should pick Jr. to win every year.
Talladega: We all know Talladega is Jr.’s place. Jr. has won here six times, including last year’s spring race. Jr. has 16 top tens in 32 races with an average finish of 14.7. Expect Jr. to win at this monster track. Like Daytona, Talladega is a place Jr. can and will win. Just like his dad, Jr. can win at Talladega in any vehicle. Mark this place on your calendar for Jr. to win.
Michigan: We all knew Michigan would be on this list. Jr. has won at the Motor City twice with 14 top tens in 33 starts. But, all of Jr.’s wins and 9 of his 14 top tens was in the #88 Chevy for Hendrick Motorsports. Jr. broke a 100+ winless streak when he won at Michigan in 2012, when his last win was in 2008, for his success at the 2008 June Michigan race — he has been named June Bug.
Richmond: Richmond has been pretty nice to Jr. in his Cup career. He has three wins and 14 top tens in his career. Expect this short track to be a great place for Jr. this season. Dale has had some great races at the short track in the last couple of years, he has had fast cars — in which he was in the top ten all race and led laps. On your NASCAR fantasy team, this could be a possible pick for you.
Martinsville: Dale Earnhardt Jr. has only one win here, but that was in 2014. Jr. also has 18 top tens in his career at the Paperclip. Lately, Jr. has been pretty good on the short tracks, so expect a possible win here. As Richmond, Jr. has been very competitive here with a win in 2014 and a lot of top tens, plus runs in the top ten consistently with a fair amount of laps led. Martinsville might not be the most likely race for June Bug to win but he is a dark horse, and dark horses can help your fantasy team very well.
We never know when Jr. will retire, now being engaged will impact his decision heavily now, but I think June Bug wants a title before going in the sunset. Now that Jeff is gone, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will have to be on his best game —- still following Jimmie Johnson —- if he wants to be the best on the team, he has to simply win races more often and to win a championship. Don’t count out Jr. for a possible Sprint Cup title, no matter how Jr. does the rest of his career, his dad will always be proud of his son.
