Earnhardt turns to Johnson for help: "We're leaning on them pretty hard"

Earnhardt said he and crew chief Greg Ives immediately “eighty-sixed” the set-up from his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet used in last weekend’s NASCAR All-Star Race and set their car up much like that of teammate Jimmie Johnson.

“We are leaning on them pretty hard this weekend considering how we ran and how they ran last weekend at the All-Star race, we are leaning on them pretty hard,” said Earnhardt, who finished 18^th in the all-star race and didn’t advance to the final 10-lap shootout.

“Me and Jimmie have been in communication and Jimmie has come by the car a couple of times in practice already looking at notes and printing out our driver traces and trying to figure out whatever we can do to help me.

“I’m lucky to be able to work in the same shop with him. He has certainly been an influence on my success and my enjoyment in the sport.”

Despite the help, Earnhardt still seemed frustrated at times during Friday’s lone Cup Series practice session and finished 22^nd on the speed chart.

Part of that came from the changes to the track since last weekend.

The high racing grooves in the corners of the track have been covered with VHT resin by track officials to improve the track’s ability to retain rubber. A tire machine has also been run over the corners this week.

“We started out not too good. But when we all went out there and saw all the rubber they put down and all that, the whole track looked completely different,” he said. “It took me about three or four runs just to kind of get the line back down and understand what I needed to do as a driver, regardless of what the set-up in the car was.”

Earnhardt said he hoped to get a Top 15 starting position and ended up 19^th in qualifying on Thursday night.

“That’s a start. That ain’t good enough, still, but that’s progress compared to last week,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to getting in race trim. We’ve got some practice time. We really ran short last week on practice time, so I’m anxious to get in there and practice (on Saturday) and see what we can do.”

Earnhardt could use a good run to improve his points position (24th) and a win would be even better as it would lock him into the NASCAR playoffs in his final season as a full-time competitor.

“Hopefully it doesn’t go like it did last week. It shouldn’t,” he said. “And let’s hope it doesn’t.”

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