NASCAR Roundtable - Will Earnhardt win at Talladega?

1. It's been well documented about the contact Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. had at Richmond. Do you think there will be any repercussions moving forward?

Jim: I don't think so. I think it was very clear there was nothing intentional on Johnson's part and neither driver was having a particularly good day at the time. The best part for me was Dale Junior sharing a text from his mom and after the race that she - like many fans - incorrectly calls its 'Hendricks' Motorsports as well. 

Lee: Absolutely not. Both parties viewed the situation as simply “a racing deal”. Talladega will be business as usual.

Nick: Not at all. These two are not just teammates, but good friends and they discussed it right after the race. It was obviously a (bizarre) accident. 

Tim: I think it was just a racing deal and it’s over. Nothing more to it. Even if there is, the general public will never hear about it.

2. The crowds have continued to be down at tracks recently. With Dale Jr. announcing his retirement at the end of the season, do you expect a bump in attendance or TV ratings?

Jim: There will be some races, particularly toward the end of the season, that will see more people wanting to catch a final glimpse of Earnhardt in action in person, and likely some tuning in on TV as well. Will it be enough to be considered a 'bump'? Hard to tell. Who's to say everyone who is seriously interested in watching Earnhardt compete isn't already doing so? We'll find out shortly.

Lee: We certainly didn’t see a bump at Richmond. However, fans have expressed interest in seeing Earnhardt’s final runs at Talladega Superspeedway and the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. I would think traffic would pick up at Talladega this weekend and at Daytona in July where Junior has enjoyed tremendous success in his career. Also, once JR Motorsports announces what Xfinity races he’ll run next season, it’s likely those tracks will see a gain as well.

Nick: I'm sure his final few races and last title bid will garner some added interest, but I don't think it's going to draw a substantial bump in viewership during the regular season, as we saw at Richmond.

Tim: I honestly thought there might be a bump at Richmond, but his announcement was close to the race and he’ll be back there this fall. I expect the second half of the season to see a bump, especially at Daytona and Talladega.

3. Matt Kenseth won the pole at Richmond and Denny Hamlin finished inside the top five. Kyle Busch also had a strong car, so do you think Joe Gibbs Racing has turned things around and why or why not?

Jim: I think Joe Gibbs Racing is making slow, steady progress but a short track is not a good place to gauge whether the improvements are significant. The intermediate tracks are the bread and butter of the Cup series and that's where JGR has dominated up until late. The month of May should be a very telling one for JGR.

Lee: In 2016, Toyotas won one-third of all races and the four Gibbs cars finished sixth or higher in the standings. At the same point last season, JGR had five wins in the first nine races. This year, they have zero. Certainly, the loss of Carl Edwards, who swept the spring races at Bristol and Richmond, is being felt throughout the organization as is the loss of his crew chief Dave Rogers. While Talladega is a crap shoot, Kyle Busch is the defending winner at Kansas, Martin Truex Jr. dominated Charlotte and Matt Kenseth looks to defend his Dover victory. While Gibbs’ program isn’t where it was last season, they are due.

Nick: You can't keep a team like them down for long. They will return to form and Richmond appeared to be beginning of that, but the true test will come once we get back to an intermediate track.

Tim: After the success Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing had in 2016, it makes their ‘struggle’ seem more than what it is. I still believe they will be a force to contend with soon and it could happen this very weekend at Talladega or definitely by the time we get to Charlotte at the end of the month.

4. With Talladega coming up this weekend, how big would it be if Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins and do you think his final victory could come at a track other than Talladega or Daytona?

Jim: There would be something very nostalgic in my opinion if Earnhardt would record one of - or the last - wins of his career on the tracks which for so many years defined his performance. He virtually owned Victory Lane at Talladega for years while at DEI and his success at Daytona combined with his late father's legacy would make a win there a monumental win.

Lee: A Junior win anywhere would be large. Certainly, Talladega, where Earnhardt has won six times in his career, is the odds on favorite track to be the scene of his final win. But don’t count out Michigan, Pocono, Richmond or Phoenix. Selfishly, I’d like to see Earnhardt win at Charlotte because his home track has always meant so much to him.

Nick: An Earnhardt win at Talladega is always huge, but doing it in his final season would be quite a special moment. Let's not forget that his father's 76th and final Cup victory also came at that superspeedway. As for where his final win could come, a plate race is certainly the most likely, but there are several tracks he's capable of winning at that are still ahead on the schedule.

Tim: Young NASCAR fans might not remember – but Dale Jr. and Dale Sr. fans remember – Talladega Superspeedway was the last Cup win for the elder Earnhardt. How ironic would it be for Dale Jr. to score one of his last or his final Cup win there as well? One thing is for sure, if he wins this weekend, I’ll be able to hear the roar from the fans all the way in North Carolina where I live.

5. The NASCAR Xifnity Series returns to action this weekend. Daniel Hemric has already won a Dash for Cash event at Bristol, how refreshing is it to see the young driver get the opportunity to drive for RCR without 'buying' his ride?

Jim: Personally, I have nothing against drivers getting rides any way they can. But at some point, to be considered legitimate, they must perform. I predicted before the season Hemric would be a rookie winner in the Xfinity Series and I still believe that is very possible. He's certainly raced on every rung of NASCAR's ladder system to get where he is today.

Lee: Hemric is an anomaly in NASCAR right now. Unlike other professional sports, money can buy a driver a seat in racing’s top tour — and that’s sad. Racers such as Hemric are a dying breed. But he’s proving with talent, determination and enough support a driver can still climb NASCAR’s ranks the old fashion way.

Nick: It's definitely good to see, but honestly, I have no problem with the so-called pay drivers as long as they perform. Still, it's refreshing to see someone like Hemric getting the shot he deserves. Too many young talents are looked over because they don't have the cash to go with their ability.

Tim: This is one of the really ‘feel good’ stories in NASCAR today. This young and very talented driver is a breath of fresh air to all the naysayers who claim the only way you can drive in one of NASCAR’s big three series is to ‘buy’ your ride. I don’t know how many more drivers will get a chance on pure talent, but I think Hemric will make the most of his opportunity and enjoy success this year.