Congrats goes out to Dale Jr. with his victory at Chicagoland speedway in Joliet, Illinois. This is first time in  about 20 races I’ve seen the number 8 Budweiser Chevy in the victory circle. Dale Jr clearly NASCAR’s most popular driver has struggle this year. 

 "I was worried I was going to go winless this year," the relieved Earnhardt said after smoking the tires on his No. 8 Chevrolet and celebrating with his crew in the infield grass. "Now, let's go out and do it again, win some more."

With his third place finish last week at Daytona. Dale Jr is creeping back into the points’ chase.  If he keeps this up he will be hard beat.

On a sadder note.

For four-time series champion Gordon, who finished 33rd, it was his sixth finish of 30th or lower in the last eight races. He fell to 15th place in the standings, 502 points behind Johnson, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate. (NASCAR.COM)

I am a big Jeff Gordon fan. He is clearly in a slump.  Since the race in Delaware (when Tony Stewart wrecked him) The Dupont 24 Chevy team has been struggling.  Yesterday’s race was another frustrating day not only for Jeff but his fans. The 24 car was not handling right and he basically looked lost out there up until lap 249 when Mike Wallace wrecked him.  Hopefully we will see the 24 car in the victory circle at Loundon, New Hampshire

Sources:

NASCAR.COM  http://www.nascar.com/2005/news/headlines/cup/07/10/dearnhardt.chicago.ap.ap/index.html