Auto Racing Capsules: Earnhardt eyes Daytona as part of turnaround

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. doesn't know when he'll end his winless streak, or how long it will take to turn around his horrendous season.

The only thing NASCAR's most popular driver - winless in 38 races - is certain of is that he's not strong enough to withstand another year like this one.

Earnhardt heads into Saturday night's race at Daytona International Speedway ranked 19th in the standings and still adjusting to a crew chief change six weeks ago that brought an emotional end to his long working relationship with cousin Tony Eury Jr.

As his struggles snowballed through April and May, it affected everyone in the tight-knit Earnhardt and Eury families.

"I can't have another year like this. I can't mentally. I can't physically. I don't want to put the people around me through this," Earnhardt said in a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press.

"When we were really, really struggling, everybody in the family was upset. Crying and carrying on. All the women were crying, the men we're cussing. I'm serious. This is our family, Eurys and Earnhardts, racing is our life and it wears on all of them. We can't put anybody through this (stuff) again. We've got to get this right."

Stoic through the aftermath of his father's fatal accident in the 2001 Daytona 500, and steady as his popularity pushed him into rock star status, Earnhardt rarely gives a glimpse of any inner turmoil.

So when cracks in his armor began to show in late April, it slowly became clear to team owner Rick Hendrick he'd have to make the split that Earnhardt and Eury were too emotionally invested to recognize how badly it was needed. Hendrick pulled the trigger following a 40th-place finish at Charlotte, replacing Eury with interim crew chief Lance McGrew and assigning additional personnel to Earnhardt's No. 88 team.

"I feel like we've let him down, maybe I've let him down, by not pulling the trigger earlier," Hendrick said. "For maybe his sake and Tony's sake. Both of those guys are going to be better off."

That's been evident for Earnhardt, who admits his confidence was shaken during the rocky first four months of the season. As Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Mark Martin raced their way into Victory Lane and contention for the Chase for the championship, Earnhardt couldn't keep pace.

He made rookie-like mistakes, struggled with his cars and led just 84 laps - the bulk coming at Phoenix when Eury used pit strategy to put Earnhardt out front for 63 laps. Through 12 races with Eury, Earnhardt had just three top-10s, and his season-best finish was second at Talladega, where he's "supposed" to be good.

"I know that I am good enough to drive the car as fast as I need to go. I know how to make the right decisions, I know how to win a race, I know how a championship is won," he said. "I am not making ignorant mistakes every week to the point where I'm going ‘Wow, what the ... is up with my focus?' But I did lose a lot of confidence if I would ever get back.

"Not ‘Can I get it done?' but ‘Am I ever going to run good again, ever? What if this is it?' And you're still wondering until you get it turned around."

So Earnhardt, often criticized for lackadaisical effort, is putting 100 percent into his race team. Those close to him say his commitment has never been greater, and the other three Hendrick drivers have found him to be an engaged, dedicated teammate.

For Hendrick, working with Earnhardt has been far easier than he ever imagined it would be when he signed him to a 5-year deal after Earnhardt had decided to leave his late father's race team, Dale Earnhardt Inc., at the end of the 2007 season.

"When I first thought about him coming over, a lot of people in this garage said ‘Good luck handling a superstar,' " Hendrick said. "But everything I've asked him to do - whether working out, eating better, or showing up at the shop - he's all over it. He wants to do his part. He's much easier than I thought he would be.

"I couldn't ask him to work any harder than he's working. I don't care what anybody says. He's committed. He's dedicated. And he's showing up and he's trying. That's all I can ask him to do."

Earnhardt had this current three-race stretch leading into NASCAR's off weekend circled as his time to click with McGrew and really turn things around. He was an improved 13th last week at New Hampshire, is always a threat to win at Daytona, and a recent tire test at Chicago has him encouraged about next weekend's race.

And he's vowed not to let up until he's back on the right track, racing for wins and his first Sprint Cup title.

"I could work out more than Mark, I could ride a mountain bike farther than Jimmie and I could try to invent a new international language for explaining how a race car drives. There's all kinds of things I can do differently," he said. "Making the Chase is going to be (really) hard. I know it. But we've still got a shot until they say we don't. If that doesn't happen, I need to end this year saying ‘We have repaired it, we have fixed it, this is the direction we're going and it's going to be fine.' "

France defends NASCAR's drug policy 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Brian France defended NASCAR's drug testing policy as the toughest in professional sports, despite a federal judge's ruling that overturned driver Jeremy Mayfield's suspension.

Mayfield was indefinitely suspended May 9 for what NASCAR said was a positive test for methamphetamines. He sued to be reinstated, and a federal judge issued an injunction Wednesday that allowed Mayfield to return to competition based on Mayfield's argument that NASCAR's testing system is flawed.

U.S. District Court Judge Graham Mullen questioned the test results, saying the possibility of a false positive was "quite substantial" and ruled the harm to Mayfield significantly outweighed the harm to NASCAR.

But NASCAR's chairman said the sport needs a tough system that bans impaired drivers from competition.

"We remain very comfortable and very calm despite the ruling, that our policy is thorough, it's accurate, and it's fair," France said Friday at Daytona International Speedway, site of Saturday night's race.

"It's our responsibility to protect the drivers, the fans, other participants within the events. We have a very unique challenge relative to all sports, which is the inherent danger of somebody impaired on the racetrack."

Mayfield did not enter his car to race in Saturday night's event and would now only be able to compete as a NASCAR-approved relief driver. Although he said after the ruling he would travel to Daytona this weekend, he had yet to claim the credential needed to enter the garage area.

France said NASCAR is still exploring its legal options concerning the injunction. The civil suit filed by Mayfield and NASCAR's countersuit still remain.

But the chairman insisted NASCAR intends to defend its drug testing policy "very vigorously."

"Our first responsibility, despite the ruling on Wednesday or any ruling, will always be that we are going to make sure every way we can that everyone who is driving these race cars are of clear mind," France said. "We don't just go laying the hammer down and ruining someone's career. That's not what we are talking about when we are talking about Jeremy's situation.

"You know what he was tested for. That's unequivocal. There's no confusion about that from a science standpoint."

Mayfield has denied using methamphetamines and blamed the positive test result on the combined use of Adderall for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Claritin-D for allergies. That result was debunked by NASCAR's drug testing administrator.

"We know what it means, to anyone, to get such a positive test back," France said. "We are very comfortable that that test is accurate and reliable and will hold up, ultimately, when all of the facts are heard."

Mayfield's lawyers focused on federal guidelines that allow an individual a 72-hour window after a positive test to have the backup "B" sample analyzed by an independent laboratory. Because NASCAR's commissioned laboratory tested both of Mayfield's samples, lawyer Bill Diehl blasted the fairness of a process that did not give Mayfield the opportunity to challenge the results.

France, who took questions on the issue for about 45 minutes with NASCAR president Mike Helton and several top series officials watching from the back of the room, insisted NASCAR has a series of checks and balances in its testing process that prevents wrongful persecution.

"We had to have the toughest policy because we have the most to lose if one of our players is on ... the track impaired," France said. "We know we came up with a very good policy. People frequently test positive for one thing or another. It happens very, very frequently. It's very rare, though, that we do a suspension, because that's a very serious matter.

"We realize the seriousness and implications that has to an individual, to a race team, to their careers. It's why the policy has some built-in flexibilities."

Among them are allowances for prescribed medications taken as directed, but NASCAR makes it each individual's responsibility to keep officials informed of changes in health. In court documents filed before Wednesday's hearing, NASCAR alleged Mayfield never informed anyone he was taking Adderall.

France also said he's surprised at the confusion Mayfield's suspension has created, and questions of fairness about a tough policy meant to protect its participants.

"At some point when you have a positive test, it should be the end of the road," he said. "In our judgment, that some point is when your "B" sample comes back unequivocally and conclusively positive for a banned substance that impaired you in the doctors' and medical experts' eyes. That is our basic responsibility."

Stewart on pole after rain washes out qualifying

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Tony Stewart will start from a familiar spot Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway.

The Sprint Cup points leader was awarded the pole for the Coke Zero 400 when rain washed out qualifying Friday.

It was Stewart's third pole - all in rainouts - in the last five races. He also started up front at Pocono last month and New Hampshire last week.

"It really doesn't matter anyway," he said. "In a Cup race, if your car is good enough to get to the front, you can do it from dead last, so it really doesn't matter if you start from the pole or not. The advantage is it gives us a good pit selection. That's what helps. Other than that, it's really not an issue."

Starting from the front has proven beneficial for Stewart, though. His first points-race win as a driver/car owner came at Pocono, and he finished fifth at New Hampshire. His only Daytona pole came in July 2005, when he won his first race at NASCAR's most famous track.

Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards and Denny Hamlin rounded out the first three rows.

Max Papis and Mike Wallace were sent home, unable to attempt to get into the 43-car field. Wallace was scheduled to drive the No. 64 car, the one some believed recently reinstated driver Jeremy Mayfield would try to get into to make his return from a drug suspension.

Car owner Larry Gunselman, citing sponsorship concerns, declined to offer Mayfield a ride.

The field was set by owner's points for the fourth time this season. Qualifying at Martinsville in March also was rained out.

Brad Keselowski, Scott Speed, David Gilliland, Joe Nemechek, Dave Blaney, Patrick Carpentier, Tony Raines and Regan Smith were the beneficiaries of the rain. They all earned automatic starting spots instead of having to qualify on speed.

Greg Biffle and Sam Hornish Jr. will have to start from the back of the field. They were involved in a crash during practice Thursday night, forcing both into backup cars. And under NASCAR rules, cars unable to turn any laps during practice or qualifying have to start at the back of the pack because of safety concerns.

"They don't want us starting up there if the transmission sticks in gear, or the brakes don't work, or we're leaking oil or the steering locks up," Biffle said. "There's a part of me that doesn't mind starting in the back so I can figure out on my own and then start working through traffic."

-- Mark Long

Bowyer races to first Nationwide win of season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Clint Bowyer's first victory of the season gave Richard Childress Racing a much-needed boost.

Bowyer won the Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway on Friday night, holding off Kyle Busch and Carl Edwards in a green-white-checkered finish.

The defending series champion was the leader when a four-car accident brought out the caution with six laps to go in the Subway Jalapeno 250. That set up a final two-lap overtime sprint, and Bowyer lined up inside of Edwards for the double-file restart.

With Busch pushing him from behind, Bowyer raced to the front. He didn't have to deal with a challenge from Busch because an accident in the fourth turn brought out a race-ending caution, giving RCR its first win of the year.

Busch finished second, followed by Edwards, Joey Logano and Kasey Kahne.

"It's been tough this year," said Bowyer, winning for the first time in six starts in the second-tier series. "It's been tough on Richard, tough on everybody. Just real proud of everybody at RCR."

Bowyer's win might not do much to soothe Childress' problems in the Sprint Cup series, where Bowyer (15th), Jeff Burton (16th), Casey Mears (20th) and Kevin Harvick (27th) are all out of championship contention. Then again, a trip to Victory Lane could raise morale across the board.

And this one wasn't a fluke. Bowyer had the car to beat much of the night. He started on the pole and spent much of the night running up front. He moved to the front for good with about 30 laps to go, often driving away from his competitors down the backstretch.

"That was the best we had," Busch said. "Clint's car was better than ours tonight. We have some work to do before coming back here.

Brad Keselowski finished sixth, followed by Brian Vickers, Justin Allgaier, David Ragan and Harvick.

-- Mark Long

IRL

Hunter-Reay stoic in spite of it all

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. - One year ago, Ryan Hunter-Reay left Watkins Glen International brimming with confidence after a surprising IndyCar victory.

He returns to defend his title Sunday in the Camping World Grand Prix, sometimes having to glance down at his racing suit just to make sure he knows who he's driving for.

And it's not Rahal Letterman Racing, the team he was with in his first and only IndyCar victory.

"We had a great thing going there at Rahal Letterman," Hunter-Reay said. "Definitely, momentum was building through the season and the end of the season with a third place at Surfers Paradise. We had every sign that things would continue."

Every sign vanished after the season. RLR lost its primary sponsor when an American ethanol company decided to pull out of the open-wheel series. The team had to search for sponsorship in one of the nation's deepest recessions ever, and when the money didn't come through Hunter-Reay was out of a ride.

"To have everything going for you and then have it all fall out from under you, yeah, that's pretty hard," the Texas-born Hunter-Reay said. "But there are two sides to every coin. I'm very persistent, and no matter where I end up going I end up, hopefully, making the best of it."

A ride with Vision Racing surfaced right before the season opener in April.

"I didn't sign my deal until Friday practice at St. Petersburg," he said. "We had a great week at St. Pete, finished second. But the team's been in a bad financial situation to run two cars."

So bad that Hunter-Reay is driving the No. 14 for A.J. Foyt for the remainder of the season in place of Vitor Meira, who's recovering from a back injury sustained in the Indianapolis 500.

"I've been wearing three different race suits, so it's definitely been all over the place," Hunter-Reay said. "I'm still working with everybody at Vision trying to get the chemistry going together there and now I'm starting from scratch again. It's definitely going to take some time. That said. That doesn't mean it will stand in the way of good race results."

It hasn't before. Racing for several Champ Car teams, he won a race in Australia as a rookie in 2003 and added an impressive wire-to-wire victory for another team the next year at Milwaukee. However, by the middle of 2005 - with yet another team - he again was looking for work.

Hunter-Reay's best finish in his short IndyCar career came at the 3.4-mile track in upstate New York's Finger Lakes wine country. He passed Darren Manning, now his teammate, with less than 10 laps remaining after Scott Dixon made an uncharacteristic mistake while running second on a restart late in the race that cost him in his bid for a fourth straight victory at the historic road course.

"I've been looking forward to Watkins Glen since I left Watkins Glen last year," said Hunter-Reay, who began racing go-karts in the 1990s and also has driven in the Barber Dodge Pro Series and Toyota Atlantic Series.

"It's such a tough race track. Unfortunately, quite a few of the teams have come to test, the big teams, so it's going to be tough to go there with no testing and to be on par with those guys. But hey, we did it last year."

After a stretch of six consecutive oval races, the IndyCar Series transitions to Watkins Glen, the first of three consecutive road and street course events.

Dixon, the defending IRL champion, has been the master of the high-speed turns at The Glen and is fresh from a win at Richmond, his series-best third of the season. He trails Target Chip Ganassi teammate Dario Franchitti by one point in the standings and is itching to make up for last year's blunder.

"It was definitely one we threw away," Dixon said Friday before taking off on a different kind of ride aboard Fat Alpert Airlines, the four-engine, propeller-driven C-130T cargo plane the Blue Angels use in their air shows.

"To be going for a record of four in a row (at Watkins Glen), it was extremely frustrating to let it slip by. It ranks right up there along with the constant reminder from (team owner) Chip (Ganassi)."

Mainly because of Dixon's dominance, AGR hasn't had that breakthrough victory at Watkins Glen. So it was no surprise when Marco Andretti and teammates Danica Patrick and Tony Kanaan tested at the track three weeks ago.

"It just seems like it's one of the tracks where we've been very competitive but have never won here," said Kanaan, who was third a year ago and fourth in 2007. "It's something in our setup and the way we run our cars. We can't figure it out."

-- John Kekis