Earnhardt faces a new pressure

DOVER, Del. (AP) — All Martin Truex Jr. needs to do to gauge the enormous impact Dale Earnhardt Jr. has on NASCAR is take a peek at the packed stands every race day.

The fans dress in Junior’s colors, bring their No. 88 signs and roar when his name is mentioned in race introductions. Earnhardt’s firm grip as NASCAR’s most popular driver hasn’t waned even as the wins have dried up. Somehow, the lack of trips to Victory Lane hasn’t affected how “Junior Nation” feels about the son of the legendary former Cup champion.

That’s what makes Earnhardt’s career vastly unique from any other driver in the Cup garage.

“There are more people involved in this sport because of Dale Jr. then because of me or anybody else out there,” Truex said. “I think that’s what makes it different, you know?”

Earnhardt knows. He’s also well aware his devoted fan base was quick to blame crew chief Tony Eury Jr. for any of the No. 88’s troubles, and wanted Earnhardt’s cousin booted from the Hendrick Motorsports team.

Well, they got their scapegoat, and now there’s only one person to take the heat for Earnhardt’s slumping season.

Earnhardt.

“I feel like there will always be pressure on me I guess,” Earnhardt said. “I’m all right with that. I’ve always had pressure on me and I don’t mind.”

Earnhardt has always had pressure, and maybe unrealistic expectations, simply because his dad was “The Intimidator.” Signing with the powerhouse Hendrick team for the start of last season only heightened the scrutiny Earnhardt came under.

He made the Chase for the championship last season, only to finish a disappointing 12th in the standings after a late fade knocked him out of title contention. This season, Earnhardt is 19th in points and coming off a season-worst 40th-place finish at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

It’s become natural to wonder if Earnhardt can ever reach the lofty expectations set at Hendrick, and what it will take to rebuild his sagging confidence.

“I would be lying if I said I didn’t lose confidence at times,” Earnhardt said. “You definitely lose confidence when you don’t run good. You’re only human, so you’re definitely going to question some of your abilities when you’re not getting it done.

“When you put yourself at Hendrick Motorsports, you’re in the best equipment and you should win races. If you don’t, that really sort of makes for a hard argument that you had any business being there in the first place.”