Statistically speaking this as good as it gets for Jr.nation. 11 of the past 13 races at the biggest speedway on the schedule have been won by an HMS driver or Dale Earnhardt Jr. Why would we call Dover a monster at only 1 mile. Especially when you look at the 2.66 mile layout of Dega which makes Dover look more like a subtle giant at best. Its almost like comparing Shaquille O'Neal to Minnie Me.  HMS as we all know are the heavily favored monsters at the house that Dale Earnhardt Jr has so much excelled at.

This is also Dale Jr's best chance at breaking that 70 race losing streak. The aura that is Dega that has given both Dale Sr and his son Dale Jr a fan base that far excells that of any other track in the Sprint cup series.Talladega is known as the house of Earnhardt. The Earnhardt name is more like royalty here as compared to what the Queen is to Buckingham palace. If and when Jr does take the lead on Sunday' it will be more then evident that Jr nation or for that matter the Earnhardt name is still synonymous with this monster of a race track by all the cheers and also by the sea of green which will drape  each and every grandstand.

After all 5 of Jr's 17 race wins have come at this track including 4 race wins in a row between 2001 and 2003. This is the Earnhardt's playground. His dad paved the way with a Talladega record 10 cup wins. The only thing that could  possibly be standing in the way of  another Earnhardt victory, would be one of his HMS teammates, Jimmie or Jeff. taking the checkered flag.  Since they both have combined for the last 3 race wins in the last 4 races. Or could  Casey Mears be the other HMS spoiler sneaking away with the win. After all who could ever forget the controversial win back in 2006 by Brian Vickers while driving in his last few races for HMS. Brian decided to take matters into his own hands and took out Jimmie Johnson who then collected Dale Jr. as the 3 of them were running 1-2-3. After all what did Brian have to lose? Rick had already kicked him to the curb like some unwanted dog. How many of us would have reacted in the same way?

Talladega as we all know is one the most important races of the year next to the Daytona 500. Not only does pit strategy play a major role in winning. But the biggest key is having a drafting partner. Ever since Nascar mandated the restrictor plate in1988 on all Superspeedways. A plate that sits between the carburetor and the intake manifold to restrict air flow which in turn robs the engine of horsepower to slow the cars down. It has also made the once famous sling shot move non existent which was the way the drivers of old used to get around each other back in the hey day of Nascar. As most of already knows. It was Dale Sr who perfected the draft and used it to his advantage to become king of the restrictor plate races.

This sunday though. His son Dale Jr will also have his hands full. Not only will he be fighting the odds of his winless streak. But also his crew chief Tony Eury Jr who seems to have have made some not so good pit calls so far this season. Alot of controversy has plagued Jr since his season opening win in the Bud Shootout at Daytona. It looked as though he would finally get the m o n k e y off of his back coming into speedweks. He was fast and he was also driving a Hendrick car. He would also go on to win one of the duels in dominating fashion the same way that he won the shootout. But as the waning moments of the 500 came winding down. Jr who most definetly had the car to beat. But then a bad pit decision late in the race to stay out instead of coming in resulted in a very dissapointing 9th place finish.

Bad pit decisions have seemed to be one of his biggest downfalls so far for him this season.  HMS has given him the tools to win. Its evident in the way he has run at the beginning of races. But he is just having trouble trying to seal the deal. Im sure that he and his crew chief already knows. Its the last lap that counts. Can Dale Jr and Tony Jr come together this weekend and use the resources that Rick Hendrick has given them to win? Because as history has shown. This should be Jr's race to win. Or will bad pit strategy once again keep him out of victory lane and help him to continue to add to his ever growing losing streak? Sunday is the day of redemption. The day that all of his fans have been waiting for. Will the Dega monster be willing to once again allow an Earnhardt into its hallowed victory lane? The focus on sunday wont be on the newer car. Nor will it be on any of the other 42 drivers. But the focus will be on the son of a legend. The man who made Dega what it is today. And that son is none other Dale Earnhardt Jr. Im Out