NASCAR: Who’s Hot And Who’s Not Heading Into Texas

USA Today Sports

HOT – Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Yes, Earnhardt Jr. has been eliminated from the chase and yes, winning a championship was his goal this season. That doesn’t change the fact that last weeks win in Martinsville solidifies the fact that 2014 has been an overwhelming success for the No. 88 team. This season Earnhardt Jr. has four wins, which is the most that he has had since 2004. In fact, his four wins this season match the total number of wins that he had from 2005-2013. This season Earnhardt Jr. has had the most top-five finishes of his career since that 2004 season and he is on pace to finish with at least 20 top-10 finishes for the third season in a row (assuming he gets two in the final three races). On top of all of that; Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 team won the 2014 Daytona 500 as well as races at Pocono and Martinsville, two tracks that they have never won at before. By all measures Earnhardt Jr. is probably having the second-best season of his NASCAR career. A championship is always the ultimate goal but in this case not winning one doesn’t make 2014 a failure for the No. 88 team.