Take 5: Five Things Worth Mentioning Heading Into Phoenix

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is quietly off to a nice start.

Earnhardt Jr. has not won yet in 2015, something that he took care of right away last season. However, despite not winning in the first three races he is still off to a great (albeit quiet) start.

Earnhardt Jr. currently sits second in the point standings and fourth in the chase standings. He opened the season with a pair of third-place finishes before coming home in 4th this past weekend in Las Vegas. Many wondered if the loss of Steve Letarte was going to hurt the No. 88 team moving forward. Three races into 2015 and it would seem that Greg Ives is more than capable of running the show and that Earnhardt’s success in 2014 was not solely tied to Letarte.

Recent success has also changed the mindset of Junior Nation. In years past his fans would view top-five finishes as missed opportunities to win races. Over the last few years Earnhardt Jr. has found consistency and now top-five finishes are common and no longer viewed the way they once were. Look for Jr. to be in the mix once again this weekend in Phoenix.