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

Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports

HOT – Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his first race of the season last weekend in Talladega. The win comes after 10 races and will now put him in a prime position to secure his spot in the chase once again in 2015. The win for Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 team was an emotional one. Earnhardt Jr. and his crew chief Greg Ives both had tears in the moments following the victory.

Although it took 10 races to win one, the win shouldn’t come as a surprise. Earnhardt Jr. now has six top-six finishes in his first 10 races, when you’re running that well it’s just a matter of time before you win a race. Now that Earnhardt Jr. has a win under his belt there should be less pressure to win the rest of the season. The NASCAR Universe witnessed how well the No. 88 team did in 2014 when they got that first win out of the way. With 16 races left before the chase it shouldn’t be a shock if Earnhardt Jr. and company visit victory lane once again.

If that repeat to victory lane is to happen again this weekend it would be a first as he has never won at Kansas. In 17 starts at the Kansas Speedway Earnhardt Jr. has an average finish of 16th.