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NASCAR: Five Lessons Learned From The Coke Zero 400 at Daytona

By Michael Guadalupe

Jul 5, 2015; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Matt Kenseth (20) and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Aric Almirola (43) wreck in front of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne (5) during the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 5, 2015; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Matt Kenseth (20) and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Aric Almirola (43) wreck in front of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Kasey Kahne (5) during the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 18, 2016; Daytona Beach, FL, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) leads NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin (11) during the Cam-Am Duels at Daytona race one at Daytona International Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
Dale Jr. continues to fall further down the standings. The 88 team needs to improve soon or risk not being in the Chase. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports /

Dale Jr. Is Getting Close to the Edge

Dale Jr. went into Talladega as a favorite, but left the race sliding further down in the standings.

He currently sits in 13th in the standings, and now has drivers Ryan Newman, Ryan Blaney and Jamie McMurray closing in on him and trying to get ahead of him in the standings before the Chase starts.

Both races at Daytona and the race at Talladega were supposed to be Jr.’s best chance at making the Chase; he’s one of the best drivers when it comes to super speedway racing and won at both restrictor plate tracks last season.

This year though Dale Jr. has struggled at Daytona and Talladega, and tracks that were supposed to move him up in the standings have dropped him down.

There are still nine races left before the Chase starts, but time is running out for Junior and a choice will need to be made soon; should he always push for a win or focus more on finishing in the top 10 at these next tracks so he can remain in the top 16 in points?

Will he be able to make the Chase? Can he get a win before the regular season is over? We’ll find out over the next couple months, but for right now Dale Jr. falls closer to the edge of the Chase bubble and unless the 88 team can turn it around soon, we could see a post season without Earnhardt competing for the championship.

Next: The Real Contender

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