Earnhardt Jr. fined, docked 25 points for post-race curse
October 5, 2004
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Dale Earnhardt Jr. wishes he had been a little more careful in his victory speech at Talladega Superspeedway.
On Tuesday, NASCAR officials fined Earnhardt $10,000 and docked him 25 points in the Nextel Cup standings, knocking him out of first place in the "Chase for the Cup," for making an inappropriate post-race comment.
After taking the checkered flag in the EA 500 on Sunday, a jubilant Earnhardt was asked what it meant to win in Talladega not once but five times. His off-the-cuff response was aired live on NBC.
"Well, it don't mean (bleep) right now" Earnhardt said in victory lane. "Daddy's (the late Dale Earnhardt) won here 10 times, so I've got to do more winning. But we're going to get there. He was the master. I'm just following in his tracks."
"Junior" has appealed the penalties as the 25-point deduction could be a critical blow to his championship hopes. Following his fifth victory of the year Sunday, Earnhardt reclaimed the lead over Kurt Busch in the "Chase for the Cup" with seven races remaining.
If the penalties are upheld, Earnhardt would fall 12 points behind Busch.
"This is a huge setback for the entire company," DEI director of competition Richie Gilmore said. "We're in a sport that focuses its primary attention on the final 10 races of the season and we're racing against formidable teams for a championship."
Entering the 10-race championship chase, Earnhardt was third in the standings, 10 points behind Jeff Gordon. He climbed into the lead with a third-pace finish in New Hampshire on September 19 but fell back to third with a ninth in Dover the following week.
Earnhardt, who will turn 30 on Sunday - when the fourth race in the "Chase for the Cup" takes place at Kansas Speedway - has been in the top 10 in the standings all season and in the top three since mid-March. His brief 13-point lead over Busch was his largest since the second race of the season.
"I think we're the only sport that takes points off the board after they've been scored," Gilmore said. "The popularity of this sport is based on colorful personalities and the fact that everyone can relate to these drivers and their emotions.
"Now it seems like that's a detriment."
October 5, 2004
DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - Dale Earnhardt Jr. wishes he had been a little more careful in his victory speech at Talladega Superspeedway.
On Tuesday, NASCAR officials fined Earnhardt $10,000 and docked him 25 points in the Nextel Cup standings, knocking him out of first place in the "Chase for the Cup," for making an inappropriate post-race comment.
After taking the checkered flag in the EA 500 on Sunday, a jubilant Earnhardt was asked what it meant to win in Talladega not once but five times. His off-the-cuff response was aired live on NBC.
"Well, it don't mean (bleep) right now" Earnhardt said in victory lane. "Daddy's (the late Dale Earnhardt) won here 10 times, so I've got to do more winning. But we're going to get there. He was the master. I'm just following in his tracks."
"Junior" has appealed the penalties as the 25-point deduction could be a critical blow to his championship hopes. Following his fifth victory of the year Sunday, Earnhardt reclaimed the lead over Kurt Busch in the "Chase for the Cup" with seven races remaining.
If the penalties are upheld, Earnhardt would fall 12 points behind Busch.
"This is a huge setback for the entire company," DEI director of competition Richie Gilmore said. "We're in a sport that focuses its primary attention on the final 10 races of the season and we're racing against formidable teams for a championship."
Entering the 10-race championship chase, Earnhardt was third in the standings, 10 points behind Jeff Gordon. He climbed into the lead with a third-pace finish in New Hampshire on September 19 but fell back to third with a ninth in Dover the following week.
Earnhardt, who will turn 30 on Sunday - when the fourth race in the "Chase for the Cup" takes place at Kansas Speedway - has been in the top 10 in the standings all season and in the top three since mid-March. His brief 13-point lead over Busch was his largest since the second race of the season.
"I think we're the only sport that takes points off the board after they've been scored," Gilmore said. "The popularity of this sport is based on colorful personalities and the fact that everyone can relate to these drivers and their emotions.
"Now it seems like that's a detriment."