Earnhardt Jr. steps in for Nemechek
By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive
May 23, 2001
7:35 PM EDT (2335 GMT)
MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr., who has not driven a race in the NASCAR Busch Series since he claimed his second straight series championship in 1999, will drive Joe Nemechek's No. 87 Cellular One Chevrolet in Saturday's CARQUEST Auto Parts 300 at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. will drive the No. 87 Cellular One Chevrolet on Saturday.
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Nemechek's NEMCO Motorsports team made the announcement Wednesday evening, eight days after Nemechek suffered a fractured right scapula, right elbow and bruised lungs in a crash during a test session at Dover (Del.) Downs International Speedway.
On Monday, Andy Petree Racing announced that Bobby Hamilton Jr., who had replaced Nemechek in the Winston Open special event last weekend at Lowe's, would drive in relief of the Lakeland, Fla., native in the No. 33 Oakwood Homes Chevrolet in Sunday's NASCAR Winston Cup Coca-Cola 600.
Nemechek, who said Wednesday he would continue to evaluate his status on a race-to-race basis, said he and crew chief Brian Pattie came to a quick decision as to whom they wanted in the seat of their car.
"This is a big race for us," Nemechek said. "We tested there (Lowe's Motor Speedway) a couple of weeks ago and had an extremely fast racecar. It would be a shame not to have anybody racing that thing at Charlotte. Brian and I talked about it and Dale Jr. was the name that came up. We gave him a call and he said he'd like to do it."
Following his father's death on the last lap of the season-opening Daytona 500, Earnhardt Jr. has struggled to keep his Winston Cup Budweiser Chevrolet pointed in the right direction. He has improved of late and has moved to 10th in the point standings, with two top-five and five top-10 finishes, including three top-eight finishes in a row coming into the 600.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. has 13 career Busch Series victories.
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Ironically in his last race in the Busch Series, the 1999 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Earnhardt Jr. -- who had clinched the title by starting the previous race at Rockingham -- finished second to Nemechek.
"I won two championships in the two years I was in the Busch Series and I enjoyed my time there," Earnhardt Jr. said during a visit to the NEMCO Motorsports race shop. "I raced against Joe in those two years and it seemed like every race he was in, most of the time it came down to me and him. It was pretty awesome -- we had some good races.
"I've always admired Brian as far as a crew chief. I think he's really talented and I think having the chance to work with him is the motivation behind it."
Heading back to his home track in his first attempt with a different team, Earnhardt Jr. says he's intrigued by the opportunity. Driving for his father's team, he finished second and fifth in his two starts at the 1.5-mile Lowe's oval in 1999 and was 30th and third in 1998, when he won his first title.
"Driving for Joe ... I never drove for anybody else, I've always driven for my dad so this is kind of a neat deal," he said. "We haven't even discussed the particulars. I just appreciate the opportunity and think it'll be pretty interesting to see if I can get out there and do good."
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Joe Nemechek is still recuperating from injuries suffered in during testing at Dover Downs.
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According to Nemechek, he has no doubts about the potential for Saturday or the abilities of his replacement.
"He's won two championships, he's run good at Charlotte before and I think he really wants to do it just because he likes to get out there and run," Nemechek said. "We're going to give him the best possible car we can and I think he's got a great shot at the win."
Nemechek started the NEMCO Motorsports operation in 1990. He competed in the Busch Series for five seasons, capturing the series championship in 1992. Since graduating to the Winston Cup Series in 1994, Nemechek continues to compete on a limited schedule in select Busch Series events.
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