Dale Earnhardt Jr. Versus Kasey Kahne - What If?

January 27, 2008

By Kim Roberson

Kim Roberson

T-minus three weeks and counting until the start of another year of NASCAR racing. Racing is underway this weekend at Daytona as the Rolex DP and GT cars have been making their way around the road course since just before 2 yesterday afternoon. The field includes several NASCAR drivers, including Jimmie Johnson and Juan Pablo Montoya, who was on the winning team last year. Next weekend is the last weekend off before the 2008 Sprint Cup season (I am still having to think about that new title when I talk about it) kicks off.

Already people are trying to figure out what the storyline is going to be for this year’s race. It is going to be tough to top the last turn of the last lap surge of Kevin Harvick to pass Mark Martin and win by a nose at the line as cars were crashing across the track behind them. Will it be Tony Stewart, not only getting his first 500 win, but Toyota’s first Cup win at the same time? Will Dale Earnhardt Jr. get his first win with Hendrick Motorsports?

The most entertaining thoughts seem to focus on “What happens if it comes down to the 88 and 9 cars at the line?” If it comes down to Junior in the Amp car and Kasey Kahne in the newly christened Bud 9 Dodge…what will the end result be, both on the track and in the stands?

• “It would rock the boards for the rest of the season if the Amp car dumped the Bud car in turn 4. I think the announcers would have a hard time being heard!”

• “I'm not sure if Kahne would make it to his hauler if the Bud car dumped the Amp car.... but that too would rock the boards for the rest of the season.”

• “How bout they come off 4 side by side, Jr. ahead by a nose...And Kasey uses the side draft to surge ahead and nip him at the line like Harvick last year. I would definitely have to take that following Monday off.”

• “The (Junior) Nation has been practicing with the Amp tallboys. Those suckers can sail when half full! Works well with Bud tallboys too.”

• “Any bets on Bud cans being thrown at the #9 car?”

Already, people are trying to figure out not only who will make the 500, but who will win, and how the top 35 will be stacked come race #6, and will Jimmie Johnsons be able to make it three in a row at the end of the 2008 season.

All of that said, I heard an interesting quote from Jimmie’s boss this week that put this season ahead in perspective.

“When we go to Daytona, it doesn’t matter where we finished last year. Right now, we are all tied for last place.” Rick Hendrick said during an interview this week.

And he is right. No matter who does what at Daytona over the next three weeks, this is a new season. Jimmie Johnson is the returning Champion, and Dale Junior is still the most popular driver in NASCAR. Tony Stewart is one of the new faces of Toyota and Kurt Busch has no points because his teammate, Sam Hornish, has taken them all. However, when these men hit the track three weeks from today, they will all be on equal footing. At least until the checkered flag falls. And until that time, the possibilities are endless.

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    Read other articles by Kim Roberson

The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN.

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