A second straight Daytona 500 victory is looking obtainable for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who has been strong throughout Daytona Speedweeks.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A constant throughout the 2015 edition of Speedweeks has been Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 car positioned at the front leading a train of cars around Daytona International Speedway.
In Saturday's exhibition Sprint Unlimited, Earnhardt led 13 laps, only finishing seventh because trash on his grille required an unscheduled pit stop. During Thursday's Budweiser Duel, Earnhardt led 21 laps, including the final 18, en route to victory.
Making the feats all the more impressive in both instances Earnhardt started from the very back and wasted little time moving up the leaderboard. In both races, the No. 88 Chevrolet was in the top-10 within laps and in the lead shortly thereafter.
Although different cars were used in each event, Earnhardt's performance has him viewed as the prohibitive favorite to win Sunday's Daytona 500, a race he won a year ago.
"I'm just excited to be able to put this car on the grid for Sunday," Earnhardt said. "I wouldn't want to be driving anything else. The car's so spectacular; it's just going to be great. A proud moment to put it on the grid because I think it's such a good racecar.
"When you're able to kind of show the field, show your competitors that you got some speed, they can be confident if they get with you they're going somewhere."
What's stood out besides just Earnhardt's ability to quickly maneuver through traffic is how when he got out front, he was able to maintain a hold on the lead. Particularly in the duel, Earnhardt deftly controlled both lanes of the draft. Whenever one line of drivers built a head of steam, the No. 88 car would dart across to stunt the momentum.
The ability to stay in front and slide up-and-down between the two grooves without incident is a testament to spotter T.J. Majors, who Earnhardt says is instrumental in managing the draft. Majors' feedback is so comprehensive Earnhardt will go laps on end without having to look in his rearview mirror.
"He's so good," said Earnhardt of Majors. "I can almost see the image in my mind what's happening behind me because of how good T.J. is at describing it. He can see things sort of forming and understand this lane's going to be coming, give me that information. So I'm ready before it's happening. I'm not making a nasty block late in the game. I'm actually preemptive and moving in front of the line that's going to be coming. I'm not really blocking these guys -- I just hop in front of them, I get a shove and keep my momentum going."
The most impressive move of the night saw Earnhardt, running second, stalk leader Matt Kenseth, who won the Sprint Unlimited, waiting for the optimum moment to pass. That came on Lap 43 when Earnhardt powered by Kenseth, grabbing a lead he wouldn't relinquish.
"Junior did a great job getting runs with (Jeff Gordon) and he had a couple real powerful runs there and he was smart enough and patient enough to bide his time until he got me in the spot he wanted me in and then got by me," Kenseth said.
Earnhardt's victory was followed by Jimmie Johnson taking Duel No. 2, giving Hendrick Motorsports a sweep of the Daytona qualifiers. Gordon, Johnson and Earnhardt will start 1-2-3 on Sunday.
"As a group we probably would admit that the four house Hendrick cars are the four best cars here," said Kyle Busch, who finished second to Johnson. "It's going to be hard to beat them. You have to have everything go the right way. You have to have the right pushers behind you and make a slingshot move behind them. You better do it fast enough so they can't block you."
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