Dale Jr has never won a Cup race at Darlington

Dale Earnhardt Jr has never been to Victory Lane at Darlington – a fact he’s looking to change Saturday night.

He’e led 135 laps around the speedway – just never the last one. Dale Earnhardt Jr has posted two top 5 finishes at Darlington, and six top 10s.

After posting strong runs nearly every race so far this year Junior stands a strong chance of winning Saturday night – especially now that he’s teamed with Rick Hendrick, who has 12 wins at the South Carloina speedway.

Dale Jr on Trackside

Be sure to tune in to Trackside Live on SPEED Friday night at 10 pm. Dale Earnhardt Jr is making a guest appearance with host Darrell Waltrip – and Junior’s special paint scheme is sure to come up. "Dale Jr. has always been one to look back and honor the history of NASCAR,” said Waltrip. “For him to want to run my old Mountain Dew paint scheme at Darlington means a lot. It might not mean a thing to anyone else, but to me it means the world."

Old School No. 88

Dale Jr is driving a retro styled Mountain Dew paint scheme on the No. 88 this weekend – just like the one Darrell Waltrip drove to back to back championships in 1981 and 1982. Waltrip won 24 races during that time – including the 1981 spring race at Darlington. That’s a feat Earnhardt is looking to duplicate this time around.

Dale Jr will be introducing Amp Energy’s “Old School New School” promotion as part of the festivities surrounding the retro paint scheme. Fans will have a chance to win a Corvette – either a 2009 or a vintage one – winner’s choice.

Besides having history on his side, Junior also has a fast car – it’s the same one he finished 3rd with at Atlanta earlier this year. Hendrick Motorsports Chassis No. 88-443 is the one chosen by crew chief Tony Eury Jr for this race.

Dale Jr seemed pumped about the vintage paint scheme. "I think the Mountain Dew retro paint scheme is very fitting for the history at Darlington,” Earnhardt said.

“The car itself is an old paint scheme on a new car, and we've got an old racetrack with a new surface. It's going to be very interesting. It's going to be fun to see how to get around that track and where the fast grooves are -- where to find the grip and speed. It's a real good-looking race car so I can't wait to get some good photos, old school type photos, when I get out there."


Eury's Take

Tony Eury Jr thinks the vintage paint scheme will work for Earnhardt. "Junior is real old school. He loves old stuff. And I do, too,” said Eury.” I admire the people that have put the sport out there for us. Probably one of my biggest heroes in the garage is Leonard Wood. He's a very intelligent man. I talk to him at least twice a weekend. Those guys, the experiences that they've had, the things that they've done in the past. It's overwhelming. With so little, they've done so much. Me and Dale Jr. talk a lot about it.”

Darlington Raceway is ready for Earnhardt and the rest of the Sprint Cup drivers. The 50 year old track has new pavement on the racing surface and newly installed SAFER barriers. A new turn 3 tunnel also provides easier access for fans and safety vehicles alike.

Race Facts

The Race: Dodge Challenger 500
The Place: Darlington Raceway
The Date: Saturday, May 10
The Time: 7:20 p.m. (ET)
The Track: 1.366-mile oval
The Distance: 501 miles/367 laps
TV: FOX, 7 p.m. (ET)
Radio: MRN, SIRIUS Satellite Radio
2007 Winner: Jeff Gordon
2007 Polesitter: Clint Bowyer