Riding with Junior: Sonoma

Best Radio Chatter

Dale Jr. was easily one of the fastest cars on the track all afternoon - but it often took a lap or two on each restart for the Bud machine to really get to full-speed.

Dale Jr: (during a yellow flag on lap 56 - after holding off eventual winner Montoya on several restarts): "Hell yeah! (to spotter Steve Hmiel): "If you've got Juan's spotter, tell him thanks for being patient with me. He makes me nervous on these restarts."


Hmiel: "I'm with him. You're doing great. And now you've got the 41 car (Reed Sorenson) between you and him for this restart."


Dale Jr: "We're quicker once we get going, but on the restarts he tries really hard to out-brake you in a straight line."

A few laps later, Dale Jr, reiterated his goal of a top-10 finish.

Dale Jr: (proudly) "Write this down - it's past halfway and I'm still in the top-10."

Tony Gibson (interim crew chief): "You're doin' great. You've got a top-two car based on lap times. Once the field spreads out, you can really show the speed."

When many cars pitted on lap 68 under a yellow-flag, Dale Jr. seemed shocked that the teams would gamble on fuel mileage with so many laps remaining:

Dale Jr: (surprised) "God dang!!"

Gibson: "We'll be OK."

Dale Jr: (still shocked) "They obviously think they can make it!"

Gibson: "Well, we can't make it from here - and we're a faster car than all of them. They'll need a ton of cautions to make it."

Today's Stats

Started: 3rd (career-best start at Infineon, matched career-best road course start)
Finished: 13th
Laps Led: --
Points: 12th place (no changes)
Money: $125,808
Best Pit Stop: Stop 2 of 2 / lap 72 / Four tires and fuel / 13.12 seconds