Why Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s 2014 Sprint Cup Success Is Guaranteed to Continue

A year ago, or even a month ago, another second-place finish by Dale Earnhardt Jr. in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series would have opened the driver up to scorn, skepticism and maybe even a little ridicule. It's amazing what winning the Daytona 500 and a new Chase for the Sprint Cup qualifying format can do for someone. With the season-opening 500 victory still in his pocket and fresh in everyone's minds, Earnhardt's second-place run in the Kobalt 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, while disappointing and frustrating on one level in the way it occurred, is no cause for alarm. In fact, it's just the opposite. In gambling on fuel, Earnhardt and crew chief Steve Letarte did exactly what they should have done. Because while they...

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