With move coming, Earnhardt hungry to finish season strong

DALLAS - Lame-duck drivers aren't usually happy swimming in their current ponds. They want to get out as soon as possible.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the biggest duck in the Nextel Cup Series, but his decision to leave Dale Earnhardt Inc. for Hendrick Motorsports could actually help him finish this season flying high.

If he does, he'll avoid the fate of two other lame-duck drivers during the last two seasons.

Kurt Busch didn't even finish the 2005 season with Roush Racing before leaving to replace Rusty Wallace in the No. 2 car at Penske Racing. Jack Roush suspended Busch for the final two races after Busch was pulled over by Phoenix police for reckless driving.

Brian Vickers announced in June 2006 that he was leaving Hendrick to drive a Toyota for Team Red Bull this year.

A few months later, Vickers got his first Cup win after starting a crash that took out teammate Jimmie Johnson, who was second at the time, and Earnhardt, who was leading.

Johnson's crew chief, Chad Knaus, declared afterward that Vickers had "run out of talent." Even before the wreck, Vickers had been barred from team meetings because of his impending departure.

Why can Earnhardt be different? How can he avoid similar issues?

For starters, Earnhardt doesn't have any more distractions. He agonized over leaving DEI, the company that his father built, and was emotionally spent when he announced his decision to move on. Then he had to decide where he would drive in 2008. He had to deal with questions about what team was the best fit and which organization could give him the best chance to win a championship.

After wisely choosing Hendrick, Earnhardt can relax and focus on driving and winning.

Earnhardt showed how good he felt with a fifth-place finish Sunday at Michigan only days after his announcement. His DEI teammate, Martin Truex Jr., was second.

"I'm in such a better mood," Earnhardt told reporters afterward. "I got a lot of stuff off my back and off my shoulders, and, man, you know this was just a great day. To run like we ran, that's all I can ask for."

Though he said he was looking forward to next season, Earnhardt said he's focused on the current campaign with DEI.

"I want to finish great, and I want to win races because these guys deserve it,'' he said.

That's a man relieved and at peace. Earnhardt appears hungry to finish the season strong.

A desire to do the best he can for his crew is likely to keep Earnhardt motivated.

He has a close relationship with Tony Eury Jr., who could join his new team next season, and has been quick to support his crew even when it struggles.

Earnhardt has run well enough to climb to 12th despite a 100-point deduction and the suspension of Eury until the July 7 Pepsi 400. Both penalties resulted from illegal modifications to the No. 8 car at Darlington in May.

Earnhardt felt for his long-term success that he had to chase championships with a more established team. But no one said he can't contend before he departs DEI. It's obviously a long shot, but part of the excitement of the Chase is that any of the 12 drivers who qualify can win it.

So don't expect any waddling from this lame duck. Look for Earnhardt to leave his pond with a wave of momentum.

Kubica expected to return for next F1 race

Robert Kubica, who missed Sunday's U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis after a bad crash, is expected to return to the Formula One circuit in two weeks.

The crash at the June 10 Canadian Grand Prix left Kubica with a concussion and a sprained ankle. Backup driver Sebastien Vettel drove for Kubica in Indianapolis and finished seventh for BMW Sauber.

Kubica is expected to be back for the next F1 race, the French Grand Prix on July 1.

Hornish second in ARCA race at Michigan Sam Hornish, who won the IndyCar Series' Bombardier Learjet 550k at Texas Motor Speedway this month, was second in the ARCA race at Michigan International Speedway last weekend. Hornish is working in stock car events around his IndyCar schedule and might get the chance to join Penske Racing's Nextel Cup team as a third driver in a few years.

Racer from Highland Park hurt in accident

Will Gruy, a Highland Park graduate racing motorcycles in Europe, was injured last week while riding his street bike near Civitavecchia, Italy, 50 miles northwest of Rome.

Gruy avoided colliding with a car at an intersection and hit the ground, suffering a compound fracture of the pelvis that required surgery, his team said in a news release. Gruy hopes to be healthy enough to compete in the Suzuka 8 Hour Japanese round of the World Endurance Championship on July 19.

Rockingham track to be sold at auction

Speedway Motorsports Inc., which owns North Carolina Motor Speedway in Rockingham, says the 42-year-old track is no longer profitable and will be sold at auction, The Associated Press reported.

Rockingham Mayor Gene McLaurin said the community has been concerned about the track's fate since 2004, when the lone Nextel Cup race at "The Rock" was moved to Texas Motor Speedway.

"We regret we have to make this decision but we really have no other choice," according to a June 13 letter from H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe's Motor Speedway, also owned by Speedway Motorsports.

Since 2004, the 1.017-mile oval has been used for NASCAR testing as well as various special events and movies. A fall date is anticipated for the auction.

Briefly . . .

For the first time in decades, motorcycles could be racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway next year.

Track president Joie Chitwood is in negotiations with MotoGP officials over a possible 2008 race at the Brickyard, The Associated Press reported. . . . Driver Ricky Rudd, who is 33rd in the Cup standings, said he isn't sure what he'll do for the 2008 season. "We've had a few good things happen, but we're still struggling trying to get going . . .," Rudd, 50, said on a conference call this week.

Eager substitute

Michael Waltrip had Rick Hendrick do his dirty work. He asked Hendrick to find out if Corpus Christi, Texas, native Terry Labonte would race on the Infineon Raceway road course in Waltrip's No. 55 Toyota Camry. Labonte didn't hesitate to say yes.

The 50-year-old said he has spent time traveling between his home in North Carolina and his ranch in South Texas. His wife, Kim, has asked Labonte if he's bored and wants to go back to racing.

"So I think she's ready for me to get out of the house for a weekend or two, anyway," Labonte said.

Don't expect Labonte to return to the Nextel Cup circuit fulltime, but he's also scheduled to drive the No. 55 in the other 2007 road race _ at Watkins Glen International in August. Labonte was third at Infineon last year driving Hall of Fame Racing's No. 96.

Spotlight on: Toyota/Save Mart 350

TRACK: Infineon Raceway is a 1.99-mile road course. Turns 7 and 11 are key areas for making a move. It's the first road course for the Car of Tomorrow, so drivers must be careful not to damage the front splitter as they negotiate the turns.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Jeff Gordon earned his fifth win at Infineon last season, passing Terry Labonte on Lap 88 (of 110). Labonte was third and Ryan Newman second.

Revvin' up

TOM GIACCHI: The motor home driver for Carl Edwards' No. 99 team finally got to shave his bushy beard after Edwards won last weekend. Giacchi vowed last season not to cut it until Edwards won.

MICHAEL WALTRIP: Can you believe he finished in the top 10? Waltrip, who has made just three races all season, was 10th at Michigan. Maybe he can finally get some momentum.

CASEY MEARS: That's a win and two fourth-place finishes in the last four races. The forgotten Hendrick Motorsports driver is finding his groove.

Cooling down

MATT KENSETH: An early wreck sent Kenseth to a 42nd-place finish last weekend, the only time since the Daytona 500 that he's been lower than 14th.

KASEY KAHNE: He and his team just can't seem to get anything going. He's finished 20th or worse in eight of the last 10 races.

KURT BUSCH: After finishing fifth in Richmond on May 5, Busch hasn't been back in the top 10 in the last five races, finishing 25th or worse three times. Maybe Infineon can get him back near the front.

Fantasy pit stop

The Car of Tomorrow makes its road racing debut at Infineon. But look for the drivers who have excelled there to do so again.

BEST BET: Jeff Gordon. He has five career wins at Infineon. His season is going so well, even his wife's timing is perfect. This week, she delivered their baby early, allowing him to race on Sunday.

SLEEPER: Juan Pablo Montoya. I know things haven't gone his way this season, but he's great on road courses.

HIT THE BRAKES: Kevin Harvick. He was seventh last weekend, but road courses aren't his thing.

Raines gauge

Weekly look at Tony Raines and Hall of Fame Racing, the team owned by former Cowboys QBs Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach.

Two consecutive finishes of 36th or worse have the team falling further from its goal of a top-20 season finish (it's 27th). Veteran road racer Ron Fellows subs for Raines Sunday.