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Show The Salt Lake Tribune AUTO RACINGFriday, May28, 1999 The Son Also Ris : ‘Little E’ Qualifies for 1st Winston Cup Race, Coca-Cola 600 BY BILL FLEISCHMAN comfortable racing with me. They don’t want you out there making a tor, was a prominentracerin the upon us. youtobe difficult to be around on the race track.” 1950s and '60s whenthere wasn't as much national attention on NASCAR. first Winston Cuprace faster pace of Winston Cup racing, Earnhardt replied, “I wish I KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS PHILADELPHIA — “E Day” is Dale Earnhardt Jr., nicknamed “Little E qualified for his . The “Rising Son” of the seven- lot of mistakes. They don’t want Asked howhe will handle the time Winston Cup championwill could talk intelligently about it, start eighth in Sunday yet. I'm yet to be surprised. Hopefully, it ain't too big an adjust- night's Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, near Charlotte, N.C. Earnhardt qualified the bright red No. 8 Budweiser Chevrolet at an impressive 184.407 mph Wednesdaynight Bobby La- but I haven't experienced that ment. His goal for Sundaynight is to stay on the lead lap and have good green-flag pit stops.” Dale Jarrett, whose father, bonte, in the Interstate Batteries Ned, was a two-time Winston Cup champion, has established his ownidentity. However, Ned Jar- Pontiac, won the pole posi rett, nowa television commenta- If you're successful, it’s pos- sible [to have your own identity], but if you're no sful, very difficult,’ Earnhardt said “If you go about everything one day at a time, andrace anddo the best youcan, creating your own identitywill take care of itself “I'm always going to be an Earnhardt. I sure want people to know that, as much as I love my dad, we have differences.” We don’t like the same kind of music There's a lot of other things, too. “Lf | end up doing pretty well at this and being a successful race- car driver, people are going to find these things out, and that will be cool. They'll be surprised at some things, and interested.” Earnhardtsaid he likes a variety of music, from alternative rock to soul and rap. He's also an Elvis Presleyfan. try,’ Dad, he just listens to counEarnhardt said. “He needs to spread outa little more. “Little E’s” mother is Dale Sr.’s first wife, Brenda Jackson. They were divorced when Dale Jr. was 2. He said she tries to attend as manyof his races as she can. “She works at a packaging company in Norfolk [Va.],” he said. It's difficult for her to get off work lot.” Duringlast Sunday's Grand Na- the top starting spot Thursday for tional race at Nazareth, Earnhardt and Todd Bodine had a run- the Auto Parts 300 fast lap of 17 Motor Speedway things to think about than Bo- win the 19th pole of his Grand Na- tional career but his first since dine’s temperature. ‘I ain't got time to get in no feud with no race-car driver,” Earnhardt said. “You're going to have disagreements. Some disagreements are bigger than oth- “This pole probably stands out as one of the sweetest and most memorable because this is the first here at Charlotte,” said Green, who had never started ers.” higher than third on the 142-mile, high-banked oval. His best finish QO GREEN WINS POLE CONCORD, N.C. Carquest NASCARBusch Grand National in, literally. Bodine, upset that Earnhardt had passed him under a caution flag, bumped Earnhardt’s car. Earnhardt made it clear he has more important at Charlotte was a 16th in 1993. Defending champion Mark — David Green ended a nearly three-year Marywas second Thursday with drought without a pole by winning tion with a Farnhardt, 24, is carrying the family name and the high expecta- Dale Earnhardt Jr. tions that he generatedlast year by winning the Busch Grand Na tional championship as a rookie He worries about letling down his father and everyone who has helped get him to wherehe is. Liverybody probably has that feeling in the back of their mind E’VE GOT YOU TRIPLE COVERED. when they're ready to do something of big importancethat they really care about,” Earnhardt said. “Without a small amount of fear of failure, there'd have to be something wrong with you If you want to driverace cars for aliving, you havetotake the chance. This is an iceberg comparedto next year. Karnhardt also is scheduled for Winston Cup races at Michigan Whatever the job, Toro has a tractor with your nameonit. Mow,till or plow year-round withour line-up of highperformancetractors. 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He thinks the combinationof the drivers familiarity with him and his suc cessful Grand National season will help Winston Cupdrivers to accept him “1 don't think I'll haveas big a * Addcart, snowhlade or bugger WA110) Whee! Horse. ons Fuk: wens Whenyou wantit doneright. www.toro.com J © 1908 The for Compary 185.230 mph clocking Mid idvale s. POWER EQUIPMENT 7235S900 wall to climb to get accepted [as other rookies}, especially withthe success we'vehadinthe Busch series,” Earnhardt said. “Hopefully, these guys will be a lot more SEV RUSaE Seas TWO PHONES. EY & REPAIRS FAMILY CONNECTION CALLING PLAN I Shared Minutes 2 Lines of Servier 2 FREE Phones Tao 1 Low Prive we Family Connection Plan today and share 100 anytime minutes on two separatelines of service for $29.95 per month on one bill. You also get two free phones. And it’s all backed by thesix point AirTouch promiseto help you live life on your own terms. Get two FREEphones. 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