Earnhardt ready for Daytona
As the crowd rises and the green flag drops in Daytona for the first
event of the 2011 season, Jeffrey Earnhardt will start a 25 race
campaign to becoming Rookie of the Year in the NASCAR Camping World
Truck Series, driving the Fuel Doctor #1 Chevy for Rick Ware Racing.
“There’s no doubt the kid has talent, and there’s also no doubt he will
have to earn Rookie-of-the-Year. There’s six to eight drivers vying for
the same spot, and they are all bringing a ton of talent. I’m proud
to have Fuel Doctor on board. Their support gives Jeffrey a fighting
chance,” owner Rick Ware explained.
While the other rookie candidates certainly bring talent, none of them
come with the name recognition of Earnhardt, for better or worse.
“The name Earnhardt is a double edged sword. It’s a blessing from a
marketing standpoint, but without a doubt, the NASCAR fan base has
higher expectations for Jeffrey than any other rookie. We certainly
can’t shield him from this pressure, but we are taking measures to focus
his mind on the important tasks at hand,” Ware said.
One thing is for sure, Earnhardt shouldn’t have any rust buildup from an
off-season of inactivity. After participating in three separate tests
throughout the months of December and January, Earnhardt competed in the
Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in a Fuel Doctor Porsche GT with Rick Ware
Racing.
Earnhardt and his crew finished 11th in the GT Class and 25th overall in
their first attempt at the famed Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.
Earnhardt took the wheel for several stints including a grueling double
at night in the thick fog as well as the final leg of the event.
“The 24 Hours race was an excellent stepping stone for Jeffrey. He
gained a huge amount of road coarse experience, something valuable at
this stage in his career, and he had hours-upon-hours of wheel time that
has kept him sharp. Jeffrey’s bringing talent, and he’s well prepared to
fight for the Rookie of the Year title,” Ware stated.
The first race of the NACAR Camping World Truck season, the NextEra
Energy Resources 250, can be seen live on Speed from the Daytona
International Speedway in Florida on Friday, February, 18 at 8:00 p.m.
EST.
-source: rick ware racing
