Earnhardt Needs to Push a Little More

To qualify for the Nextel Cup, NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. needs to exert a little more effort this Saturday night.

"I'm not the type that's going to make up something that's unrealistic," Earnhardt said. "If we make the Chase, great. But we know it's the longest of long shots. If we don't make it, I'll be sad for our fans and sponsors because they've been great to me all year even with everything that's happened. I want them to know that no matter what, I and the team are giving everything we've got. We're not going to lose focus or give up or pack it in."

Earnhardt does not have to win the race, yet he needs to come close. He cannot finish any worse than fifth with his 128 points behind Kevin Harvick, who is in the 12^th spot. Earnhardt will also need to be the top finisher in all laps and have Harvick finish last.

I agree with the take of former champion and now television analyst Rusty Wallace on Earnhardt�s fate in the race: �(Earnhardt) can make it in the race if Harvick and [Busch] blow an engine and Junior has the race of his life. It�s not possible."

Knowing that the odds are against him, Earnhardt is gathering his guts. His two consecutive fifth-place finishes are not adequate to make up for the errors that made his team Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) far behind the others.