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SPORTS Saturday, February 20, 2016 East Oregonian Page 5B Motorsports Earnhardt hoping to drive ‘Amelia’ back to victory lane By JENNA FRYER AP Auto Racing Writer (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) Dale Earnhardt Jr prepares to climb into his car during practice for the NA- SCAR Daytona 500 on Friday. name it,’ and we were thinking of a woman who has accomplished something that was an awesome -Daytona International person that was something we Speeday (Daytona Beach) could be proud of,” Earnhardt -Sunday, 10 a.m. said. “Amelia Earhart was the -TV: FOX ¿UVWWKLQJWKDWFDPHWRP\PLQG She must have been the most his win. “When you have a car GDULQJ6KHVRUWRI¿WVWKDWPROG that you know can do the things of the courage and determination that this car can do, you’re willing that you need as a race car driver. to take those gambles and risks to She must have had that and more pull out and pass. It’s just a fun car to be able to do the things she did to drive. Really special car.” in her lifetime.” When Rick Hendrick leaned So it’s the car that gives into the window after Earnhardt’s (DUQKDUGW WKH FRQ¿GHQFH WR latest victory, the driver urged make the moves he did Thursday his team owner to keep track of night while winning for the 17th Amelia and consider putting her time at Daytona. The victory on display in his museum. came on the 15th anniversary of )RU QRZ KH¶V MXVW ¿QH LI KH his father’s death. Although he says goodbye to her Sunday. daydreamed about winning to Daytona International Speedway honor his father, he really just displays the winning car for a didn’t want to embarrass himself year, and teams gladly exchange with a poor showing. them for the trophy. Earnhardt, There was no chance of that a two-time 500 winner, decided happening as he dominated chassis No. 88-872 needed a by leading 43 of the 60 laps name when crew chief Greg Ives Saturday and passing Denny declined to retire the car. Hamlin, winner of last week’s “The fact that we’re going to exhibition race, with ease to keep running it, I said, ‘We gotta claim the victory. Daytona 500 DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Her name is Amelia, and boy, can VKHÀ\ She’ll be forever treasured by Dale Earnhardt Jr., even though he wants nothing more than to give her away Sunday. Amelia Earhart is the nick- name of the sleek and superfast Chevrolet that Earnhardt drove to three wins last season. The car QHYHU¿QLVKHGORZHUWKDQWKLUGLQ ¿YHUDFHVDQG(DUQKDUGWFRXOGQ¶W ¿QGDUHDVRQWRNHHSKHURXWRI the upcoming Daytona 500. The decision was easy. Instead RIEXLOGLQJDQHZFDUVSHFL¿FDOO\ for the “The Great American Race” — what most teams do every offseason — Earnhardt opted to give Amelia another shot at getting to victory lane. She delivered Thursday night when Earnhardt won a 150-mile qualifying race to up her record to four wins in six starts over the last 13 months. “The car really does everything I ask it to do,” Earnhardt said after From tractor to track: Robert Richardson the surprise of Daytona 500 WKH'D\WRQD¿HOG “This is my only oppor- tunity to race this year,” DAYTONA BEACH, Richardson said. “This is my Fla. — Robert Richardson opportunity to get my racing Jr. is ready to make hay at the ¿[LQIRUWKHVHDVRQ´ Richardson should be Daytona 500. The Texas driver only got used to waiting for a turn that the call two weeks ago from might never come: the burly, BK Racing to attempt the 33 year old spent the 2001 “The Great American Race.” season at SMU as a backup With a newborn son at home, quarterback. Can he throw one more Richardson took a break from his full-time job at a ranch Hail Mary and pull off Dayto- and will try and mow down a na’s wildest upset? Starting 40th, probably GLIIHUHQWNLQGRI¿HOG Richardson raced his way not. But for Richardson, who into the Daytona 500, one more driver with a chance had more than 100 congrat- to win for NASCAR’S most ulatory text messages, just earning a ride in the No. 26 eclectic team. BK Racing has more Toyota was a victory. Only two spots were up cars in NASCAR’s marquee race than Roger Penske and for grabs in the 500 — one Chip Ganassi, and the same in each qualifying race. number as Rick Hendrick and Michael McDowell earned WKHVSRWLQWKH¿UVWUDFHZKLOH Joe Gibbs. Richardson, David Ragan, 5LFKDUGVRQ VHFXUHG WKH ¿QDO Matt DiBenedetto and transfer spot on Thursday. Not bad for Richardson, two-time Daytona 500 cham- pion Michael Waltrip have who has only eight career helped BK Racing somehow Sprint Cup starts and none EHDWWKHRGGVDQG¿OODWKRI since 2009. By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer Toyota next weekend at Atlanta. BK Racing made its Sprint Cup debut in 2012 out of the ashes of Red Bull Racing. Ragan, with two career Cup victories, joined the team once Michael Waltrip Racing folded. DiBenedetto made 33 starts and posted an average ¿QLVK RI QG LQ KLV URRNLH 2015 season for BK Racing. “Whether this is my last race or not,” Richardson said, “this is a good way to go out.” :DOWULS VROG KLV ÀHHW RI (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) cars and chassis shops to BK Robert Richardson Jr, left, signs autographs for fans af- Racing. ter practice for Sunday’s NASCAR Daytona 500 in Day- “We’re not afraid to run tona Beach, Fla., on Friday. ‘em and race ‘em and wreck “Man, that’s better than available from NASCAR that em,” BK Racing President winning the lottery right JXDUDQWHHG VSRWV LQ WKH ¿HOG Ron Devine said Friday. there,” said Richardson, who each race. He’s also not afraid to go added that every dollar he DiBenedetto had one of against the grain and pluck a earns this weekend will go the spots. But BK Racing farmer out of obscurity for a into a college fund for his was able to snag Daytona vet Daytona ride. newborn son. Richardson Waltrip for one race, forcing Richardson drove the No. manages hay production as DiBenedetto to qualify as 23 back in previous stints in his full-time job at a ranch in an open car. In exchange, &XSDQG;¿QLW\+HDOVRKDG Pilot Point, Texas. DiBenedetto got to run with a sponsor in Stalk It, which BK Racing held a pair of a Toyota engine instead of a makes goods out of cornstalk. winning tickets when it was Triad engine. DiBenedetto Stalk It wanted back in granted two of the 36 charters will return to the No. 83 racing and reached out to BK about putting Richardson in the 23. Ragan drives the No. 23 this year, but a deal was struck to bring Richardson into the fold for one race. “I was skeptical about it,” said Devine, who once owned as many as 26 Burger King franchises before he sold them last May. “We were a pretty good three-car team. To have four cars was a bit much.” Four proved the magic number at Daytona. “I sat on my balcony on the beach at 2:30 in the morning trying to keep up with texts,” Devine said. “I was just in disbelief that it was going on.” Devine said he’d like his cars to run inside the top 30 this season and become more competitive in the years ahead. BK Racing could run three cars in six to eight races this season. So, who knows? Rich- ardson might have another shot at a feel-good ride this VHDVRQ%XWLIWKLVLVWKH¿QDO straw of his racing career, he’s at peace. CLASSIFIED M ARK ETPL A C E Pla ce cla ssified a d s on lin e a t w w w.ea storeg on m a rketp la ce.com or ca ll 5 4 1-278-26 78 C O N TAC T US EDITIO N S DEADLIN ES 24 HO UR S ERVIC E 211 S.E. Byers Pen d leto n , O rego n 97801 Cla ssified : 1-800-962-2819 Fa x: (541) 278-2680 Cla ssified em a il: cla ssified s@ ea sto rego n ia n .co m M o n d a y O n lin e Tu esd a y W ed n esd a y Thu rsd a y Frid a y Sa tu rd a y 2 p.m . 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