Rick Minter's OBSERVATIONS

Earnhardt Jr. to make 300th start

EARNHARDT JR. Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s 300th career Sprint Cup start couldn't come at a more appropriate place. He'll reach that milestone on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, the track where he has enjoyed the most success and the place where he has arguably his largest following.

Five of Earnhardt Jr.'s 17 Cup victories have come at the Alabama track, where the colors in the grandstands typically reflect those on Earnhardt Jr.'s cars.

Sunday's Aaron's 499 will mark Earnhardt Jr.'s first run at Talladega in a Hendrick Motorsports' No. 88 Chevrolet, which could mean some drastic changes in attire for the Earnhardt Jr. Nation. Earnhardt Jr. hasn't won since switching to Hendrick, but that might change this week. Hendrick drivers have won the past four races at Talladega.

"This facility is a special place for both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and all of his fans," Talladega Superspeedway President Rick Humphrey said in a statement. "I'm sure Junior Nation would be thrilled if Talladega could be the site of Dale's first victory with Hendrick Motorsports."

Business opportunities

Dale Earnhardt Jr. used the recent Sprint Cup off-week to open his new Whisky River bar in Charlotte, N.C.

During a session with reporters, Earnhardt Jr. was asked whether his off-track ventures might affect his concentration on racing matters. He responded by saying he has hired others to deal with possible distractions.

"There's a stigma about how drivers can't do anything," he told the reporters during the session.

"They have to focus on this, that and the other. Anytime you do anything or want to do anything or talk about anything, people want to question your focus or whatever," he said.

"I wouldn't have this bar if it wasn't for [long-time Earnhardt Jr. publicist J.R. Rhodes]. He was a bartender back in Daytona."

Besides, Earnhardt Jr. said, he needs to have businesses in place so the income will keep rolling in once his racing days are done.

"If I'm going to race until I'm 50, I don't want to push my luck," he said. "But I'd like to think I'm going to live until a pretty old age. It'd be nice to have some other things going on, some other things I'm involved in. I'm sort of lining those things up. Some of those things might be gone by then, but maybe there'll be one that's sticking around and is still profitable.

"Hopefully that's the case."

The clamor for test sessions

Texas Motor Speedway President Eddie Gossage seems to be saying, "Hey, what about me?" after his fellow track president H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler convinced NASCAR to hold a two-day test session at his track, Lowe's Motor Speedway, in advance of next month's races. The request came after less-than-exciting races at intermediate tracks in Atlanta and Texas with the new Car of Tomorrow.

"Although I am disappointed that NASCAR did not react in time for a test session we proposed prior to the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, I have to applaud them for finally listening to the teams and the tracks about this growing situation," Gossage said in a statement.

"I am hopeful that the additional testing will give teams a better handle on the setups and ultimately lead to a better quality of racing for the fans."

Gossage said he has received letters and emails from fans complaining about the quality of his recent race.

"We will continue to push NASCAR for a test session here prior to the Dickies 500 in November because we need to provide these fans with a great show. We need to win them back with the racing NASCAR and Texas Motor Speedway are known for."