Holly Dale Jr pic

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had an incredible season in 2004. Ten years later and much disappointment in between, some wonder if he can bank another win at Pocono Raceway this weekend in the GoBowling.com 400.

Possible? Yes.

Likely? Maybe.

Earnhardt Jr.’s stats since his win at the Pocono 400 in June have been decent.

But that’s it – decent.

Maybe I am too hard on him, but since his last visit to the Pocono Mountains, he has finished seventh at Michigan, third at Sonoma, fifth at Kentucky, 14th at Daytona, 10th at New Hampshire, and ninth in the Brickyard 400 at Indy last week.

As far as his stats at Pocono alone, they seem to be all over the place until 2011. Since then, he had all top 10 places with only one 32nd place finish in August of 2012. He may not have always liked Pocono, but he has indeed developed an appreciation for it since.

Earnhardt Jr. also excels at flat tracks. It is yet another benefit to a potential top finish.

Since his ninth place finish last week at the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis, Indiana, he is currently in second place in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Points Standings, a mere 24 points behind the leader, Jeff Gordon.

It CAN happen. It’s just going to be time before we find out if it does.