He has also been forced to keep a stiff upper lip during the entire ordeal that has seen his family suffer. Through it all he has been the perfect son, saying the right things, acting the right way. But it's when he is alone, that's when he remembers his dad most. I knew it was his birthday, but until the race is over you put everything else out of your mind. It has not been easy for Earnhardt to do that.
Every race is a new city with new reporters asking the same old questions.
And instead of talking about his big rookie year last season, or his moving into 10th place in the points standings after Sunday's finish, there was somebody there to ask him about his dad. So it comes as no surprise that Earnhardt says he is most comfortable inside his race car, where he only has to worry about driving. There was plenty for Earnhardt to focus on and worry about this weekend. While his ride ended with a flurry, as he raced from his starting spot of 38th to the front of the field, the weekend was far from perfect. First there was the crash during practice Friday, which forced him into his back-up car for qualifying.