Full schedule for Earnhardt and JR Motorsports

Dale Earnhardt Jr. smiles last week at Texas.
Credit: Debbie Ross for Skirts and Scuffs

Dale Earnhardt Jr. started in 28th spot for the Texas race last Saturday, but he moved ahead of the line until he led one lap of the race.

Although he finished ninth, he moved two spots to 6th place in the Chase for the Championship. Earnhardt Jr. has proved that consistency moves you ahead in racing.

All eyes are on Steve Letarte, his crew chief. The communication between the two is phenomenal as it is with his spotter, TJ Majors. The three men work together to bring in high points.

This weekend is another great track for the Earnhardt family. Dale Earnhardt won 10 times at Talladega and Junior is right behind him as the second-best driver in Talladega. He has finished in the top ten 11 times, eight of those being in the top five and five of those being in first place; four of them were consecutive wins. In the last 10 races, Earnhardt Jr. led laps and in his 22 Cup starts, he’s led 20 times. He’s known to dominate at restrictor plate racing. He won one race at Talladega as a Nationwide driver.

Earnhardt Jr. will be reuniting with his cousin and former crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., for this Saturday's Aaron's 312 Nationwide race in the No. 7 Suave Men's car for JR Motorsports. For the Sprint Cup Series on Sunday, he'll race his No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet with high hopes to end his 100-race losing streak.

Aric Almirola will be driving the No. 88 GT Vodka car this weekend. Almirola started in 10th and finished 12th while driving the No. 88 Hellman's car last Friday in Texas, earning him 32 points and putting him in the 6th position in points. His teammate Josh Wise finished 14th in the No. 7 Taxslayer.com car after starting in the 17th spot, earning him 30 points and putting him in the 13th position in the standings. Wise is off this weekend and will race again next week at Nashville.

As Earnhardt Jr. prepares to race the Suave Men's car this weekend in Nationwide, a video of him pranking JRM staffers during a Suave Men production shoot has become a big hit on the Internet. You can see Dale Jr.'s "Snake Prank" on YouTube.