Talk about good first impressions and easing the pressure with your new employer . . .

Is Dale Earnhardt Jr. hot, or what?

Since joining Hendrick Motorsports for this season, there's as much focus on "Daytona Dale" as there is on any driver in NASCAR's Sprint Cup series. Earnhardt is expected to succeed with the powerhouse Hendrick stable, but few thought he'd be in victory lane following his first two races.

Earnhardt and teammate Jimmie Johnson started from the rear of the field after their crews changed engines during Wednesday's practice at Daytona International Speedway. Earnhardt led the most laps (25) of the 60-lap race, including the last nine laps. Reed Sorenson was runner-up and Ryan Newman was third. Newman led the second-most laps, 13.

Earnhardt and the other 150-mile winner, Denny Hamlin, will start from the second row in Sunday's Daytona 500.

Referring to his two wins so far, Earnhardt said, "Up to this point, it's been more than we ever could have dreamed of. I'm real proud and happy to have the talent that I've got on my team.

"Everybody knows if you go into something with a poor attitude, you typically have poor results or you have a miserable time. I try to make sure my team has [a good attiude], because they're the ones putting the car underneath me."

Asked whether he's the driver to beat in Sunday's 50th Daytona 500, Earnhardt replied: "We have a great shot. Nobody's boastful enough to claim that. [But] we've won some races down here."

Earnhardt won the 2004 Daytona 500. He also has three Busch (now Nationwide) Series wins and three qualifying race victories at the superspeedway. He is following the lead of his late father, who won more races (34) at Daytona than any other driver.

If Junior's shoulders feel weighed down by the high expectations, he isn't showing it.

"I've always raced with pressure," he said after winning Saturday's non-points Shootout. "I've always lived in tumultuous situations and I just got used to it. There is a lot of pressure for us, but we've always delivered.

"Tony [Stewart] and Kurt [Busch] getting into it the other day [in practice] took us off the front page. I felt such a relief after that happened."

Yesterday's twin 150s offered some insight into how NASCAR's Car of Today will handle in Sunday's 500.

"It's got to look good on TV, but it's harder to drive," Earnhardt said. "It reminds me a lot of the old-style race cars, the way they slide around and get loose."

Earnhardt has a genuine affection for Daytona and why it is meaningful.

"I've always felt like Daytona was a special place, more than any other track," he said. "Daytona just has a certain feeling about it. I love the routine and the layout of Speedweeks. I think it's a great way for us to make a splash. It's a big flag we're waving to the rest of the world that we're starting our season." *

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