Dale Earnhardt Jr.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. could make this list every year, easily—and 2012 is no different. He still needs a win. That is probably the most poignant pressure-related item on his agenda.
For Junior to get a win this year would be serious relief off of his own shoulders, as well as those of his crew chief, Steve Letarte's.
Additionally, as a member of Hendrick Motorsports, he is expected to make the Chase. He made it last year and, if he gets a win early in the season, he will immediately start feeling the pressure to make the Chase.
This may happen as soon as he exits Victory Lane when he does get that eventual, streak-breaking win.
But who am I kidding? Even if he wins the Daytona 500 and locks up his Chase spot early, Junior Nation will provide no respite from the pressure cooker that comes along with being the sport's most popular driver for nearly a decade.