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Dale Earnhardt Jr. started ninth in the Nationwide Series race, which was postponed to Monday because of rainy weather on Saturday. Four laps into the event, Earnhardt reported that the No. 5 National Guard Chevrolets handling was a bit tight. By Lap 32, Earnhardt still was battling a tight-handling race car and had slipped to 12th position. LIFE IN THE PITS: Earnhardt was running 10th on Lap 50 when he stopped for four fresh tires, fuel and a track bar, wedge and air pressure adjustment. The stop, made during a caution, was another attempt to alleviate the National Guard Chevys tight handling conditions. At the restart on Lap 53, Earnhardt still was 10th. Twelve laps later, Earnhardt radioed back to his team that the last air pressure adjustment hadnt helped the No. 5 Chevrolet. On Lap 67 and under a caution, Earnhardt pitted just for fuel and rejoined the field in 13th place at the Lap 71 restart. Earnhardt climbed to the front as the race progressed and was leading the pack on Lap 101. But he was forced to pit two laps later under green because the lug nuts on the National Guard Chevys tires werent tight. Earnhardt rejoined the field in 25th place. Earnhardt made his final stop four laps later under caution for fuel and four fresh tires. HOW IT ENDED: Earnhardt was running 10th with 15 laps to go, and he climbed his way through the field to gain three more positions. He finished the race seventh. QUOTING EARNHARDT: It was all right. We had a good car at the end. We came from like 22nd to seventh there on that last run. I was real happy. The car was fast, running good enough times, running in the top-three. We tried some pit strategy that hurt us. We thought wed get these guys on gas mileage; it happens a lot here. We were going to try and take advantage of that, but it didnt work out. NOTABLE: -Earnhardt ran inside the top-15 for 139 of the total 150 laps. -Originally set for Saturday, the Nationwide Series Stater Bros. 300 was postponed several times throughout the weekend due to rain delays. The race finally occurred Monday. NEXT UP: This Saturday, Mark Martin will pilot the No. 5 Delphi Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which will air live on ESPN2 at 4 p.m., ET. The No. 5 National Guard Chevrolet will return on Saturday, March 8 for the Nationwide Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway with driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. The race will air live on ESPN2 at 1:30 p.m., ET. ***** Thanks to Amy Walsh for the race previews and recaps. Courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports. National Guard Racing and Dale Earnhardt Jr  |
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