| |
 |
 |
NO. 88 AMP ENERGY / NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET
DALE EARNHARDT JR. - POST RACE RECAP
|
 |
DATE: June 1, 2008
RACE: Best Buy 400
START: 23rd
FINISH: 35th
POINTS POSITION: Earnhardt remains
third in the driver standings for the
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.
RECAPPING THE RACE:
|
Photo courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports
|
It just wasn't Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard team’s weekend at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Early struggles in practice followed by the first qualifying draw put the team in the 23rd position to start the 400-mile event. Shortly after the green flag flew Earnhardt started to move forward showing promise for a good afternoon. But on Lap 17, the No. 38 car of David Gilliland got into the back of Elliott Sadler's No. 19, and an 11-car wreck ensued that involved Earnhardt. The No. 88 Chevrolet sustained damage to the rear and driver side; the front splitter was pinned under the track's SAFER barriers.
Even though he was unharmed, Earnhardt was unable to move his car, so he had to go to the infield care center -- a mandatory trip if a driver's car doesn't continue under its own power. It took safety crews seven laps to try and remove the No. 88 car, before throwing the red flag to halt the event. The car was brought to the team in the garage and, and they made all necessary repairs in four laps, sending Earnhardt back out onto the track. The team then pitted multiple times during the next 350 laps to maintain position in the standings.
Although the team posted a 35th place finish, Earnhardt and the No. 88 remain third in the Sprint Cup Series point standings.
QUOTING DALE EARNHARDT JR.:
"Terribly disappointing man. We didn't even get a chance to start that race. There was a big wreck, and we got in it. I couldn't tell what happened, but Elliott (Sadler) told me the No. 38 got in the back of him. It was just a miserable day at Dover and long. We stayed third in points, but there ain't much you can do except keep going.”
QUOTING TONY EURY JR.: "We stayed out on the track to make up about nine points. Rough day, but it wasn't something we could avoid."
NEXT UP: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will race at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway on Sunday, June 8. The race will air live on TNT at 1 p.m.
|
Photo courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports
|
Thanks to Amy Walsh for the race recap.
Courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports.
Media Relations | No. 88 AMP Energy / National Guard Racing
|
| |
|
|