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NO. 88 AMP ENERGY / NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET
DALE EARNHARDT JR. - POST RACE RECAP
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POST-RACE RECAP / WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL
DATE: Aug. 10, 2008
RACE: Centurion Boats at The Glen
START: 2th
FINISH: 22nd
POINTS POSITION: 4th
RECAPPING THE RACE:
Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No.88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet, finished 22nd in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.
Earnhardt, who led twice for 33 laps in the 90-lap road course event, battled a tight-handling Chevy throughout the day. Ultimately, though, a late-race caution affected the No. 88 team’s pit strategy, leaving Earnhardt deep in the field.
On Friday, rain cancelled Sprint Cup Series qualifying, so Earnhardt lined up in the outside pole position for Sunday's race, thanks to owner standings. Within the first lap, Earnhardt passed the No. 18 car to take the lead. He maintained this position until Lap 28, when he made his first pit stop under the green flag.
During this pit stop, Earnhardt got four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment to alleviate the No. 88 Chevy's tight-handling issues he had reported on Lap 13. Earnhardt rejoined the field sixth and consistently ran there until Lap 49, when he made his second pit stop -- this time under the race’s first caution.
Prior to this stop, Earnhardt radioed to his team on Lap 45 that the No. 88 Chevy was encountering brake issues. When crew chief Tony Eury Jr. called him in a couple laps later, Eury made the call for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. At the restart on Lap 50, Earnhardt was 15th, and he quickly worked his way back into the top-10, resuming first by Lap 60.
Under caution on Lap 64, Eury opted to utilize pit strategy. Earnhardt came in for four tires, fuel and an air pressure and wedge adjustment. Earnhardt was 32nd at the restart on Lap 66. Earnhardt once again drove the National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet through the pack and was 27th by Lap 75.
Four laps later, another caution came out. During this caution period, Earnhardt radioed to his team that the No. 88 Chevy's tight-handling issues were greatly affecting his ability to negotiate the 2.45-mile road course. Eury called him in for four tires and for the National Guard/AMP Energy team to make an air pressure adjustment. Earnhardt was 32nd at the restart on Lap 81.
Only three laps later, a multi-car accident occurred on the entrance to pit road, and this brought out the red flag for 43 minutes. When the debris was cleaned up, the race resumed on Lap 85, and Earnhardt was 26th.
In the final five laps of the race, Earnhardt did his best to gain track position each lap. Earnhardt was able to do so and gained four spots. He finished 22nd.
NEXT UP: The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will head back to Michigan International Speedway next weekend. The race begins on ESPN at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday.
QUOTING DALE EARNHARDT JR.:
ON THE RACE: "I was happy we had a good car, we learned a lot at the Saturday (NASCAR Nationwide Series) race. I lost a lot of foot brakes as the race got going, and the car got real tight. The splitter was on the ground a little bit too much, but that sort of did foil our strategy. More important, I think we need to try and get the car more durable. I really wasn't running that hard out front, and I was actually slowing down and taking it easy when Jimmie (Johnson) was catching me. I didn't push the issue any harder, and the front brakes just quit on it. If we can fix that and get the thing where it will turn, I don't know as the day goes it gets hot and slick."
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Thanks to Amy Walsh for the race recap.
Courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports.
Media Relations | No. 88 AMP Energy / National Guard Racing
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