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DALE EARNHARDT JR. NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD/AMP ENERGY CHEVROLET POST-RACE RECAP/KANSAS SPEEDWAY DATE: Oct. 4, 2009 RACE: Price Chopper 400 START: Second FINISH: 36th POINTS POSITION: 22nd RECAPPING THE RACE: Dale Earnhardt Jr. had a strong opening run, leading 41 laps in his No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet, but a series of misfortunate events sidelined the team 35 laps shy of the checkered flag. Earnhardt finished 36th. Earnhardt opened the weekend on a promising note. During Friday afternoon's qualifying session, Earnhardt turned a fast lap of 30.808 seconds (175.279 mph) to score his best qualifying effort of the season and earn the outside pole position for the 400-mile event. Earnhardt lined up for the green flag beside pole sitter and teammate Mark Martin, and quickly moved into the top spot on Lap 12. While leading the field, Earnhardt notified interim crew chief Lance McGrew that the blue-and-white Chevy needed to turn better through the corners. Green-flag pit stops began on Lap 52, and one lap later Earnhardt made a scheduled stop for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. During the pit stop, a NASCAR official penalized the team for not installing a lugnut properly, and Earnhardt had to return to pit road so his team could correct the issue. Once the field cycled through pit stops by Lap 60, Earnhardt was scored 33rd on the scoring pylon, one lap down from the leader. Earnhardt battled to stay the first car one lap down in an attempt to be the “Lucky Dog” recipient. Another round of green-flag pit stops began on Lap 110, with Earnhardt running 34th. McGrew called his driver to pit road on Lap 123 and misfortune struck once again. NASCAR waved the caution flag as Earnhardt made his way down pit road putting him an additional lap down from the leaders. McGrew and Earnhardt continued to work to get the No. 88 Chevy in a position to get back on the lead lap during the middle stages of the race but luck was not on the team's side. On Lap 231, Earnhardt radioed that he had lost oil pressure and on the following lap, the engine expired. McGrew told his driver to coast the National Guard / AMP Energy Chevy back to the garage. He finished 36th. QUOTING DALE EARNHARDT JR.: EARNHARDT (ON HIS FINISH.): "It's frustrating. The National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet was fast all day. We left a lugnut loose on a pit stop and lost a lap there. We pitted and they threw a caution and lost another lap there. We had a fast enough car to finish top-12. We were running as fast as the leaders. We just needed track position. We had a good car."   ***** Courtesy of Hendrick Motorsports. Media Relations | No. 88 AMP Energy / National Guard Racing ***** Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Official Site - www.dalejr.com |
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