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DALE EARNHARDT JR. NO. 88 AMP ENERGY/NATIONAL GUARD CHEVROLET POST-RACE RECAP/PHOENIX INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY DATE: Nov.15, 2009 START: 18th FINISH: 35th POINTS POSITION: 24th RECAPPING THE RACE: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s misfortune continued during Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Phoenix International Raceway. Despite a strong start, Earnhardt's No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet was collected in a multi-car accident just past the race's midway point. He returned to the track and finished 35th. Earnhardt qualified 18th on Friday afternoon, and the team continued to improve his car throughout the weekend, posting the third -fastest lap in final practice on Saturday afternoon. Earnhardt lined up for the 312-lap affair on Sunday with the desert sun shining brightly overhead. Almost immediately after the green flag dropped, Earnhardt notified crew chief Lance McGrew that his green-and-white Chevrolet needed to turn better throughout the corners. The team got its first opportunity to address the issue on Lap 66. Earnhardt, running 21st at the time, made a scheduled pit stop three laps later for four fresh tires, fuel and an air pressure and chassis adjustment. Earnhardt rejoined the field and climbed as high as the 15th position by Lap 87. He radioed the crew that the car had developed an extremely loose-handling condition, but he continued to maintain his footing inside the top 20. The day's first caution flag waved on Lap 115, with Earnhardt running 17th. McGrew called his driver to pit road for fuel, four fresh Goodyear tires and an air pressure adjustment. Quick work by the crew netted its driver one position on pit road. During the middle stages of the race, Earnhardt continued to battle a loose-handling Chevy and was running 16th when McGrew called his driver to pit road during the day's third caution period on Lap 161. McGrew called for four tires, fuel and a major round of chassis and air pressure adjustments. The crew clocked the fifth overall fastest pit stop during that round of adjustments and picked up a position on pit road. During the Lap 168 restart, Earnhardt got loose in Turn 4 and triggered a multi-car pileup. Earnhardt brought the car to pit road under the fourth caution of the day to assess the damage to the No. 88 Chevy. The crew tried to keep the car on the lead lap but discovered an oil leak and was forced to take the car to the garage area for further repair. After spending 50 laps fixing the damage, Earnhardt rejoined the field on Lap 232. He ran the remainder of the race at a steady pace and crossed the finish line 35th.   ***** 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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