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DALE EARNHARDT JR. NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD "DRIVE THE GUARD"/AMP ENERGY CHEVROLET POST-RACE RECAP/MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY DATE: Aug.15, 2010 START: 38th FINISH: 19th POINTS POSITION: 17th RECAPPING THE RACE: Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event was a tough one for Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 National Guard "Drive the Guard"/AMP Energy Chevrolet. Handling issues affected his progress, but the No. 88 team rallied and left Michigan International Speedway with a 19th-place finish. Earnhardt lined up his red, white and blue Chevrolet 38th for the 400-mile event. At the drop of the green flag, he radioed crew chief Lance McGrew that he was experiencing a loose-handling condition all the way around the track. Earnhardt improved eight spots while working through the handling issue, but took advantage of a caution flag on Lap 30 to make his first pit stop. During the stop, McGrew called for four fresh tires, fuel and air pressure and a chassis adjustment to improve the handling of the No. 88 Chevrolet. Quick work by the team netted two positions on pit road, and Earnhardt restarted in the 28th spot when the field went back to green-flag racing on Lap 38. Earnhardt started his climb through the field, cracking the top 20 on Lap 70 before handling issues arose again on Lap 74. Earnhardt was running 23rd as green-flag pit stops began at the half-way point of the race. McGrew called for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. The team also added a spring rubber to the left-rear. Despite the wholesale changes to tighten up the No. 88 Chevrolet, Earnhardt told the team the car was "wrecking loose." Earnhardt was running 28th when the yellow flag waved on Lap 147, and McGrew used the caution period to spend extra time on pit road and replace the right-front shock. The field went back to green-flag racing on Lap 152, but two laps later the caution flag waved once again for an incident in Turn 4. Earnhardt collected the "Lucky Dog" pass and returned to the lead lap. McGrew brought his driver down pit road once again to make an adjustment to the Chevrolet. The field went back to green-flag racing on Lap 159 with Earnhardt running 25th. He radioed his team that the car finally had tightened up. Earnhardt made his way through the field, advancing six positions to cross the finish line 19th. ***** 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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