Chase Standings

Rank Name Points
1. Jimmie Johnson 5718
2. Carl Edwards 5646
3. Greg Biffle 5641
4. Jeff Burton 5619
5. Clint Bowyer 5566
6. Kevin Harvick 5547
Rank Name Points
7. Tony Stewart 5515
8. Jeff Gordon 5486
9. Matt Kenseth 5473
10. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 5469
11. Kyle Busch 5387
12. Denny Hamlin 5383
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Earnhardt Jr. battles car to eighth-place all-star finish

By Jared Turner - SceneDaily Staff Writer

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Article Rating: 4.7
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Rusty Jarrett / Getty Images for NASCAR

Dale Earnhardt Jr. speaks with a crew member during a break in the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race.

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CONCORD, N.C. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. conceded that his car wasn’t as good as it needed to be to win Saturday night’s Sprint All-Star Race at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

But it was still fast enough to lead 14 laps, all in the third of four 25-lap segments.

Despite finishing eighth at night's end, the first-year Hendrick Motorsports driver could take solace in the fact that he ran pretty well on a night when there were no points at stake.

“I would probably normally be pretty frustrated having run that good and finishing like that if it was a points race,” the driver of the No. 88 Chevrolet said. “But this is a race that [it's] an honor to be in and I was fortunate to have a good car and have it built well.”

Starting 11th, it didn’t take Earnhardt Jr. long to move forward. He finished fifth in the first segment and was runnerup to Roush Fenway Racing's Carl Edwards in the second segment as his car appeared to improve.

After some adjustments during the 10-minute break between stanzas two and three, Earnhardt Jr. needed just one lap to move underneath Edwards and into the lead, a position he eventually surrendered to Roush Fenway’s Greg Biffle with 11 laps left in segment three.

Earnhardt Jr. managed to hang on to second and fend off a late charge from Roush Fenway’s Matt Kenseth despite increasing handling issues with his car.

“Our car was getting extremely loose right there at the end of every run,” crew chief Tony Eury Jr. said.

Complicating matters was a pit call to take four tires before the final segment while most teams took two tires and three drivers, including race winner Kasey Kahne, got gas only.

The strategy relegated Earnhardt Jr. to 13th at the start of the segment, a period in which he improved his position but failed to get back in contention for the victory.

“Our car wasn’t quite as good as it needed to be at the end and even if I had been up front, I don’t know how the car would have reacted,” he said. “It was so loose at the end I couldn’t go. I was just kind of hanging on.”

Still, Earnhardt Jr. is confident that his struggles on Saturday will only help his team better prepare for next weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at LMS.

“We learned we’ve got some problems to fix and I hope we figure out how to get them fixed,” he said. “The car is pretty close, though. I’m looking forward to next week. It’s going to be a long race.”

Average Rating: 4.7

Comments

12 responses to "Earnhardt Jr. battles car to eighth-place all-star finish"
  1. 1
    bob parent said:
    May 18, 2008 at 2:25 AM

    you really felt compelled to write a story about a eight place finisher.Jr nation how bad you got it?

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  2. 2
    Susan Ireland said:
    May 18, 2008 at 7:15 AM

    Bob parent needs to grow up. If he doesn't like #88 be quiet and go jump in the lake when it's cold

    Report as Abuse
  3. 3
    grandamgt Russell said:
    May 18, 2008 at 8:32 AM

    Writing about Jr's 8th place finish is no different than writing about the bad finishes all year for Gordon and Johnson. I'd rather read about Jr. than Pee Wee Hermans twin brother in the 18 car. bob parent should try to be a journalist and see what he can find to write about. Let me guess, he's a jr nation hater and a wild thing lover. Probably jumps on whatever band wagon is winning at the time.

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  4. 4
    bob parent said:
    May 18, 2008 at 2:00 PM

    you can feel the love of the Jr fans what about writing the run hornish had in 77

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  5. 5
    emily bagwell said:
    May 18, 2008 at 3:00 PM

    I agree with grandamgt Russell. Bob must have sour grapes because pee wee didn't knock someone off the track and win the race. Don't you hate band wagon chasers?

    Report as Abuse
  6. 6
    Timothy Schultze said:
    May 18, 2008 at 6:37 PM

    Just as you people probably jumped on the pity wagon after Dale Earnhardt died get a life Dale Jr is all MEDIA DRIVEN HYPE. Need some cash well we can just make another special die-cast and tee shirt call it limited edition they dont know the differance WHAT A JOKE.

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  7. 7
    Teresa Geer said:
    May 19, 2008 at 5:59 AM

    Teresa Geer Obviously Timothy you haven't had a legend in your life that has died. Jr has come along way from that point of his life. Why don't you do and jump on the pity wagon with Kyle Busch. He needs some fans to cheer him on because he sure doesn't have JR nation fans. He's so envy of JR that its sickening. He will never be JR.

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  8. 8
    STEVEN SPARKS said:
    May 19, 2008 at 6:30 AM

    Timothy you are a MORON and a disgrace to all race fans to desecrate Dale Earnhardt Sr. Jeff Gordon his ultimate rival honored him when he broke his win record. Dale Jr is also the most humble driver and he honors the armed forces wherever he goes. His sponsors require his presence everywhere to promote their products. I believe, he even paid for upgrades and new buildings to a military school he attended from his money. What have you done? Pee wee herman will never come close to Dale Sr! To give give pee wee media hype and to even compare them in the same sentence is ludicrous.

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  9. 9
    Bill Stevens said:
    May 19, 2008 at 8:03 PM

    Junebug is always going to be the talk of a race regardless if he wins or not. If a writer wants to write about Junebug's 8th place finish then let him. It's his story and the Jr. Nation wants to read about it. If you don't like then read the other articles that are available. It's obvious it peeks all these Jr. hater's interests so they read about it. Then they have to write something that's simply just stupid to make them feel better. Go Junebug!!

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  10. 10
    Bill Stevens said:
    May 19, 2008 at 8:12 PM

    Junebug is always going to be the talk of a race regardless if he wins or not. If a writer wants to write about Junebug's 8th place finish then let him. It's his story and the Jr. Nation wants to read about it. If you don't like then read the other articles that are available. It's obvious it peeks all these Jr. hater's interests so they read about it. Then they have to write something that's simply just stupid to make them feel better. Go Junebug!!

    Report as Abuse
  11. 11
    Worm Dirt said:
    May 20, 2008 at 1:13 PM

    Good point Bob Stevens! (except for the writing something "stupid" part) I'm just glad that you understand EXACTLY WHY articles like these get written here. The editors of Scene Daily are MORE THAN HAPPY to feed off of the frenzied hype that surrounds your beloved #88....I am NOT a junior-hater by any stretch....and I HONESTLY DO THINK he will win a race this season...and I'll be relieved when it is over and done with..BUT PLEASE....PLEASE..PLEASE..LET ME beg you ALL....IN ADVANCE!!!!!!!....PLEASE don't act like all of the over-blown EXAGGERATED HYPE...and Sports Illustrated covers...and Burger Barn commemorative victory souvenir 40-ounce Dew Cups...and line of ridiculous t-shirts...that ARE SURE TO FOLLOW the first win are EVEN CLOSE to being justified! Have some dignity. Thank you!

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  12. 12
    emily bagwell said:
    May 20, 2008 at 4:40 PM

    No Worm, Bill is right on with the stupid part and a lot of name calling also takes pplace because you just have to rile Junior's fans.And as a final note---The entire racing world can do without Timothy Schultze and his opinions. Junior Rocks!!!

    Report as Abuse

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