(By Greg Engle)
Posted: Monday,October 5th, 2009
(By Sarah Farlee, CupScene.com Senior Staff Writer)
Kansas City, KS-Dale Earnhardt, Jr. started the day in front, but ended the day in the garage in the Price Chopper 400 Sunday at the Kansas Speedway.
Earnhardt, Jr. had a dominating lead early in the race and led a season best 41 laps before an error on pit road landed him a stop and go penalty – and a lap down.
“We got caught on pit road because of a loose lug nut,” said Earnhardt, Jr. who has been plagued by minor issues all season. “And then we got caught on pit road under caution and lost two laps and it put us way, way behind but we had a top-10 car all day.”
KANSAS CITY, KS - OCTOBER 04: Mark Martin, driver of the #5 CARQUEST/Kellogg's Chevrolet, races Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet, during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Price Chopper 400 presented by Kraft Foods at the Kansas Speedway on October 4, 2009 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)
It did seem as though Junior would have a solid day. After qualifying on the outside pole for the race, the team was optimistic. However, for Junior, this type of result is nothing new.
“It’s frustrating,” said Earnhardt, Jr. “We had a real fast car. We were running as fast as the leaders. We just needed track position.”
If the pit road penalty wasn’t enough, Earnhardt, Jr. had engine issues late in the race.
“Oil pump belt few off and seized the motor up a bit,” he said. “Hopefully they can find out what has caused it, what happened first. The AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet was fast all day.”
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