(By Greg Engle CupScene.com Editor,NASCAR Examiner)
Posted: Tuesday,May 31st, 2011
CHARLOTTE NC- -Dale Earnhardt Jr. nearly pulled it off.
In Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Earnhardt took the lead on a green white checkered flag restart and was firmly in control of his own destiny, when he ran out of fuel exiting the final corner.
Earnhardt, who hasn’t won a Sprint Cup point’s race since 2008, was strong in the early part of the 600 mile race. A miscue during a pit stop on lap 107 left him mired outside the top 15 and he was forced to work his way back towards the front.
During a final round of pit stops with about 30 laps to go, most teams had to decide if they would have enough fuel to make it to the end.
A final caution caused by Jimmie Johnson’s blown engine saw Earnhardt in third with Greg Biffle leading followed by Kasey Kahne in second. During the caution period, Biffle was forced into pit and Earnhardt moved up to second. Kahne ran out of fuel on the restart and Earnhardt shot to the lead and held it as the white flag flew.MORE>>>
Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran out of gas on the final corner Sunday night (Getty Images)
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