Earnhardt Jr. worried after Martinsville

MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 27: Dale Earnhardt Jr. drives the #88 National Guard Chevrolet during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Powered By Kroger at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2013 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
MARTINSVILLE, VA - OCTOBER 27:  Dale Earnhardt Jr. drives the #88 National Guard Chevrolet during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody's Headache Relief Shot 500 Powered By Kroger at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2013 in Martinsville, Virginia.  (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)
MARTINSVILLE, VA – OCTOBER 27: Dale Earnhardt Jr. drives the #88 National Guard Chevrolet during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 Powered By Kroger at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2013 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. needed a strong run Sunday at Martinsville Speedway.  Coming off a second place finish at Talladega the week prior, NASCAR’s most popular driver hoped the momentum would help as the series left NASCAR’s biggest track and headed to the smallest.

It turned out to be a mixed day.

After starting 12th, Earnhardt seemed stall unable to move forward.  He was finally able to work his way forward and by lap 85 was inside the top 10. Shortly after that he was up into the top five and was second after a caution flag on lap 180. MORE>>>

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.