Earnhardt’s strategy falls short at Talladega

TALLADEGA, AL - MAY 04: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard Chevrolet, leads the field during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 4, 2014 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
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TALLADEGA, AL - MAY 04: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard Chevrolet, leads the field during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 4, 2014 in Talladega, Alabama.  (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
TALLADEGA, AL – MAY 04: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the #88 National Guard Chevrolet, leads the field during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Aaron’s 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on May 4, 2014 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

At a track he once dominated at, Dale Earnhardt Jr. had hoped that the second visit to a restrictor plate track for the NASCAR Sprint Cup series would find him back in victory lane Sunday.  This year’s Daytona 500 winner came to Talladega Superspeedway looking to improve on his second place finish here last fall and add another win to his record.

It wasn’t to be.

For a time it looked as though NASCAR’s most popular driver and five time winner at Talladega might add a sixth win. After starting the day 30th, Earnhardt had worked his way up to the top 10. He fell back but after the halfway point was inside the top five. He took the lead after a round of pit stops on lap 107 and was able to stay near the front leading three times for 26 laps. 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.