Watkins Glen Recap

DALE EARNHARDT JR.
NO. 88 NATIONAL GUARD/AMP ENERGY CHEVROLET
POST-RACE RECAP/WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL
DATE: Aug. 10, 2009
RACE: Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips at the Glen
START: 32nd
FINISH: 39th
POINTS POSITION: 25th


RECAPPING THE RACE:

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was making his way up the scoring pylon in Monday's race at Watkins Glen International, when he suffered a brake issue in his No. 88 National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet. His team worked diligently to restore Earnhardt's Chevy, and he finished 39th.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event was rescheduled for Monday after strong thunderstorms moved into the Watkins Glen area on Sunday afternoon. When the green flag dropped on Monday, Earnhardt began his steady climb through the field. He was scored 24th when the first yellow flag was waved on Lap 17 for debris on the track. Interim crew chief Lance McGrew called for four fresh tires, fuel and an air pressure and chassis adjustment to help Earnhardt with the handling of his Chevy entering and exiting the turns. The crew turned in a solid pit stop but Earnhardt was assessed a penalty for speeding leaving pit road and was forced to restart at the tail end of the longest line.

Earnhardt restarted 38th on Lap 20 and moved into 33rd when the caution flag was displayed for an accident in the inner loop three laps later. Earnhardt radioed that the Chevrolet was running well with the adjustments, so McGrew called Earnhardt down pit road for a fuel-only pit stop.

The field went back to green on Lap 26 with the No.88 Chevy shown in 31st. During the green-flag run, Earnhardt and McGrew discussed the adjustments the No. 88 would need during the day's final pit stop. Unfortunately, the team never got that opportunity. On Lap 43, the No. 88 sustained a brake issue and collected the No. 43 machine before making hard contact with the Turn 6 wall. Earnhardt, uninjured, climbed out of the battered Chevy, and the car was taken back to the garage.

The crew worked tirelessly to get the blue-and-white Chevrolet back on track. The hard work paid off, and on Lap 70, Earnhardt eased back on the track. He spent the remaining 20 laps running at a safe speed and gained one position in the closing laps. Earnhardt crossed the finish line 39th.

QUOTING DALE EARNHARDT JR.:

EARNHARDT (ON MONDAY'S RUN.): "I didn't have any problems with the National Guard/AMP Energy Chevrolet all weekend. The last couple of laps the brakes were fading, but I let the No. 71 and the No. 98 pass and then the brakes went. Going into (Turn) 3, I mashed the brake and it worked for a split second and then it went to the floor like it blew a hose. It was a brake line or something. I tried to miss the No. 43 and couldn't do a good job at that, but there wasn't much I could do. I couldn't slow my car down and the gravel trap slowed the car down a little bit and the tire barrier worked great and hopefully the car's not too bad. But, just real bad luck. We've had some real bad luck."

Credit: HMS PR