Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 AMP Energy Sugar Free/ National Guard Chevrolet, finished 12th in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
Saturday’s qualifying session was rained out, and the field was set by the driver’s fastest lap time from Friday’s practice sessions. Earnhardt earned the third starting spot.
Rain loomed in the Dover area on Sunday morning but humid and warm temperatures were on tap as the field took the green flag. Earnhardt had a solid opening run, maintaining his footing inside the top five until the competition caution flag waved on Lap 40. Earnhardt brought his car down pit road for service to ease the handling on his silver-and-green Chevrolet. He went back to green-flag racing running fifth on Lap 45.
Despite the adjustments, Earnhardt struggled with the handling of the Chevy during the middle stages of the race and slipped back to the 14th position.
Earnhardt was running ninth when the day’s final caution flag waved on Lap 363. As the field made its way down pit road, tire strategies were implemented. Some took right-side tires while others opted for four for the final 37 laps. Crew chief Steve Letarte called for right-side tires, and with quick work by the over-the-wall team, Earnhardt came off pit road second.
Earnhardt restarted third on Lap 366 because teammate Mark Martin opted not to come down pit road during the caution. During the closing laps, Earnhardt noted that he experienced a loose-handling condition. He took the checkered flag in 12th.
Earnhardt maintained the fourth position in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship standings. He trails leader Carl Edwards by 52 points after 11 races in the 2011 season.