An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | June 23, 2011

Late-race contact sends Earnhardt into the wall, finishes 21st

By Courtesy Story

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 National Guard racecar, finished 21st in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway after a late-race incident with another car that caused moderate damage to the No. 88 Chevrolet.

Despite the less than desired finish, Earnhardt remains third in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship standings, and he sits 27 points behind leader Carl Edwards, and seven points behind second place Kevin Harvick after 15 races in the 2011 season.

Earnhardt lined up his green-and-white Chevrolet 15th for the 400-mile event, and after the drop of the green flag, he radioed crew chief Steve Letarte that he was experiencing a loose-handling condition all the way around the track.

Earnhardt raced inside the top 20 while working through the handling issues, but took advantage of a caution flag on Lap 26 to make a pit stop. 

During the stop, Letarte called for four fresh tires, fuel, and an air pressure and chassis adjustment to improve the handling of the No. 88 Chevrolet. Earnhardt restarted in the 16th spot when the field went back to green-flag racing on Lap 30.

Earnhardt started his climb through the field and cracked broke into the top 10 on Lap 35. He was running sixth by Lap 49. Handling issues resumed during the run, and Earnhardt was running ninth when the third caution flag waved on Lap 83.

Letarte called his driver down pit road, and during the stop, a lug nut fell off and cost the team time on pit road. Earnhardt restarted the race in 19th on Lap 87.

During the middle stages of the race, Earnhardt worked to regain valuable track position and was running 13th with 10 laps remaining in the 200-lap event, when another competitor made contact with him sending his car hard into the Turn 2 wall and bringing out the fifth caution. With heavy right-side damage, Letarte called his driver to pit road to make necessary repairs.

The crew got their driver back out on track, and Earnhardt was 25th on the Lap 195 restart, but  only gained four positions to finish 21st.

 

 

Related Articles
The 111th Electromagnetic Warfare Company conducts training exercise, Operation Golden Corridor in Dahlonega, Georgia, August 15, 2025. Throughout the duration of the exercise, Soldiers simulated peer and near-peer electromagnetic warfare scenarios and enhance unit proficiency in spectrum mapping, RF detection, and alternative radar awareness capabilities under austere conditions.
Georgia Guard Company Leads in Electromagnetic Warfare Modernization
By | Aug. 27, 2025
DAHLONEGA, Ga. - The Georgia Army National Guard’s 111th Electromagnetic Warfare Company, based in Forest Park, Georgia, is rapidly establishing itself as a leader in the Army’s modernization efforts within the...

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion 182nd Infantry Regiment, Massachusetts Army National Guard, and the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry Regiment, New York Army National Guard, participated in the annual Logan-Duffy Shooting Match, August 21, 2025, at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. The history of the Logan Duffy Rifle Match goes back nearly 90 years to the first match, which was held in 1936.
Massachusetts, New York Guard Members Compete in Historic Logan-Duffy Rifle Competition
By Sgt. 1st Class Steven Eaton,   | Aug. 27, 2025
DEVENS, Mass. – Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry Regiment, Massachusetts Army National Guard, and the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, New York Army National Guard, participated in the annual Logan-Duffy...

An Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron a real-world rescue operation at Point MacKenzie, Alaska, Sept. 1, 2022. After a Christen A-1 Husky crashed into a marsh, National Guardsmen rappelled and conducted a rescue operation, ensuring the aircraft was safely vacated. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Julia Lebens)
Alaska Air Guard Rescues Individual With Facial Laceration Near Knik Glacier
By Alejandro Pena, | Aug. 27, 2025
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Alaska Air National Guard members with the 176th Wing rescued an individual with a facial laceration Aug. 25, about 40 miles northeast of Anchorage in the vicinity of Knik Glacier.The...