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 | Oct. 6, 2011

Earnhardt finishes in 24th place after unexpected pit stop

By National Guard Bureau

Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished 24th in Sunday's Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway in Dover, Del. after a loose wheel forced him down pit road for an unscheduled pit stop in the closing laps.

The Kannapolis, N.C., native now ranks 10th in the standings, 34 points behind leader Kevin Harvick.

Earnhardt lined up 21st for the third race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. In the opening laps of the 400-lap event, Earnhardt suffered a broken sway bar arm and was forced to make a pit stop during the Lap 6 caution. Earnhardt went a lap down while the crew made repairs but crew chief Steve Letarte knew the scheduled Lap 40 competition caution would be an opportunity to get back on the lead lap.

Earnhardt restarted 42nd on Lap 8 but raced his way into the Lucky Dog position when the caution flag waved on Lap 40. Earnhardt was back on the lead lap and running 37th when the field went back to green on Lap 45.

Earnhardt powered his way through the field and at the halfway point was shown 14th on the scoring pylon. A light rain shower brought out the caution flag on Lap 257 with Earnhardt running 19th. Letarte called his driver to pit road for right-side tires, a move that netted the team five positions on pit road.

Earnhardt restarted 14th on Lap 263 but shortly after Earnhardt reported a loose tire and would have to come back to pit road. The unscheduled pit stop put the team in 28th position, two laps down from the leaders.

The team spent the remainder of the race trying to fight its way back to the lead lap and contend for the win. Earnhardt picked up four positions and crossed the finish line 24th.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Air Force dental technician completes a dental X-ray for a local resident during Operation Healthy Tennessee, Rhea County Middle School, Evensville, Tenn., July 10, 2025. Operation Healthy Tennessee provides no-cost medical, dental, vision and veterinary services to the residents of Bledsoe and Rhea County, as well as the surrounding areas while satisfying training requirements for active-duty, reserve and Air National Guard service members and units.
Operation Healthy Tennessee: Where Readiness Meets Relief
By Staff Sgt. Sarah Stalder Lundgren, | July 22, 2025
EVENSVILLE, Tenn. - More than 200 service members from the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Navy Reserve and U.S. Air Force Reserve participated in Operation Healthy Tennessee, part of the...

Soldiers from the Oregon Army National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) returned home July 19, 2025, following a successful year-long deployment to Kosovo as part of the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission. The members were enthusiastically greeted by friends and family as they made their way into the Camp Withycombe gymnasium in Happy Valley, Oregon.
Oregon Guard Brigade Returns After Kosovo Deployment
By Maj. Wayne Clyne, | July 22, 2025
CLACKAMAS, Ore. - Soldiers from the Oregon Army National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, or IBCT, returned home July 19 after a successful year-long deployment to Kosovo as part of the NATO-led Kosovo Force...

U.S. Army Maj. Troy Dandrea, brigade chaplain, 17th Sustainment Brigade, prays over Soldiers in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 14, 2024.
Nevada Guard Brigade Returning From Middle East Deployment
By Sgt. Adrianne Lopez, | July 22, 2025
LAS VEGAS - After 10 months of conducting logistical operations across the Middle East, the Nevada Army National Guard’s 17th Sustainment Brigade is coming back home to the Silver State with its Task Force Warrior mission...