You filled the tank right? Nascar star Earnhardt runs out of petrol
WATCH: Dale Earnhardt Jr was out front on the final lap for the first time in 105 races, and the only thing standing in the way of a victory was the gas, or lack of it, in his tank.
Dale Earnhardt Jr was out front on the final lap for the first time in 105 races, and the only thing standing in the way of a victory was the gas, or lack of it, in his tank.
The crowd roared as he took the white flag, the fans stomping in the stands in near hysteria over the almost certain ending of Earnhardt’s nearly three-year losing streak.
In a blink of an eye, it was over.
The gas tank in his Chevrolet ran dry along the backstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and as Earnhardt tried to coast his way through the final turn, Kevin Harvick zipped past him to steal the Coca-Cola 600.
It was a heartbreaking end for the victory-starved JR Nation, and somewhat mimicked the final lap of the Indianapolis 500.
Earlier Sunday, rookie JR Hildebrand crashed coming out of the final turn to lose the Indianapolis 500. Both Earnhardt and Hildebrand are sponsored by the National Guard, and the sudden turns in the two big races spoiled what would have been a celebratory Memorial Day for the military, which makes sponsorship of auto racing its top marketing tool.
“We almost won this race,” Earnhardt said. Broadcast from the garage on Charlotte’s 200-foot wide big screen, the crowd erupted in cheers for NASCAR’s most popular driver.
He settled for seventh, and his last win was at Michigan in 2008. It’s the second time this year he’s lost to Harvick, who has led just nine laps in his Sprint Cup Series-best three victories.
Harvick passed Earnhardt for the lead in the closing laps at Martinsville, and has taken no joy in beating him either time.
“I think everybody sitting up here would say we want the 88 to win and they’re so close to winning and both times they had a chance to win,” Harvick said. “We are going to do what we have to do to win the races, and today it all just worked out strategy wise that we won the race.
“But I feel so stinking bad for him, and I know how bad he wants it. It’ll happen.”
You filled the tank right? Nascar star Earnhardt runs out of petrol
IT’S HAPPENED TO the best of us.
Dale Earnhardt Jr was out front on the final lap for the first time in 105 races, and the only thing standing in the way of a victory was the gas, or lack of it, in his tank.
The crowd roared as he took the white flag, the fans stomping in the stands in near hysteria over the almost certain ending of Earnhardt’s nearly three-year losing streak.
In a blink of an eye, it was over.
The gas tank in his Chevrolet ran dry along the backstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and as Earnhardt tried to coast his way through the final turn, Kevin Harvick zipped past him to steal the Coca-Cola 600.
It was a heartbreaking end for the victory-starved JR Nation, and somewhat mimicked the final lap of the Indianapolis 500.
Earlier Sunday, rookie JR Hildebrand crashed coming out of the final turn to lose the Indianapolis 500. Both Earnhardt and Hildebrand are sponsored by the National Guard, and the sudden turns in the two big races spoiled what would have been a celebratory Memorial Day for the military, which makes sponsorship of auto racing its top marketing tool.
“We almost won this race,” Earnhardt said. Broadcast from the garage on Charlotte’s 200-foot wide big screen, the crowd erupted in cheers for NASCAR’s most popular driver.
He settled for seventh, and his last win was at Michigan in 2008. It’s the second time this year he’s lost to Harvick, who has led just nine laps in his Sprint Cup Series-best three victories.
Harvick passed Earnhardt for the lead in the closing laps at Martinsville, and has taken no joy in beating him either time.
“I think everybody sitting up here would say we want the 88 to win and they’re so close to winning and both times they had a chance to win,” Harvick said. “We are going to do what we have to do to win the races, and today it all just worked out strategy wise that we won the race.
“But I feel so stinking bad for him, and I know how bad he wants it. It’ll happen.”
- AP
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Charlotte Motor Speedway Dale Earnhardt Jr JR Nation Memorial Day Nascar Out of Gas