Filed under: Motorsports
Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins in Michigan, ends 76-race losing streak
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the darling of NASCAR, but the motorsport's most popular driver was completely winless for the last 76 races until this past weekend when the Intimidator's son won the LifeLock 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Junior won the race in an odd way, literally coasting across the finish line on an empty tank of gas under a caution flag after Patrick Carpenter spun out on lap 203. The race had been extended to overtime after Sam Hornish Jr. spun on Lap 200, and had it not been for the caution Carpenter created three laps later, Junior would likely would've ran out of gas before the finish. Rather than do burnouts afterwards on the track, Earnhardt's #88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevy had to be pushed to Victory Ciricle. The win not only ended Junior's drought, but also gave his new employer, Rick Hendrick, his second win of the season. Many thought this might be Junior's year after he handily won the Bud Shootout ahead of the Daytona 500. That was his first race as a member of Hendrick Motorsports and didn't count for points, but the rest of the season has not gone his way until this past weekend.
[Source: NASCAR]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dinosaurus 11:27AM (6/16/2008)
On the contrary, Junior is having a championship contending season leading the Hendrick camp all year long. He was in 3rd position in the championship points standings before he won yesterday. He's having his best season of his career despite not winning a points race before Michigan.
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shawn 7:55PM (6/17/2008)
Dale Jr.'s best move is going to Hendrick. This makes a great driver even better. I was so excited to see him win on Sunday. He has come so close many times this year and the last 2 years. Now with this behind him, watch out Kyle Busch.
Keith 11:46AM (6/16/2008)
Earnhardt Sr. - 76 wins all time. Earnhardt Jr. - 76 races without a win. Hum...let the numbers and similarities continue between father and son! Happy Father's Day! :)
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Holden Miecranc 12:24PM (6/16/2008)
Don't forget that from '97 - '99 Sr went through a 1 for 81 streak. Is Jr is good as Sr- no. But he also has never claimed to be, either.
pmalloy4391 12:27PM (6/16/2008)
dont forget this is his third win of the season as well (only 1st points, bud shootout and twin 150s being the first 2)
B 12:11PM (6/16/2008)
Shame it came down to a gas mileage race and a 10th place car won who I might add would have run out of gas before the checkered flag fell if the caution hadn't, there was still a lap to go and he was out of gas and was pushed up pit road..He isn't his father, not even close.
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pmalloy4391 12:28PM (6/16/2008)
he wasnt pushed, if the green stayed and the 1st caution that extended it to overdrive hadnt happened he would have won it there, so stop the nay saying, he won it he deserved it
his daddy? no, not yet probably never but a damn good driver none the less
Blog auto 12:11PM (6/16/2008)
Yes, i love Earnhardt Jr :)
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Jim 12:22PM (6/16/2008)
he definitely would of ran out of gas. i must agree with you. No way would he of made it. he and his crew knew that. And NASCAR should penalize him for passing the pace car then turning off the engine and gliding. You are not allowed to pass the pace car in NASCAR. I don't mind the engine thing, thats perfectly legit, but not passing the pace car. It's a rule, yet they did not penalize him. The penalized Greg Biffle for doing this 2 years ago but not Earnhardt Jr. Wonder Y. lol.... O well, I guess thats racing and seems to be a common thing in NASCAR lately. They have there favorites and call it in favor of them. I'n not hating on him, her a good driver, but rules should be rules across the board.
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pmalloy4391 12:29PM (6/16/2008)
they told him not to do it again, and he didnt
with biffle they told him not to do it again and he did so theres a huge difference
jg 1:07PM (6/16/2008)
'Would of'? It's 'have'. Being illiterate you're hearing 'would've' and sounding out 'would of'. Pick up a book someday.
'No way would he of made it.' Crikey. What do you think the word 'of' means anyway?
'No way would he HAVE made it.'
'Don't forget that from '97 - '99 Sr went through a 1 for 81 streak. '
Didn't Dale break his collar bone and wasn't that was the reason for the bad finishes during that stretch?
And he's not Sr. It's Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. There is no Sr.
pmiddle5 12:49PM (6/16/2008)
Is everyone going to give mad hate now since Danica Patrick won in a similar way?...
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Luis 1:41PM (6/16/2008)
@jg: I just thought it was funny that you're making grammar corrections on a NASCAR post...good day.
Mike 6:16PM (6/16/2008)
Actually, it *is* Dale Earnhardt, Sr. Their full names are Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. and Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Jr. And his broken collarbone was in 1996 (collarbone, shoulder blade and sternum, after rolling his car at Talladega and being t-boned in the roof). He changed crew chiefs after the 1996 season, which likely contributed to his lack of victories in 1997. He never seemed to have much chemistry with Larry McReynolds, and Kevin Hamlin took over as his crew chief halfway through 1998.
Unknown 3:10PM (6/16/2008)
'Didn't Dale break his collar bone and wasn't that was the reason for the bad finishes during that stretch?'
It bugs the crap out of me when people point out gramer mistakes but you were asking for it:
'Didn't Dale break his collar bone and wasn't that [was deleted] the reason for the bad finishes during that stretch?'
We aren't writing a novel here. Jeez. :)
B 7:40AM (6/17/2008)
How could anyone THINK he deserved to win, stupid, if anyone deserved to win it was who lead the most laps and that was't him. Go to Jayski.com and on there Jr. even admits that he stretched the rules, will they do anything, they should but regretfully no, for some reason every inbreed moron in the USA is attracted to this guy, go figure, I personally think he is gay, I'm just saying he never has a girl and he is way old enough to.
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KAYLA 2:32PM (6/17/2008)
B, Go crawl up in Kyle Busch's booty and smile and leave Jr. alone. You talk like that is where you came from.
Ashley 3:33PM (6/18/2008)
In honor of Dale's win this weekend Amp Energy is releasing a special code for their "Ride with Dale Jr" contest. Enter in DALEWINS at http://ampenergy.com to have your name on his car in Talladega.
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