The biggest crash before the one that ended Saturday night’s Coke Zero 400 didn’t prove as damaging as first anticipated - other than taking out one of NASCAR’s biggest stars.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip, who had worked his way up from 29th to seventh place, were taken out of the race at Daytona International Speedway after a 13-car crash on the 77th lap.
All 11 other drivers involved were able to return to the track, including Jeff Gordon, Kasey Kahne and Ryan Newman. Florida Times-Union
“We were terrible at the very first part of the race, and that last adjustment made it come to life,” Earnhardt said. “We were just cutting up through there, and guys got together in front of us, and we just didn’t have anywhere to go. That’s just tough luck. There ain’t much we can do about it.”
Earnhardt has endured one of the more disappointing seasons of his career.
He entered Saturday’s race with no wins and just three top-10 finishes in 17 Sprint Cup races this year. So it was no surprise that he arrived at Daytona 19th in the points standings, needing to pass seven drivers to slip into the 12th, and final, spot in the Chase.
It’s a tough reality for the ultra-popular 34-year-old to face. He entered 2009 with Sprint Cup title hopes, but a 40th-place showing in the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24 gave him three consecutive races in which he finished 27th or worse.
“It’s racin’ at Daytona,” he said. “The track’s real rough and it’s a lot slicker. Guys are going to slide into each other a lot more. If you ain’t leading, you’re always vulnerable.”
But, now, after an underachieving first half of the season, Saturday night’s early exit all but evaporated his slim hopes of qualifying for the Chase.
“If it ain’t done, it’s gotta be close,” Earnhardt said in the garage, letting out a laugh at the end. Orlando Sentinel
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