More engine problems for Earnhardt
By Tony Bolick, Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s engine problems continued Sunday in the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
Six times this season he has failed to finish a race because of problems with an engine in his Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet. He had problems again Sunday, but this time, he was able to nurse the car to the finish line.
Earnhardt’s engine began stumbling early, just past the 150-lap mark. Still, he stayed in contention and was in position for a possible top five until it soured on the final restart on Lap 504.
He was left to ride slowly around the inside and finished 23rd.
“I am not upset at all,” Earnhardt said. “I put those tailpipes on those other boys' ears so they could hear we were on seven cylinders and still driving by them.”
Earnhardt said the record number of cautions – 21 in all – played a role in breaking down his No. 8 Chevrolet.
“Too many cautions and restarts in the last 50 laps,” Earnhardt said, “and the valve springs kept breaking and broke the motor even worse and finally blew up."
Ghost in the machine
By Tony Bolick, Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Aric Almirola’s first start in DEI’s No. 01 Chevrolet ended abruptly with a sudden fire in the car, and he finished 43rd.
First, Almirola damaged the nose of his car in a three-car spin in Turn 2 on Lap 93. But the car continued on its way when it suddenly caught fire on Lap 112. Almirola stopped the car on the backstretch and walked away unharmed.
“I am not exactly sure what went wrong with the car,” Almirola said. “Everything was fine, our temperatures were fine. The next thing I know, I was on fire.”
By Tony Bolick, Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s engine problems continued Sunday in the Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
Six times this season he has failed to finish a race because of problems with an engine in his Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet. He had problems again Sunday, but this time, he was able to nurse the car to the finish line.
Earnhardt’s engine began stumbling early, just past the 150-lap mark. Still, he stayed in contention and was in position for a possible top five until it soured on the final restart on Lap 504.
He was left to ride slowly around the inside and finished 23rd.
“I am not upset at all,” Earnhardt said. “I put those tailpipes on those other boys' ears so they could hear we were on seven cylinders and still driving by them.”
Earnhardt said the record number of cautions – 21 in all – played a role in breaking down his No. 8 Chevrolet.
“Too many cautions and restarts in the last 50 laps,” Earnhardt said, “and the valve springs kept breaking and broke the motor even worse and finally blew up."
Ghost in the machine
By Tony Bolick, Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service
MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Aric Almirola’s first start in DEI’s No. 01 Chevrolet ended abruptly with a sudden fire in the car, and he finished 43rd.
First, Almirola damaged the nose of his car in a three-car spin in Turn 2 on Lap 93. But the car continued on its way when it suddenly caught fire on Lap 112. Almirola stopped the car on the backstretch and walked away unharmed.
“I am not exactly sure what went wrong with the car,” Almirola said. “Everything was fine, our temperatures were fine. The next thing I know, I was on fire.”
