Summary:
Earnhardt takes 8th place in Richmond May 15
Dale Earnhardt was the first provisional
starter in Saturday night's Pontiac 400 Winston Cup race after posting just the 43rd best
qualifying speed. His 123.305 mph lap was more than 3 mph off pole-sitter Jeff Gordon's
record.
But Earnhardt got well in a hurry.
Before the race was half over, Earnhardt was running seventh, having made up 30
positions on a track where he's won five times previously.
He got as high as fourth, but faded late and finished eighth.
"We had a short run there and I don't know if I got in some oil or got on the
outside of the groove going into three but I almost lost it," he said. "I spun
the tires or something and after that I just couldn't go."
It was Earnhardt's fourth top-10 finish of the season.
"I believe we had a top-five car, but it was a good night for us coming back
from where we did," he said. "We're happy with what we got."
Dale Jarrett passed Mark Martin on the outside of Turn 2 with 32 laps to go and
never surrendered the lead, winning for the first time in 1999 and taking over the Winston
Cup points lead in the process.
Jeff Burton, the leader coming into Saturday's race, finished 37th, giving Jarrett
a 63 point cushion at the top.
Martin finished second, followed by Bobby Labonte, Bobby Hamilton and Rusty
Wallace.
Pontiac Excitement 400 in
Richmond May 12
Fans will get to see a night race for the
first time in eight months this weekend in Richmond. In fact, the next three events on the
schedule are night races. Action gets under way in Richmond with first-round
qualifying on Friday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN. Second-round qualifying is Saturday at 2
p.m. ET. The Pontiac Excitement 400 is Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Earnhardt looks to keep
momentum in Richmond May 12
Dale Earnhardt hopes to continue in the
right direction and keep the momentum on his side when the NASCAR Winston Cup Series
returns to action in the Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond International Raceway. In the
past four races, Earnhardt has moved up five positions in points. Included in the strong
spring have been a pair of Top 10 finishes, including a gratifying victory at Talladega
Superspeedway. Full Story.
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