Summary:

Earnhardt finishes 3rd at Darlington_3/19
Dale Earnhardt had a very good day in Darlington. Saving his tires, and his car, he was able to make a run to the front a couple of times, making up positions quickly as the green flag pit stop windows neared. It was a close call as The Intimidator passed rookie Matt Kenseth on Lap 253 and brushed the wall. He finished a respectable third.

"The car was just an okay car all day," said Earnhardt. "It was a good points day for us. That's what we needed."

Bobby Labonte still holds the points lead by just 9 points over Mark Martin, with Dale Earnhardt 32 points behind Labonte in third.


Earnhardt will start Darlington from second row_3/17
Dale Earnhardt qualified fourth on Friday for the Mall.com 400 in Darlington.

"Turns 1 and 2 felt good," said Earnhardt. "It was a good effort for this team. They gave me a good race car. We'll keep tuning on it and keep working on it. We'll give it our best shot Sunday, and I think we're gong to give them a run for their money in the championship.

"I thought that lap was good enough for the top-5, and it was. I felt like (Turns) 1 and 2 was good, and they said 3 and 4 was better. I felt like 3 and 4 was off some, but we'll see."

Earnhardt leads active drivers with nine wins at Darlington Raceway and needs just one to tie David Pearson as the track's all-time winningest driver. He also has 22 top-10s and 17 top-5s at the track.


Earnhardt quick in Friday practice_3/17
Dale Earnhardt was second fastest in Friday's first practice session, and 5th fastest in the second practice session on Friday.