Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s stay atop the Sprint Cup points standings got a reprieve, thanks to a crash that cost one teammate a short and victory and delivered another his first win of the season.
Earnhardt’s transmission broke early in Sunday's Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway. Earnhardt took his car to the garage on lap 50.
After repairs, Earnhardt brought the No. 88 car back onto the track on lap 71. He was in 32nd place when he resumed.
That was also the position in which he finished as rain halted the race after 98 laps. Earnhardt was credited with 80 laps completed.
Earnhardt, who took the points lead with a fourth-place finish last week at Indianapolis, took the lead early in the race and had led 17 of the first 40 laps.
Shortly after pitting on lap 48, he reported that he no longer had third or fourth gear.
Earnhardt had completed all 5,648 laps run this season.
“We don’t ever break parts,” Earnhardt said. “It’s tough. We had a good run going.”
Earnhardt’s transmission broke early in Sunday's Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway. Earnhardt took his car to the garage on lap 50.
After repairs, Earnhardt brought the No. 88 car back onto the track on lap 71. He was in 32nd place when he resumed.
That was also the position in which he finished as rain halted the race after 98 laps. Earnhardt was credited with 80 laps completed.
Earnhardt, who took the points lead with a fourth-place finish last week at Indianapolis, took the lead early in the race and had led 17 of the first 40 laps.
Shortly after pitting on lap 48, he reported that he no longer had third or fourth gear.
Earnhardt had completed all 5,648 laps run this season.
“We don’t ever break parts,” Earnhardt said. “It’s tough. We had a good run going.”