zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Racing
/
Dale Jr.'s Hopes Of Winning His Last Race At Daytona Just Hit A Wall Right Before The Big One
Dale Jr.'s Hopes Of Winning His Last Race At Daytona Just Hit A Wall Right Before The Big One-December 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:11:21

Dale Earnhardt Jr. came into today’s Coke Zero 400—his final race at Daytona International Speedway—as a favorite to win, from pole position. Then he hit the wall at Turn 1, damaging the right side of his car extensively. Now he’s got to fight his way back up from two laps down.

It’s unclear why Earnhardt hit the wall, but he said that he felt like he had a right-rear tire going down before doing so. Weirdly, his right-rear tire was fine when he came into the pits, although his right-front tire had gone flat in the crash.

Commentators speculated that Paul Menard might have made contact with Earnhardt before Earnhardt’s car hit the wall, but it’s hard to tell from the television footage.

Earnhardt then had to drag his damaged car all around the track until he could get to the pits, further damaging his car. His crew was able to repair it, but Earnhardt lost quite a lot of time and rejoined the race a couple of laps down.

Winning at Daytona obviously means a lot to Dale Jr., as it’s the place that took Dale Sr.’s life, and the summer Daytona race in particular is where Dale Jr. won the very first race immediately following his father’s last crash in 2001.

Of course, because Daytona is going to be crash-heavy Daytona, the next major incident was a “big one,” starting off with Kyle Busch losing it in the mid pack of the field:

The crash took Joey Logano and Austin Dillon out of the race.

Kyle Larson got the free pass after the crash, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the only car that sits only one lap down now—meaning that he’s still got a chance.

: Dale’s already back on the lead lap after yet another caution here at Daytona. Brendan Gaughan made contact with Kurt Busch, pushing Gaughan back up into the wall. Dale Jr. received the free pass back onto the lead lap following the incident, so it’s not over yet.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Racing
Weekend Motorsports Roundup, Apr. 4-5, 2015
Weekend Motorsports Roundup, Apr. 4-5, 2015
Welcome to the Jalopnik , where we let you know what's going on in the world of racing, where you can see it, and where you can talk about it all in one convenient place. Where else would you want to spend your weekend? There's not a lot going on...
Dec 26, 2025
This Is What Pure Misery Looks Like
This Is What Pure Misery Looks Like
The number 912 Porsche 911 was fighting for the GTLM class lead at the until this happened. One of the wheel nuts wouldn't come loose. This right here is the face (or perhaps the fists?) of total and complete misery. Worst of all, this happened with barely over an hour...
Dec 26, 2025
Ryan Newman Busted For (Allegedly) Cheaty Tires; Team Appeals Penalty
Ryan Newman Busted For (Allegedly) Cheaty Tires; Team Appeals Penalty
When NASCAR , one team's set was found not to be holding air properly: the #31 car of Richard Childress Racing driver Ryan Newman. The tires had a slow leak that allowed the tire to bleed off extra air and remain at a more consistent pressure throughout a race. Although...
Dec 26, 2025
Simona de Silvestro Will Be Back In An IndyCar For The Indianapolis 500
Simona de Silvestro Will Be Back In An IndyCar For The Indianapolis 500
If you've been following along in our worldwide game of "Where's Simona?," one of the most talented women in racing has been sadly semi-seatless for a while. Her deal to be a test driver for Sauber fell through when the funding package went kaput. She got a seat for the...
Dec 26, 2025
NASCAR Fandom In A Nutshell
NASCAR Fandom In A Nutshell
If there’s one word I’d have to use to describe NASCAR’s fanbase, it’s “passionate”—and far more so than my deep-seated joy for warm tortillas and queso. I’m talking flailing arms at the TV passion. Here you go: NASCAR in a nutshell. While other fanbases are often content to reason away...
Dec 26, 2025
What The Hell Is Going On At The Nürburgring?
What The Hell Is Going On At The Nürburgring?
It's been a pretty trying time here at the well-named Green Hell. Unless you've been locked away for the past week, you've most likely heard of Jann Mardenborough's here at the Nordschleife during the opening round of the Nürburgring Endurance Series, otherwise known as the VLN. Jann was driving the...
Dec 26, 2025
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved