Race: AAA Drive For Autism 400 at Dover International Speedway
Track Specs: 1 mile / 400 laps
Weather: Chilly, clear
Race Winner: Matt Kenseth
Dale Jr.’s Finish: 32nd
A monster crash with 45 laps to go collected Dale Earnhardt Jr. and 17 other drivers, ending the day for the No. 88 Nationwide team early and relegating it to a 32nd-place finish in the AAA Drive For Autism 400 at Dover International Speedway.
The crash happened on a restart on lap 355 of 400. Jimmie Johnson, who had just taken the lead with pit strategy, was unable to get his No. 48 out of gear when the green flag waved. Unable to accelerate, Johnson bottlenecked the field as cars piled into the back of each other. The domino effect littered the track with wrecked race cars. Earnhardt Jr., in 20th, avoided the first wave of carnage by driving low, and he nearly cleared the second wave by sweeping to the high side before Casey Mears’ sliding race car planted directly into the No. 88’s left side panel.
It was Earnhardt Jr.’s third DNF (did not finish) of the year.
Prior to the wreck the day wasn’t necessarily a good one. Earnhardt Jr. had started on the front row but battled the handling of the No. 88 all day. The team climbed as high as third by way of a two-tire stop on lap 214 but couldn’t maintain the position. Earnhardt restarted fifth on lap 230, 13th on lap 293, and 23rd on lap 301. Crew chief Greg Ives had just made his biggest adjustment of the afternoon under the ninth caution – inserting a rubber in the right-rear spring – and Earnhardt Jr. was set to race the final 45 laps from the 20th position before the wreck on the restart knocked him out of the race.
Earnhardt Jr. was taken to the infield care center and released.
Matt Kenseth won the race, beating Kyle Larson. Hendrick Motorsports rookie Chase Elliott finished third.