Driver: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Car: No. 88 Diet Mountain Dew Paint the 88/National Guard Chevrolet
Track: Martinsville Speedway (Oct. 30, 2011)
Bio: Things were looking good for Dale Earnhardt Jr. on a bright fall afternoon at Martinsville. Starting ninth in the Tums Fast Relief 500, securely inside the Chase, Earnhardt Jr. looked forward to having a chance at the grandfather clock that goes to the winner at Martinsville.
It lasted eight laps.
Heading into Turn 1, Earnhardt Jr. dived under Kurt Busch and smacked the curb. That shot his car into Busch’s and the latter spun, stacking up half the field. Earnhardt Jr. spun as well and wound up watching most of the field drive by as he attempted to get righted and on his way. Once to the pits, it was determined that the splitter had separated from the body, and would impact his race the rest of the day.
It’s a long 500 laps, however, and Earnhardt Jr. got back on the lead lap before long. Running 19th on lap 151, Earnhardt Jr. cooked it a bit into Turn 3 and used up Joey Logano on the outside. That brought out a caution to end a long green-flag run. More repairs and service took place, and he began the long slog toward the front of the field.
Eventually, he got back in contention and by the end of the day was seventh when the checkered flag waved. It was a huge comeback for Earnhardt Jr., and he left rural Virginia ninth in points, 73 out of the lead.
The car, sparkling white with green Diet Mountain Dew flames on the side, was one of the best-looking of Earnhardt Jr.’s paint schemes to a lot of folks, and it still sparkles even though it is rarely seen in the Racecar Graveyard. It wears the marks of its mechanized combat at Martinsville proudly, too.