By Toby Christie, NASCAR Editor
It’s been an odd season for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Usually, if you’re an Earnhardt fan, you circle the restrictor plate races and Michigan on the schedule as places where the No. 88 is expected to contend for victory. At Daytona and Talladega earlier this year, Earnhardt just lost control of his car and crashed out of the events.
Sunday on lap 60 at Michigan Earnhardt suffered a similar fate as he slammed into the outside retaining wall at the exit of turn two. This crash was triggered when rookie Chris Buescher tagged Earnhardt’s rear quarterpanel, which sent Earnhardt sliding into AJ Allmendinger and into the wall.
“[Buescher] just lost the car and hit the quarter panel. It happens though,” Earnhardt explained. “I’m angry, but I won’t be too upset about it later. It’s frustrating right now because we had a good car and I was happy with the way the car drove.”
After hitting the wall, Earnhardt would then spin in front of the entire field, but luckily he wouldn’t receive another hard hit. He will however take a huge hit in the point standings, which is relevant because Earnhardt has yet to lock himself into the Chase as he is still in search of his first victory of the 2016 season. After a 39th place finish on Sunday, making the Chase on points will be a little bit harder for the driver of the No. 88.
