NASCAR

FOX Sports Exclusive

The Hot Pass: Earnhardt owns up to Daytona wreck

Share This Story

Lee Spencer

Lee Spencer is the senior NASCAR writer for FOXSports.com. She has provided award-winning coverage of auto racing over the last 15 years. Spencer has lent her expertise to both television and radio and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM Radio and the Performance Racing Network.

MORE>>
 
Updated Feb 20, 2009 10:49 PM ET
     
 

FONTANA, Calif.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. knew the media inquisition was coming at California. While he defended himself to the best of his ability under the bright lights of Daytona, Earnhardt's case didn't hold up with many of the press that watched the No. 88 Chevrolet turn right into the back of the No. 83 Toyota of Brian Vickers during the Great American Race last Sunday night. On Friday, Earnhardt reiterated that the move that triggered the 10-car melee on Lap 124 was "unintentional." However, with nearly a week to reflect on his actions, Earnhardt admitted, "I definitely could have used better judgment coming back on the racetrack. There was rain coming. I was a lap down. I had to get my lap back if I was going to try to win the race." While Earnhardt expressed remorse, at the end of the day, NASCAR's most prestigious trophy was on the line. "It is called a race," said Earnhardt, who qualified 35th on Friday for the Auto Club 500. "There always is urgency no matter what your situation is. It is the Daytona 500 and everybody knew we weren't going to get the whole race in. When there is no determined lap when you know it's going to be over with, you have to take all the risk, man. "It's a big race. So you race hard. I hate that they wrecked all the cars, and I hate that me and Brian had to get on bad terms with each other. Those things I regret, but I'm out there racing. I've made mistakes before, and it probably won't be the last one I make." Earnhardt put himself a lap down after two miscues on pit road, for which the driver accepted full responsibility. First, he missed his pit box entirely on Lap 57 and had to complete a full circuit before pitting again. Then Earnhardt was penalized one lap for pitting outside his box on Lap 121. He couldn't back the car up because the team already had it up on the jack. Despite the normal lines of communication that occur among the driver, spotter and crew chief to bring a driver into the pits, Earnhardt realizes his head was not in the game. "I just wasn't paying attention coming around on that second stop, when I missed my stall," Earnhardt said. "The next stop, that was unfortunate. We weren't on the line till I turned the tires to the right ... I take full responsibility for everything that happened on pit road. "There's nothing they can do better to help me. It's up to me to get the job done, which obviously I wasn't getting the job done. There was nothing they did wrong or weren't doing right or weren't doing enough. They were doing their job just fine. I was having too much fun, I guess." But it wasn't a lot of fun for Vickers, either. "Obviously the way to move on from a controversy is to give them something else to talk about," said Vickers, who claimed the pole for Sunday's Auto Club 500. "So far we've done that this week in a positive way. "After what happened last week, controversy aside, the only thing that matters to me leaving Daytona is that we didn't collect the amount of points that we needed or wanted to collect to race for a championship. The best way we can resolve that this week is to come here and do the best we can — start on the pole, lead every lap and win the race." Junior's affable and engaging personality has elevated him to winning NASCAR's Most Popular Driver award for the last seven seasons. This past week, however, Earnhardt experienced what it felt like to be "ripped up quite a bit." "It was interesting to be on that side of the fence," Earnhardt said. "I'm not on this side too much. So it wasn't too bad. It will all turn around as quick as it blew up."

Weighed down

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson, who won the last two poles at Auto Club Speedway, blamed his favorite hometown haunt after losing the pole by 0.059 seconds to his Thursday night dining buddy, Vickers.

The ones to watch

Fontana weekend Who are the favorites to win at Auto Club Speedway this weekend? Lee Spencer breaks down the field.
"It was a good lap. I missed one and two a little bit and I think that kind of hurt me in the end. The only other thing I can think of is Vickers and I went to In-N-Out Burger last night and I had the double-double and he had a single. So for 5/100 of a second, I guess that extra patty killed me." It turned out that Vickers was the one who was hurt. The Red Bull Racing Team confirmed late Friday evening that they switched engines on Vickers' No. 83 Toyota, forcing him to the rear of the field at the start of Sunday's race. Vickers will get credit for the pole, but third-place qualifier Jamie McMurray will move up to the top position at the start of the race.

Teamwork wins

Following what Reed Sorenson referred to as a "revolving door" of teammates at Chip Ganassi Racing, he finally found an organization where his fellow drivers all seem to be working toward a common goal — running up front and winning races. Sorenson, who joined Richard Petty Motorsports (the operation formerly known as Gillett Evernham Motorsports), assisted both Elliott Sadler and AJ Allmendinger over the course of Daytona Speedweeks and ultimately finished ninth behind those two teammates last Sunday. However, he realizes the potential the operation has moving forward. "Kasey (Kahne) is the leader of our team and we depend on him," said Sorenson, who qualified 17th on Friday. "With Elliott and AJ, this is probably better (support) than I've ever had and hopefully can use as the year goes on. "I think the teamwork is definitely going to be an advantage for our team. Where I was before ... David (Stremme) was there and he left, Juan (Pablo Montoya) came in, Casey (Mears) was there and left, Sterling (Marlin) left and Jamie (McMurray) left. We were all good friends, but it was hard to use all of us together to have teamwork as far as getting all the teams together and figure out how to get fast. I feel like the teamwork here is going to be great." Kahne is complimentary toward his new teammates Sorenson and Allmendinger. But he feels a renewed sense of determination with Petty on board. "He's just a cool guy that's done a ton in this sport," Kahne said. "He's a good guy to have on your side. From my side and I think everybody that sees him at the shop walking around, he's an icon. Now that he hangs out there and is part of our teams, it's exciting and fun. It gives everybody a good attitude. "Reed is new here and doesn't know what it was like before, but I would say as far as competition and things go, it is similar. They've had their ideas and have been working on them to perfect them. Now with Richard there, it's good and will benefit us throughout this whole year and in the future."
Tagged: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

More Stories From Lee Spencer

Fantasy Auto Racing


Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

NASCAR Videos

Back in the Sadler Posted: Feb 11, 2012
Elliott Sadler discusses his new ride for the Daytona 500.

DW remembers Earnhardt Posted: Feb 10, 2012
NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip reflects on Dale Earnhardt, Sr. and previews the D...

NASCAR Drive for Diversity Posted: Feb 09, 2012
Meet the new class for NASCAR's 2012 Drive for Diversity Team.

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Jeff Gordon Black Low Rider Adjustable Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Jeff_Gordon/browse/featuredproduct/603017/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_603000/ff_603017_xl.jpg&w=100 21.95 Jeff Gordon Black Low Rider Adjustable Hat
    Juan Pablo Montoya Black Black Out Adjustable Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Juan_Pablo_Montoya/browse/featuredproduct/603057/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_603000/ff_603057_xl.jpg&w=100 21.95 Juan Pablo Montoya Black Black Out Adjustable Hat
    Joey Logano Orange Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Joey_Logano/browse/featuredproduct/603115/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_603000/ff_603115_xl.jpg&w=100 21.95 Joey Logano Orange Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat
    Checkered Flag Juan Pablo Montoya Red Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Juan_Pablo_Montoya/browse/featuredproduct/603117/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_603000/ff_603117_xl.jpg&w=100 21.95 Checkered Flag Juan Pablo Montoya Red Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat
    Dale Earnhardt Jr. Royal Blue Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Dale_Earnhardt_Jr/browse/featuredproduct/616723/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_616000/ff_616723_xl.jpg&w=100 21.95 Dale Earnhardt Jr. Royal Blue Exhaust Flames Adjustable Hat
    Chase Authentics Jeff Burton Holiday Driver T-Shirt - Black http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Jeff_Burton/browse/featuredproduct/731363/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_731000/ff_731363_xl.jpg&w=100 23.95 Chase Authentics Jeff Burton Holiday Driver T-Shirt - Black
    Chase Authentics Jeff Burton 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Jeff_Burton/browse/featuredproduct/731374/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_731000/ff_731374_xl.jpg&w=100 23.95 Chase Authentics Jeff Burton 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black
    Chase Authentics Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Dale_Earnhardt_Jr/browse/featuredproduct/731376/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_731000/ff_731376_xl.jpg&w=100 23.95 Chase Authentics Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black
    Chase Authentics Kevin Harvick 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Kevin_Harvick/browse/featuredproduct/731378/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_731000/ff_731378_xl.jpg&w=100 23.95 Chase Authentics Kevin Harvick 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black
    Chase Authentics Matt Kenseth 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Matt_Kenseth/browse/featuredproduct/731380/source/prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_731000/ff_731380_xl.jpg&w=100 23.95 Chase Authentics Matt Kenseth 2012 Driver Schedule T-Shirt - Black
Microsoft© 2012 Microsoft