Race: Daytona 400 at Daytona International Speedway
Track Specs: 2.5-mile superspeedway / 160 laps
Weather: Cloudy, 77 degrees
Race Winner: Brad Keselowski
Dale Jr.’s Finish: 21st
Dale Earnhardt Jr. recorded a 21st-place finish in Saturday night’s 400-mile NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway after sustaining damage in a lap-90 crash that collected 22 cars. The No. 88 team leaves Daytona 13th in the series standings through 17 of 26 regular-season races.
Early in the 160-lap race, Earnhardt dropped back while providing crew chief Greg Ives updates on the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet’s handling. After the team’s first pit stop, Earnhardt restarted 23rd at lap 26, but quickly worked his way through the pack, climbing into the top 10 for the first time at lap 40. He raced his way as high as sixth before reporting a very loose race car over a long green-flag stint. The condition forced Earnhardt to slide back outside the top 20 once again until Ives and the crew had an opportunity to make adjustments.
As the field raced towards turn one on lap 90, Jamie McMurray and Jimmie Johnson made contact near the front of the pack, triggering a 22-car pileup. The accident all four Hendrick Motorsports cars, including Earnhardt, who suffered the least amount of damage. The No. 88 Chevrolet suffered minor damage to the nose, as well damage on both rear quarter-panels. Ives oversaw diligent repair work by the Nationwide team as Earnhardt brought the car to pit road multiple times before the race resumed.
Having the damage, Earnhardt was unable to make the moves he needed in the latter stages of the race as he managed to hang with the lead pack, but could not charge back inside the top 10. At the end of the night, the No. 88 crossed the line 21st.
Brad Keselowski held off Kyle Busch to capture his third victory of the season. Trevor Bayne, Joey Logano and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rounded out the top five.