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closeMiscue costly for Earnhardt Jr.
DAVID POOLE, dpoole@charlotteobserver.com
Sunday, Mar. 11, 2007
LAS VEGAS -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. was running toward the front pretty much all day until a simple mistake knocked him out of a top-10 finish.
When Kasey Kahne wrecked on Lap 251, Earnhardt Jr. followed Jeff Burton onto pit lane. Burton, however, had a problem with his car and was pitting before pit road was open because he needed to have the problem addressed despite the penalty he would draw.
Earnhardt Jr. was merely coming in for fresh tires and simply didn’t notice the red light indicating pit road wasn’t open. He was put back to 13th for the restart with 11 laps to go an only made it back up to 11th.
“I didn’t even think if it was closed or open,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “The No. 31 (Burton) was coming in and I was thinking he was on the lead lap with me. I’m thinking he’s thinking what I’m thinking – let’s get tires and try to win.
“But we had a good car and I am real proud of that. I must happy we got to finish one finally.” Earnhardt Jr. wrecked at Daytona and lost an engine at California. He moved up 12 spots from 40th to 28th in the points with Sunday’s result.
| TRACK FACTS Date Opened: June 25, 1996 First NWCS Race: Las Vegas 400, March 1, 1998 Qualifying Record: Kasey Kahne, 174.904 mph (30.874 sec.), 3/5/04 Race Record: Mark Martin, 146.554, 3/1/98 Chairman: O. Bruton Smith Executive VP & GM: Chris Powell Phone: (702) 644-4444 Tickets: (702) 644-4443 Shipping Address: 7000 Las Vegas Blvd. North Las Vegas, NV 89115 Mailing Address: 7000 Las Vegas Blvd. North Las Vegas, NV 89115 |
TRACK CONFIGURATION Distance: 1.5 Mile Oval Banking in Turns 1-4: 12º Banking on Frontstretch: 9º Banking on Backstretch: 3º Length of Frontstretch: 2,275 ft. Length of Backstretch: 1,572 ft. Grandstand Seating: 126,000 Miles/Laps: 400 mi. = 267 laps |