Busch Series outing disappointing for Earnhardt

CONCORD, N.C. -- As Dale Earnhardt Jr. emerged from his battered car Saturday at Lowe's Motor Speedway, he was visibly dejected.

He'd just totaled the No. 3 Chevrolet, a far different outcome from the last time he drove a Richard Childress-owned Busch Series machine. He dominated the season-opening GNC/Live Well 300 at Daytona, leading the most laps en route to Victory Lane.

Though his second foray into Busch Series competition this year produced different results, Earnhardt was a threat to win Saturday. He started 11th, but after 50 laps had moved to third. Then, running in the top ten on lap 84, he and Michael Waltrip got together exiting Turn 4.

Earnhardt got sideways, hit Bobby Hamilton Jr., then continued down the track into Mark Green before shooting up the track and backwards into the outside wall.

"I was going through the corner and car got out from under me," said Earnhardt, who finished 36th in the final running order, 117 laps down. "We were just trying to get past them guys. I was trying to be patient."

Few were following suit, according to Green.

"Guys are out there like they're running at South Boston," Green said. "They're going 180 mph and they're jacking people up, rooting and gouging and banging. Junior is one of the best drivers around and someone jacked him up and he couldn't hang onto it."

Waltrip, who finished second to Junior at Daytona, took the blame for the accident. Coursing the track under caution, Waltrip radioed his crew, telling them he'd inadvertently hit Earnhardt. Junior, however, wasn't upset with his Winston Cup teammate.

"Michael had a lot of pressure behind him that I could see," Earnhardt said. "I'm not too upset about that. We had a good car, and I want to thank Richard Childress and Bobby Hutchens and all the guys that have helped us run these two races.

"It's been a lot of fun for me to drive for Richard. I've really enjoyed it. Tough luck today, but we've had a lot of fun overall."

Earnhardt wasn’t the only driver who suffered from bad luck Saturday. Overall, the race included nine cautions for 41 laps, including a six-car melee just eight laps in.

Pole-sitter Ron Hornaday was caught up in a pair of cautions, the first on lap 24 when he spun in Turn 4. Then, on lap 107, he was involved in a multi-car accident that ended his day. He finished 91 laps down in 33rd position.