 | | Earnhardt Jr. started 22nd on Saturday night, but steadily made his way through the field. Credit: Autostock |
By Ryan Smithson, NASCAR.COM
May 15, 2006
10:38 AM EDT (14:38 GMT)
DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Want to know how Dale Earnhardt Jr. was able to make it through the Dodge Charger 500? Ask a pharmacist.  |  | | Earnhardt Jr. spent some time in the infield care center Saturday at Darlington. Credit: CIA Stock Photo |
| |
| Dodge Charger 500 |
| Results |
| Pos. |
Driver |
Make |
| 1. |
Greg Biffle |
Ford |
| 2. |
Jeff Gordon |
Chevy |
| 3. |
Matt Kenseth |
Ford |
| 4. |
Jimmie Johnson |
Chevy |
| 5. |
Dale Earnhardt Jr. |
Chevy |
| 6. |
Ryan Newman |
Dodge |
| 7. |
Kyle Busch |
Chevy |
| 8. |
Mark Martin |
Ford |
| 9. |
Jeff Burton |
Chevy |
| 10. |
Denny Hamlin |
Chevy |
|
|
 |
Earnhardt Jr. battled flu symptoms all weekend, but a healthy dose of Zithromax made him feel better, and he wound up fifth Saturday night at Darlington. Earnhardt Jr. could barely speak after 500 hard miles, but his car handled well. His Chevrolet spent 275 laps in the top 10 after starting a lackluster 22nd, but he could hardly draw his voice above a whisper after shouting over the engine for four hours. "I was sick when I got here and I went to the infield care center and they helped me out a little bit, but shouting into the mic tore my voice up a little bit," said Earnhardt Jr., who moved from sixth to fifth in the series standings. "I was going to finish the race no problem. Just [shouting] over the motor tore my voice up. I didn't know if they could hear me or not. "I told them to maybe have [a driver] on standby just in case, but I wasn't planning on getting out." Earnhardt Jr. didn't lead any laps -- he was the only top-five finisher to fail to do so -- but he said he wasn't really worried with catching the leaders. "I don't worry about who is up front, I just watch the guys behind us and whether they are coming or not," said Earnhardt Jr, who was gunning for back-to-back wins for the first time in his Nextel Cup career. "That is sort of my style." Darlington is always a welcome stop for Earnhardt Jr. -- he was eighth here last year -- but the race's length and constant wheel-handling left him exhausted. "It was a tough race. It's hard," said Earnhardt Jr. "I am tired [here] whether I am sick or not." | 
