There’s been considerable backlash following yesterday’s controversial call at the end of the NASCAR CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. isn’t up in arms over how things played out.
With under 5 laps to go, Team Chevy’s Jamie McMurrray suffered an engine failure, which brought out a yellow flag as safety crews worked to clean the track. Under the first green-white checker restart, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Larson and others were involved in a minor wreck, bringing out another yellow before race leaders Joey Logano and Earnhardt Jr. could reach the start-finish.
The second restart was much the same, save for the fact that Logano and Earnhardt were able to reach the start-finish line under green flag conditions. After reviewing the footage, NASCAR determined Logano to be the winner, with his Ford crossing the finish line just inches ahead of Earnhardt Jr.’s Chevrolet.
If the multi-car wreck that ensued Sunday hadn’t happened or had happened at a different part of the track, Earnhardt Jr. says he likely would have been the winner. Speaking to NASCAR.com., the Hendrick Motorsports driver said he “couldn’t believe,” Logano gave him the bottom lane, which made him think he was “going to win the race for sure.”
Despite Earnhardt’s controversial loss he maintained his usual positive attitude post-race and said he has “100 percent faith,” in the choices NASCAR makes. Check out the interview above, and feel free to share your opinion on the race’s end in the comments below.
Comments
At the second restart, the yellow flag should have dropped way earlier.
Cars started to spin around well before the leading cars reached the start-finish line…
NASCAR is a joke these days. As boring as F1…
Well Earnhardt could not pass till they got past the finish line. The race was over when they started crashing and the cars past the line.
I too have been a long time NASCAR fan but the rules have driven me away.
I hate the chase as the best team, car and driver all season no longer always win. Someone like Lagano who just happens to be on a run at the end of the year can pull it off.
I hate the new finish rules where they make one attempt and still not run to the line. You have to finish what you started or there is no point.
If they want to fix this all they needed to do is put it on the shoulders of the drivers. You cause a crash on the last lap because of a driver sticking it in too hard some place you are parked the next race. These guys can run 187 laps with no crash and they can make it on the last if they held some fear of reprisal.
What should have been the best two laps of the race were nullified by the new rules.
If Old Man Earnhardt was still here I think he would be speaking out on this crap. Tony Stewart already has on the chase. I also think some of this has help play into Gordon’s retirement too. Just not worth the risk or effort anymore.
No longer does the best driver win.
Stinky finish. Still upsets me. Of course Logano crossed the start/finish ahead of Jr. He had earned the right to control when the real acceleration began…Can’t fault Joey for that. As a fan of Jr, who had worked his way to the front after an unscheduled tire change, it was exciting that he had earned a chance at victory. Because of NASCAR rules, Joey gets the jump at when the “start” actually begins. None of the cars are even up to speed when a car with a top speed of way under 100 mph causes another crash…Joey “wins” a fifty yard dash. With so much on the line –what a let down. I watch an entire race. Rooting for my boy. Wished I hadn’t even turned it on. Ugh :~(( Gotta say that I am very proud of Lil E for not crying about it (like I am). Very proud.
The real losers are the fans who paid to see a race.
That was not a race, it was a selection.