The team, car number and sponsors colours may be unfamiliar but the roar from the grandstands was just as loud as ever as Earnhardt Jr swept into the lead and although pressure from behind, notably from the Toyota’s of Stewart and Dave Blaney, was constant, the #88 Chevrolet was able to stay ahead of the pack throughout the remainder of the first 20-lap segment.
The first segment ended under caution when Bill Elliott suffered a right front puncture in the #21 Wood Brothers Ford, damaging the teams’ second car in as many days and with every one of the competing teams still learning about tyre wear in race conditions everyone was glad of the opportunity to make their way onto pit road for the ten minute break and a fresh set of Goodyears.
The final 50-lap dash began with Earnhardt Jr edging clear of the impressive BDR Toyota of Blaney although it was Carl Edwards who was next to take the lead courtesy of a classic slingshot style move down the back straight. Edwards’ momentum only kept him ahead for a lap before Dale Jr returned the favour before the caution flags came out again for Jamie McMurray’s sideswipe of the turn four wall.
When green flag racing resumed Earnhardt Jr continued to utilise the high line to his advantage as he kept the pursuing train at bay although both Stewart and Dale Jr’s new teammate Jeff Gordon did manage to poke their noses ahead for at least one lap as the race moved towards its final 20 laps.
Just as drivers were contemplating a green flag pitstop the yellows were out again as Gilliland blew a right front tyre coming off turn four, smacking the wall and causing a chain reaction behind that saw Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr and Greg Biffle all run into each other. All bar Kahne chose to call it a day there and then.
![Dale Earnhardt Jr, Hendrick Motorsport Chevrolet. [Pic Credit image.net]](http://pix.crash.net/thumbs/405535.jpg)
