Dale Earnhardt Jr., already battling a season notable for bad luck and several resulting bad finishes, will have an added challenge this weekend at Kansas Speedway, site of Saturday night’s Go Bowling 400 (FS1, 7 p.m. ET).
At Talladega Superspeedway last weekend, Earnhardt’s No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet failed pre-race inspection three times, which means he will lose 15 minutes of practice time on Friday and, more importantly, the team will lose the ability to select a pit stall.
Normally, pit stall selection is based on qualifying results, with the pole-sitting winner getting first choice.
Earnhardt comes into the Kansas race 25th in points in this, his final season before retiring.