If only he could have been on the lead lap the entire race, Dale Earnhardt Jr. might have been a contender. In fact, he moved into the top 10 late in Sunday's race at Martinsville, but track position cost him in the end.
Earnhardt spun five laps into the STP 500 after contact with David Ragan caused his left-rear tire to go flat. He pitted under caution, losing a lap and then finding himself fighting to get back into position to contend for the remainder of the race.
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Ragan "pushed up in the middle of the corner and just barely touched us and it cut the left-rear tire," Earnhardt said.