Earnhardt Jr's miserable start of the season continues as he failed to finish in the top 10 for the fourth time in five races -- not at all what was expected in his second season with the most successful team in NASCAR over the past 15 years.
The driver said a poor qualifying run on Friday was largely responsible for his finish.
"It was all right but we need to run better than that," Earnhardt said. "We qualified so poorly, I made a real big mistake in qualifying. We had a pretty good car, we just needed track position.''
For Earnhardt's teammates, Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin, the results were their season's-best finishes through the first five races of the year. Martin in particular needed a strong run after two engine failures and blown tire in the prior three races left him in serious danger of falling out of the top 35 in points.
The driver said a poor qualifying run on Friday was largely responsible for his finish.
"It was all right but we need to run better than that," Earnhardt said. "We qualified so poorly, I made a real big mistake in qualifying. We had a pretty good car, we just needed track position.''
For Earnhardt's teammates, Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin, the results were their season's-best finishes through the first five races of the year. Martin in particular needed a strong run after two engine failures and blown tire in the prior three races left him in serious danger of falling out of the top 35 in points.