Although Dale Earnhardt Jr led once for six laps and used tire strategy to run in the top 10 in the latter stages of Sunday's Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, once again mistakes were made that ultimately cost the Chevrolet No 88 driver once again a top finish.
Meanwhile, Dale Jr.'s teammates at Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin finished respectively first, second and sixth in the same race, creating a void between him and themselves in the Sprint Cup standings.
As it was the case in previous races, there was another mistake done on pit road, and then Earnhardt Jr. admitted it was his fault when he slid into the Turn 1 wall with 45 laps remaining.
After pitting, Jr. dropped from seventh to 22nd, one lap down, and he ended up 20th.
Earnhardt Jr. remained 16th in the Cup standings, with his third finish of 20th or worse in the first seven races.
photo:NASCAR - Getty Images
Meanwhile, Dale Jr.'s teammates at Hendrick Motorsports, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Mark Martin finished respectively first, second and sixth in the same race, creating a void between him and themselves in the Sprint Cup standings.
As it was the case in previous races, there was another mistake done on pit road, and then Earnhardt Jr. admitted it was his fault when he slid into the Turn 1 wall with 45 laps remaining.
After pitting, Jr. dropped from seventh to 22nd, one lap down, and he ended up 20th.
Earnhardt Jr. remained 16th in the Cup standings, with his third finish of 20th or worse in the first seven races.
photo:NASCAR - Getty Images