Dale Earnhardt, Jr. Finishes Second In Atlanta

After a disappointing run in the Daytona 500 last weekend, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. left the Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend with a second place finish, reported Sporting News. Earnhardt finished right behind Jimmie Johnson, who won the race and tied the 76-win record set by Dale Earnhardt, Sr. in the NASCAR Cup series. Jeff Gordon also reached this important milestone before retiring from the sport last year.

Earnhardt, Jr. told reporters he views Johnson as a “phenomenal talent,” and said he didn’t know who had won the race until he got out of the car Sunday in Atlanta.

“I knew this day was coming, but I didn’t know it until we got out of the car. I’m glad if he’s going to win and tie that record, I’m certainly glad that I got to run second today.”

The strong finish in Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 is exactly what Earnhardt, Jr. was looking to accomplish in Atlanta, reported Fox News. He qualified 16th and spent most of the race just inside or just behind the top five, finishing second after he picked off four spots on the final restart with just two laps remaining.

“I feel like for me personally it was great because of how we did last week in Daytona….We don’t need to cut it close on points.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBnDTT510CE

Earnhardt also told reporters his team felt it was “critical” to rebound in Sunday’s race, especially since logging two bad finishes back-to-back could have put them in a hole when it comes to points. As for his team, Earnhardt, Jr.’s second year crew chief Greg Ives was also feeling relieved after finishing in second at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

“We all stayed calm. We communicated well. The pit crew did a great job of just staying solid. Dale as well, knowing when to save tires and when to go.”

Still, Sunday was Johnson’s day, and Earnhardt was enthusiastic in support of his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, according to Sporting News.

“It was awesome… I told him on a couple occasions when he tied daddy, he’d better say something cool, and he’d better tell them that it’s awesome for him to tie him, because I know Jeff had the flag out and all that, so that was awesome when your competitors and peers recognize your father like that.”

Dale Earnhardt, Sr. won a total of 76 races throughout his full-time career, which began in 1979 and ended tragically with his death during the last lap of the Daytona 500 in 2001.

As a NASCAR Hall of Famer, Earnhardt, Sr. also took home seven titles throughout his career, compared to Johnson’s six Cup titles and 76 race wins since his career began in 2002. Earnhardt, Jr. said his father would have admired Johnson’s style and also emphasized that his teammate does not often receive the credit he deserves, reported Nascar.

“Knowing Jimmie Johnson and the way he operates, Dad would have loved Jimmie. He’s just a good guy.”

As for Johnson, he called it “such an honor” to tie with Earnhardt, Sr. and talked about a “huge void” in his career, since he never got the opportunity to race with “The Intimidator.”

“I had to come by and throw a ‘three’ out the window to pay my respects to the man… At least I was able to tie his record.”

Johnson won four races during the 2015 season, including his 75th win at Texas last November, prompting many – including Dale Earnhardt, Jr. – to dub him the best driver of this generation.

[Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images]