Summary:
Earnhardt finishes 8th in Japan
11-21-98
Dale Earnhardt finished eighth in the Coca-Cola 500 at
Twin Motegi, Japan. As usual all 3 Japanese drivers added some excitement to the
race by taking themselves out of contention. After the drivers pitted during the
second caution, Dale Jr. was 12th, while Sr. was 13th. But they did not pass each
other. After the drivers pitted during a caution on lap 73, Dale Sr. was 5th while
Jr. exited the pits in 3rd. Junior took the lead for less than a lap before losing
it. Around lap 100 the Earnhardts had a small battle and Jr. held off his dad for
the position. Earnhardt would later lead the race (around lap 139) because he was
the last driver to pit during a green-flap cycle of pit stops. Mike Skinner went on
to win the race. Junior finished sixth, Sr. was eighth. The Earnhardt Jr./Sr.
battle turned out to be a lot less significant than everyone had hoped it would be, but on
the bright side Earnhardt Jr. proved he is able to run well in a Winston Cup car.
Earnhardt qualifies 15th in Japan, Jr. is 9th 11-21-98
Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr., racing for the first time together
on the same track, qualified 15th and 9th, respectively.
"I sure would like to try it again,'' Dale Jr. said. "We have a whole lot
better race car than it shows on the board. You only get one lap, I wish I had two.''
The race begins at 10 p.m. EDT tonight.
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