BROOKLYN, Mich. — It’s not the kind of anniversary Dale Earnhardt Jr. enjoys celebrating.
NASCAR’s most popular driver heads to the track for today’s 400-mile race at Michigan International Speedway two years removed from his last trip to Victory Lane.
It’s been 71 races since Earnhardt memorably coaxed his No. 88 Chevrolet to the finish line at the 2-mile oval, alternately starting and then killing the engine to conserve enough fuel to reach the checkered flag under caution.
He hoped his first win at Hendrick Motorsports would be the start of big things. Instead, it’s been two years of mostly big headaches.
Earnhardt missed the Chase for the championship last year and is in danger of missing out again this fall. He’s 16th in points with 12 races remaining in the regular season.
Yet Earnhardt is surprisingly upbeat.
“With everything that I’ve been through since I won my last race, I can honestly tell you … this weekend I’ll get in the car . . . and I firmly believe in what the team is going to do,” said Earnhardt, who will start 27th.
Almirola top trucker.
Aric Almirola gambled to take the lead with seven laps to go, then held off Todd Bodine and Kyle Busch to win Saturday’s Truck Series race at Michigan International.
Logano likes Kentucky
SPARTA, Ky. — Joey Logano became the first Nationwide Series driver to win three consecutive races at the same track when starting from the pole as he won the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Speedway.
Footnotes.
Cory McClenathan secured his fourth No. 1 qualifier of the season when his quickest-ever pass in NHRA history a day earlier wasn’t threatened as qualifying concluded at the NHRA Supernationals in Englishtown, N.J. Robert Hight (funny car), Mike Edwards (pro stock) and Michael Phillips (pro stock motorcycle) also remained on top of their categories.
• McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton won his third straight Canadian Grand Prix pole for today’s race in Montreal, snapping Red Bull’s season-opening streak at seven.
Today’s races
NASCAR SPRINT CUP Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400
Site: Brooklyn, Mich.
TV: 10 a.m., TNT.
Track: Michigan International Speedway (oval, 2 miles).
Race distance: 400 miles, 200 laps.
Next race: Toyota/Save Mart 350, June 20, Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, Calif.
Online:
FORMULA ONE Canadian Grand Prix
Site: Montreal.
TV: 10 a.m., Fox.
Track: Circuit Gilles Villeneuve (road course, 2.71 miles).
Race distance: 189.7 miles, 70 laps.
Next race: European Grand Prix, June 27, Valencia street circuit, Valencia, Spain.
Online:
NHRA FULL THROTTLE NHRA Supernationals
Site: Englishtown, N.J.
TV: 2 p.m., ESPN2 (tape).
Track: Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.
Next event: NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, June 18-20, Bristol Dragway, Bristol, Tenn.
Online:
