Last week Talladega hosted it’s first Cup race of the 2024 season and it featured multiple chaotic moments. All of the crashes came in the last stage, including the bog one that decided the race result. Race leader Michael McDowel took out half the field after he wrecked following a bad double block and Tyler Reddick took the opportunity to secure the win.
While talking about the race, Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. who is a six-time winner at the track, recalled two of the most heart-breaking loss he had at the track. Junior is the second most successful driver at Dega, alongside Jeff Gordon. Seven times Cup champion and Dale Jr.’s father Dale Earnhardt is the most successful at the track with 10 victory lane visits.
Junior revealed that the first loss at Dega that hurt him came in 2004. He lost the event to Jeff Gordon, after a late race spin by Brian Vickers. The second loss came at the same track in 2015, when Joey Logano stole the win from him, after a late race wreck resulted in a caution flag. Junior was close to taking the lead when the crash happened.
The two that jump out right away are the losing Talladega to Jeff Gordon when Vickers spun in the middle of the corner…The other one is the loss to Joey Logano. The same thing. Get the restart, I’m going by Joey … Talladega, 2015. I’m going by Joey, I’ve got him and there’s a wreck behind me and they’re like, ‘Feel frozen’.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. said via Dale Jr. Download.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. loved how fans bashed Jeff Gordon over the win
For the Junior nation, the loss to Gordon wasn’t easy to digest and they were quick to showcase their frustration. They threw beer cans at the Hendrick Motorsports No:24 Chevy at turn-3 and turn-4 . Jordan had to race pass the two turns to avoid the cans and Junior was happy to see those, due to his frustration.
I'm in the act of I'm side drafting the #24 and I'm going by him, no question. And the caution comes out and in that moment and they say, 'He's ahead,' when we're in turn 3 and 4. And they threw all the beer cans at Jeff which I loved and he, instead of getting up by the fence so the cans would not hit the car, he pulled farther away so it could get over. Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.
Talladega has always seen controversial finishes, and Junior being the most consistent driver their meant, he was often there at the front. There were situations over the years, Junior was also at the fortunate side of things.
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