Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of the favorites to win today’s Daytona 500, took a spin down toward pit road in a late-race wreck on lap 170, just as teammate and pole-sitter Chase Elliott did in the early portions of the race.
Earnhardt has two Daytona 500 wins on his resume, and will not add to that today—the No. 88 car went into the garage, and team Hendrick Motorsports reports that the infield care center released Earnhardt shortly after the wreck. Of the four Hendrick Motorsports cars that started the race, two remain with just over 10 laps to go.
Earnhardt is OK, but some of the Junior Nation fanbase isn’t taking it as well:
There’s always next week, Junior Nation. And next year, if we’re talking about the Daytona 500.
Video via FOX
Contact the author at alanis.king@jalopnik.com.