Earnhardt’s Michigan trip off to shaky start

Associated Press

BROOKLYN, Mich.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s return to Michigan isn’t off to a great start.

Earnhardt, who won at Michigan International Speedway in June to snap a four-year losing streak, will have to start from the back today in the NASCAR Sprint Cup race. He rubbed against the wall in practice Saturday and will need to go to a backup car.

“We were making some changes on the car and got the car too loose, and it just came out from under me in the corner,” Earnhardt said. “I probably was running harder than I should have been in practice.”

Series points leader Jimmie Johnson also will be in back because of an engine change.

Earnhardt tested his backup car at MIS in June.

“We know a lot about the car here at this particular track, where in most cases you don’t. So we have that going for us,” Earnhardt said. “We should be able to put a car out there that’s relatively in the ballpark. Other than just starting in the back, I don’t think that it’s hurt our chances too much.”

Johnson said his team discovered an issue before practice Saturday and decided to change the engine.

“We probably could have run some of this practice, but I think we had to change the engine regardless,” he said. “We didn’t want to oil the track or create an issue and crash our car.”

Johnson was third in qualifying Friday. Earnhardt was 22nd.

Earnhardt broke through at this track in June, winning for the first time in 144 Cup races. He’s fourth in the points standings and has nine top-five finishes, but lately he has had his share of problems.

He led the points race even after finishing 32nd at Pocono two weeks ago. Then last weekend at Watkins Glen, he was in the top 10 before a late spin sent him on his way to a 28th-place showing.