Earnhardt scores first national series top-5 at Charlotte

By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer

CONCORD, N.C. – Despite feeling dizzy post-race, Jeffrey Earnahrdt was able to score his first top-five finish of his NASCAR career Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Earnhardt finished a hot, grueling 300-mile event at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the third position; however, the finish did not come with some adversity. On Lap 142, Earnhardt went for a spin in Turn 4.

“I kept flirting higher and higher,” Earnhardt said. “We kept getting better runs up there and making up time. It’s real rough getting up there in the corner. The car boggled a little bit and got loose. Once you’re up there, there is nowhere to chase it except into the wall.”

After fixing the damage and getting a lap back, Earnhardt raced with everything he had within him. For Earnhardt, there was no giving up as he was carrying a special paint scheme to honor Officer Sheldon of the Mooresville Police Department.

“It meant a lot to me knowing that I wasn’t going to lay down here,” he said. Having Officer Sheldon on the car meant a lot to me. I wanted to make him proud. I wasn’t about to lay down on the job. Hopefully, he is up there smiling down on us about our run.”

Despite finishing third being a huge deal, Earnhardt’s goal is to run to win races, which is what he signed on to do with Joe Gibbs Racing and Xtreme Concepts Racing.

“It’s huge,” he said. “We wanted to win. When we signed the deal to run these races with Joe Gibbs Racing and Xtreme Concepts Racing, my goal is to come out here and win races. I know we have the equipment to do it. We have to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. We showed we can fight strong even with overcoming adversity like we did. It’s a dream come true. I am having the time of my life this year.”

Earnhardt’s next race in the No. 18 Toyota Supra is next weekend at Pocono Raceway.