Guys, why did Dale Earnhardt Inc. lose its restrictor-plate edge to Hendrick?
David Newton: Not so sure DEI lost something as much as Hendrick Motorsports gained a lot. The DEI cars were pretty strong this weekend when they weren’t in the wall. Ryan Smithson: For some reason, DEI was better on the plate tracks when it had three teams, even though only two of those ran well on the plate tracks. Marty Smith: Without question. Gordon and Vickers ran up front all day, and Johnson emerged at the end. Dave Rodman: They aren’t off by much, but it doesn’t take too much to be in the position they’re in. Ryan Smithson: Earnhardt Jr. had a good car, but that thing would not run when he got to the front. Dave Rodman: What Tony Eury Jr. said about a slight engine shortcoming might have come true. Marty Smith: It certainly wasn’t typical Junior at ‘Dega. He likes to get out there and lead every dadgum lap, and he just couldn’t get up there.
