Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads but falls to a seventh place finish

Dale Earnhardt Jr. at the All-Star Race
Credit: Debbie Ross for Skirts and Scuffs

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was about to win a race and not just any race, it was the Coca-Cola 600. It's been since June 17, 2008, since his last win, 104 points races ago  Tonight, everyone would've celebrated. Junior Nation was heard in the stands, shouting loud and proud. Then there was silence as the No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet started to go slower and slower until reaching the checkered flag in 7th place.

Junior ran in second and restarted in the front row alongside Kasey Kahne. He took the lead and right around turn 4, he slowed down and suddenly ran out of fuel.

"We weren't supposed to make it," he told reporters, "we were going to run out of gas and we knew it."
"I'm disappointed we didn't win, but if we would have won, it would have been a gift."

Dale Jr. is still fourth in points. His win is going to come and although it hasn't happened yet, there is six months left of the season; there are more races left than what we've already raced.

"We ran good tonight," Dale Jr. said. "I'm real proud. We'll be around for a long time."