Why Did NASCAR Not Give Jr. His Lap Back?

Question

On the end when the caution came out for Kurt Busch's debris, Dale jr. was the first cap a lap down. But someone else got the Lucky Dog. And then, somehow he went 2 laps down. Dale Jarrett even said "I don't know about that scoring monitor"

Did I miss something?

Answer 1

It confused me too, Jr. was on my fantasy team and was rooting for him since Sadler's belt came loose. The only thing I can think of is if a car quickly passed him before the debris or the leaders lapped another car.

Answer 2

He was not the first car on off the lead lap. the leaders had just passed another driver. Maybe jr. should not have passed 5 cars before the race started. So if there's any blame, blame jr. for not following the rulebook. I'm glad that nascar finally used the real rulebook instead of the jr. only rulebook.

Answer 3

nascar conspiracy

Answer 4

If I'm not mistaken, someone in the booth said that Jr had already went 2 laps down before that caution. I assume that is why he didn't get his lap back.

Answer 5

i believe they said that they didn't know who would get the lucky dog as kurt busch was supposedly next in line, and they weren't sure he was eligible since the debris blew off his car. and according to the "lap-by-lap" recap of bristol on nascar.com kurt busch did get the free pass that caution: http://www.nascar.com/2008/races/lapbyla...

i believe that even though dale jr. was running up front on that inside line most restarts, he had gone two laps down and was hoping to get one back, which he would have if there were no cars one lap down. but at some point raines, menard, then kurt busch must have been passed, so kurt got the lap back and junior stayed two laps down - at least according to the final results: http://www.nascar.com/races/cup/2008/24/...

and yes, according to the lap-by-lap page, "Lap 449 -- Kyle Busch puts Dale Earnhardt Jr. two laps down."

Answer 6

I guess Busch was lapping so many other cars that he couldn't ever get his lap back. I feel sorry for him, that black flag ruined his night.