Dale Earnhardt Jr. was chased by two police cars Wednesday – and when the chase ended he got a pack on the back and a handshake from the officers instead of a ticket. Earnhardt Jr. participated in a pursuit training exercise with the Roanoke Police Department on the Texas Motor Speedway infield road course. Earnhardt Jr., wheeling a silver 2005 Chevrolet Corvette, was the chase subject as Roanoke’s finest were in hot pursuit in fully loaded squad cars with the sirens blaring and lights flashing. Roanoke Lt. Robert Crawford, Officer James Johnson and Traffic Officer Gary Stroud joined Earnhardt Jr. during the simulation with Lt. Crawford and Officer Johnson driving the squad cars. Traffic Officer Stroud helped end the pursuit by pulling his vehicle across the road course to block Earnhardt Jr.’s path as well as throw down a “spike” strip to simulate an actual highway situation. Earnhardt Jr. admitted that this was the first time he has been involved in a police “chase.” Earnhardt Jr.’s pursuit ended with Traffic Officer Stroud blocking the road, and the NASCAR star then broke into a series of doughnuts in the ‘Vette, filling the speedway infield with tire smoke. “Doing doughnuts is always a good time,” Earnhardt Jr. said with a smile.(TMS PR)(9-1-2005)
