Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the 2006 Crown Royal 400 at Richmond International Raceway, scoring his 17th NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory in his 229th career start. Earnhardts last victory came at Chicagoland Speedway in July 2005, 28 races ago.
Four of Earnhardts 17 victories have come on a short track, including three at Richmond. Earnhardts first shorttrack victory came at Richmond in his rookie season (2000).
Earnhardt became the seventh different race winner in 2006.
Earnhardt became the first repeat race winner in the 10 races at Richmond since September 2001.
Earnhardt scored his fourth top-10 finish in 10 races this season.
He climbed from eighth to sixth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. After 10 races in 2005, he ranked ninth in the point standings.
Earnhardt moved to 38th on NASCARs all-time winners list tied with Jeff Burton, Marvin Panch, and Curtis Turner.
Earnhardt led three times for 47 laps, including the final 45 laps, in the Crown Royal 400 at Richmond.
Earnhardt has won a race each season 2000-2006, seven consecutive years.
This was team owner Teresa Earnhardts (DEI) 23rd NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victory. DEI has scored three NASCAR NEXTEL Cup victories at Richmond.
DEI has won at least one race each season 2000-06, seven consecutive years.
Notebook Items
Kevin Harvick led the most laps for the only the sixth time in his career. Harvick led 272 laps, the most laps that he has led in a race in his NASCAR NEXTEL Cup career.
The last time Harvick led the most laps in a race was at Dover in September 2003, when he led 133 of the 400-lap race. Harvick has won only one of the six races in which he led the most laps: Chicagoland (July 2001).
Raybestos Rookie-of-the-Year contender Denny Hamlin (second) posted his career-best finish. It is his third top-10 finish in 2006. This was his first race at Richmond International Raceway.
Kevin Harvick (third) scored his fifth top-10 finish in 2006, all in the last six races. It was his fifth top-10 finish in 11 races at Richmond. Harvick climbed from seventh to fifth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings.
Greg Biffle (fourth) scored his fourth top-10 finish in eight races at Richmond International Raceway, all in his last four races here. He climbed from 23rd to 20th in the point standings. One year ago he ranked third after 10 races.
Kyle Busch (fifth) scored his third top-five finish in three races at Richmond. It was his fifth top-10 finish in 2006. He climbed from ninth to eighth in the point standings. One year ago he ranked 27th after 10 races.
At least one of the Raybestos Rookie-of-the Year contenders has scored a top-15 finish in every race this season.
Dave Blaney (20th) extended a 28-race streak of running at the finish that began at Pocono last June and is the longest current streak.(NASCAR Statistical Services)(5-6-2006)
