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Food City 500 2016: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s car fails to start at green flag

By Charles Rahrig V

Apr 16, 2016; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) drives during practice for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2016; Bristol, TN, USA; NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. (88) drives during practice for the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dale Earnhardt Jr. had issues with the ECU on his car at the start of the 2016 Food City 500.

When the green flag waves during a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, every driver is ready to hit full speed and comes roaring past the starting line to the delight of every fan. On Sunday, as the drivers of NASCAR came flying past the starting line, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was driving as if he’s a school zone.

Earnhardt Jr.’s car failed to start at the starting line and he was passed by every single driver much to everyone’s confusion. Earnhardt Jr. would then have to maneuver his way down to pit road without causing an accident.

"Things go south early for #DaleJr. He’s now two laps down at @BMSupdates. It’s early … he can make it up here. https://t.co/39wGITuuQA— FOX SPORTS: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) April 17, 2016"

It turns out that Earnhardt Jr. had an issue with the electronic control unit, otherwise known as the ECU. This meant that his car didn’t have any power and that’s why his car refused to take off at the start of the race.

It’s even worse news for Earnhardt Jr., because he dropped multiple laps down on the very first lap and with no caution in sight, there was no guaranteeing he would gain any ground on the track.

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