Dale Earnhardt, Jr. joined Hendrick Motorsports at the beginning of the 2008 NASCAR season and was looking to take his new ride to Victory Lane when the Sprint Cup Series arrived at Michigan International Speedway in mid-June.

Qualifying rained out setting the field by owner points which put Kyle Busch and Jeff Burton on the front row with Dale, Jr. and Carl Edwards in row two.

Kyle Busch took the early lead with Jimmie Johnson moving to second by the time the first caution flew on lap three for Dave Blaney’s spin on the backstretch.

Johnson overtook Busch on the restart and led until Brian Vickers blasted from his 18th starting position to the front on lap 34. Johnson and Vickers traded the top spot with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. joining the party at the front on lap 39.

Michael Waltrip, Vickers, Kenseth, Edwards and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. continued to swap the lead until a caution for debris on lap 92 bunched the field. Edwards took on two-tires and was in command on the restart. Holding on at the front past halfway, Edwards gave way to his Roush teammate Kenseth who led until lap 137.

Dale, Jr. was back out front on lap 138 as a number of drivers took their turn at the helm throughout the next 45 laps.

Late in the race Johnson and Sam Hornish, Jr. stayed out but their lead was cut short with 17 to go when they pitted for fuel giving the lead back to Brian Vickers.

With ten laps remaining Earnhardt, Jr. ran third behind David Ragan and A. J. Allmendinger. Jamie McMurray passed Earnhardt for the lead with six to go but Dale, Jr. took it back on lap 196 of the scheduled 200-lap race that went into overtime. The yellow was displayed the next time around on lap 197 setting the race up for a green-white-checkered finish. Knowing they would probably run the tank dry Dale, Jr. and crew chief Tony Eury, Jr. elected to stay out and gamble. Jr. turned his engine off and coasted during the caution period to save fuel.

The race restarted on lap 201 with Earnhardt in front and holding off Kasey Kahne as they took the white flag and the caution being displayed almost simultaneously. Dale, Jr. was able to coast back to the finish line and break a 76-race winless streak.

Kahne finished second followed by Kenseth, Vickers and Tony Stewart.

"I can understand how it might look, especially if you're not Dale Jr. fans, I know exactly what they're going to say Monday”, Junior said in Victory Lane.

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