Dale Earnhardt Jr. ends South Carolina 400 early from P2 due to fuel pump issue

Tell me if you have heard this before – Dale Earnhardt Jr. was charging to a potential win but a mechanical issue took him out of the race. Once again, Dale Jr. was in the Budweiser No. 8 Chevy and once again, gremlins got the best of him in the South Carolina 400.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. did not qualify well. He had to rely on the promoter’s provisional to get him into the finale. But he did the most with the extra chance he was given.

Racing from the back of the field, Dale Jr. charged from 40th place to get to P2 by the time the halfway break came up. After that break, things went south.

With 30 laps to go, Earnhardt hit pit road. His fuel pump was failing and they couldn’t get it running again. So, it was a DNF for Earnhardt on a wild night at Florence Motor Speedway.

🥲 A fuel pump issue ends @DaleJr’s night early. pic.twitter.com/httiGTHTM9

— NASCAR Regional (@NASCARRegional) November 24, 2024

Despite technical issues with the broadcast, it was quite a show. Seeing that car and that driver move up through the field like it was 2004 all over again – chills.

This felt a lot like Earnhardt’s run at Bristol in 2023. It looked like he was going to be able to contend for a win. Even though he barely races anymore, Junebug was keeping up with the young guys and regulars.

Then, it was over. Treyten Lapcevich, the young NASCAR Canada champion, was too good. Dale Earnhardt Jr. may have been the only driver capable of catching Lapcevich. It was not meant to be. P28 for Earnhardt. Check out the full results here.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. comes up short, Lapcevich wins

At one point, Treyten Lapcevich, 20, was running away from Dale Earnhardt Jr., 50. Two completely different generations of racers competing against each other at a high level. It was fantastic.

Lapcevich came to America to race in NASCAR. He won the Canada championship as a teenager and he wants more. His brother, Cayden, also won the Canada championship as a teen, but is now a crew chief in ARCA.

The CARS Tour is giving Lapcevich and other young drivers a platform to be discovered. Driving for Chad Bryant Racing, Lapcevich has made the most of his 2024 season.

After watching Lapcevich in the CARS Tour and other late model races this season, he deserves a NASCAR ride. Even just a few starts here and there. He is still very young and has time, but he is going to make an owner look very smart when they end up signing him to a deal in the Truck or Xfinity Series.