Bucket list: Earnhardt seeks win in Charlotte

CONCORD, N.C. >> Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s first childhood memories of Cup Series racing come from Charlotte Motor Speedway.

He remembers watching his famous father Dale Sr. tear up the track. He ran plastic Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough cars down a nearby dusty hill. He recalls his days as a teenager, breaking into the track with buddies and hotwiring golf carts until they were chased off by approaching headlights.

It’s the place where he’d finish running an Xfinity race and return to the Campus Connection apartment complex across the street and drink beer with his buddies until late into the night.

It’s also the track where he ran his first NASCAR Cup Series race — and won the 2000 All-Star race as a rookie.

But of all of the memories at Charlotte, one is strangely absent — a Cup Series points race victory.

The 42-year-old Earnhardt would like to change that in his final season as a NASCAR driver before stepping away for retirement. In fact, he wants to win the Coca-Cola 600 more than any other race remaining on the docket.

“I would love that, to win the 600,” Earnhardt said. “It’s an iconic event.”

There are others who’d like to see the sentimental favorite win this one. Seven-time Cup Series champion and teammate Jimmie Johnson has been doing everything he can this week to help Earnhardt reach victory lane.

Earnhardt’s best chance to win here came in 2011 when he ran out of gas on turn four of the final lap while leading the race.

Xfinity race

Ryan Blaney passed Kevin Harvick on a restart with three laps to go to win the Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Blaney went from last to first to earn his fifth career Xfinity race win. It was his first victory on the circuit since the 2015 season at Kentucky, a span of 14 races without a win.

Harvick’s tough luck at Charlotte continued. He has won 46 career Xfinity Series races, but has been shut out at Charlotte.