NASCAR Cup Series

Dale Earnhardt Jr. after running second at Texas: 'We need a win'

Published Apr. 10, 2016 1:57 a.m. ET

foxsports

Dale Earnhardt Jr. recovered from a loose wheel and a minor pit-road fire to finish second behind race-winner Kyle Busch in the Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

The runner-up run in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet matched Earnhardt's best finish of the year, which came at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a track that like TMS is about 1.5 miles in length.

The start of the Texas race was delayed by rain for nearly two hours, and after a long, hard night, Earnhardt said he was happy with the outcome, but very hungry to score his first victory of the season.

"We finished up there were we should have, and, man, we need a win," said Earnhardt. "We'd love to get a win. I know our fans want a win real bad. Trust me, man, we're all working real hard."

Earnhardt was encouraged by the speed in his car.

"We're running great every week," he said. "So at least that's hopefully fun to watch for you guys. I had a blast inside the car, lot of sliding around, sideways -- good, hard racing. We'll go to the next one, I guess, and try again."

Although the Toyotas were the class of the field, the Hendrick Chevrolets weren't far behind. Earnhardt's teammates Jimmie Johnson and Chase Ellliott finished fourth and fifth, respectively, with Kasey Kahne eighth in the final Hendrick car.

"We had a fast car, probably good enough to win," said Earnhardt. "Martin (Truex Jr., sixth-place finisher) probably had the best car, but the best car doesn't always win."