NASCAR Cup Series

No. 88 team changes transmissions on car of unhappy Earnhardt Jr.

Published Jun. 7, 2014 10:30 a.m. ET

Tom Jensen

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was not happy with his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet during Saturday morning's first of two practice sessions at Pocono Raceway.

After Earnhardt reported a pronounced vibration in the transmission, a problem that also affected the team here last year, the Hendrick crew changed transmissions between practices. He also complained of handling issues throughout the one-hour morning session.

NASCAR officials said that because Pocono is treated like a road course, Earnhardt will not have to start Sunday's Pocono 400 from the rear of the field.

Earnhardt qualified eighth and was 13th in the first practice Saturday morning.