New RCR-DEI engines up in smoke in 'Dega debut

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- In Sunday's debut event for the newly completed Dale Earnhardt Inc. / Richard Childress Racing engine package, cars blew up like balloons at a clown school.

Not one, not two, not three, but four RCR-DEI engines blew during the UAW-Ford 500, dropping Martin Truex Jr. two spots in NASCAR's Chase battle and furthering the frustration of Dale Earnhardt Jr., who some say missed the Chase due to several prior engine failures the season (watch video).

Sunday's blown engine at the Talladega Superspeedway was his sixth.

Lap-by-Lap

Jeff Gordon led only one lap at Talladega, where there was only one Big One but more trouble for some Chase drivers.

• Lap-by-Lap, click here
• Race Video, click here
• Inside Chase, click here

The only difference Sunday: Earnhardt Jr. was far from alone this time. Chase contender Jeff Burton, the No. 31 at RCR, was the first of the four to go (watch video) while Aric Almirola the No. 01 at DEI, was the last.

The problem is believed to be the same problem the RCR-DEI initiative experienced at a test session last month at the Talladega Superspeedway, according to Will Gray, head engine tuner at DEI.

"This is the first time we've raced a complete combo of RCR and DEI equipment, all their plate guys and our plate guys working together," said Gray, as he packed up the No. 1 transporter Sunday in the garage. "I hate to guess ... at the test, a piston in the No. 1 car blew that engine and we thought we had the problem fixed, but it is hard to turn around 16 engines in the matter of weeks."

Gray said the crew didn't pay close enough attention to what happened, but did the best they could with the limited time available.

After the race, Earnhardt Jr. managed to mask his frustrations.

"We had a good car. We had a good motor. But we have some sort of gremlin," he said. "At the test here, I saw a lot of working back and forth between DEI and RCR ...we all had good cars and I'm sad for Martin [Truex Jr.] more than anything."

Steve Hmiel, DEI competition director, said the engines all experienced the same failure.

"When you open the hood, now you know what to look for," he added. "The hole is in the same place in the oil pan. It's breaking something inside and it's breaking it in all three engines."

The RCR-DEI engine in Paul Menard's No. 15 machine didn't blow up; however, his car was badly damaged in a 10-car melee that occurred on Lap 145, the "big one." But, Gray said Menards' crash will prove beneficial for research and development back at the race shop on Monday in North Carolina. (Continued)