Dale Earnhardt Jr's Car Catches Fire at Texas Motor Speedway

After being postponed due to weather Sunday, the Duck Commander 500 at Texas Motor Speedway was green for only a few laps Monday before Dale Earnhardt Jr. crashed his car into the wall during Lap 12, causing it to catch fire.

Earnhardt lost a tire and ripped up his front end as he veered onto the infield grass, sending him into the outside wall.

Junior said it was his mistake, per Fox Sports:

"

Just didn't see the grass. Didn't know the grass was down there. With the way the A-post is on these cars you can't really see that good to that angle. I just didn't have a good visual of where the apron and the grass was and got down in there pretty good. You can't run through there they way they have these cars on the ground like that. Just a mistake on my part. I just didn't know I was that close to the grass, and made a mistake.

"

He also apologized to his fans and teammates after the race:

Despite the wreck doing quite a number on his car, Earnhardt was able to get away uninjured.

Joey Logano passed Jeff Gordon late to win the race. 

[Fox Sports]