UPDATE: Dale Earnhardt Jr.s team was able to repair the damage and he is back on track.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his first career Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway in 2000, and he was looking to possibly win again in his last appearance as a full-time driver at Texas.
But Earnhardt's 88 car suffered mechanical failure in the final stage, and he was forced to head to the garage.
.@DaleJr's hopes of getting one last win @TXMotorSpeedway are gone. He's in the garage. #appreci88ion pic.twitter.com/lX8P5tfjTi
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 5, 2017
Related: A non playoff driver upsets championship contenders by winning a stage at Texas
Earnhardt said after the race that the hub was burnt on the left front.
.@DaleJr was having a good time at @TXMotorSpeedway before he "burnt the hub on the left front." #appreci88ion pic.twitter.com/R3KcNSbePV
— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) November 5, 2017
"We burnt the hub up on the left front," he said. "So we've got to change the spindle and change the hub, and we'll try and get back out there and finish the race."
Earnhardt had previously led for a couple of laps, but he began to struggle after the conclusion of Stage 2. He said he was running between 11th and 20th all weekend, but he felt good about how it was running during Sunday afternoon.
Earnhardt wasn't going to win, but the mechanical failure ended his chances of having a productive day and a solid finish.
He'll have two races remaining in his career after this week.