The strong run put Earnhardt back into contention for
the Nextel Cup Championship. He had led the standings
earlier in the season, and the victory at Bristol would
put him in 3rd place, just 75 points behind leader Jeff
Gordon.
"We can win the championship," Earnhardt said
following his win. "But when I said championship team,
I'm talking about the guys who are a factor in the win
every week. We've got tracks that we run good at. We've
got to keep testing. We're not as good as I want to be,
but I don't know if that will ever happen. We just have
to keep working and do what we can."
By the end of the year Junior would finish 5th in the
championship standings.
Junior obviously had Bristol figured out this
weekend. He also won the Busch Series race there the day
before, completing a summer Bristol sweep.
“This team is tough as nails,” Earnhardt shouted
“Man, we needed this. This is one of the biggest wins of
my career."