When the green flag was displayed for the final time
Earnhardt easily pulled away, and would beat Ryan Newman
to the checkered flag by 1.431 seconds.
Dale Jr led 118 laps of the race, but was running 3rd
on lap 282 when a NASCAR placed the race under caution
due to oil on the race track.
Junior desperately wanted to pit for 4 fresh tires,
but crew chief Tony Eury Jr insisted he stay out and
keep their position near the front.
Later Junior knew that Eury had made the right call.
"Yeah, I was just getting worried, man," Earnhardt
said. "I cannot control myself inside a race car. I want
tires, this that and the other. I didn't want to lose.
The No. 8 Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr moved past
Casey Mears on lap 298 to take 2nd position. He had set
his sights on race leader Jeff Gordon when the No.42 car
of Jamie McMurray crashed bringing out yet another
caution.
The green flag flew once again on lap 303 and this
time Earnhardt rocketed past Jeff Gordon to take the
lead he would hold until the finish line.
"Gordon was a sitting duck there at the end,"
Earnhardt said. "His car was terrible. He was lucky just
to get what he got."
"I don't think there's anybody else I'd rather beat."