Jeff Gordon's victory at Talladega this spring set off a shower of debris from the stands. Credit: Autostock

Has Hendrick caught DEI in the restrictor-plate chase?

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- A shower of cans and other debris that rained down from the grandstands after NASCAR decided not to return to green-flag racing ruined the end of the last race at Talladega Superspeedway.

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Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s positions on the track helped spark the unfortunate fan protest, as the hated Gordon was ahead of the favored Earnhardt Jr. at the time of the final caution flag.

Had the race gone green, many believe Earnhardt Jr. would have gotten back to the front to claim another restrictor-plate victory for the vaunted Dale Earnhardt Inc. team.

But really, who knows? Gordon and the Hendrick Motorsports team was fast, and Gordon backed up the Talladega victory by winning the Pepsi 400 at Daytona in July.

Helping Gordon to the checkered flag at Daytona was teammate Jimmie Johnson, who hopes the roles are reversed in this weekend's EA Sports 500.

Jeff Gordon leads the pack during the Aaron's 499. Credit: Autostock

"I think we've definitely closed the gap," Johnson said. "At Daytona down there for the 400, handling is so much more of a premium. We found some things to really help the cars handle. Going to Talladega, the 8 and (DEI mate Michael Waltrip), those guys are pretty strong there. Jeff was able to win.

"I'm not sure how he would have finished under green. The 8 was making its way to the front. It seemed to have the speed in the car there where handling is not as important as Daytona.

"We're bringing a special car there that we built for there knowing that we don't need the downforce in the car to make it handle. Hopefully we're able to close the gap at the Talladega and be better than the 8."

While Earnhardt Jr. seems to have taken up at Talladega where his late father left off, Johnson has an enviable record here, too. In his first five races here, Johnson has two top-10 finishes and has led 113 laps.

Johnson has started in the top 10 in all five of those races, including two first-place starts in 2002.

DEI and Hendrick cars are two of the strongest teams in restrictor-plate racing. Credit: Autostock

"I think it's a love-hate deal," Johnson said. "If you're fortunate to make it through the weekend without any problems and miss the big one, you're going to buy some freedom, some points and be able to separate yourself.

"If you're caught up in it, you hate it. You're going to cuss the points system. You're going to cuss going to Talladega with so much on the line. I think that's why there will be more people tuned in and watching than what we had in the past. It's great for everybody up in the stands. For the guys back here in the trenches, it sure cuts down on the sleep that we get."

DEI has dominated the plate races since 2001, but Hendrick Motorsports appears to have closed the gap. DEI won 10 of the last 15 restrictor-plate events, but Hendrick has gone to Victory Lane in the last two.

While Earnhardt Jr. and Waltrip are a tough combo at plate tracks, Johnson and Gordon have been tough to beat all season. Gordon leads the Chase for the Nextel Cup, while Johnson stands fourth, 57 out of the lead after two Chase races.

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Talladega is unlike any other Chase race, of course. The EA Sports 500 is the only restrictor-plate track among the final 10 events, and that means the draft makes the race a crapshoot. Cars will be stacked three- and four-wide most of the day, and one small mistake from anyone can turn into a wild ride for everyone.

The best place to be, historically, has been out front. That's where Earnhardt Jr. and Waltrip have been most of the time, and that's where Johnson and Gordon hope to be.

"In plate racing, you see people get upset that they were hung out and they didn't do the right thing," Johnson said. "In my opinion, you have to manage the space behind your racecar and take care of that and give people only one option - and that is to follow you. As long as you do that, you're doing fine. If you get hung out, it's your own fault.

"I'll definitely be looking for my teammates because I know I'll be safer around them. They won't be taking chances. They'll be bump drafting me in the right spots unlike some of the other guys. I'm looking forward to that aspect of it, and I think our teammate situation will continue to work as it has. I'm certainly hoping the 24 is lined up behind the 48 to push me to victory like I was able to help him out there in Daytona."