Dale Earnhardt Jr. was running in the top 10 before spinning out. Credit: Autostock

Junior admits need for patience in points race

Eight drivers within 100 points of new Chase leader Kenseth

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. was cruising toward a top-10 finish midway through Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Martinsville Speedway when crew chief Tony Eury Jr. radioed that points leader Jeff Burton had engine problems.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the points lead at one time during the Martinsville race. Credit: Autostock

Chase for the Nextel Cup After Martinsville (6th of 10 races) Pos. +/- Driver Behind 1. +1 Matt Kenseth Leader 2. +1 Kevin Harvick -36 3. +4 Jimmie Johnson -41 4. +2 Denny Hamlin -47 5. -4 Jeff Burton -48 6. -1 D. Earnhardt Jr. -94 7. -3 Mark Martin -96 8. -- Kasey Kahne -99 9. +1 Jeff Gordon -141 10. -1 Kyle Busch -171 • Complete standings, click here Top finishersHamlin, Dale Jr. and Kenseth talk about their day at Martinsville Spin outDale Jr. takes a spin when trying to pass Kasey Kahne Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836 SUPERSTORE •   2006 Chase merchandise!

"He's in the garage, so we can really have a big points day," Eury told his driver. "Think big picture here."

Earnhardt laughed and jokingly replied, "Damn, Tony Jr. That's not like you to have your head so into the game. Keep telling me about the points all day.

"You need to be vocal. Keep my head in it. I wanna race, you know, so you gotta keep me focused on the big picture."

He did -- for another 200 laps.

Then on Lap 476 of the 500-lap race, trying to pass Kasey Kahne for seventh place with second place in the point standings staring him in the face, Earnhardt lost focus.

"I'm better than the 9 [Kahne]," Earnhardt radioed to spotter Steve Hmiel. "Tell him to get aggressive! Get on it! Get around that 24 [Jeff Gordon]! If he doesn't, I'll move him outta the way and then he can follow me through."

Instead, Earnhardt got into the side of Kahne and spun himself out in Turn 3. He fell to 25th on the restart and finished 22nd to leave him sixth in points, 94 behind new leader Matt Kenseth.

It may have been the move that cost him the championship with four races remaining.

"I just got to driving over my head," Earnhardt said. "I guess I need to get somebody on [the radio] to preach to me to have more patience. I can't handle it. I can't control myself.

"I was just trying to finish in the top five instead of just driving a little smarter. I'd been riding all day long and taking care of stuff. I just wasn't smart. There's no excuse."

The incident reminded Earnhardt of a move he made two years ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where NASCAR's premier series goes next week.

With a chance to take the points lead with 15 laps to go, Earnhardt aggressively tried to squeeze in front of Carl Edwards and wound up getting knocked into the inside wall.

The move dropped him to fifth in the standings, all but ending his shot at the 2004 title with three races remaining.

Jimmie Johnson led the most laps at Martinsville. Credit: Autostock

Subway 500 Official Results Pos. Driver Make 1. Jimmie Johnson Chevy 2. Denny Hamlin Chevy 3. Bobby Labonte Dodge 4. Tony Stewart Chevy 5. Jeff Gordon Chevy 6. Casey Mears Dodge 7. Kasey Kahne Dodge 8. Jeff Green Chevy 9. Kevin Harvick Chevy 10. Kyle Petty Dodge • Complete results, click here • Official standings, click here Victory LaneJimmie Johnson celebrates his Subway 500 win at Martinsville Final lapsJimmie Johnson tries to hold off Denny Hamlin down the stretch Tough dayJeff Burton retires to garage with motor problems PileupKevin Harvick damages car during a multi-car pileup Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

"I've got to learn how to have a little more patience," Earnhardt said.

Despite the mistake, Earnhardt made up 10 points on the leader. He's not out of the championship hunt.

Nobody in the top 10 is.

Kenseth went from 45 points behind Burton to 36 ahead of Kevin Harvick with his 11th-place finish. Harvick made up 53 points and moved from third to second in the standings with his ninth-place finish.

Race winner Jimmie Johnson, who came in 175 points out of the lead in seventh, moved to third only 41 out.

Denny Hamlin picked up two spots to fourth with his second-place finish and moved up 90 points to 47 behind Kenseth. Burton, despite finishing next-to-last, is only fifth and 48 points off the lead.

Mark Martin slipped three spots to seventh but made up six points to move within 96 of first. Kahne, who has gained 174 points in the last three races, picked up 60 points to move within 99.

Jeff Gordon and Kyle Busch, who are ninth and 10th in points, even made up ground to give themselves a chance. Gordon is 141 back and Busch 171.

"A lot of guys are back in it now," Kahne said. "It's going to be pretty exciting to the end."

Johnson agreed.

"I look forward to these last races," he said. "A lot can happen. Any team is still capable of winning this championship. I don't think anybody is going to sleep well for these next four races."

Earnhardt certainly won't sleep well knowing what he let slip away.

"I'm just disappointed because we had an opportunity [Sunday]," he said. "With only four races [left], I don't know, anything's possible. I could just be in so much a better situation right now."