Notes: Under microscope, Junior avoids distractions

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Coming off the news of his free agent status, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was served a super-sized order of drama and then a side dish when NASCAR discovered an infraction for a rear-wing violation during pre-race inspection this weekend at Darlington.

Did it phase the No. 8? Not at all, as he finished eighth in the Dodge Avenger 500.

Lap-by-Lap

Jeff Gordon stayed out as Jimmie Johnson pitted, and despite driving an overheating car, held the lead en route to the victory at Darlington.

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Despite being the focal point of media frenzy at the track, Earnhardt said the distraction dissipated like the rain clouds that tried to wreck the race for a second time on Sunday afternoon.

"They disappeared when I got here. My guys said 'We're behind you' and that took it all away. We worked on the car, we drove the car and we had a good time this weekend and I had no pressure, nothing really on my mind other than what we were supposed to be doing," he said. "I was surprised, I thought it'd be a little more of a distraction but it wasn't. Fortunately when things go good all your problems are gone but as long as we can keep running good, keep focusing ... I'm pretty proud of the effort my team gave me [Sunday] and I try to repay 'em with the same effort."

As for the improperly mounted rear wing found during pre-race inspection for Saturday's rain-delayed event, Earnhardt said he doesn't know much about it, but he would pay crew chief Tony Eury Jr.'s fine if one follows.

"Tony Jr. tried to explain it to me but I really didn't know what he was talking about," Earnhardt said. "Apparently there's something that they did with the mounting brackets, I don't really know much about it. You'll have to ask Tony Jr. I got his back."

A twitch in the rear
Jamie McMurray, who finished 16th in Sunday's race, complained of how his arm began hurting him during the race.

"My arm is a little sore, but my butt and my right leg are just numb," he said. "I'm gonna get it looked at [Monday]. I don't know if I've got a nerve pinched or what, but you pull those seatbelts so tight around your collarbone and everything. I've gotten in there before and had my leg fall asleep, but just nothing like [Sunday]. To have your right leg and your left arm fall asleep, that's a job at Darlington."

Edwards not fazed by penalty
Carl Edwards' crew said he was battling hard core most of the day and even overcame a mid-race pit-road penalty to pull off a fifth-place finish. Edwards came to pit road under green on Lap 181, but he missed the commitment line.

"I don't know exactly what happened," Edwards said. "I guess my right side wasn't on the commitment line. I just did everything I could to get to pit road and I guess I messed it up."

Despite the penalty, Edwards said he had a blast.

"This is the greatest racetrack we go to by far," he said. "They need to build about 10 more of these all over the country."

Car of Tomorrow test canceled
Frustration for teams behind in their Car of Tomorrow development will only worsen as NASCAR announced Sunday that the scheduled test at Dover International Speedway will be canceled due to the rain delay in Darlington this weekend.

The test was originally slated for Monday and Tuesday. It will not be made up this season, according to a statement from NASCAR.