Notebook: Junior pleased despite not gaining ground (cont'd)

Earnhardt also denied that being so close to Newman in the points standings (Newman sits one spot behind him in 14th, a mere 17 points behind) had nothing to do with them banging on each other.

"It doesn't have anything to do with that. He's aggressive and I'm aggressive," Earnhardt said. "We don't like taking crap from anybody. That's what happens when you hit two hammers. It's not going to be pretty."

Tough finish

Robby Gordon was aiming for a better finish in his No. 7 Ford when he claimed Kevin Harvick spun him needlessly on the final lap.

"Harvick didn't need to do that," Gordon said. "I cleared him clean. We lost an ignition box coming off [Turn] 2 when we were running 12th. The thing just died, so I had to flick the switch and that allowed him to get next to me. We ran side-by-side for a lap and I cleared him again, and then he wrecked me for no reason.

"A 20th-place finish is good for us at Bristol, but we were going to finish about 12th -- right about where we thought we were in practice."

Taking the blame

Juan Montoya started on the outside of the front row after qualifying second for Saturday's race, but was kicking himself for suggesting changes that ultimately led to a 17th-place finish for his No. 42 Dodge.

"You know, it's my fault. I'm blaming myself," he said. "It was too loose for my taste and I thought we were going to be too loose. We tightened up the car and it was just horrible. And when we tightened it up, we ran for 130 laps [under green] so we went a lap down there."

Quotable, Part I

Bill Elliott, who came out of retirement earlier this year to drive the No. 21 Ford for the Wood Brothers, was a sweaty mess when he finally climbed out of the car after finishing 25th Saturday.

"I'm used up. I told them on the radio that I wouldn't do this for just anybody," said Elliott, laughing.

Quotable, Part II

Told that Tony Stewart said driving on the new surface at Bristol in a Car of Tomorrow was the most fun he's ever had during a race at Bristol, Earnhardt laughed and said: "I don't believe him. I think he's making it up. When has he ever said anything like that? He had a good line at the end. You'll have fun doing that."