Junior still tabloid fodder; Gordon still has a desire

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- After his qualifying laps Friday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. made light of a recent story in the tabloid National Enquirer, which described him as a "train wreck" headed for an emotional breakdown.

"I got all tore up about how we qualified [Oct. 15] in Charlotte, and I got in front of [the media] and sort of really just said how I feel," Earnhardt explained. "But a couple of the metaphors I used, such as 'end of my rope,' kind of put me within range of those guys [the Enquirer], and they kind of played target practice on that.

Earnhardt

• Junior talk

"I actually researched online how many people had sued the Enquirer and how many people had won, but, reading through my article, they sort of twist the words to where you can't ... they sort of twist the sentences around to where they're not really calling you out hard. They're worded so that you can't really go after it. I don't know. It really doesn't bother me that much. A lot of people say any publicity is good publicity.

"We're 25th in points, and we're still relevant for the National Enquirer, so..."

Admittedly, Earnhardt hasn't had the kind of season he had expected in his second year at Hendrick Motorsports, but he has seen positive signs with the addition of crew chief Lance McGrew. With only Sunday's Ford 400 left before the series adjourns for the winter, Earnhardt isn't ready for the season to end.

"We don't need to say, 'All right, let's get this year over with and get ready for next year,'" he said. "We need to race some more. So I wish this year wasn't over. But unfortunately it is, and we have to try during the offseason to fix what we can, without being able to go to the race track and seeing if that's working.

"Hopefully, when we show up at Daytona, we've made the right calls. It's going to be a challenge for us, but I feel real, real confident in Lance, and I feel good about my guys -- and I hope that the racing gods are kind to us when next year comes around."

• Earnhardt pleased McGrew returning as crew chief
• Trying season leaves Junior at the 'end of my rope'

Season gives Gordon promise; Chase gives him purpose

Don't plan Jeff Gordon's farewell tour just yet.

Gordon's well-documented back problems, exacerbated by a hard crash during qualifying at Dover in May, fueled speculation that retirement might be imminent for the four-time Cup champion.

Gordon

• Chase Profile

In announcing Jimmie Johnson's contract extension through 2015, however, Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick indicated Gordon, who has a lifetime contract with the organization, was likely to drive the No. 24 Chevrolet at least through 2012.

"Jeff and I have an agreement," Hendrick said. "As long as he drives in Cup, he's going to drive our car. I'm hoping he's going to drive a bunch more years. We know it's going to be at least three or four."

Gordon, whose back has responded favorably to treatment and exercise, took no issue with that assertion and said he's still having fun racing.

"As long as I'm healthy and competitive and we have sponsorship, and we're out there enjoying ourselves, I'm going to keep doing it," Gordon said. "I don't like to put a number on that. You know, things can happen in a hurry. Right now things are going well. My back is better, and we're having a good year.

"Things are going well. So, to me, seasons like this add years to my career. Seasons like last year [when Gordon failed to win a race] take away from them. Last year I was frustrated, not feeling good. I was like, 'Give me a couple more years.' Now I'm like, 'Oh, four, five -- who knows?'"

In fact, Gordon still has Cup title No. 5 in sight. The 38-year-old Gordon hasn't won a championship since the Chase format started in 2004. His won the last of his four titles in 2001.

"I think the old points system favors us," Gordon said. "But I'm more inspired than ever with the new system to win it under the new format."

• Johnson signs extension with Hendrick through 2015
• Toughest driver in garage may not be who you think

The Associated Press contributed to this report.