Junior more than happy to make trip to media center

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. had to admit it. Even to himself.

He was happy to be back in the media center at Martinsville Speedway on Friday, facing a throng of questioners who wanted to glean as much information from him as possible. Heck, it was like old times.

Junior is back

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and other drivers comment on his return to the top 12 in points.

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When he was reminded a few days earlier that he would be required to visit the media center because he's back in the top 12 in the Sprint Cup point standings, Earnhardt actually grabbed his forehead as if he felt a horrible headache coming on -- but then he pulled back and grinned.

"I just got to watch my mouth, I guess," he said.

Truth be told, although that is never all that easy for the free-talking Earnhardt, Friday's encounter with the media wasn't all that bad. And Earnhardt, now eighth in points, admitted that he could get used to the idea of being part of the weekly Sprint Cup media show again. His appearance Friday was his first as a member of the top 12 since the final race of the 2008 season, 41 races ago.

"Honestly, I try not to say too much when I get in here, which never happens. [That's] 'cause I like to go on the Internet and not read about myself," Earnhardt said. "A couple of years ago, we were in the top 12 all the time and it was frustrating having to sort of [B.S.] your way through a top-12 media session when there was nothing to talk about.

"But we would find something. That was what would be all over the news whether it was me talking about it or another driver."

One of the hot topics Friday was Earnhardt's seeming resurgence, one he seems a little reluctant to endorse as legitimate at the moment. (He keeps insisting that there is still much work left to be done by his No. 88 Chevrolet team). Jeff Burton, for one, said it was good to see Earnhardt back in the top 12 and doing a regular media availability session.

"Junior has a huge following in the sport," said Burton, who is seventh in points. "There are so many people that watch what he's doing. There is no way that having Dale Jr. doing well isn't good for the sport -- and to be honest, more importantly it's good for him.

"I like Junior. I think he's a good race car driver who has had a lot of attention put on him over the past couple of years that wasn't good attention. It'd be good to see Junior having fun again, because the way things have been going he hasn't been having fun. Honestly, I think he's fun to talk to and he has a lot of respect for the sport. He's the kind of person that I like to see do well." (Continued)