The EA Sports 500 from Talladega lived up to its billing. As the leaders slowed down for their final pit stop of the afternoon, the field got bottled up behind them. Sterling Marlin and Greg Biffle ended up in the wall, bringing out the caution with 10 laps to go. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was the leader at the time and was already on his way down pit road when the caution came out. Junior made a gamble and took on right side tires during this stop while his opponents took only gas. Junior was in 11th when the green flag dropped with just 6 laps remaining. Riding on the fresh tires, Junior passed cars on the low side and the high side with little or no assistance -- a rarity at a track that usually demands drafting to pass. The final lap was a wild one all throughout the field. Jeff Gordon narrowly avoided wrecking cars on the back stretch, and Elliott Saddler rolled over in turn 3. Earnhardt avoided all trouble and was able to hold off Kevin Harvick to take home the checkered flag.
The win propelled Dale, Jr. into first place in the Chase for the Championship. Kurt Busch finished 5th this afternoon and only trails the #8 team by 13 points. Jeff Gordon's disappointing 18th place finish dropped him to 3rd in the standings, but he is still only 61 points out of the lead.
