One-two finish for Earnhardt, Johnson 'strengthens our race shop'

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, as it has many times before, it all came down to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jimmie Johnson.

Earnhardt was leading the pack with Johnson just behind him in second.

“You work all day long to be in that position,” Johnson said. “You just frankly don't want to mess it up. With everybody running the top, over the years of having that situation at the end, being aggressive has bit me many times. I was trying to be as patient as I possibly could.”

And as the laps wound down, Earnhardt had his eye on the rear-view mirror.

“I knew that they were going to do something, I just didn’t know what it would be,” he said.

But he did know when it would be.

“Jimmie behind me wasn't going to move any sooner than the last lap,” Earnhardt said. “We’ve raced here before. I knew he would wait till the end because that was his best chance to win and not ruin the race for both of us.”

As the two Hendrick Motorsports teammates took the white flag, Johnson knew it was time to make a move.

The driver of the No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet SS thought his best chance was off of Turn 4 or coming into the tri-oval. But he also felt that the drivers behind him wouldn’t wait that long to make a push toward the front.

“My plan was into Turn 3 to back up and try to get a run onto the front stretch,” he said. “We had such a small group. There really wasn't much energy in our single-car draft. I was trying to back up to the guy behind me but all it would do is open up the gap between me and the No. 88 and I could never really close it.”

Meanwhile, some of the cars behind Johnson attempted to pass one another, taking away the momentum.

“Luckily enough when the No. 48 backed up the guys behind him would race,” Earnhardt said. “That helped me a ton.”

In the end, Earnhardt took home his first victory of the season and Johnson brought home his fourth consecutive top-three finish.

“He had a really fast car -- I wasn’t going to be able to go up there and just take it away from him,” Johnson added. “Very happy with the finish. I didn't mess it up. I don't know what I could have done differently to win. Certainly tried.”

Johnson said he was impressed with how aggressive and “relentless” Earnhardt was on the track throughout Sunday’s race. He recalled thinking, “Wow, go get it,” when watching Earnhardt continue to pass cars high and low all afternoon long.

And Earnhardt said he appreciated such a “compliment coming from a champion like him.”

“Jimmie is a better person than he is a teammate. He's a great teammate, an amazing guy, great family man, great friend. We've been friends for a really long time, before we ever worked together,” he said. “He's won and been so successful, but he's really remained grounded, real approachable, easygoing individual. I think that's remarkable and I appreciate that about him.

“I think I'm fortunate to be his teammate because I've certainly become a better driver being around him, learning from him. You got to be open‑minded to everything around you. He's certainly helped me improve.”

And ultimately, Sunday’s one-two finish for Earnhardt and Johnson can only help their success moving forward.

“From my viewpoint, I'm looking at the dynamic of our two cars being built in the same shop, all that goes into it, (crew chief) Greg Ives getting his first win, Junior locking into the Chase. Those were the things that went through my mind first,” Johnson said. “From a team dynamic, I'm real happy. It strengthens our race shop. To finish one-two with the cars, the morale boost it gives the company, our shop, that's where my mindset is.”

“Congratulations to my teammate.”