NASCAR Earnhardt Jr. wins, but error in Victory Lane risks points

He uttered a curse word to put his newly-gained points lead in jeopardy.
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. was strangely subdued after his latest victory at Talladega Superspeedway.
After dominating the EA Sports 500 on Sunday to take the Nextel Cup lead, Earnhardt erred -- in Victory Lane, of all places.
Junior put his newly acquired points lead in jeopardy by cursing during an interview with NBC.
In February, NASCAR president Mike Helton warned drivers to watch their language on radio and television. Less than a month later, Johnny Sauter was fined $25,000 and docked 25 points after cursing during a radio interview following the Busch Series race in Las Vegas.
"I'm worried about losing some points," said Earnhardt, who moved into the series lead by 13 points over Kurt Busch, who finished fifth Sunday.
"Johnny said it in a fit of anger. I said it in Victory Lane. I hope they understand that it was in jubilation and I know me and those other guys that got fined let it slip, but it's two different circumstances."
Needed late charge
Although he was at or near the front for virtually the entire race, leading a race-high 78 of the 188 laps, Earnhardt needed to charge from 11th place over the last five laps to the win the race. He fell behind when crew chief Tony Eury Sr. decided to gamble on two fresh right-side tires on his final pit stop.
Eury decided to take advantage of the fact that Earnhardt was already on pit road for his final stop when a yellow flag came out for a crash involving Sterling Marlin and Bobby Labonte.
Still, other drivers got ahead of Earnhardt by staying on the track or taking only fuel on their final stops during the last of five caution periods. But it made little difference once the green flag waved for lap 184.
"Those brand new rights just drove around the corners so much better than those other guys with old tires out there," Earnhardt said. "I wasn't worried. They make the calls in the pits and I just drive the car."
Gordon, who came into the race with a one-point lead over Busch, finished 19th and fell to third, 61 points behind after three of the 10 races in NASCAR's new 10-man playoff-style championship.
Earnhardt takes lead
After the green flag waved for the final restart Sunday, Earnhardt's red No. 8 Chevrolet shot up and down the steeply banked track, passing cars on the outside and inside seemingly at will before finally moving past Kevin Harvick for the lead on lap 186.
Earnhardt then held off Harvick's Chevrolet, driving across the finish line 0.117 seconds -- about two car-lengths -- ahead. It was his 14th career victory.
"I knew they were coming," said Harvick, whose finish was a season best. "There wasn't anybody else in the field that was going to get by me. They can just do it when they want to at this place."
Dale Jarrett finished third, followed by rookie Brendan Gaughan, Busch, title contender Tony Stewart and pole-starter Joe Nemechek.