Gordon, Earnhardt have unified plan for Sunday (and a short rant)

Ok, last post for tonight, this one couldn't wait until tomorrow and go along with the rest of the headlines that I usually post on Sunday evening. I'm glad someone reported this one, because I never understood why people got so ticked off at Jeff Gordon last year, he's a good race car driver for crying out loud. (Yes I know he didn't win a race YET this year, the years not over so don't count him out yet) Anyway, whether you like him or not, he and Dale Jr teammates, so, get used to it if you haven't already. Also, I just saw this while watching the UNC Tar Heels kick the tar (ok that was corny, but I couldn't resist) out of UCONN. Coverage of the (I love saying this!) AMP Energy 500 starts with NASCAR Countdown at 1pm and the green flag flies at 2pm - all on ABC. Ok, now here's the article that goes along with the title of this post.

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- If Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans decide to throw beer cans at Jeff Gordon again, they'd better be careful, they might just hit their favorite driver.

The Hendrick Motorsports teammates, two of the greatest restrictor plate racers in the sport, have a plan for Sunday's Amp Energy 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Both men have agreed to set aside their competitive differences, for a portion of the race at least, and work on their team building skills.

“We both think we are the best so that's where the conflict comes in. Who is supposed to be out front and who is supposed to be helping who.

”

-- DALE EARNHARDT JR.

"Me and Jeff are thinking about going up front, running hard ... go up there and try to learn how to work together," Earnhardt said. "I think it will work good, we got to make it work."

Teammates or not, Junior Nation may find this pairing a bit unsettling.

Talladega Superspeedway is sacred ground for the Earnhardt family and the fans don't take kindly to interlopers. The city of Talladega has become a Mecca of sorts, a holy city. Thousands of Earnhardt fans make the pilgrimage to 'Dega twice a year to worship their beloved driver. Needless to say, the place has special meaning for Earnhardt.

Special not only because he has five wins and his late father 10, but because it feels like home and the fans, evident by the loud roar that rolls from the stands whenever he takes the lead in the race, adore him.

"Well, to me it's special. I don't think everyone gets that sensation going into the race," Earnhardt said. "But to me it's a pretty important place just because my family's done so well there. And the way the fans treat us there make it exciting, make it a place you look forward to. I think that's probably the biggest key, the fans and how they've treated us at that track."

His fans are loyal -- to the point of dangerous.

Last year when Gordon bettered the late Dale Earnhardt's all-time victory list with 77 wins at the revered track, fans were enraged and began chucking beer cans onto the track pelting Gordon's No. 24 (watch video).

But a year later, Gordon and Earnhardt are in a position to align, combining their knowledge and ability to master the draft.

"We just said we'd go up there and work together and enjoy working together instead of being so competitive," Earnhardt said after posting a 15th-place qualifying lap Saturday. The No. 88 driver was forced to qualify a backup car after an early crash in practice Friday caused by a blown right rear tire (watch video). "We should be fine. I'm pretty happy with the way the guys rebounded and I feel like really prepared going into the race even after the day we had yesterday."

Of course at the end of the day, nearing the final laps of the race, Earnhardt said both drivers will go for the win, determining the dominant plate racer for the time being.

"Well we both think we are the best so that's where the conflict comes in. Who is supposed to be out front and who is supposed to be helping who," Earnhardt said. "We do a pretty good job at it ... we are getting better working together for 75 percent of the race. [Gordon] knows what he's doing, he can be a great help to you. You get what you give and maybe sometimes I'm not as giving as I should be."