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Dale Earnhardt Jr. defended teammate Jimmie Johnson's decision last weekend to lap him under caution after Earnhardt spun on the track at Martinsville.

NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick> held a midrace news conference at Kansas Speedway on Sunday to retract his previous statement that Dale Earnhardt Jr. was cleared to race next weekend at Martinsville, Va.

The Army National Guard will continue as the primary sponsor for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 Chevrolet through the 2013 season, Hendrick Motorsports announced Friday.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said NASCAR made one big mistake in its changes to the Budweiser Shootout All-Star race at Daytona by not shortening the length of the final segment.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and HMS are expected to announce later this month that PepsiCo Inc. products Mountain Dew and Amp energy drink are his primary sponsors for next season.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Friday that he has a number and sponsors in place for next season at Hendrick Motorports, but everyone will have to wait to find out what those are.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. blames his step-mother Teresa Earnhardt, the owner of Dale Earnhardt Inc., for not allowing the No. 8 to move with him to Hendrick Motorsports next season.

The fans will have to wait at least one more day to hear how Dale Earnhardt Jr. feels about not having the 8 next season.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said Friday that he probably will put Brad Keselowski in his No. 88 Chevrolet Busch car for three races, starting next weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.

Ever wonder what's on Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s iPod? Would you believe ... Barry Manilow? "I mean, the guy's a legend," Junior says. Ah, it's good to be Dale Jr. these days, writes Terry Blount.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. lost his dad in a racing accident. Rick Hendrick lost his son in a plane crash. That makes their union at Hendrick Motorsports "very special," writes Terry Blount.

Roger Penske said Friday that he has an interest in adding Dale Earnhardt Jr. to his Nextel Cup team, but he realizes it may be unlikely.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. says he was just being a good sport when he hopped into rival Kyle Busch's car for the final nine laps of the Samsung 500. Terry Blount asks: What was he thinking?

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has the points lead? Tempers are flaring everywhere? We'll see if NASCAR can up the immense momentum built in California at always-anticipated Martinsville.

What NASCAR needs most is a week when actual racing tops off-the-track controversy. If the Sprint Cup race in Las Vegas can deliver that Sunday, everyone wins.

Time to put all the off-the-track drama in the rearview. We've got a Cup race to run Sunday on the tricky 1-mile oval in the desert that separates the pretenders from the contenders.