‘Bump-Drafting’ Not a Factor

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said the “bump-drafting” at this year’s Daytona 500 was “no different than it’s always been,” despite Tony Stewart’s complaint a week ago that the jostling between drivers was becoming dangerous.

Earnhardt led the most laps in the race, 32, and finished eighth in his Chevrolet.

Greg Biffle, who finished 31st in his Roush Racing Ford, said the bumping “was calmer than it could have been. I was pretty happy with what I saw.”

Jeff Gordon, who was scraped in at least two accidents, said, “I saw a lot of things out there that were just out of control.”

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Bill Elliott, driving in his first Daytona 500 since 2003, finished 19th.

“We were hoping for a better finish, but we had a tight car and just couldn’t free it up,” said Elliott, a two-time winner of the race.

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Californian Robby Gordon, who qualified his self-owned Chevrolet after failing to make the race in 2005, came in 13th.

“We’re so much farther ahead of where we were a year ago going to the California race,” he said.

Next on the Nextel Cup series schedule is the Auto Club 500 at California Speedway next Sunday.

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Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson starts the year with 185 points, followed by Casey Mears and Ryan Newman with 170 each. The top 10 points leaders after 26 races qualify for the season-ending 10-race Chase for the Championship.

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As Stewart’s nearly race-long bumping duel with Matt Kenseth heated up, Stewart was in no mood to entertain. He reached over and shoved his in-car television camera away from his face.

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Kirk Shelmerdine, lacking a sponsor and full-time crew for his Chevrolet, managed a 20th-place finish ahead of Biffle, Burton, Jeff Gordon and Carl Edwards, among others.

“We couldn’t keep up with the other cars, but I guess we beat all the wrecked ones,” said Shelmerdine, the former crew chief who helped the late Dale Earnhardt win four series titles.