Earnhardt claims Budweiser Shootout

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The late Dale Earnhardt didn't like to play games on the racetrack. If he could lead, the man known as The Intimidator did just that.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has the same philosophy.

"We never really do play with them," the younger Earnhardt said despite waiting until the last five laps Saturday night to take command of the Budweiser Shootout. "I've just always gone to the front.

"A lot of these guys I race against would rather me probably help them out and work and be a little more calm in the draft, but I want to be the guy leading. I don't want to have to make that pass on the last lap."

Earnhardt Jr. powered past Jeff Gordon five laps from the end and held off the four-time Winston Cup champion to win the first Shootout under the lights.

Earnhardt appeared able to wheel his red No. 8 Chevrolet to the front any time he wanted, staying at or near the lead throughout the 70-lap event at Daytona International Speedway.

Earnhardt was already considered the favorite to win the Daytona 500 pole on Sunday and to win the big race on Feb. 16. His performance in the first NASCAR race of the season did nothing to change that speculation.

With Gordon, a two-time Shootout winner, leading at the start of lap 66, Earnhardt, with some drafting help from Ryan Newman, took the outside line on the high-banked 2 1/2-mile oval, bumped past Kurt Busch and charged to the front.

Gordon pushed his Chevy hard the last five laps, trying to get back past Earnhardt, but he never quite caught the high-flying third-generation driver.

"I can't remember, there was so much happening the last two laps and there's so much going on in your mind," Earnhardt said when asked about his move to the lead. "You're trying to watch who is running up on the top and who is running on the bottom and you're trying to get help from those guys and get pushes."