Junior back on track

Shut out of the playoffs last season was mortifying for NASCAR’s most popular driver. Even worse, some wondered whether Dale Earnhardt Jr. was perhaps overrated.

“I’ll be the first to admit that we had a lot more exposure over the last five or six years given to us that’s sort of out of line compared to what we’ve won and how we’ve run,” Earnhardt said. “I’m obvious to that – I’m not an idiot. So its good to get into Victory Lane every once in a while to back up the exposure and the hype.”

Junior did just that Saturday night, breaking a 27-race winless streak with a victory at Richmond International Raceway that was his first win since Chicagoland last July. The lone victory was one of the few bright spots last year.

He and crew chief Tony Eury Jr. (his cousin) had been separated because they couldn’t get along, and the new crew on the No. 8 Chevrolet lacked the same punch Junior was used to. His cars weren’t as good, his confidence seemed shot, and Earnhardt found himself on the outside looking in when the Chase for the championship began.

He ended the year a career-worst 19th in the final standings.

The fans who never liked him – and judging by the roar of the crowd and the way the grandstands were shaking when he crossed the finish line, there aren’t very many – seized the opportunity to point out Earnhardt’s shortcomings.

But the driver who shares the same name as his late father, a seven-time champion and icon of the sport, insists he’s learned to tune it out.

“I feel like I am a pretty rounded race car driver,” he said. “Before I climb in the car, I think I am the best and I feel I am starting to get a lot more talent in other places that I didn’t have before. I used to worry about being called ‘overrated’ a long time ago.

“But as I get older, and I get more experience, and I get the people who really matter to tell me I did a good job, it doesn’t really bother me anymore.”

The way Earnhardt is driving this year, he’s not likely to hear many negative critiques anytime soon.

Eury is back at the helm, reuniting with Junior with 10 races to go last year after the two realized they were far better off together than apart. There’s been a steady show of progress since.

Now Earnhardt is sixth in the points – he was 11th at this point last season – and believes he’ll be in contention for a Nextel Cup title in September.

“I feel real comfortable making the Chase, even if we find ourselves in the middle of the summer slipping,” he said. “I think that something will click in (Eury’s) head that will make sure we get there and we’re right there where we need to be.”

Formula One

Michael Schumacher of Ferrari won the European Grand Prix in Nuerburgring, Germany, on Sunday, beating Fernando Alonso for the second straight race.

Alonso, who won the title last year, started the race from the pole position – his first of the season. Schumacher started second.

Felipe Massa of Ferrari was third on the 3.2-mile Nuerburgring circuit, ahead of Kimi Raikkonen.

It was Schumacher’s 86th career victory.

NHRA

Doug Kalitta raced to his second straight Top Fuel victory and moved into second place in the championship standings, beating series leader Melanie Troxel in the final of the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Southern Nationals in Commerce, Ga.

Tony Pedregon (Funny Car), Dave Connolly (Pro Stock) and Antron Brown (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won their divisions in the $1.5 million event at Atlanta Dragway.