Dale Jr strikes out at Chevy critics

Earnhardt will start Sunday's race from the front row of the grid in his DEI Chevrolet Monte Carlo, alongside the similar RCR-run machine of Jeff Green. Chevrolet locked out the top four spots in qualifying, and six of the top 10 places, sparking suggestions of car advantage - a claim Earnhardt Jr steadfastly refutes.

"I've never really understood, nor felt like I knew enough to comment on the manufacturers' battles or disagreements," said Earnhardt. "I think the way you bridge the gap is hard work and who puts in the most effort. The guys that are complaining should be over there working on their race cars. I guarantee you if we build a Ford, a Pontiac, we can make it run just as fast as we make our Chevrolets run.

"It makes me angry that sometimes we get a disadvantage because we work harder. Our confidence is based on our effort. When we go out there and do something good or build a good race car that comes down here and tests fast or whatever, we get mandated for it. It's hard to understand and hard to swallow."