Race: Emotional win for Earnhardt

Earnhardt snuck under Labonte entering the first turn of the final lap. That pushed the reigning Winston Cup champion high towards the wall. His car went sideways in front of Bobby Hamilton's Chevrolet and the two cars touched, sending Labonte's Pontiac into the outside wall before it flipped upside-down.

Johnny Benson's Pontiac slammed hard into the outside wall with Ricky Craven's car out of control. That sent cars scattering across the backstretch and into the infield grass.

Earnhardt was able to keep his cool at the front of the field and fended off Stewart for the victory. It was Dale Earnhardt Jr's first win at Talladega Superspeedway. His father, the late Dale Earnhardt, won this race last year in what would be the final race of his career. The elder Earnhardt was killed in the last turn of the last lap of the February 18 Daytona 500.

"We were beating and banging and carrying on," Earnhardt said. "I wanted to win this race real bad. My father won this race last year. We backed up it and won it a little bit like he did. We were beating and banging there at the end.

"We got a run from somewhere on the front straightaway and that got us in a position to win. Bobby Hamilton pushed me and Tony Stewart pushed me down the back straightaway. We really needed this win. I won a fan $1 million so she has to be excited." Earnhardt was one of five drivers who had a chance to win a $1 million bonus as part of the Winston No Bull 5 promotion.

Stewart finished second to end a controversial weekend where he was at odds with NASCAR officials after he was ordered to wear and head and neck restraining system. "I'm just glad to be alive after this one is over," Stewart said.

Jeff Burton was third followed by Matt Kenseth and Hamilton. "I went high, he went way high to block me, he turned left to block me and it turned him," Hamilton said. "All hell broke loose after that."

For results click here.