Record win bittersweet for Gordon

The former Nextel Cup champion moved ahead of Dale Earnhardt on career victories with his latest success, but it was an especially emotional occasion as it was would have been Earnhardt's 56th birthday, and it was at one of his most successful tracks.

"I wanted to break the record, and it feels awesome to do it," said Gordon. "It's cool, but why did it have to happen at Talladega? I go back and forth."

Angry Earnhardt fans threw beer cans onto the track when Gordon crossed the finish line under caution, and the championship leader accepted that his victory might not have been popular in the grandstands.

"On one hand I want to jump up and down, celebrating getting number 77 at Talladega, where three-quarters of the grandstand is pulling against us," he added.

"On the other side, I respected Dale so much, I learned so much from him. Knowing today would have been his birthday and knowing how many people would have loved to have seen Dale Earnhardt Jr. win this race, it's tough."

Earnhardt Jr. thanked Gordon in public last week when he tied the record of 76 wins and celebrated with a flag carrying the number 3.

This time, the DEI driver left Gordon alone, but he did aknowledge the achievement, and he predicted that the 35-year-old can climb even higher than sixth on the all-time winners list.

"He's a great racecar driver," said Earnhardt Jr. "I knew years ago he would eventually pass my old man. I think he has the opportunity to pass a couple more."