Johnson outdrove Dale Jr. on older tires

Earnhardt Jr. simply is not talented enough to beat his teammate, even with four new tires.

Christa L. Thomas/Chevy

Jimmie Johnson thought he was in trouble when he saw teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. lined up behind him with four fresh tires for the final restart Sunday at Dover International Speedway.

Johnson had taken just two new tires on his final pit stop while Earnhardt took four, giving Earnhardt what looked like a big advantage over the final 26 laps.

But as he is prone to do on one of his best tracks, Johnson drove away from Earnhardt on the final restart and then held him off to win for a record eighth time at the 1-mile oval. Earnhardt, who is winless this year, finished a disappointing second, and simply ran out of talent.

"I wanted to see four tires lined up in the fourth or fifth row," Johnson said. "When they were right behind me, I thought I was going to have my hands full.

"Junior drove a whale of a race. Track position is what gave me that advantage I needed to hold him off."