Earnhardt’s car doesn’t finish Samsung 500, but he does

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Dale Earnhardt Junior didn't seem to mind that Kyle Busch rear-ended him and essentially ruined his chance to win Sunday's Samsung 500.

Sitting around the garage after finally giving up on repair efforts, Earnhardt was asked by a friend on Busch's crew if he would drive Busch's car. Turns out the crew had Busch's car ready to go again, but couldn't find him.

Busch's crew chief says Busch thought they weren't planning to go back out and left the track.

NASCAR rules permit the suggested move, and Earnhardt agreed. The gesture allowed Busch to finish one spot ahead of Jimmie Johnson in 37th. Earnhardt finished 36th.

Busch earned three points thanks to Earnhardt, although he did drop two spots in the points standings to seventh with 856, 280 behind leader Jeff Gordon.

Earnhardt said he didn't care about the impact on the points. He dropped seven spots to 18th at 737, a whopping 399 behind Gordon.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)