Earnhardt believes Smith won Talladega

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.11.2008 CONCORD, N.C. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. once used a questionable pass below the yellow line to beat Matt Kenseth at Talladega. Looking back at that 2003 victory, Earnhardt can't figure out what he did differently than Regan Smith did last week at the same track. Smith's last-lap pass of Tony Stewart was below the out-of-bounds line and ruled illegal, which denied Smith his first victory. "It was exactly the same. I was forced below (the yellow line) and that was declared OK," Earnhardt Jr. said Friday at Lowe's Motor Speedway. "I know for a fact Regan didn't go down the front straightaway with a plan to pass (Stewart) on the apron. He was under (Stewart) on the race track when Tony came down and he was forced onto the apron." Earnhardt strongly believed that NASCAR wronged Smith by ruling... [read full story]