SPARTA, Ky. (AP) — So much for any rift between the NASCAR crews of Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
The Hendrick Motorsports teammates downplayed any potential fallout from the decision by Johnson’s team to abandon Earnhardt late in last week’s race at Daytona.
Johnson and Earnhardt spent most of the night working as a two-car tandem before Johnson abruptly went to the pits for fuel just before the race went into overtime. Left to fend for himself, Earnhardt ended up 19th after getting caught in a wreck on the final lap, with Johnson finishing 20th.
The decision by Johnson’s crew chief Chad Knaus sent some of the fans of NASCAR’s most popular driver flooding Johnson’s Twitter page to voice their disapproval.
Earnhardt joked he later told Johnson that’s why he doesn’t tweet.
