Favors frustrate Craven Reliance on teams ‘disappointing’

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. gave credit to an ally for his victory in the Aaron’s 499 Sunday, while Newburgh’s Ricky Craven wants a return to the every-man-for-himself Winston Cup way.

Clearly it’s all in the perspective of the NASCAR drivers.

“We wouldn’t be sitting here without the help (Kevin Harvick) gave us,” Earnhardt said after winning Sunday’s Aaron’s 499. “Instead of thanking the crew these days, you’ve got to thank the people you worked with during the race.”

Which leaves Craven and his one-car team out in the cold. He still managed to finish fourth in his No. 32 Pontiac, but takes issue with the overall reliance on teams than the effect on this particular race.

“The great thing about the end is teammates meant nothing,” Craven said. “This teammate thing is ridiculous, it’s unbelievable. I’m a stand-alone guy out there with no help, and these teammates – it just really, really frustrates me. It’s always been an individual sport, one against 42.

“A lot of these guys I’m referring to are friends of mine, but they don’t play this game the right way. That is the disappointing thing about this business right now.”

Craven’s fourth-place finish was especially notable because Talladega Speedway was the site of a major accident in 1996 in which Craven was involved.

Earnhardt was especially pleased with his teamwork after watching Jeff Gordon and teammate Jimmie Johnson jockeying for position late in the race instead of lending each other a drafting hand.

“That was kind of tough watching them race each other and getting competitive with each other,” said Earnhardt, whose team has a close relationship with Harvick’s Richard Childress Racing. “I think Jeff saw the potential for them to work together and win this race together. I don’t think Jimmie actually saw that or understood that.”