Miller Lite Dodge driver Rusty Wallace, crew chief Larry Carter and team members were still getting accolades for their big win last week at Martinsville in the garage area here at Talladega Superspeedway this morning.

"It's been a helluva week for Rusty and this whole team," Larry told FOX-TV's Larry McReynolds as the No. 2 car was being pushed through the pre-race inspection line. "We're so appreciative of all the support we've gotten and it'll always be a special day to remember.

"But the bottom line is that last week is history and now we have another big challenge in front of us today," Larry continued. "This sport moves so fast that you have to stay focused on the job at hand. We have a strong car here and hope to keep the momentum going that's been building over the last month.

"They were all talking about the No. 2 car after last week's race. Let's hope that they're doing the same thing at about five o'clock this afternoon."

The weather situation is somewhat of a concern here today as a strong band of storms is moving in from the west. The hope is that the wet stuff stays north and west of us until well after the race concludes here this afternoon.

Rusty is expecting to have his new coach ready and on-site at California Speedway next weekend, so that meant he stayed at the hotel back in Anniston last night. He and logistics chief Tom Polansky drove in this morning and arrived at the track just before 9:00 a.m.

Unlike most race day morning when sponsor obligations would see him doing numerous hospitality visits, this morning was unusually laid back - nothing on the official schedule until the 10:00 a.m. driver and crew chief meeting. With the demanding, white-knuckled 188 laps of restrictor-plate racing on tap here today, it was the perfect scenario leading up to the time to don the uniform.

After qualifying 32nd here on Friday, Rusty and crew didn't get the best of picks as for their spot on pit road today. However, as long and wide as pit road is here, that shouldn't play such a big factor in the outcome of the race like it would at other tracks. Rusty and crew operate out of the 27th spot up pit road, sandwiched in between the Kurt Busch team (in front) and the Mark Martin team (behind).

The engines were fired at 12:18 p.m. and the field rolled off pit road four minutes later. After three parade laps, the green flag flew at 12:30 p.m.

Pole-winner Ricky Rudd couldn't hold off the Dale Earnhardt, Inc. power of Michael Waltrip, who led the first lap. Ricky Craven broke an oil line only three laps into the race to bring out the first yellow flag of the race.

Rusty pitted to top off the fuel before the green flag came back out on the seventh lap. Already it was the DEI duo of Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. running one and two.

A lap into that green flag run saw typical Talladega three-wide racing only a lap later. It was apparent Earnhardt had a strong horse as he was able to power to the outside and lead on Lap 15.

Matt Kenseth got turned sideways in the tri-oval on Lap 21 to bring out the second caution of the race. Luckily, Kenseth did not veer back up the track and cause the big crash.

The leaders hit pit road on Lap 24. Rusty had asked for a round of wedge out and four tires.

Rusty talked about the tight condition during the yellow and the crew discussed possible changes to make the car better on a later pit stop.

Robby Gordon led on the Lap 26 restart, with Casey Mears second, Sterling Marlin third, Waltrip fourth, Jeff Gordon fifth, Jamie McMuray sixth, Jimmie Johnson seventh, Joe Nemechek eighth, Kurt Busch ninth and Earnhardt 10th. Rusty was 18th.

Jeff Gordon had pushed his Chevy up into the lead on Lap 33 when Johnson's shredded tire brought out the third caution of the race.

"Man, let's get a rubber in there under the yellow and see if that gets the car freed up," was the call from crew chief Larry Carter in Rusty's pit before the field hit pit road on Lap 36.

After the stops concluded and before the race went back to green, Rusty and Penske teammate Ryan Newman chatted on the radios.

"Ryan, I'm just logging laps out here," Rusty said. "I really don't like 'em all scattin' around like they're doing up there."

"Yeah Rusty, but it's going to be important to get a good start here and stay up there with the lead pack."

Jeff Gordon led on the Lap 40 restart, with Nemechek second, Scott Wimmer third, Earnhardt fourth, Kevin Harvick fifth, Robby Gordon sixth, rookie Brian Vickers seventh, Marlin eighth, Jeff Burton ninth and Tony Stewart 10th. Rusty was 24th.

Earnhardt again showed his car's muscle as he powered by Gordon for the lead when the cars came back around to the tri-oval.

With the battle heating up and three-wide racing becoming the case, many insiders were now wondering just when the big crash of the day would occur.

The field was slowed again on Lap 67 when Ward Burton blew an engine in Turn 4. Four-tire stops were the order during the yellow flag pit stops

Rusty's 14.733-second stop had him up to 11th for the Lap 74 restart. Up front it was Robby Gordon with the lead, with Waltrip second, Harvick third, Jeff Gordon fourth and Mears fifth.

Rusty had moved up to seventh on Lap 76, but only two laps later the three-abreast racing saw him fall back to 14th.

At Lap 80, it was Earnhardt leading, with Harvick, Waltrip, Robby Gordon and Jeff Gordon making up the top five.

The latest round of "190 mph Russian Roulette" bit hard on Lap 83 as the expected "Big Crash" occurred. Unfortunately, Rusty got caught up in it and all the hopes of winning here today evaporated. Stewart got into the side of Busch and when the No. 97 car got sideways and veered up the track, some eight cars got caught up in the melee. Rusty tried to get around the high side, but unfortunately Kasey Kahne moved up to the high side and squeezed him into the wall. The wounded car of Terry Labonte pushed Rusty back around to pit road and he coasted back into the garage to begin the necessary work in order to get back into the race.

Six laps later, it was Wimmer leading on the restart, with Jamie McMurray second, Marlin third, Stewart fourth and Harvick fifth. Earnhardt was sixth, Jeff Gordon seventh, Robby Gordon eighth, Jeff Burton ninth and Johnny Sauter 10th.

Marlin, Harvick and Earnhardt shared the lead before the fifth caution of the race flew on Lap 93 for debris. Again the leaders hit pit road for four tires and fuel.

It was Earnhardt leading on the Lap 100 restart, with McMurray second, Stewart third, Jeff Gordon fourth and Harvick fifth. Rusty had completed 82 laps and was 37th while in the garage getting repairs.

By Lap 105, it was back to what everyone anticipated here at Talladega - Earnhardt leading with Waltrip running second.

Rusty returned to the track to log laps at Lap 126. The hope was for much more attrition and to be able to pick up several spots in the finishing order.

The question with 50 laps remaining was if Earnhardt was tinkering with the rest of the field and if he was holding back to show his cards at the end of the race.

He held the lead through caution No. 8 which fell for debris on Lap 146 and survived the ninth yellow on Lap 166 for debris on the track.

Earnhardt was still at the point when the ninth caution flew with 22 laps remaining - this too for debris.

With 20 laps remaining, it was Earnhardt leading, with Mark Martin second, Johnson, third, McMurray fourth, Waltrip fifth, Mears sixth, Stewart seventh, Jeff Gordon eighth, Harvick ninth and Rudd 10th.

Earnhardt still had the top spot with 12 laps remaining when Johnson tapped Stewart to send him into a single-car spin to bring out the 10th yellow of the race.

That set up what appeared to be a nine-lap dash to the finish, with Earnhardt, Martin, Harvick, Waltrip and Mears holding the top-five spot at the time.

The action got fast and furious in the waning laps, with the top 12 cars running in a gaggle. The fans didn't get what they came for - a green flag finish - when Rudd made contact with Vickers, spinning out the No. 25 car on Lap 184 and causing the 11th yellow flag of the race. The race would not return to green due to the lengthy cleanup process.

Amid much controversy, NASCAR officials ruled that Jeff Gordon had made the move around Earnhardt to lead when the field was frozen, giving Gordon his first victory of the season. Earnhardt was awarded the runner-up spot, while Johnson was listed as third, Harvick fourth, Robby Gordon fifth, Martin sixth, Jeff Burton seventh, Mears eighth, McMurray ninth and Bobby Labonte 10th. Rusty's return to the race saw him complete another 62 additional laps to finish 33rd for the day.

The point standings after today's race sees Earnhardt extending his lead, now holding a 1,342 to 1,258 edge over second-place Johnson. Jeff Gordon moved to third and has 1,236 points. Busch fell to fourth with 1,222. Kenseth is fifth with 1,192, Stewart sixth with 1,169, Harvick seventh with 1,168, Elliott Sadler eighth with 1,153, Ryan Newmanback up to ninth with 1,129 and Bobby Labonte 10th with 1,110. Rusty fell five spots to 13th and has 1,074 points.

The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup tour now moves out to California Speedway for next Sunday's running of the Auto Club 500. Rusty will debut his special Miller Lite Presidential color scheme out there. Live coverage of the event will be provided by FOX-TV and MRN Radio.