So far this season, the seven-time series champion has finished second in the Daytona 500 in February, won the DieHard 500 in Talladega in April and was sixth in the Pepsi 400 in July.

Earnhardt, 48, laughs at the suggestion that he sees things that others don't in making his way through the high-speed traffic jams on those ovals.

``I learned to drive on these superspeedways from guys like Buddy Baker, David Pearson and Bobby Allison,'' he said. ``I really watched Buddy Baker catch me, then blow right by me in 1980 to win the race.

``It took me a little while to figure out exactly what he did, and I went over to him and told him what I saw. He laughed and told me I was pretty quick to figure it out. I'd tell you what it was, but then again maybe everyone out there should just figure it out on their own like I had to.''