Junior reverses from 'bloodthirsty' remarks

Dale Earnhardt Jr. lambasted the pack racing style at restrictor-plate tracks that often leads to multi-car wrecks after Sunday's race, calling the style ''bloodthirsty.''

Now, NASCAR's most popular driver, who has won seven times at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, is putting it in reverse.

Earnhardt told SB Nation on Tuesday: "I regret making a bit of a scene and not considering the fact we're going to be in a totally different race car for 2013. ... It was a bit heat of the moment, and I kind of regret getting that emotional about it. But I was just really upset about how that all went down. We'd run so good. I was really, really happy with my car in that race and I thought we should have been able to finish really good."

It seems after the smoke cleared, Earnhardt changed his mind from the vitriolic comments he made after a 25-car pileup on the final lap at Talladega collected Earnhardt, relegating him to a 20th-place finish. He is sitting 11th in the points standings, 51 behind leader Brad Keselowski and all but out of the championship title run.

The driver of the No. 88, along with Jeff Gordon and others, expressed dismay that NASCAR was allowing that type of racing to continue.

"If this is how we raced every week, I would find another job," he said. "It's not safe. Wrecking like that is ridiculous. It's bloodthirsty, if that is what people want."

NASCAR will unveil a new car for next season, one that Earnhardt's teammate Kasey Kahne tested at Talladega last week. Kahne said he thought the new car could present some challenges for restrictor-plate tracks and that the racing may not change. Shorter spoilers and bumpers that don't align like the current model are among expected changes.

With 43 drivers in a race, you're bound to get differing views. Most drivers will not be able to drive the new car until the Daytona test next year.