Dale Jr. leaves Ryan Newman

— -- Wanna get away?

Obviously Dale Earnhardt Jr. did, as he accidentally left Ryan Newman at the airport on Friday morning after Newman had arranged to hitch a ride to Michigan International Speedway.

Newman had arranged on Tuesday to fly with Earnhardt to Michigan for this weekend's event, leaving at 8:30 a.m. Earnhardt, however, told reporters upon arrival at the track that it totally slipped his mind after his schedule was moved up 30 minutes for media commitments and that he just woke up, got ready, drove to the airport, got on the plane and took off.

"I didn't know about [the change]. I didn't look at my calendar and when I got up this morning, I didn't look at the clock -- I just got in the shower, went downstairs, got in the car and drove to the airport and got in the plane," Earnhardt told reporters. "I forgot about Ryan."

Newman arrived at the airport only to find no Earnhardt, no plane and no ride, with Sprint Cup practice scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

Newman, however, scrambled to make alternate arrangements, as Newman's wife confirmed that he caught a ride instead on Dale Jarrett's plane.

The story had a happy ending, as Newman made it to the track in time.

"It was just an honest mistake, I think,'' Newman said. "He forgot. I don't think it was by any means on purpose.''

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.