On July 7, 2001, five months after Dale Earnhardt was killed at the Daytona 500, I was sitting in the lounge at the Best Western Captain’s Quarters in Oswego, N.Y., when his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., won the Pepsi 400 at that very same Daytona Speedway.
The announcers were going crazy afterward and half the fans were in tears. "It had to be this way," they were saying. "It just had to be. . ."
And I can still hear the bartender say, as she wiped down the bar, "Oh, sure."
So last night, at that same Daytona Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. rode into battle in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race driving a car that was a replica of his daddy’s famous No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet.
This was the first time this happened and, according to Dale Jr., it won’t ever happen again.
In any event, the one-off seemed to have something to do with the thawing of the freeze between Dale Jr. and his stepmother, Theresa, who never really got along and have been pretty much at war since Dale Sr.’s death.
The salute was, ostensibly, to honor the memory of the great Earnhardt. (I think it might have had something to do with souvenir sales, but who am I to speculate on motive . . .)
In any event, Dale Earnhardt Jr. – who hadn’t won a race in the Nationwide Series since Aug. 19, 2006 – proceeded to drive his "Daddy’s car" into Victory Lane at Daytona last night.
As was the case in July, 2001, the announcers were going crazy and half the fans were in tears. "It had to be this way," they were saying. "It just had to be. . ."
And if she was watching, I bet that bartender in Oswego, N.Y., said, "Oh, sure."
I would've entertained ideas about conspiracy theory and fixing the race--had they not thrown the caution for a green/white/checkered that could've "ruined" Junior's perfect race.
You'd almost think the guy was a great plate racer, had won a bunch at Daytona, and was in a great car.
Posted by: john | 07/03/2010 at 11:01 AM
there was a good comment made today on speed channel. if dale jr. didnt have such a famous father he would be considered a darn good racer. 17 cup wins and 2 nationwide titles as well holding one of the best records along with his father at daytona. i have been following nascar for over 52 years and there has been no other father son duo like the earnhardts.people should just leave jr. alone and he will do fine.
Posted by: jerry jordan | 07/03/2010 at 02:29 PM
Dale Jr. didn't win the race. Joey Logano "lost" it. He's far smarter than people give him credit for at his age.
Posted by: allenparkpete | 07/03/2010 at 02:38 PM