By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
The Daytona 500 is the hardest race to win. It’s not surprising when a NASCAR driver says that, as there are so many obstacles that present themselves during the race.
Plus, there is typically the “Big One,” which is known in NASCAR circles as the big wreck.
On Sunday night, there was a wreck that took out 12 cars, which was the big one. Then, several other wrecks lessened the field.
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Yet, while other cars were wrecking and eliminating their chances for the Daytona 500 win, the most famous driver in NASCAR was still standing. And while he was in the lead when a tear-off from another driver’s helmet could have ruined his chances.
But nothing would stop the No. 88 National Guard/Mountain Dew stock car from victory lane. And this is the biggest win in Junior’s career since joining Rick Hendrick’s race team in 2008.
While some would say that he could never set himself apart from his father. But this historic second Daytona 500 allows him to separate his career from his father Dale Earnhardt Sr., as he has been named the most famous driver for more than the past decade.
Yet, there’s no chance that he would ever replace his father’s fame.
When Earnhardt died in a crash in Turn 4 of the 2001 Daytona 500, his fame increased greatly inside the NASCAR community and outside the NASCAR community. Even people, who were not NASCAR fans, were shocked and saddened by the black No. 3’s tragic death.
While there has been more safety equipment for the cars, drivers, and even the tracks, one thing is clear: NASCAR needed its biggest star to die to make the sport safer today.
Three years after losing his father at the Daytona 500, the young Earnhardt took the No. 8 Budweiser stock car to victory lane. That gave father and son the same amount of wins at the prestigious event with 1 win each.
“The Intimidator,” as Earnhardt Sr. was known, won nearly everything in stock cars before his shining moment on a February day in 1998. This was his lone Daytona 500 in his career, before being taken away from the sport too soon.
The moment was so special for Earnhardt Sr. that even rival crew members lined up in the pit lane to shake hands with him, as he went to victory lane.
While the Daytona 500 is difficult for drivers to tackle, it has to be harder for Earnhardt Jr. due to the loss that he has suffered. There’s no doubt that his father’s death has to be on his mind, while he is racing at the Great American Race or the July event.
But while his father was able to win just one Daytona 500, Earnhardt has been able to do something that his father will never be able to do. He has received two Harley J. Earl Trophies, becoming one of only 11 drivers all-time to win more than one Daytona 500.
Now, with this second win, he has the chance to separate his career from his father’s. While Junior has not been a Sprint Cup Champion yet, and there’s a chance that he never will, he has cemented his legacy as one of the best Daytona 500 drivers of all time.
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There’s a chance that he may never win another Daytona 500 in the next 10 to 20 years, yet he has done something that his father never has done. But while his father wasn’t in attendance for either Daytona 500 win, he had a great seat to both victories.
He was watching from above, as his son reached the finish line, and possibly even helped his son to both victories. While Junior was celebrating in victory lane, Earnhardt Sr. had to be one happy father from above.
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