Rick76
16-02-2004, 10:25 PM
'Dad's spirit' Dale's Daytona spur
February 16, 2004
http://foxsports.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,5001,321453,00.jpg
DALE EARNHARDT Jnr won the 46th Daytona 500 today, capturing the classic American auto race on the same oval where his legendary father was killed three years ago.
Six years to the day after his father's only victory in his sport's most treasured race, Earnhardt Jnr said he felt the spirit of his dad in the car with him racing around Daytona International Speedway's 4km oval.
"He was right over in the passenger side with me," said Earnhardt. "I'm sure he was having a blast."
Earnhardt Snr, nicknamed "The Intimidator", made 20 attempts to win the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) with only the one trip to Victory Lane before he was killed in a crash at the end of the 2001 race.
Earnhardt Jnr completed the third father-son champion combination at Daytona by becoming the event's 29th winner. He passed fellow American Tony Stewart with 19 laps remaining to win with Stewart second and Scott Wimmer third.
"I'm Daytona 500 champion. I can't believe it. It's awesome," he said. "I can't believe it. It's just the greatest ever. It's a hard race to win. It's a season in itself, so much is running through your mind."
Among the thoughts that overtook Earnhardt, who started from the pole position, were those of his father's decades of struggling for the same prize he captured in only his fifth attempt.
"I have seen it lost so many times with my dad. I learned a lot from all that," he said. "I'm glad I don't have to worry about that now."
Teresa Earnhardt, Dale Snr's widow, called her son's triumph "a tribute to what Dale started" and had no mixed feelings about being at the venue, saying, "it's always a good feeling".
Stewart led 97 of the 200 laps while Earnhardt Jnr led 89. Earnhardt moved past Stewart in the 26th and last lead change of the day after trying and failing much of the afternoon.
"I was trying for a damn while. It was going on forever," said Earnhardt. "I got a run on him and I got him somehow, like a magic trick. You don't know what you are doing at that point. You are just trying your heart out."
Winning the season opener gave Earnhardt Jnr the NASCAR points lead for the first time in his career.
February 16, 2004
http://foxsports.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,5001,321453,00.jpg
DALE EARNHARDT Jnr won the 46th Daytona 500 today, capturing the classic American auto race on the same oval where his legendary father was killed three years ago.
Six years to the day after his father's only victory in his sport's most treasured race, Earnhardt Jnr said he felt the spirit of his dad in the car with him racing around Daytona International Speedway's 4km oval.
"He was right over in the passenger side with me," said Earnhardt. "I'm sure he was having a blast."
Earnhardt Snr, nicknamed "The Intimidator", made 20 attempts to win the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) with only the one trip to Victory Lane before he was killed in a crash at the end of the 2001 race.
Earnhardt Jnr completed the third father-son champion combination at Daytona by becoming the event's 29th winner. He passed fellow American Tony Stewart with 19 laps remaining to win with Stewart second and Scott Wimmer third.
"I'm Daytona 500 champion. I can't believe it. It's awesome," he said. "I can't believe it. It's just the greatest ever. It's a hard race to win. It's a season in itself, so much is running through your mind."
Among the thoughts that overtook Earnhardt, who started from the pole position, were those of his father's decades of struggling for the same prize he captured in only his fifth attempt.
"I have seen it lost so many times with my dad. I learned a lot from all that," he said. "I'm glad I don't have to worry about that now."
Teresa Earnhardt, Dale Snr's widow, called her son's triumph "a tribute to what Dale started" and had no mixed feelings about being at the venue, saying, "it's always a good feeling".
Stewart led 97 of the 200 laps while Earnhardt Jnr led 89. Earnhardt moved past Stewart in the 26th and last lead change of the day after trying and failing much of the afternoon.
"I was trying for a damn while. It was going on forever," said Earnhardt. "I got a run on him and I got him somehow, like a magic trick. You don't know what you are doing at that point. You are just trying your heart out."
Winning the season opener gave Earnhardt Jnr the NASCAR points lead for the first time in his career.