Dale Earnhardt Jr. Have been through it all at Daytona International Speedway.
The 50-year-old was twice a winner in Daytona 500, the race his father won seven times and where the older Earnhardt was killed in a crash.
As a team owner of JR Motorsports saw Dale Jr. Justin Allgaier qualify for the “great American race.”
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NASCAR -Team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. Under Practice for Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. (Peter Casey/Imag- Pictures)
When he held back tears, after Allgaier qualified on the field, Dale Jr. said he couldn’t “believe that we’re going to run on Sunday.”
Earnhardt Jr. Has been back to Daytona International several times since his father Dale was killed after crashing on the last lap in the 2001 race. It is safe to assume that it was not easy for him to return.
However, Dale Jr. Thursday night that in his father’s footsteps he had to learn to be in order to return.
He did it and more. Although he joked that he needs “a psychiatrist” to describe his feelings.
Dale Earnhardt (David Taylor/Allsport)
“Dad loved Daytona,” Earnhardt said. “Loved winning here. Loved just winning every race here. He loved to add to that number, whatever it was (34). Gosh, I loved to come here as a kid. Just a lot of good memories. So when he died , I had to make a decision.
“I knew it wasn’t the trace that took him. I knew he, no matter where he was, still felt the same about Daytona. So I have embraced it. He lost his life in this property brought this property closer On me.
Allgaier won his first XFinity title last season. He ended up in second place in 2020 and 2023 and has bloomed in one of the most popular drivers during his 14 seasons on the XFinity series.
Earnhardt won two Daytona 500S, in 2004 and 2014 and 26 races together. But he never won a cup championship or came close to matching the results of his late Hall of Fame father, who won seven titles and became known as “The Intimidator.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Before Verizon 200 on Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course in Indianapolis 31 July 2022. (Marc Lebrik/USA Today Sports)
Now he goes to his first as a team owner.
“We’ll push a car on the grid Sunday for the first time ever,” said Earnhardt, “in the biggest, most important race I have ever known. And I can’t wait.”
