KIDWCKED
07-03-2010, 09:29 PM
c/p from espn by the a/p
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- It had been 85 points races since Dale Earnhardt Jr. made it to Victory Lane.
The end of the drought finally came at Daytona International Speedway, in the famed No. 3 car, in race that honored his late father and stirred emotions to even the most stoic NASCAR fan.
Earnhardt Jr. won his first race since 2008 in a car which paid tribute to his late father.
Earnhardt raced to his first victory since 2008 on Friday night, driving a tribute car to his father in the Nationwide Series race. It was Earnhardt's first points win since his Sprint Cup Series victory at Michigan in 2008, and his first Nationwide win since Michigan in 2006.
His celebration was subdued.
"I was just relieved," he said. "Victory Lane's like when you're a little kid and you've got a tree house or you and your buddies got a clubhouse in the woods. That's what Victory Lane is to me, and I like going there. You miss it really bad, but you know it's there and you can get back there again if you try really hard.
"It's not gone, but it's very difficult to get into. Every time I win, I just soak it up like a sponge."
Earnhardt took the lead on pit road under caution with 26 laps to go Friday night in the Nationwide race. Running a No. 3 Chevrolet with a Wrangler paint scheme to honor his father's induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Earnhardt brought his loyal fans to their feet for the final sprint to the checkered flag.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- It had been 85 points races since Dale Earnhardt Jr. made it to Victory Lane.
The end of the drought finally came at Daytona International Speedway, in the famed No. 3 car, in race that honored his late father and stirred emotions to even the most stoic NASCAR fan.
Earnhardt Jr. won his first race since 2008 in a car which paid tribute to his late father.
Earnhardt raced to his first victory since 2008 on Friday night, driving a tribute car to his father in the Nationwide Series race. It was Earnhardt's first points win since his Sprint Cup Series victory at Michigan in 2008, and his first Nationwide win since Michigan in 2006.
His celebration was subdued.
"I was just relieved," he said. "Victory Lane's like when you're a little kid and you've got a tree house or you and your buddies got a clubhouse in the woods. That's what Victory Lane is to me, and I like going there. You miss it really bad, but you know it's there and you can get back there again if you try really hard.
"It's not gone, but it's very difficult to get into. Every time I win, I just soak it up like a sponge."
Earnhardt took the lead on pit road under caution with 26 laps to go Friday night in the Nationwide race. Running a No. 3 Chevrolet with a Wrangler paint scheme to honor his father's induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Earnhardt brought his loyal fans to their feet for the final sprint to the checkered flag.