DAYTONA BEACH, FL — Dale Earnhardt Jr. fought back tears when he realized that he was back in the Daytona 500 with a country music legend and a NASCAR champion, a track full of both glory and heartbreak for his family.
Earnhardt remarked, “It’s unbelievable that we get to race on Sunday.” It’s really unbelievable.
Junior, you can believe it.
Earnhardt and his JR Motorsports team celebrated Thursday night at the circuit where he both won two Daytona 500s and lost his father on the final lap of the 2001 race. Earnhardt was the most popular driver in NASCAR for a long time and created a Hall of Fame racing career in the imposing shadow of his father.
Earnhardt claimed that Daddy cherished Daytona. I enjoyed winning here. It would be a pleasure to win any race here. Whatever that number was (34 total), he loved to add to it. Oh my, I used to enjoy visiting here as a child. Many wonderful memories. I had a career ahead of me and was returning several times, so I had to make a decision when he passed away. I needed to find a way to accept it.
Earnhardt saw only happiness and thankfulness at the track when JR Motorsports and Justin Allgaier, the current Xfinity Series champion, secured their Cup Series debut with their performance in a 150-mile qualification race at Daytona and qualified for the season-opening Great American Race.
As he descended the pit box and snaked his way to pit road, Earnhardt headlocked and bearhugged every member of his crew, friends, and family, including his sister Kelley Earnhardt-Miller, who is his race team partner. Under the lights at Daytona, Earnhardt’s dream of making the transition to the elite Cup Series level became a reality when he grabbed Allgaier with trembling lips and trembling hands before the race.
“We have attempted to minimize our desire to compete in the Cup Series,” Earnhardt remarked. I have, at least. It’s one of those situations where you think, “If it’s meant to be, it is.”
The 38-year-old Allgaier found new life in NASCAR’s second-tier series after never making a real push at a Cup career aside from two complete seasons ten years ago. Last season, he earned his first Xfinity title and has 25 career victories. During his 14 seasons on the Xfinity series, he became one of the most well-liked drivers and finished second in 2020 and 2023.
Right now, none of those achievements compare to competing with Junior in the Daytona 500.
Allgaier remarked, “This one means more than I could ever imagine.” It will be a lot of fun.
Earnhardt-Miller was added: Earning it is ingrained in our DNA, which is how Dad raised us. It feels better to earn your success, in my opinion, because you work hard at everything you do.
Earnhardt typically drinks beer (his favorite is Budweiser Select 55), but he might have to toast to his good fortune with some Tennessee whiskey.
A collaboration with Grammy Award-winning musician Chris Stapleton was a major factor in JR Motorsports’ success at Daytona. Stapleton’s whiskey label sponsors Allgaier, who has made two starts at the Daytona 500, and his No. 40 Chevrolet. The singer was anticipated to be present at the race. Because the Chevy is powered by a Hendrick Motorsports engine, it has more star power within.
After the race team, one of nine open teams vying for the final four spots in the Daytona field, failed to secure a berth the night before in qualifying, Earnhardt was upset.
“Until we started going through it, I didn’t really know how badly I wanted to do this or wanted to be a part of something like this,” he added. It was incredibly difficult to comprehend yesterday, even something as basic as being eight thousandths too slow. Acceptance is difficult. I’ve spent the entire day sitting here reflecting on how much I wanted this for us all.
Earnhardt has won 26 races overall, including two Daytona 500s in 2004 and 2014. However, he never took home a Cup title or even approached his late father, Dale, who was dubbed “The Intimidator” and won seven titles, in terms of accomplishments.
It may have been simple for Earnhardt’s career accomplishments over his decades at Daytona to be overshadowed by his father’s passing.
To laughing, he remarked, “I probably need a psychiatrist to describe it.”
As candid as usual, Earnhardt, 50, stated that he had come to accept his father’s passing as a natural part of life rather than a reason to blame and despise the well-known song for eternity.
I was aware that he wasn’t led by the track. Earnhardt stated, “I knew that he still felt the same way about Daytona, no matter where he was.” I’ve accepted it, then. The fact that he died on this property made it more meaningful to me. With other people and tragedies, that doesn’t work the same way, but for me, knowing that I had to keep coming here, I accepted the track and enjoyed it.
Earnhardt also adores Daytona.
One could imagine that Earnhardt could never have enjoyed it more as the tears streamed down his face.
For the first time ever, we get to push a car on the grid on Sunday, Earnhardt remarked. In the most significant race I’ve ever witnessed. And I’m eager.
— AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston
