At present marks 25 years since we misplaced Dale Earnhardt. Heading into the 2026 Daytona 500, Motorsport.com already put collectively a particular function in remembrance of that day and his affect on the game, however immediately, we need to do one thing completely different.
On this easy story, we will concentrate on seven of Dale’s most spectacular and memorable NASCAR Cup Sequence wins, in honor of the seven-time champion:
1. 1998 Daytona 500 — 20 years of making an attempt
There was no query about the place to place this race on our record. Earnhardt had gained all the pieces there’s to win at Daytona, besides the five hundred itself. He misplaced this race in numerous heartbreaking methods, however in 1998, after twenty years of making an attempt, he lastly captured the checkered flag. It got here within the twilight of his profession, 4 years after his remaining title, and three years earlier than his loss of life in the identical race. And simply how particular was it? Each member of each crew lined pit street to personally congratulate the driving force of the No. 3 after he crossed the end line.
2. 2000 Talladega — The draft grasp exhibits the sector the way it’s carried out
Within the fall of 2000, Earnhardt gained his 76th and remaining Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway. It was his tenth at Talladega, and no driver has ever come near surpassing that document. However it was the best way he did it that made this win so memorable, not simply the truth that it was the ultimate time we obtained to see him in Victory Lane. Within the remaining laps, he beat doorways in the course of the pack, scarring the complete right-side of his Chevrolet. Dale Jr. was main with 5 laps to go, and Dale Sr. was exterior the highest 15. And so start an iconic march by way of the sector, showcasing his experience as he lower a path ahead, taking the lead on the white flag and driving off with the race win.
3. 1987 All-Star Race — The ‘go’ within the grass
Okay, it wasn’t actually a go, however the identify caught. Earnhardt was battling for the win in NASCAR’s annual exhibition occasion often called the All-Star Race. He was going back-and-forth with Invoice Elliott, and the 2 made contact on the frontstretch with seven laps to go. Earnhardt’s automobile turned sideways into the grass — all 4 wheels within the filth. He muscled it by way of the infield, again onto the observe, and retained the race lead in an unimaginable save. Earnhardt then shoved Elliott out of the best way and drove off with the victory.
4. 1999 Bristol Evening Race — Rattling Terry’s cage
Maybe essentially the most villainous Earnhardt ever regarded on observe, as boos rained down at Bristol Motor Speedway due to it. He was battling Terry Labonte for the race win, and some years earlier, they tangled in the identical race, with Labonte crashing throughout the road to win. Nevertheless, 1999 was completely different. Labonte touched Earnhardt, nudging him out of the best way to take the lead. Within the very subsequent nook, Earnhardt ran Labonte over, spinning him out on the ultimate lap and profitable the race. And because the crowd confirmed their displeasure, Earnhardt mentioned these now-famous phrases in Victory Lane: “I did not imply to essentially flip him round, simply needed to rattle his cage a little bit bit.”
5. 2000 Atlanta — A real picture end
It is nonetheless one of many 20 closest finishes in NASCAR historical past. In 2000, Earnhardt went head-to-head with one other Labonte, Terry’s youthful brother Bobby — the driving force who would defeat him within the combat for his eighth title later that very same yr. Bobby had an enormous run on Earnhardt by way of the ultimate set of corners, and the 2 drivers drag-raced to the road in a spectacular picture end. Earnhardt was victorious, 0.010s away from the inexperienced No. 18. One yr later on the similar observe, Kevin Harvick earned his first Cup win in comparable vogue at Atlanta, simply three races faraway from getting in Earnhardt’s seat following the 2001 Daytona 500.
6. 1993 Coca-Cola 600 — Penalized a number of occasions, nonetheless wins
Dale Earnhardt, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Picture by: Nigel Kinrade / NKP / Motorsport Photos
In NASCAR’s longest race, Earnhardt was grateful to have the additional 100 miles. He fell off the lead lap resulting from an early dashing penalty on pit street, got here again from that, however with simply over 70 laps to go, he was penalized a full lap for contact with Greg Sacks. Earnhardt and workforce have been livid, and that solely made him sooner. Earnhardt tore again by way of the sector, handed Jeff Gordon and gained one other NASCAR crown jewel.
7. 1995 Brickyard 400 — Earnhardt conquers Indianapolis
In 1994, NASCAR added the enduring Indianapolis Motor Speedway to its calendar, immediately creating one other prestigious race to win. Earnhardt actually needed a win on the Brickyard, and it solely took him two makes an attempt to triumph on the historic observe. In 1995, he took the lead by way of the ultimate sequence of pit stops — the primary time he had led the complete day, however he by no means gave it again. Earnhardt gained the race with Rusty Wallace just some automobile lengths again. “I suppose I am not too outdated to win right here,” Earnhardt mentioned on the radio to his RCR crew.
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