![]() Says Earnhardt: “It’s one of the races I’m proudest of because we had a good day and I lost to one of the greatest drivers who’s ever been behind the wheel of a race car.” So, finishing second to the legendary Dick Trickle on Labor Day weekend didn’t hold especially happy memories until years later, when Earnhardt came to realize how difficult Darlington could be and, more importantly, just how good Trickle was. After all, Earnhardt already had won four Xfinity races in that rookie season (he later won two more) and was headed for the first of back-to-back Xfinity championships for Dale Earnhardt Inc. At the time, finishing second in a 1998 Xfinity Series race at Darlington didn’t seem like a big deal. “I just wanted to make it as close as I could.” “I knew that he was probably going to win it,” Junior said, breathlessly. They made serious contact twice nearing the checkered flag, but Senior held on to win by that half-a-fender. Senior seemed to be in control until Junior made a strong high-line charge on the last lap. And although IROC was only 12 drivers in similarly prepared Pontiacs and wasn’t a NASCAR event, the 1-2 finish was special for both men. Father and son raced each other only 40 times in Cup and never in Xfinity - and never came close to finishing 1-2. About half-a-fender - that’s 0.007 seconds at 165 mph - separated The Intimidator from Junior in the June 1999 IROC race at Michigan. Junior didn’t stoop to their level when a few drivers said the fix was in, that NASCAR and DEI had rigged the race in his favor. Just as Junior hadn’t challenged Waltrip in the final laps of that year’s 500, Waltrip dutifully followed his teammate to the flag in the 400, content to meekly ride along as the healing continued. Junior qualified 13 for DEI and led 116 of 160 laps (including 60 of the last 70) in beating teammate Michael Waltrip, Elliott Sadler, Ward Burton and Bobby Labonte. His father had died on the last lap of that season’s Daytona 500, and the 400-miler was the first race back at Daytona since that unforgettable Sunday five months earlier. ![]() Winning the Daytona 500 in 20 clearly were the watershed moments of Junior’s career, but winning the Pepsi 400 on July 1, 2001, at Daytona Beach was among his most treasured. and father Earnhardt Sr.'s legacy in NASCAR began in 1975
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