Daytona Victory Would Be Much More Than a Win to Junior, Fans

February 18th, 2001. A day that will forever live in infamy in the Nascar record books. That was the day that Michael Waltrip won his first cup series race, however, that's not what it is remembered for. It was also the day that we lost Dale Earnhardt in the fourth turn on the final lap of that same Daytona 500. Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt, Jr (Earnhard's son), went on to finish one- two, but their celebration was short-lived as they found out what had happened behind them.

When the cup drivers returned to Daytona in July for the Pepsi 400 weekend, the focus (for good reason) was on Dale Junior and how he would handle racing on the track his father was killed racing on just five months prior. Would he wreck? Would he succumb to the pressure of racing in his father's shadow? Could he win?

July 7th, 2001. This is a day that most fans will remember as one of jubilant celebration and, in a way, healing. As the field came around for the white flag, Dale Junior and his teammate, Mikey Waltrip, raced nose to tail at the head of the pack. Although Mikey thought about pulling out and going for the win, he decided to block for his teammate. Nascar's favorite son had triumphed at the track where his father lost his life in one of the sport's darkest days.

But it was what happened after the checkered flag waved that really made this race memorable. Junior spun his car around in the infield grass, climbed out and stood on the roof, arms raised victoriously. Not too long after, Waltrip pulled his NAPA Chevy alongside his teammates car and stood on the roof to celebrate the win he never got to celebrate in February. The teammates embraced, their crews surrounded the cars in the grass, and the fans went crazy. They knew that it was going to be okay. Junior would continue the winning legacy of the Earnhardt name in Nascar's top division. The fans, teams and drivers could begin the healing process.

Now, Junior has since moved on from the team his father started, now driving the No. 88 for Nascar juggernaut Hendrick Motorsports. This Saturday's Coke Zero 400 marks the tenth anniversary of that momentous July victory. If Junior could snap his 100+ race winning streak a decade after that impressive win, it would mean a lot more to Junior Nation, and Dale Junior himself, than just another victory, I'm sure.