Dale Earnhardt Jr. recalls making amends with Daytona before his 2001 victory

Coming back to Daytona International Speedway for the summer race of 2001 was not easy for Dale Earnhardt Jr. Returning to the track where his dad died, Earnhardt had a lot to process. Not just about NASCAR or about Daytona and his dad, but a multitude of emotions.

Before Dale Earnhardt Jr. used “lessons learned from his father to from sixth to first,” in the Pepsi 400, he had amends to make. He wasn’t sure how entering Daytona again was going to make him feel and he didn’t want it to blindside him.

So, Earnhardt and some friends went down to Daytona early. Before the big crowds, the team haulers, and all of the commotion that follows the NASCAR weekly circus.

The way he tells it, Junior and his pals drove straight up to the track, and a gate was open. So, they drove on in. Then, they went to the front stretch. His friends were amazed by the empty superspeedway, while the driver focused in.

Soon, they were driving around the track, with no one stopping them. That is until they got up to Turn 3. Listen to Dale Jr. tell the rest.

"I can't hate this race track." @DaleJr reflects on returning to @DAYTONA prior to his memorable July 2001 victory. #NASCAR75 pic.twitter.com/cgA2XwspiU

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 25, 2023

Of course, Dale Earnhardt Jr. went into Daytona that July and walked away with perhaps the most important victory in the history of the sport. Embracing Michael Waltrip on top of that car in the infield, history was made. He even got pretty good at that whole Daytona thing.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. on the call for Daytona

As we head into another weekend at Daytona, Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be there. He’s on the call once again from the NBC booth. We will see what kind of situation the producers put him in this week. We’ve seen him in the flag stand, we’ve seen him out on the track, on pit road, and more.

The Coke Zero Sugar 400 is going to decide who makes the playoffs. There is just one more spot up for grabs, the other 15 have been locked up by other drivers. While Bubba Wallace has a 32-point advantage over 17th-place, Ty Gibbs, that might not be enough.

An early wreck, a late wreck, heck – ANY wreck – could change this race in the blink of an eye. Wallace will try to avoid the big ones and hope that he can hold onto his points lead, or just walk off with the checkered flag himself, removing all doubt.

No matter what happens this weekend, I am sure we will hear a loud and abrupt call from Dale Earnhardt Jr. As soon as one of those cars hits the wall or starts to spin, look out for the “WOAH!” coming from the TV.