![]() In perhaps his most infamous victory, Earnhardt spun Terry Labonte on the final lap of the Aug. ![]() In taking his last checkered flag, Earnhardt drove from 18 th to first in the final five laps at Talladega Superspeedway.īut his greatness was realized against the backdrop of “The Intimidator” persona that could be complicated and polarizing. His 1998 Daytona 500 victory came after a 20-year winless wait that included several near-misses (and a major heartbreaker on a cut tire while leading the final lap in 1990). 3 Chevrolet, and it also was revealed on many of the Cup Series’ biggest stages. With 76 victories and seven titles in NASCAR’s premier series, Earnhardt’s talent was unquestioned in the No. Knowing how badly he wanted to win and still had not won there, that was I considered some of the best driving that I did.” “When you’re passing the very best in the business at a track that he literally dominated in every fashion except for the Daytona 500, that was extremely special. ![]() Dale Jarrett and Dale Earnhardt before the 1998 Daytona 500 (Mark J. That’s just who he was, and you knew that. The second one was holding him off for 23 laps because I knew if he got to my bumper, he wasn’t going to care that we were friends. “And fortunately in the very first one, I only had to hold him off for a full lap there. “That’s what makes me so proud of the first two Daytona 500s that I won: He finished second,” Jarrett said of outdueling the seven-time champion to win The Great American Race in 1993 (when he made the winning pass on the final lap) and ’96 (when he took first with 23 laps to go). Two of the biggest victories in Dale Jarrett’s NASCAR career were special because of Dale Earnhardt. This is the second chapter in an oral history series that remembers “The Intimidator” though the voices of those who knew the seven-time Cup Series champion who remains one of the biggest icons in NASCAR history.” NBC Sports will take a look at the life, legacy and long-lasting impact of Dale Earnhardt who died 20 years ago this week on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 on Feb.
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