DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) – The No. 3 went back to Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway, where Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove a car that honored his late father to his first NASCAR victory in more than three years.
Earnhardt, winless in any NASCAR points race since a Sprint Cup victory at Michigan in 2007, took the lead on pit road under caution with 26 laps to go Friday night in the Nationwide Series race. Running a No. 3 Chevrolet with a Wrangler paint scheme to honor his father’s induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Earnhardt brought his loyal fans to their feet for the final sprint to the checkered flag.
Paul Menard’s wreck with four laps to go put the outcome in jeopardy, and Earnhardt, the leader, decided not to pit under the caution. On old tires, he had to hold off Joey Logano and a slew of Cup regulars for his first Nationwide victory since Michigan in 2006.
Tony Eury Jr., Earnhardt’s cousin and crew chief, was overcome with emotion as Earnhardt crossed the finish line.
“We lost everything here,” Eury said softly. “To come back with that number and do this, it means everything.”