Trevor Bayne, right, and Tony Stewart, left, lead the field on a restart in the closing laps of the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011. Bayne won the race. (AP Photo/Glenn Smith)DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Even though the 10-year anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s death came two days earlier, there were plenty of people remembering The Intimidator at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday.
Two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart wore a black, No. 3 baseball cap. So did most everyone at Richard Childress Racing.
NASCAR officials showed a highlight video of previous Daytona 500s during the pre-race drivers meeting, and the late Earnhardt was prominent in the piece.
Daytona officials had a huge No. 3 painted in the infield grass. On the third lap, Fox television broadcasters observed a moment of silence while fans saluted Earnhardt by holding up three fingers.
“I feel honored and once again undeserving to be here 10 years after that for the anniversary,” said race winner Trevor Bayne, who was nine years old when Earnhardt died.