By PattyKay Lilley

The date was February 15, 1998. The place was Daytona International Speedway and the event was the Great American Race, the Daytona 500. The day dawned with threatening dark clouds, a chilling wind and a weather forecast that called for rain. Still, excitement was running high as the new season prepared to get underway. After all, no Daytona 500 had ever been rained out on its given Sunday and the racing world hoped that “Bill France weather” would prevail for this one as well.

Back then, a perennial question had become very much a part of the ceremonies surrounding the race. “Can the Intimidator finally win the Daytona 500?” This race marked the fortieth running of Big Bill France’s dream race and it would chronicle the twentieth attempt by the “Man in Black” to conquer the giant Superspeedway in the biggest race of all.