the number "3" in victory lane---------- AGAIN

Dale Earnhardt Jr went to Daytona for one reason and one reason only Friday Night. To win the race. He didnt go to have a top five finish or a good points race. He didnt go to put on a show for the fans.But what a show he put on. Earnhardt drove the No. 3 Wrangler Chevrolet all the way to Victory Lane in the Subway Jalapeno 250 Nationwide race.Dale Earnhardt Jr knows how to drive a race car.I was so worried that I wasnt going to win, cause nothing but a win would get it. For everybody, an emotional Dale Earnhardt said in Victory Lane.We worked hard to try to win, not only for daddyIm proud of him going to the Hall of Fame, and he would be proud of this, Im surebut just all these fans. I hope they enjoyed this.The win came because preparation met opportunity Friday Night at Daytona. It wasnt just the driver that was focused on winning. It was the entire team.Crew chief Tony Eury Jr set the car up perfectly. He made the right calls at the right times to put the No. 3 car out front when it counted. Anyone that questions Eurys abilities as a crew chief needs to take a second look.The pit crew was at the top of their game when it came time to service the car. The car was pitted by a group of guys who volunteered for the job. The same group of guys who pit Juniors No. 88 Sprint Cup car.A collaboration between Teresa Earnhardt, Richard Childress, Rick Hendrick and Dale Earnhardt Jr saw that the car showed up at the track ready to race and win. Hendrick Motorsports provided the engine for the car.Still it took a race car driver that knows his way around the two-and-a-half mile superspeedway at Daytona to claim the checkered flag. Earnhardt drove through traffic in the last half of that race as if he could actually see the air. Some say he can.Earnhardt held off a last lap challenge from Joey Logano to win the race. Logano looked to make a run on Earnhardts outside, but had no drafting help.He had a pretty good run on the last lap, said Earnhardt.. He kind of ducked out a little bit and then thought twice about it because I dont know if the guys behind him were going to do it. Once they got back in line and felt that little shove I got off into three, I felt pretty confident we was gonna win.Earnhardt continued the tribute to his father and the race fans on the Victory Lap. No burnout. Just an old school victory lap like another Earnhardt used to do.What did the win mean for Dale Earnhardt Jr, for NASCAR, and what did it mean for you? Will he be back, or was the stars just in line tonite
updated by @johnny-mallonee: 12/05/16 04:04:08PM

Some people say it was "fixed" because every time he's drove 3, hes won. But even if it was, I think it was something special to see the 3 back in victory lane and Dale Jr. so happy.

And also I dont believe the tale he said of being through with the number 3 -- I still think there is something brewing in the wings for the future with him and Richard Childress, but yes I really enjoyed watching the #3 win in Earnhardt fashion and with those old colors too, had a lot of die hard fans crying for joy fri nite. Did you see Tony jr after he won, wow that was a classic .

Cody Dinsmore said:

Some people say it was "fixed" because every time he's drove 3, hes won. But even if it was, I think it was something special to see the 3 back in victory lane and Dale Jr. so happy.

Wow. the "3" car in a Nationwide/Daytona victory lane...........what an original idea, what promotional genius! N-CAR has about out-hyped this whole deal.

It started out a tribute to his dad but media explosion got on board and blew it all out of size ---the car was cool looking ,had the right number on it, had the right name on it, made the correct noise,did it under the lights------ B U T ---- it was not in the Grand National series (I used the name GN to signify class) It was in the Sportsman series (class definition again) . So you see it was really second tier but it was portrayed real cool and Jr seemed to enjoy it, Tony Jr was emotional over it --maybe this will build a fire under him now to stay in the hunt ,make the chase and maybe get to set at the table this year in Vegas. You know stranger things have happened.

Johnny,I am very happy that he won the race and I don't believe the conspiracy theories. People can say what they want and have a difference of opinion but Dale Jr. drove his heart out. It did help tremendously that he had Tony Eury, Jr., Richard Childress, Teresa Earnhardt, Kelley Earnhardt and Rick Hendrick to make this dream a reality. It meant a lot to me to see this come to fruition and if/if not he decides to race the #3 again - I'm glad that he did it this past weekend.Thanks for the post!Unique

Yeah I would like to see it again. Like I said this morning, almost everytime he's drove the 3, he's won. 2 Busch championships. 2 Busch races in 2002, and Friday. But...I can understand the pressure of driving the car. Everyone thinks he's supposed to be as good as Sr. He's not. He's good, but not his dad. Look at Kyle Petty, not as good as Richard. Dale Jarrett didn't win as many races and cups as Ned.....

Maybe because Earnhardt had lots of fans from over 25+ of racing. Fireball hadn't been racing that long and only won (I dont know) but maybe 20 or so races. So Earnhardt had a huge fan base and won lots of races. Robbie Solesbee said:

Bobby, my sentiments exactly. As for marketing, it seems Sr. is worth more dead than alive. It's been almost 10 years. The man is dead, he's not coming back, and I wish the marketing vultures would let the man rst in peace. Nothing makes me more sick that folks trying to earn a buck off a dead man. This was not a tribute-it was another way to make money on diecasts, T-shirts, caps, and whatever else they make in China. Like I said Dale, Sr. dead-for almost 10 years. It's time to get over it and move on. Nobody mourned Fireball, Little Joe, Friday and the 20 some odd others to die in a GN car, or Cup if you insist.

Bobby Williamson said:

Wow. the "3" car in a Nationwide/Daytona victory lane...........what an original idea, what promotional genius! N-CAR has about out-hyped this whole deal.

When Richard Petty won his races he was the king,no doubt about it. Now you have Jimmy Johnson breaking all records it looks like winning every year, Didnt Dale senior do about the same thing as he came up the ranks of racing in in the cup series? He had a pretty big following in his life and he had "control" of the marketing of his name and memorabilia, the proceeds went into his pocket so to say.So if there is any profit made off his name or stuff it goes to Taylor, thats the way it was wrote.If any profit comes off Jr's stuff it goes into Kelleys purse to be disbursed. I cant say about anything RCR because I havent researched it, but I dont believe anyone out of the Earnhardt clan is making a real big profit. As far as fan base goes I think this little deal with the #3 helped Jr in his head at least and sure helped the fans that have been loyal to Dale senior and junior throughout the years. My take on it but who am I to tell the world, Speak out now or forever hold your peace