Let's name Daytona's victory lane after Dale

Tim Packman

By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
November 24, 2001
12:54 PM EST (1754 GMT)

Commentary

I had a thought while taking part in the traditional Thanksgiving ritual that comes after the meal - the TV.

On Thursday night, there were two specials on television about Dale Earnhardt and his life story. The one thing that was talked about more than anything was Dale at Daytona.

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I'll share my thoughts with you in a moment, but first, let me set the stage.

Just like his trademark mustache and grin, Daytona International Speedway was synonymous with everything Dale was about. From his humble beginnings in Kannapolis, N.C., to his reaching the elite of NASCAR racing fame and notoriety, Daytona was the place Dale loved to race.

He won seven Winston Cup championships before he won the Daytona 500. The Man in Black had four children, won races, won money, sold more souvenirs than anyone and had his name and signature trademarked before he won the Daytona 500.

Yet, no driver has more wins at Daytona than Dale.

Between his Busch wins, IROC wins, Twin 125 victories, Pepsi 400 wins and his lone Daytona 500 win; he visited Victory Lane more than any other driver who ever circled the 2.5-mile tri-oval.

When it came time for Speedweeks at Daytona, conversations turned to the race that eluded the man who had won almost everywhere else. The latter part of his 19 attempts prior to his 1998 victory the question was, "Can Dale win it this year?"

He won a Twin 125-miler so much - he won 10 straight - that some began to wonder if he'd ever win the 500-mile race.

Until that 20th race, the black No. 3 had come so close so many times. From the cut tire in 1990, to the roll-over in 1997 to finally holding the victor's trophy above his head the next year -- the topic was Dale and Daytona.

What happened in the Daytona 500 last year will never be forgotten nor will Dale -- that's something I'm fairly confident about. Through the years and generations of race fans, the topic of Dale at Daytona will be the center of many conversations.

So, with that in mind, I had a thought or two I'd like to share.

Because of what Dale meant to the sport, its fans, drivers and racing at Daytona -- how about naming Victory Lane after him?

Think about it for a minute. Where else is a better tribute to dedication, perseverance, heartache and triumph than the Victory Lane at Daytona?

The man visited it more than anyone else, was synonymous with racing at the superspeedway and then left us all in tears at the track last year. Instead of looking at Turn 4 and thinking of how we lost him, why not attach his name to Victory Lane where people celebrate, smile, laugh and have good memories of being there?

Heck, I proposed to my wife there two years ago on Nov. 23 because I like the place so much. She said yes, so I like it even more now.

I was working with the pit reporters for CBS and was standing just outside of Dale's Daytona 500 victory celebration there in 1998. The look on his face was priceless as he was clearly moved to have finally won the one that kept getting away.

As Teresa, crew chief Larry McReynolds and Dale left the area, they headed to a van that I was standing next to. They hopped in the back and the sliding door was still open.

I looked at him and very calmly said, "Congratulations Dale." He looked out the door, right into my eyes, smiled and said, "Thanks man."

So, as a way of saying thanks to the man who gave us so much to cheer about at Daytona and in general, I say rename the winner's circle Dale Earnhardt Victory Lane.

Put his name on a place where celebrations of triumph and success are held.

Like I said, it's just a thought.

Tim Packman's column appears every Saturday on NASCAR.com. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the writer. To provide feedback to Tim, click here.