Earnhardt Jr.'s victory helped healing process

CONCORD, N.C. -- In America's darkest hour -- the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington D.C. -- sporting events provided millions with an diversion from the mayhem in their midst, and a gathering place to simultaneously mourn loss and cheer heroism in unison.

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That was undoubtedly the case for NASCAR fans nationwide, who witnessed patriotic tributes at each of the final 10 venues on the 2001 slate.

In the wake of the tragedy, said portion of the schedule provided several hair-raising moments. Few, if any, however, equaled the significance of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s rousing victory in the MBNA Cal Ripken Jr., 400 at Dover International Speedway.

After NASCAR opted to postpone the race at Loudon, N.H., following the attacks, the Dover event marked NASCAR's return to competition. And although some feared a paltry turnout, more than 140,000 fans packed the grandstand, each armed with an American flag and unyielding resolve.

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The atmosphere electric, Junior manned his Chevrolet and stole the show, leading a race-high 188 of 400 laps to score one of the most meaningful victories in NASCAR history.

After taking the checkers, Junior circled the high-banked, one-mile DIS oval to raucous cheers, holding a full-sized American flag of his own as he paid tribute to our bruised but not beaten nation.

"I was the fortunate one to win that race in Dover the following weekend," said Earnhardt Jr, 27. "I hadn't planned anything, but the guys in the pits had a plan!

"They told me after I crossed the line that they had an American flag for me. It was very emotional, and I just happened to be the one to win that day. It was very special."

Like all of us, Junior remembers with pinpoint accuracy his whereabouts when he heard the awful news.

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"I remember very well where I was last year," he said. "We had just landed in Kansas City and were planning on a couple of days testing. When we got to the track we found out what was going on in New York and in Washington.

"We had the TV on in the truck and none of us left the TV set. We really couldn't believe what we were watching, the emotions were very high."

Though the test session was slated to last two full days, the Budweiser team manned a pair of conversion vans and drove nearly 17 hours to North Carolina.

"Once we got the word about the airports and no one was allowed to fly, we made the decision to head home," Junior said. "We all had families to get home to and knew that is was important that we were there for them.

"Most of the time we put racing ahead of everything, but there was never a moment when we didn't think we needed to get home."

When the proverbial sun sets on Earnhardt Jr.'s Winston Cup career, he'll likely have logged his share of landmark victories.

Some will place his emotional victory in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona -- the same track that had claimed his father's life just five months earlier -- atop that list.

Some will cite victories yet attained.

Many, though, will instantly think back to Sept. 23, 2001 and remember the No. 8 Chevrolet, Old Glory flying high and proud from it's window, circling DIS to countless tears and deafening applause.