Irvan found his winning ways again at Loudon

Ernie Irvan's career was a classic case of perseverance. And that was never more evident than in the 1996 Jiffy Lube 300 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Irvan was an accomplished short-track driver in his native California when he packed up his Late Model Stock Car and headed for North Carolina with less than $1,000 in his pocket. He supported himself by doing odd jobs during the week, including welding grandstands at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and then racing on the weekends.

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After becoming friends with car builder Marc Reno, Irvan made his Cup debut at Richmond in 1987, driving a car sponsored by Dale Earnhardt's Chevrolet dealership. Four years later, Irvan was celebrating a Daytona 500 victory.

But Irvan's life would change forever on Aug. 20, 1994, when he was severely injured in an accident during practice at Michigan International Speedway. He slammed into the wall at an estimated 170 mph after cutting down a tire and suffered massive brain and lung injuries, which left him hospitalized for several months.

Many thought Irvan would never race again, but he returned to NASCAR's premier series at the end of the 1995 season. Irvan led 31 laps and finished sixth at North Wilkesboro in his first race back, led much of the race at Phoenix before engine troubles sidelined him and wound up seventh at Atlanta in the season-finale.

But despite seven more top-10 finishes to start the 1996 season, Irvan still hadn't been back to Victory Lane when the series visited Loudon in July.

Starting sixth, Irvan steadily moved up as Bobby Hamilton and Geoffrey Bodine traded the lead for the first 50 laps. He went in front for the first time on Lap 57, and hung around the leaders as the track surface began to break up and track position became paramount.

With 100 laps remaining, Jeff Gordon seemed to have the car to beat, but he slowed with ignition issues on Lap 237, handing the advantage back to Irvan, who had stayed out on an earlier caution and hoped to make it the rest of the way on one stop, as crew chief Larry McReynolds rolled the dice.

"I didn't want to lose a lap," McReynolds said. "Seven, eight, nine, 10 seconds [for the final stop] -- that's all. Track position was as important as I've seen in any race."

Irvan pitted for the final time on Lap 245, taking on fuel and right-side tires. Then Irvan and McReynolds kept their fingers crossed as the race remained green, forcing Ricky Rudd, Robert Pressley, Terry Labonte and Ken Schrader to give up the lead on green-flag pit stops, putting Irvan ahead of teammate Dale Jarrett -- the driver who replaced Irvan after his accident -- with 22 laps to go.

Jiffy Lube 300

Official Results

1.	Ernie Irvan	Ford
2.	Dale Jarrett	Ford
3.	Ricky Rudd	Ford
4.	Jeff Burton	Ford
5.	Robert Pressley	Ford
6.	Terry Labonte	Chevrolet
7.	Rusty Wallace	Ford
8.	Ken Schrader	Pontiac
9.	Johnny Benson	Pontiac
10.	Michael Waltrip	Chevrolet

• Complete Results click here

"The biggest concern the final laps was getting through the gravel pit in Turns 3 and 4 where the track was breaking up," Irvan said. "Obviously, we made it all right.

"I'm happy to be a winner again. There was no doubt in my mind that this day would come."

Irvan crossed the finish line 5.47 seconds ahead of Jarrett. Before heading to Victory Lane, Irvan did a backwards lap of the track to honor Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison -- whose last race was at New Hampshire three years earlier.

"I went around backward in tribute to Davey and Alan," Irvan said. "I admired them both. Someday we'll be up there in heaven with them. They're probably up there racing each other right now."

It was an emotional celebration for Irvan and the No. 28 team.

"A lot of people say, 'Why aren't you satisfied right now because you're able to race? You just haven't won a race,'" Irvan said. "I say, 'Well, I'm not going to be fulfilled until I win some races, and I'm not going to be fulfilled until I get to race Earnhardt or somebody for the championship and maybe win one.'"

McReynolds couldn't help but think back on his friendship with Allison.

"Gosh, the emotions are overflowing," McReynolds said. "What a story, for Ernie to win for the first time back at the last place Davey ran is just incredible. Ernie's comeback is complete now. We're not in the comeback mode anymore. We're ready to win more races."

And for Irvan, it was a chance to silence the critics who felt he didn't belong back in the car.

"Until you win, you never know if you're going to do it again," Irvan said. "Maybe this will shut them up."

Irvan would go on to win later that season at Richmond, and then in 1997 at Michigan. But he would suffer another head injury in a crash during Busch Series practice -- again at Michigan -- in 1999, and announce his retirement from driving less than two weeks later.

Irvan spends much of his time focusing on raising public awareness about traumatic brain injuries through his Race-2-Safety foundation.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer