Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Daytona

By Staff report | Published: November 21, 2017 25

Sarah Crabill | NASCAR via Getty Images

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. has raced and held a variety of pre-race roles at Daytona. Take a look back at Junior's history at Daytona International Speedway.

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2020 Daytona 500: Dale Earnhardt Jr. waves the green flag for the start of the Daytona 500.

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2019 Daytona 500: Dale Earnhardt Jr. drives the pace truck before the 61st Annual Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

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2018 Daytona 500: Dale Earnhardt Jr. gives the command before the start of the 60th Annual Daytona 500.

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2017 Coke Zero 400: Dale Earnhardt Jr. leads the field to green to start the NASCAR Cup Series 59th Annual Coke Zero 400. After winning the pole for the event, Junior finished 32nd after a crash ended his last race at Daytona as a full-time driver.

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2017 Coke Zero 400: A message for Dale Earnhardt Jr. is painted on the infield grass at Daytona International Speedway.

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2017 Daytona 500: Dale Earnhardt Jr. waves to the crowd during driver introductions before the 59th Annual Daytona 500, his final Great American Race as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series driver.

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2017 Daytona 500: Dale Earnhardt Jr. passes the Harley J. Earl Trophy at his last driver introductions for the event as a full-time Hendrick Motorsports driver.

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2015 Coke Zero 400: One more winner's decal for the No. 88 driver.

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2015 Coke Zero 400: Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 Nationwide Chevrolet, celebrates his last career victory at Daytona as a full-time driver.

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2015 Coke Zero 400: Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes the checkered flag as cars wreck behind him at Daytona.

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2015 Coke Zero 400: Dale Earnhardt Jr. pilots the No. 88 Nationwide Stars and Stripes Chevrolet at Daytona International Speedway.

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2014 Daytona 500: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s last Daytona 500 victory was also his first in the No. 88 Chevrolet.

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2014 Daytona 500: It was Junior's first Daytona 500 win with Rick Hendrick as his team owner.

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2014 Daytona 500: Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s second and final Daytona 500 victory came 10 years after his first.

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2014 Daytona 500: Friend and teammate Jeff Gordon was part of the Victory Lane celebration.

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2014 Daytona 500: Amy (then Reimann) and Rick Hendrick stand by as Junior hoists the Harley J. Earl Trophy.

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2014 Daytona 500: The traditions run deep at Daytona, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. signs his name in cement in Victory Lane after winning the Daytona 500 on Feb. 23, 2014.

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2011 Daytona 500: Junior's first Cup Series pole at Daytona came in his 23rd start at the 'World Center of Racing.' Jeff Gordon lined up beside Earnhardt Jr. on the front row.

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2004 Daytona 500: Champagne flows for the No. 8 team after Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s first victory in the Daytona 500.

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2001 Pepsi 400: Dale Earnhardt Jr. claims his first victory at Daytona International Speedway in the series' first race there after his father's death in February 2001. Teammate Michael Waltrip joins him on the infield grass. It was 11 years to the day after Dale Earnhardt won his first race at Daytona.

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2001 Pepsi 400: Dale Earnhardt Jr. celebrates with his crew after winning the Pepsi 400.

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2000 Daytona 500: Dale Earnhardt (No. 3) and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (No. 8) race each other during the Daytona 500. The younger Earnhardt finished 13th in his NASCAR Cup Series debut, while his father took home a 21st-place showing.

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Jamie Squire | Allsport

2000 Daytona 500: A fresh-faced Dale Earnhardt Jr. makes his debut in what is now the NASCAR Cup Series.

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Robert Laberge | Allsport

2000 Daytona 500: Dale Earnhardt Jr. takes it all in at his official rookie season debut in the No. 8 DEI ride.