No. 3 Earnhardt Wins at Daytona 7.2.10

It had been 85 points races since Dale Earnhardt Jr. made it to Victory Lane.

The end of the drought finally came at Daytona International Speedway, in the famed No. 3 car, in race that honored his late father and stirred emotions to even the most stoic NASCAR fan.

Earnhardt raced to his first victory since 2008 on Friday night, driving a tribute car to his father in the Nationwide Series race. It was Earnhardt's first points win since his Sprint Cup Series victory at Michigan in 2008, and his first Nationwide win since Michigan in 2006.

His celebration was subdued.

"I was just relieved," he said. "Victory Lane's like when you're a little kid and you've got a tree house or you and your buddies got a clubhouse in the woods. That's what Victory Lane is to me, and I like going there. You miss it really bad, but you know it's there and you can get back there again if you try really hard.

"It's not gone, but it's very difficult to get into. Every time I win, I just soak it up like a sponge."

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[dangerzone24]

not a jr or dale fan, but all of nascar needed this...love it!

[mattoney]

That's a great summary of the whole deal! Thanks for putting this all together!

[johnjvrambo]

This was the best video of Dale's win I have seen on YouTube. It was perfect, just perfect.

[pureluck30]

represented the #3 well

[3DaleLivesForever]

0 dislikes... That's how it should be. #3 lives on

[JosesDonkey2112]

those templates are so much better than the cup series

[NAVGFan]

@88Theboz I agree. Dale Jr seems to have his best chemistry with the Eurys and his family-owned team of DEI. I think a lot that has to do with that is they are all family and they can practically read each others' minds.

[88Theboz]

People say this race was rigged..... i think if you put Dale Jr with Tony Jr in a DEI related car, you might as well expect him to win! those two put together with that team, its a match made in heaven!! GO JR!!!

[rmderke]

actually joey said he tried allh could to win but couldnt get it done. i am not a junior fan but this was one race i couldnt miss and i was hoping he would win, too bad he cant in the 88. see he was a totally different driver in this race if he raced with he passion he does in the 3 car he wouldnt be so bad.

[TheAntihero6212]

1:03 DIAL IT UP!!!!!!!

[MegaAMPENERGY88]

go jr!