Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Earnhardt Jr. basks in adoration, finishes final race
HOMESTEAD — Dale Earnhardt, Jr., rode off into the sunset, quite literally and happily, Sunday as the fading light painted a colorful farewell backdrop over Homestead-Miami Speedway.
It felt more like a Sunday joy ride than a final race for NASCAR’s most beloved driver.
Earnhardt started in the last row due to changing the engine in his Chevy. In his final prerace interview, he told NBC’s Bob Costas that his objective for the day was, “You just want to be able to run all the laps.”
Mission accomplished, more or less. Junior was two laps down but still running at the end of the Ford 400. He finished 25th in an uneventful 400-mile transit, well behind the Championship 4 contenders as Martin Truex Jr. took the Monster Energy Cup title that eluded Earnhardt in his career.
He capped the day by presenting his helmet to Rick Hendrick and embracing his long-time owner in an emotional hug in the pits, and guzzling beer with his crew.
“I didn’t cry until I was hugging Rick’s neck,” Earnhardt said. “He’s been like a father to me, and the things that he’s done for me personally and professionally. But the personal stuff — he’s really, really helped me more than anybody will ever know. I will miss trying to make him proud.”
As it turned out, Earnhardt claimed the prize he sought for the day.
“The deal I had with Rick was if I finished the race with the car in one piece I get the car and he gets the helmet. I’m going to take this thing back home. It’s got a little scuff here and there. We ran into Truex on the back straightaway [on the cool-down lap] high-fiving him with the race car. Proud of him.”
Truex won back-to-back championships in what is now the Xfinity Series in 2004 and 2005 while driving for a team co-owned by Earnhardt.
Junior said when the weekend began he was pulling for Truex to win his first Cup series title due to the adversity his friend has faced, including girlfriend Sherry Pollex’s battle with ovarian cancer.
“We’re retiring and Martin wins the championship,” Earnhardt said. “That’s story-book.”
Junior’s career has been a remarkable story as well in carrying on the family legacy in the wake of his father’s death in the 2001 Daytona 500.
Earnhardt went out with a smile, by all appearances eagerly, though he was observed wiping away tears during the drivers’ prerace meeting during a standing ovation from fellow racers, NASCAR officials and others that lasted about 30 seconds. The “others” included Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas and MMA star Rampage Jackson.
It was all part of what Junior anticipated when he tweeted early Sunday, “This is gonna be a weird day.”
It turned out better than that in a day that unfolded as a lovefest from dawn to dusk under cloudless skies for the potentate of Junior Nation.
There were tweets of adoration from his peers, including Danica Patrick, who was also in her final race as a full-time driver, though she will drive the Daytona 500 and Indy 500 next year.
Kyle Busch tweeted, “Today we are all Jr. Nation. #Appreci88ion.”
There was a rock-star reception from the sold-out crowd, as Junior moved along a special walkway slapping hands with his admirers prior to taking a lap of honor around the track.
Earnhardt posed for a photo for his wife Amy before climbing into the No. 88 a final time. A throng from Junior Nation pressed close, sending him off with cries of “Go get ’em, Dale,” and “Thank you, Dale.”
And most heartfelt, “We love you, Dale!”
There is no dispute about that. Millions of racing fans most assuredly do. They voted him NASCAR’s most popular driver 14 consecutive years.
That popularity extends from rank-and-file fans to superstar celebrities. Video tributes included Jack Nicklaus, Jimmy Kimmel, Adam Sandler, Brad Paisley and Mark Wahlberg.
Earnhardt, who has 2.35 million followers on Twitter, is humbly appreciative of the support
“Everything that ever happened to me in racing was because of that fan base,” he said. “The driving force behind my success in this sport is all because of Junior Nation.”
Earnhardt will remain active next year as team owner and broadcaster.
“I feel fortunate to have won races and done well. But that was the icing on the cake,” Earnhardt said. “I really just wanted to be able to make a living doing this.”