Earnhardt back for final race at Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas — Dale Earnhardt Jr. never realized how special Texas would become in his life, both professionally and personally. It was at Texas Motor Speedway in 2000 when he got his first Cup Series victory, as a 25-year-old driver who was greeted in victory lane by his famous father who was then his car owner. That came two years after Junior got his first victory in NASCAR’s second-tier series at the same track.

“Texas has been so awesome to me,” Earnhardt said Friday. Earnhardt’s wife, Amy, is from the Lone Star State.

“I got a whole other family down here. That is a big, big bonus of being married to her,” he said. “Texas is a place that is almost like a second home. I find I love more and more about it the more time I spend here.”

With Earnhardt back in Texas for his last race there as a full-time Cup driver, track President Eddie Gossage rode a horse into the media center to recognize NASCAR’s most popular driver. The horse wasn’t a retirement gift, but the track is sponsoring a therapy horse in his name at a ranch only a few miles from the track that helps people with disabilities along with veterans and first responders.

Earnhardt has encouraged tracks to give charitable gifts in his name instead of traditional presents while on his farewell tour. Texas did both.

Gossage presented Earnhardt with the top of the electronic scoring pylon from his first Cup victory, with the No. 1 spot lit up with number 8, his car number at the time.