18: Winning The Daytona 500
Corey LaJoie, who is still a relatively new driver, recounted sitting at home and watching Dale Jr. win the Daytona 500 in an interview with NASCAR. He said that you are sitting along with the rest of the world and watching something amazing. The Daytona 500 is one of the most grueling races in the business, and Dale was able to carry on his father’s legacy. LaJoie was influenced heavily by watching Earnhardt when he was growing up. This influenced his decision to try to become a professional NASCAR racer.
Getting into the sport can be difficult, but Dale Jr. is always welcoming to new drivers. Generally, the older racers would be a bit standoffish of the young buck so to speak, but Dale Jr. always does a great job of influencing the next generation of drivers. This has helped to bolster the sport to a whole new generation of fans and drivers.