{"id":1503439,"date":"2022-04-21T13:04:29","date_gmt":"2022-04-21T17:04:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1503439"},"modified":"2022-04-21T13:04:30","modified_gmt":"2022-04-21T17:04:30","slug":"dale-earnhardt-sr-phenomenal-final-win-talladega-superspeedway-still-doesnt-make-sense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/dale-earnhardt-sr-phenomenal-final-win-talladega-superspeedway-still-doesnt-make-sense\/","title":{"rendered":"Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s Phenomenal Final Win at Talladega Superspeedway Still Doesn't Make Sense"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Arguably the most popular driver in American motorsports<\/a> history, Dale Earnhardt Sr. won 76 NASCAR Cup Series races throughout his career, currently good for eighth on the all-time list<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ten of those 76 came at famed Talladega Superspeedway<\/a>, including the final Cup Series victory of his illustrious career in October 2000, a mere four months and three days before his tragic death at the 2001 Daytona 500<\/a>. The win was one of the most dramatic of his career and arguably the most impressive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And even more than 20 years later, it's still hard to believe he managed to pull it off, given his position near the end of the race. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dale Earnhardt Sr. won the 2000 Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway despite being in 18th place with four laps to go<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Dale
Dale Earnhardt Sr. drives ahead of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon at the 2000 NASCAR Cup Series Winston 500 at Talladega Superspeedway | ISC Archives\/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Despite having just one victory to his credit during the 2000 NASCAR Cup Series season leading into the Winston 500 at Talladega, Dale Earnhardt Sr. was having a solid campaign. Including his victory early in the year in Atlanta, the “Man in Black” had recorded 21 top-10 finishes through 29 races, including a runner-up just two weeks earlier in Martinsville. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Earnhardt started the day in 20th position in the 43-driver field on the 2.66-mile oval. In his first full season in the NASCAR Cup Series, Dale Earnhardt Jr. began the race 17 spots ahead of his father in third following a fantastic qualifying run. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, the 188-lap race was pretty clean as only 13 laps were run under the caution flag. The green flag was actually out for the first 104 laps until the No. 71 Chevy driven by Dave Marcis stalled in Turn 4 of lap 105. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In total, 21 different drivers held the lead for at least one lap, marking just the second time in NASCAR Cup Series history that essentially half the field led the race at one point or another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dale Jr. was one of those 21 as he ran a fantastic race. He led 28 laps total and was out in front of the pack with four laps to go. However, Earnhardt Sr. was stuck back in 18th place and hopes of winning a second race of the season seemed lost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Racing at speeds over 190 miles per hour and running five-wide with three laps remaining, numerous drivers were in contention down the stretch but had no idea of the magic that was about to happen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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