Father's Day 2008, is a day to remember for Dale Earnhardt Jr. For those of you who didn't get a chance to watch the race, or your just not a race fan, then you missed out on a great Father's Day shootout
. Dale Earnhardt started todays race 3rd and starring at the back of Kyle Busch's bumper, the very same person that was driving Dales "Hendrick Motorsports" car less then a year ago. Dale however would not be denied on this Father's Day.
Junior started the race with a less then favorable car, at around lap 87 Junior came on the radio saying "the car is driving horrible I"m loose in the corners and can't get her to come around." Not but 15 laps later Junior broke the radio silence once again to tell his crew, "guys the car is running great, I don't what you did but shes running great." Juniors car was running much better on the long runs and sub-par on the short runs in between cautions.
On lap 149 Junior took his final green flag pit stop and said "fellas we are going to the end no matter what." With the race being 200 laps and cars getting an average of 40-45 laps to the tank of gas, it be more then a miracle for Dale to have his car even running when the last 50 laps were through. Junior did just that and some.
With 3 laps to go Junior was in first and the last thing Junior wanted to see was a caution come out, which would more then likely put his team over the calculated fuel mileage. But with fumes, prayers and a what I call "a gift from Dad" Dale was not going to let this race get away. With roughly 54 laps on his tank of gas, which was10 laps more then they had hoped to get, Dale had to find something left in there to get 2 more laps and still hold off the pack breathing down his neck on the restart. As the pace car pulled off the track, seemingly everyone at the Michigan International Speedway stood up and cheered as Dale lead them down turn 4 for the single file restart. On the restart Dale got a great jump and left the pack standing still. Dale pulled away 2-3 car lengths and brought it around to the white flag. 1 lap left and he'd have his Father's Day wish. All of a sudden the yellow flag came out, sealing Dales win if he kept his speed up to the start/finish line. Dale did just that, and as he crossed the finish line and pulled onto pit lane he came on the radio saying "guys I'm outta gas."
How fitting that Dale would push his car to the limit just like his father and run out of gas coming down pit lane as if showing all his nonbelievers , "I told you guys, I have plenty left in the tank " This race had to have been an emotional one for Dale, but being hard-nosed like his father he didnt let his sadness or any emotion show when interviewed after the race. Dale just chalked it up like dear ole dad and played it off like another long day at work. Dale Junior on this Fathers Day had something on his side, and it wasnt just the 80,000 fans in the stands, it was a gift from dad of just a few more miles that pushed Dale over that finish line in first place on this Fathers Day.
