The 59th Daytona 500 is now a mere 8 days away. On Feb. 26th at 2 p.m. ET on FOX, 40 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will roll off at Daytona International Speedway to kick off the Great American Race.
So today’s look back takes us to 2004, when Dale Earnhardt Jr. won the first of his two Daytona 500s, as he thundered to victory in the No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Inc. Chevrolet.
Earnhardt qualified third for the race behind the Fords of pole-sitter Greg Biffle and Elliott Sadler. But when Biffle’s team had to replace an engine prior to the 500, Earnhardt was elevated to the pole position.
![2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Daytona 500, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida USA 15 February,2004
Happy winner of the Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt,Jr. brings his car to a stop on the finishline.
World Copyright©F.Peirce Williams 2004
LAT Photographic
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