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Race 1
Michael Waltrip's first victory in several hundred attempts was an amazing event
to witness.  Unfortunately an event that no one could have ever dreamed of
overshadowed it.  The passing of his car owner, the sport's greatest star ever.

The rest of Michael's season was plagued with bad luck and inconsistency.  The highlights were a
second place in the Daytona Pepsi 400, and another second place near the end of the season at Phoenix.

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Race 2
At a very somber race, one week after the death of Dale Earnhardt, the tributes and memories overflowed.
The best tribute, perhaps, was the fact that one one Dale Earnhardt Inc.'s drivers, Steve Park, won the race.
It was a very emotional day.  It was a very popular victory.

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Race 3
The Third week, Jeffy won at Las Vegas.

Kevin Harvick was married to Delana this weekend.

There was a huge three made of flowers as a memorial to Dale at the track.

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Race 4
Week four was a very emotional one.  Kevin Harvick, driving Dale Earnhardt's car, won at Atlanta in just his THIRD NASCAR Winston Cup Start.  Harvick's first win will forever be remembered as one of the greatest races in NASCAR history.  It was amazing, not only for Kevin to win in his third Winston Cup start, but because of the entire circumstances that surrounded the event.  For Kevin to win in only his third (3) Winston Cup start, at the very event that Dale Earnhardt had won the year before, in the same close manner, is simply amazing!  I think Dale was certainly with Kevin in the car that day!

2000 Dale Vs. Bobby - 2001 Kevin Vs. Gordon

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Race 5
Race five at Darlington SHOULD have been another Steve Park victory...  However, NASCAR threw an unnecessary yellow flag that resulted in a Dale Jarrett victory.  I think that this was due to the fact that no Fords had won in the past seven Winston Cup races, and NASCAR was worried they would start whining about a disadvantage.

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Race 6
Race Six was a very unexpected victory by Elliott Sadler, who used tire strategy
to win the race from the back pits at Bristol.  He was the first winner to NOT remember
Dale Earnhardt during his victory celebrations.  (I never did like Sadler!)

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Race 7 and 8
Race seven at Texas was another Dale Jarrett Victory. Dale Earnhardt Jr. had the race won until a late race caution caused the field to close in.  In race eight at Martinsville, Jarrett wins yet again.  It was starting to look as if the #88 was going to run away with the championship.  It's too bad he didn't, considering who ended up winning instead!

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Race 9
The next week at Talladega the winner was a pleasant surprise...  Bobby Hamilton visited
victory lane for the first time since 1998.  It looked as if Tony Stewart had the race won until
the thrilling last lap pass by Hamilton!  I couldn't believe my eyes!

Hamilton was exhausted after the race, he sat down in victory lane.

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Race 10
Rusty Wallace won the tenth race of the year at California.
He saluted Dale Earnhardt by doing a backward victory lap with a Dale Earnhardt flag.

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Race 11
The winner of week 11 was Tony Stewart at Richmond.

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Race 12
Jeff Burton finally wins at the Coca-Cola 600...  Many people expected him to be a contender in
2001, but up until this win, he really didn't have anything to show for the 2001 season.

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Race 13 and 14
The next two races took a turn for the worst...  Dover and Michigan were both won by the evil one.
The worst part about the Michigan race is that I was THERE and I had to witness the terrible event
in person!  And in cheap seats no less!!!  Things were already starting to go Gordon's way championship-wise.

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Race 15
The fifteenth race of the year, at Pocono, was won by Ricky Rudd.  After he went winless in 2000, I was wondering if old Ricky had any more wins left in him or not.  Luck was finally on his side for a change on this particular day.  This was Rudd's first win since 1998.

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Race 16
The Sixteenth race of the year, at Sears Point was won by Tony Stewart.
It was nice to amazingly have a road course race that didn't end in a Jeff Gordon victory!

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Race 17
Up until the halfway point of the season, the return to Daytona for the Seventeenth race of the year, it had not been a very good year for Dale Jr. at all.  All of that changed with the running of the Daytona Pepsi 400.  This race was very special not only because it was Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s first win of the 2001 season, but it was his first win since the death of his father in the Daytona 500 on February 18, 2001.  What made it even more special was that Dale Jr. was the first driver to win at the track since the death of his father there earlier in the season.  This was by FAR the best race of the year!  The only one that could even come close was Harvick's victory at Atlanta!
............
.......Dale Jr. waves to his adoring....................................................Look, even Britney Spears
............fans during introductions...........................................................is excited to see Dale Jr.!.......

Lap three...

Dale Earnhardt is remembered by all fans during lap three.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. led for much of the race,
gaining five extra bonus points toward the championship.

On a late race pit stop with seven laps to go, during
caution, Dale Jr. dropped all the way back to sixth place...

But with his strong car, Dale Jr. had retaken the lead by five to go!

Michael Waltrip pushes Dale Jr. to victory, pay back for when Jr.
did the same for him at the Daytona 500 earlier in the season.

Chocolate Meyers, long time gas man for Dale Earnhardt, was the first to get to
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and give him a big hug!  His team mate, Waltrip, pulled up next to
Jr. in the grass after Jr. was done whipping doughnuts!

Waltrip, who never got a chance to celebrate after his Daytona victory
due to the tragic passing of Dale Earnhardt, gets a big hug from Dale Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Incorporated team mates celebrate in the infield.

Dale Jr. pulls into victory lane.

This BUD is for you, DALE EARNHARDT JR.!

.....
Dale Jr. celebrates in victory lane, where he is presented with his first Daytona trophy.

...
Dale Jr. poses with friends, crew members, and others in victory lane.

After the race, Jr. gets congratulations and a hug from
Mike Helton, NASCAR president.

Dale Jr. gets a congratulatory hug from Ken Schrader, a friend of his father who
was involved in the crash that took Dale Earnhardt's life at Daytona earlier in the year.

Aside from celebrating the accomplishments of Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Daytona, fans take
time to remember Dale Earnhardt at the first Daytona race after his death here earlier
in the year. Earnhardt is the most winning driver in the history of this track.
...
Large number threes are painted on the grass outside the track in memory of Dale Earnhardt.

This large three is visible from a parking area.

..........
Memorial banners are displayed on qualifying day.

Fans camping in the infield remember Dale.

This fan memorializes Dale Earnhardt with a home made blanket.

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2001 NASCAR Season In Review
Memorable Moments From The Year Part 2