In 2012, I gifted my dad tickets for Father's Day for the two of us to go to our first NASCAR race here in Michigan. It was super gloomy and rainy all day but we kept our butts in those bleachers and waited. We were tired. We were wet. We were hungry. But we were also excited for the race to get going. And once it did, boy it was an experience. We didn't have scanners or binoculars. Just what we could see with our eyes and hear from the speakers around the track. When I saw Dale moving up through the field from the back, I could sense something was about to happen, but over the years I learned to accept even top 15 finishes and smile and be happy with those. But there was this feeling. As he made it to the top I had this unwavering smile on my face. My dad, too. As the end was approaching, my dad and I looked at each other wordlessly, knowing what was on each other's minds. Dale Jr was dominating this race and if he didn't win, it would be by some fluke. In the final laps I kept myself together, but inside I wanted to scream and jump and holler. He was doing it. He was breaking that 4 year winless streak that people tirelessly spoke of. He started it there and he was ending it there. On Father's Day. On the day of the ONLY Nascar race I've ever been to. That day was special to me because it was my first race, it was my last race, it was on Father's Day, it was my dad's first race, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. won. Everything felt so surreal that I almost didn't believe it the next day. So while many of his other wins are among favorites for me including but not limited to his Daytona 500 wins, the one after 9/11, the Talladega streak, and the entire 2014 season, the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, June 17, 2012 will forever be my favorite race and my favorite moment.
I love this list. I would have put the 2012 Michigan race a little higher since it broke a 143 race winless streak that lasted 4 years. It was an emotional day for us Jr fans.
Same tbh. The 14 500 is always gonna be 1 for me bc I was there, but the 2004 is the first year I remember everything that happened in NASCAR and that 04 Bristol weekend was incredible and then the first pocono race in 14, I was so excited/ shocked when the camera shot to Jr passing Brad.
Thanks for posting! Even though I knew the outcome of every race I still found myself pacing, heart racing, excited! Thanks again. I've pretty much stopped watching racing since he retired.
If memory serves when he went below the line, at Talladega, he wasn't black flagged for 2 reasons. 1 he was never fully below the line, and 2, he was forced down there. If he'd stayed his line, he would've been in his second big one, which would've taken out most of the field. That's easily one of my favorites. You have to realize that the black bumper on Junebugs car wasn't like that when the race started, it was red like the rest of the car. That was all tape, since he had so much damage from being in the big one. He pitted numerous times, and I think he even may have gone down a lap at least once. Came back to win. Amazing amazing racer. I'm sad that he's retired. I understand why, and would've done the same in his shoes, but I do miss cheering for Junebug.
does anyone else get pumped and stoked and yellin, excited, even tho you kno the outcome every time? ... haha great video. very hard see him go! he's done amazing job to me standing up to his name. alot of people say that he ain't his daddy and forget about these moments in history!, more than whats on here! damn sure can't call it luck or rigged whatever! Jr won his 500 the way it should have been! feels like Sr finishing his last in his car right behind him. and Sr he tried so hard for it! 98' best day my life! and now I'm happy seeing jr succeed and proud of he handle everything! love you Jr!! your my hero! always Jr nation and Earnhardt nation!
I was there at Bristol for Junior’s win as a young boy. That was a special day that I’ll never forget. Sitting in the grandstands with my dad and our headsets turned to his radio frequency. That was cool.
It’s 2020 and I’m watching this. I forgot just how emotional the #2 win was. Definitely my most favorite of all time. Especially with DW calling the race and MW not being over-aggressive. Best race in the history of this sport.
There was zero chance Michael was going to try and pass him. Mikey got on his tail and drove him all the way to the line. Mikey knew what that race was gonna mean to JR
@@zzz7zzz9 if your father was a race car driver and you wanted to be one too cause that's what you love and you just enjoy the sport as a whole. Thats what Jr did. You making it out like he did it just for the fame from father.
@@johnalexander5194 i didn't say anything about junior's ambitions. I'm saying that he was bigger "because" of senior. When senior died, junior automatically got all his daddy's fans, "because" he was junior. He wasn't "overshadowed" by his father, he was as big as he got "because" of his father.
Pocono is my home track too. I'm about 30 minutes away from it. Jr was my favorite driver too. It'll always be a shame to me that he wasn't able to capture at least 1 championship at the Winston/Nextel/Sprint/Monster Energy level.. Then again, simply because of his last name there was more pressure on him than probably anyone else will ever have to try and win one. Still enjoyed his wins whenever he managed to pull them out! Miss late 90s/early 2000s racing lol
I've never been much of a junior fan. Always felt he was overrated. However, i still remember as a ten year old kid watching that 2001 pepsi 400 and just that once i was rooting for junior. Loved that moment.
@@rcracer8872 Really?? You wrote three sentences as one, thus making a lovely fragment. Even then you still forgot your period. I kindly suggest you hop on your child's bus when school starts up again since clearly you need too.
I'm a Junior fan but growing older and watching videos; wow 2002-2007 everyone and there step grand mother in law would pull out and follow him at the plate tracks 3 laps to go
@@nascarfan8891 man I miss old NASCAR, I hate the changes they made to bring in the "casual" fan. All it did was drive away most of the die hard fans. My old man used to go to 10-15 races a season, the very first change they made to the point system kind of ruined it for me. I hate the playoffs with a passion.
@@johndreyer9730 I DO TOO I ALSO HATE THE STAGES AND EVEN AFTER 22 YEARS THE THING I MISS MOST ABOUT OLD NASCAR IS MY ALLTIME FAVORITE RACER THE INTIMADATOR DALE EARNHARDT
@@nascarfan8891 it was never the same, I'm not afraid to admit I cried my eyes out when he died. Dale Jr would of been the best in the sport if he had his father, Theresa ruined DEI
In my opinion even though 2001 wasn't a good year in general and for nascar. Dale Jr wins that he earned that season were more like special wins than actual wins.
How is the 01 Pepsi 400 not #1!!! This is blasphemy! Hands down by a long shot his best and most memorable win!!!!! What a night. I’ll never forget watching that and busting into tears of joy. I’m still emotional just typing this up!
I like your list but I would change a little. The four talladega win should be higher. When you need a front bumper to win at restrictor plate tracks to go out and win without one is impressive should be top 5.
You could tell at plate tracks, Charlotte, and Texas who taught Jr. how to drive. His dad was a beast at Charlotte and plate tracks, and his son was no different.
I get your aspect but...to me Jr. conquering Daytona after losing his father there would to me have been number 1. Again your opinion on this list and not mine. Thanks for posting it.
Can I say something that I can’t even explain cuz I forgot the word? I’ll just do it anyways I don’t care what anybody says. Dale will always be my fav driver. He’s been through a lot with his father dying the way he did. Jr is a fighter and will never give up on anything! He’s not the driver with the most wins but he is the driver that has inspired a lot of us. So today I say DALE JR IS THE BEST DRIVER TO THIS DAY!
#1 for me is that 2014 Daytona 500 win he finished 2nd I believe 3 or 4 times in a row before finally getting back to victory lane at Daytona! 2nd the Pepsi 400 win
I Love watching Dale Jr racing,and his dad.
In 2012, I gifted my dad tickets for Father's Day for the two of us to go to our first NASCAR race here in Michigan. It was super gloomy and rainy all day but we kept our butts in those bleachers and waited. We were tired. We were wet. We were hungry. But we were also excited for the race to get going. And once it did, boy it was an experience. We didn't have scanners or binoculars. Just what we could see with our eyes and hear from the speakers around the track. When I saw Dale moving up through the field from the back, I could sense something was about to happen, but over the years I learned to accept even top 15 finishes and smile and be happy with those. But there was this feeling. As he made it to the top I had this unwavering smile on my face. My dad, too. As the end was approaching, my dad and I looked at each other wordlessly, knowing what was on each other's minds. Dale Jr was dominating this race and if he didn't win, it would be by some fluke. In the final laps I kept myself together, but inside I wanted to scream and jump and holler. He was doing it. He was breaking that 4 year winless streak that people tirelessly spoke of. He started it there and he was ending it there. On Father's Day. On the day of the ONLY Nascar race I've ever been to. That day was special to me because it was my first race, it was my last race, it was on Father's Day, it was my dad's first race, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. won. Everything felt so surreal that I almost didn't believe it the next day.
So while many of his other wins are among favorites for me including but not limited to his Daytona 500 wins, the one after 9/11, the Talladega streak, and the entire 2014 season, the Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, June 17, 2012 will forever be my favorite race and my favorite moment.
I love this list. I would have put the 2012 Michigan race a little higher since it broke a 143 race winless streak that lasted 4 years. It was an emotional day for us Jr fans.
HELL YEAH 😁👍🏻
I like jr
Same tbh. The 14 500 is always gonna be 1 for me bc I was there, but the 2004 is the first year I remember everything that happened in NASCAR and that 04 Bristol weekend was incredible and then the first pocono race in 14, I was so excited/ shocked when the camera shot to Jr passing Brad.
in my book the 2001 pepsi 400 is the best race of junior
His texas win with his dad there was one of my favs as well.
Same
@Rocket Man you're a dumbass
OH HO HO It may not be the best race, but it is DEFINITELY the most emotional win EVER in ANY motorsport!
Man that’s a no brainer it should clearly be #1!
After the lose of the intimator, Jr. kept me interested. Really wish he could of won a championship. Just not the same without the Earnhardt name.
Imagine the battles we could have seen between Sr and Jr at the plate tracks had Dale not passed away in 2001
We miss Ironhead
2023- I’m glad this popped up in recommendations- I get chills when I watch Jr wins. Love ya Jr!
My favorite Jr wins are every win... Period, true Jr fan even still...
Thanks for posting! Even though I knew the outcome of every race I still found myself pacing, heart racing, excited! Thanks again. I've pretty much stopped watching racing since he retired.
Same here
@@gilbertmillan9650 same quit watching when he retired.
Pepsi 400 is my fav race... still makes me emotional when I watch it.
13:05 missing paint turned the 8 into a 3
So cool when DW calls him Junebug.
they call my brother that bc he is a jr
If memory serves when he went below the line, at Talladega, he wasn't black flagged for 2 reasons. 1 he was never fully below the line, and 2, he was forced down there. If he'd stayed his line, he would've been in his second big one, which would've taken out most of the field.
That's easily one of my favorites. You have to realize that the black bumper on Junebugs car wasn't like that when the race started, it was red like the rest of the car. That was all tape, since he had so much damage from being in the big one. He pitted numerous times, and I think he even may have gone down a lap at least once. Came back to win.
Amazing amazing racer. I'm sad that he's retired. I understand why, and would've done the same in his shoes, but I do miss cheering for Junebug.
Dale is my hero and my favorite driver, he's the man and congratulations on your engagement to Amy
+Federated Auto Parts Cup Series If he's your hero why is Austin Dillon on your avatar?
because Dale Earnhardt's car is in the picture look real hard at the picture
I did, Dale never drove with DOW as the sponsor
look in the DA in the pic Dale's car is in it
Dale's car is the backround yes.
does anyone else get pumped and stoked and yellin, excited, even tho you kno the outcome every time? ... haha great video. very hard see him go! he's done amazing job to me standing up to his name. alot of people say that he ain't his daddy and forget about these moments in history!, more than whats on here! damn sure can't call it luck or rigged whatever! Jr won his 500 the way it should have been! feels like Sr finishing his last in his car right behind him. and Sr he tried so hard for it! 98' best day my life! and now I'm happy seeing jr succeed and proud of he handle everything! love you Jr!! your my hero! always Jr nation and Earnhardt nation!
I was there at Bristol for Junior’s win as a young boy. That was a special day that I’ll never forget. Sitting in the grandstands with my dad and our headsets turned to his radio frequency. That was cool.
a 76 race winless streak
76, just like his father...
Don't forget Jr win a week after 9/11 at Dover international speedway
Right? How the hell could anyone leave that one out?
Respect his opinion
My first thought when I saw number one. Figured it was Dover 01
2001 Pepsi 400 should've been number one. I don't understand your choice for #1..?
he won his first 500 on the day I was born
@Rocket Man ur going to every video related to Earnhardt Jr and just trolling. Fuck off
Man you’re young!
Same! Happy Birthday!
Saw him win twice live at Michigan, always a ton of energy in the crows when he won. Good memories
My favorite Jr win is 2014 Daytona 500 when he won on my 13th birthday
shane ward I'm a Dale Jr fan and I was at that race
@KiNG DiNGALiNG no I'm just smart and know the sport
Number 2 was my all time favorite , it was an emotional win yes i cried
I just realized we are talking about different races but nonetheless the love is still there. Every win was amazing in every way
i love these videos...he's my favorite driver of all times...😇💗💙💛❤💚💜
It’s 2020 and I’m watching this. I forgot just how emotional the #2 win was. Definitely my most favorite of all time. Especially with DW calling the race and MW not being over-aggressive. Best race in the history of this sport.
There was zero chance Michael was going to try and pass him. Mikey got on his tail and drove him all the way to the line. Mikey knew what that race was gonna mean to JR
the number 2 race has to be the first. the emotions that before and after, just insane!
The best thing to me is Elliot Sadler’s spotter saying “nice save” after he flipped down the front stretch
I remember it was becoming a thing with Elliott coming across the finish line upside down 😂
Jr's career was way over shadowed by his fathers. If he was a first generation driver he would have gotten more recognition. Good driver, great guy.
what? overshadowed?? without his father, junior wouldn't have been half the driver, nor had half the fans.
breathe and squeeze he didnt get the reconigition he deserved as a driver due too how good his father was. Same thing happend with Kyle Petty.
@@sladeschopshop i still think he got MORE recognition, DUE to being junior, than he ever would have otherwise.
@@zzz7zzz9 if your father was a race car driver and you wanted to be one too cause that's what you love and you just enjoy the sport as a whole. Thats what Jr did. You making it out like he did it just for the fame from father.
@@johnalexander5194 i didn't say anything about junior's ambitions. I'm saying that he was bigger "because" of senior. When senior died, junior automatically got all his daddy's fans, "because" he was junior. He wasn't "overshadowed" by his father, he was as big as he got "because" of his father.
I was at the Sharpie 500 Bristol night race and it’s the only race I seen him win in person. So that is my favorite of his wins.
I was at the 1st Pocono win and I remember the crowd screaming when he took the lead
I was at the second... since it's so hard to sweep there, Steve and him got the brooms from the Pocono Fire crew. 😂
Sharpie 500 is the best I love watching that one
Dale jr has been my favorite ever since I was 3. It sucks that he's retired now. Nascar won't ever be the same for me.
Dale Jr was my favorite driver since his dad passed away before that he was my 2nd favorite
Pocono is my home track too. I'm about 30 minutes away from it. Jr was my favorite driver too. It'll always be a shame to me that he wasn't able to capture at least 1 championship at the Winston/Nextel/Sprint/Monster Energy level.. Then again, simply because of his last name there was more pressure on him than probably anyone else will ever have to try and win one. Still enjoyed his wins whenever he managed to pull them out! Miss late 90s/early 2000s racing lol
#2 had the absolute best commentators. Those guys up there knew how to take you from the stands/tv right in the drivers seat.
The first one was my favorite. I was 11 and this race really got me into nascar.
The number 8 chevy was always the fun one to watch.
I've never been much of a junior fan. Always felt he was overrated. However, i still remember as a ten year old kid watching that 2001 pepsi 400 and just that once i was rooting for junior. Loved that moment.
You're an idiot jr is one of the best drivers ever the overrated thing is your intelligence
@@rcracer8872 Hmm, before you talk about intelligence perhaps you should consider putting together a proper sentence first. Idiot.
@@Tcottong that was but obviously you failed English 🤣🤣🤣
@@rcracer8872 Really?? You wrote three sentences as one, thus making a lovely fragment. Even then you still forgot your period. I kindly suggest you hop on your child's bus when school starts up again since clearly you need too.
@@Tcottong rc is correct you must be brain dead
I was at #7. It was bedlam. People went nuts. Soda went everywhere. It was my first nascar race ever. It was amazing!!
I was there to see him win at Talladega in October of 2002, Michigan 2008 and Michigan 2012.
I'm a Junior fan but growing older and watching videos; wow 2002-2007 everyone and there step grand mother in law would pull out and follow him at the plate tracks 3 laps to go
I was at the 2004 Daytona 500, but I loved his win in the 3 car.
I WAS AT HIS 2014 DAYTONA 500 WIN 2004 I WATCHED ON TV
@@nascarfan8891 man I miss old NASCAR, I hate the changes they made to bring in the "casual" fan. All it did was drive away most of the die hard fans. My old man used to go to 10-15 races a season, the very first change they made to the point system kind of ruined it for me. I hate the playoffs with a passion.
@@johndreyer9730 I DO TOO I ALSO HATE THE STAGES AND EVEN AFTER 22 YEARS THE THING I MISS MOST ABOUT OLD NASCAR IS MY ALLTIME FAVORITE RACER THE INTIMADATOR DALE EARNHARDT
@@nascarfan8891 it was never the same, I'm not afraid to admit I cried my eyes out when he died. Dale Jr would of been the best in the sport if he had his father, Theresa ruined DEI
@@johndreyer9730 I WAS ONLY 12 WHEN DALE PASSED BUT I WAS DEVESTATED I HAD BEEN A NASCAR FAN FOR 5 YEARS AT THE TIME AND DALE WAS MY FAVORITE
Jrs a legend like his dad!
Has anyone ever noticed jr always seems to win at races that are 500 miles long?
Not until now
2001 Pepsi 400?
Bristol?
In my opinion even though 2001 wasn't a good year in general and for nascar. Dale Jr wins that he earned that season were more like special wins than actual wins.
more like cinderella stories....half the field in 01 was much more talented then he was
Well it's good you got them all in.
Listen to those engines ROAR in 2014. What power those things used to have.
When he left DEI, it was beginning of the End.
No it wasn't
when he went to a competing team that has won 12 championships?
How is the 01 Pepsi 400 not #1!!! This is blasphemy! Hands down by a long shot his best and most memorable win!!!!! What a night. I’ll never forget watching that and busting into tears of joy. I’m still emotional just typing this up!
I just watched the best ad ever
If you were a Dale Earnhardt Jr fan 26 wins would be awesome. Thats just my opinion.
I was at #7 it was awesome!
I love baseball, and football, but Little E is my favorite in all of sports.
#1 for me has to be the 2001 Pepsi 400, with his first win in 2000 a close second.
Great list.
I'm sorry, I don't know how the Pepsi 400 in 2001 isn't #1 on everyone's list.
It's 1 on my list
Mine too
My favorite jr win is a very easy question 2001 pepsi 400
#7 is in my top 2 because it was on my birthday
The 2001 Pepsi 400 was a no holds barred race at the end..... for 2nd. Nobody but Jr. was gonna win that one
Fact.
I like your list but I would change a little. The four talladega win should be higher. When you need a front bumper to win at restrictor plate tracks to go out and win without one is impressive should be top 5.
200i Pepsi 400. Dam Dale jr. Dad would be proud.
You could tell at plate tracks, Charlotte, and Texas who taught Jr. how to drive. His dad was a beast at Charlotte and plate tracks, and his son was no different.
Number 2 at dega was some awesome driving by dale and tony. So great to watch my two favorites
I was at that first one. It was pretty wild. The whole story of the race and his comeback isn't shown here.
Look how packed the stands are ?
I attended his All-Star Win, Pepsi 400 at Daytona Win, Daytona 500 Win, first five Talladega Wins and his Atlanta Win
1st Daytona 500 win
I get your aspect but...to me Jr. conquering Daytona after losing his father there would to me have been number 1. Again your opinion on this list and not mine. Thanks for posting it.
I was at both michigan races that Junior won. Both times he broke winless streaks. Lucky charm?
💘 NASCAR. LOVE DALE JR
Maria Conte my son loves Dalesn
I love Dale Jr
@@adamnewman1516 I'm a fan of Sr and Jr
Did like the whole field wreck in the 2004 500
GOOD TIMES.
Can I say something that I can’t even explain cuz I forgot the word? I’ll just do it anyways
I don’t care what anybody says. Dale will always be my fav driver. He’s been through a lot with his father dying the way he did. Jr is a fighter and will never give up on anything! He’s not the driver with the most wins but he is the driver that has inspired a lot of us. So today I say DALE JR IS THE BEST DRIVER TO THIS DAY!
I love dale Earnhardt jr.
In 2014 Dale Jr Showed how good he was and i believe if not for the corvette wreck Jr 1000% would have won several Championship
I was at #9 and it was the only time I saw him win in person
Im a huge jr fan and i was at his 2014 Daytona 500 win
Junior was pretty good at pocono
I think we all would put the 2001 Pepsi 400 number 1 and the 2004 Daytona 500 number 2.
My 2 favorites are his 2001 pepsi 400 and 2001 dover win
#1 for me is that 2014 Daytona 500 win he finished 2nd I believe 3 or 4 times in a row before finally getting back to victory lane at Daytona! 2nd the Pepsi 400 win
2015 talladega?
in 2003 at dega they called it legal cause if they didn't it was not going to be a popular move on NASCAR's part
Jr,DEI,super speedway races ,Junebug was going to be up front for the win.
this is when the engines sounded the best!
The Michigan 2012 Dark Knight has to be the best car hes ever had 2nd 2001 baseball Daytona 400 car
Dude his Bristol car was 3 tenths faster than both of those races...
I d k if this was mentioned but Jr. was the only driver to win the 500 on NBC and on Fox
I don't really like Dale Jr. but he is still a really good driver and has some great win
Why don't you like Dale Jr? What did he do?
It would be very unpopular to black flag him. LMAO
I was at the michgian race in the infield
i love earnhardt jr all those wins!!!!
This is my dad's favorite driver
Green flag after that wreck?! Damn I miss this kind of Nascar
My favourite jr wins are the sweep in 14
I was at like all the Michigan races in here
"Good job June bug!"
# 8.
go dale jr
I was àt the Michigan fuel race
My Top 3 Dale Jr Wins:
1.)2001 Pepsi 400
2.)2014 Daytona 500
3.)2014 Martinsville
I was at #2 but wish i was at #1
Personally I would have put the 2000 win as number one.
Great list! But on it, or at least a honorable mention has to be the win at Dover after 9/11