DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The No. 3 went back to Victory Lane at Daytona International Speedway, where Dale Earnhardt Jr. drove a car that honored his late father to his first NASCAR victory in more than three years.
Earnhardt, winless in any NASCAR points race since a Sprint Cup victory at Michigan in 2007, took the lead on pit road under caution with 26 laps to go Friday night in the Nationwide Series race.
Running a No. 3 Chevrolet with a Wrangler paint scheme to honor his father’s induction into the NASCAR Hall of Fame, Earnhardt brought his loyal fans to their feet for the final sprint to the checkered flag.
Paul Menard’s wreck with four laps to go put the outcome in jeopardy, and Earnhardt, the leader, decided not to pit under the caution. On old tires, he had to hold off Joey Logano and a slew of Cup regulars for his first Nationwide victory since Michigan in 2006.
Tony Eury Jr., Earnhardt’s crew chief, was overcome with emotion as Earnhardt crossed the finish line.
Dale Earnhardt was killed in a last-lap accident in the 2001 Daytona 500.
“We lost everything here,” Eury said. “To come back with that number and do this, it means everything.”
Logano, who pushed Earnhardt on the final restart, finished second and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was third.
Rain wipes out qualifying.
Sprint Cup points leader Kevin Harvick will start from the pole for tonight’s race at Daytona International Speedway after qualifying was rained out.
Only 12 cars completed qualifying laps before showers washed out the session. Sam Hornish Jr. turned the fastest lap, but he will start 29th based on points.
Four-time series champion Jimmie Johnson will start on the outside of the first row.
