With a win at Texas just 7 weeks
earlier Dale Earnhardt Jr qualified to compete in the
2000 NASCAR Winston All Star Race. After passing Dale
Jarrett with 1 lap to go he became the 1st rookie to win
the event.
When a crash brought out the caution flag just 6 laps
from the finish Junior ducked into the pits to take on 4
fresh Goodyear tires.
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"I was running real good, but we were tight
and I told Tony I needed four tires," Earnhardt
said. "We sat there and thought about it and
thought about it and finally said, 'We didn't
come here to run second or third, let's take the
tires.'"
The move paid off as Earnhardt quickly sliced
through the field and set his sights on Jarrett.
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Humpy Wheeler, President of Lowes Motor Speedway and
a master promoter, had picked Earnhardt Jr to win the
race in his annual prediction earlier that week.
During the 1st 30-lap segment of the All Star Race
Junior was on pit road when the caution flag flew.
Thanks to quick instructions from his crew he was able
to quickly get back on track without losing a lap.
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In the 2nd 30-lap segment contact with the
outside retaining wall would cause handling
problems for Dale Jr.
"I don't know why I hit the wall, it was my
fault," Earnhardt said. "Then it got real tight
and I thought to myself, 'We had a race winning
car and now we don't.'"
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2 laps into the final 10 lap shootout Steve Park and
Joe Nemecheck wrecked and Earnhardt Jr was able to pit
for tires when almost everyone else stayed out. The
tires corrected his handling problems, and he was able
to drive straight to the front.
Earnhardt Jr earned $515,000 for his winning
performance.
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