Times wires
Sunday, February 20, 2011
DAYTONA BEACH — Though the 10-year anniversary of Dale Earnhardt's death was Friday, plenty of people remembered The Intimidator on Sunday at Daytona International Speedway.
Two-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart wore a black, No. 3 baseball cap. So did most everyone at Richard Childress Racing.
A huge No. 3 was painted in the infield grass. On the third lap, Fox broadcasters observed a moment of silence as fans saluted by silently holding up three fingers. That tribute copied the ones done throughout the 2001 season after Earnhardt's death.
"I feel honored and once again undeserving to be here 10 years after that for the anniversary," said race winner Trevor Bayne, who was a day from his 10th birthday when Earnhardt died.
HENDRICK BUMMER: When Dale Earnhardt Jr. took the lead early, there was a raucous roar all around the speedway.
When he hit the wall late, there was an agonizing groan.
It wasn't what Earnhardt — or his legion of faithful fans — wanted in the Great American Race. It was, however, fitting considering how the season opener went for Hendrick Motorsports.
"Had as much fun as we could under the circumstances," Earnhardt said.
His teammates couldn't even say that.
Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon had long trips to the garage after a getting caught up in a multi-car wreck in the early going. Mark Martin ran to the end but faded and finished 10th. Earnhardt was credited with 24th, Johnson 27th and Gordon 28th.
"It is such a bummer," Gordon said. "We had such a fast race car, such a great race team. You have to take what you can from this."
MOVING BACK: NASCAR and track officials announced that the Daytona 500 will be a week later in 2012, letting the sport shorten its season — by eliminating a week off in March — and avoid any potential conflicts with the NFL's Super Bowl.
The new date, Feb. 26, gets NASCAR ahead of potential changes to the NFL, including an 18-game schedule or labor strife that might force the Super Bowl in Indianapolis to be delayed.
"Either way, we think it's the right thing to do for our season to kick off," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR's vice president of racing operations.
STILL HERE: Jack Hege, 84, of Lexington, N.C., kept alive his streak of attending every 500. According to Fox, Daytona's records indicate he's the only fan to do so. He came to No. 53 courtesy of Richard Childress Racing, which flew him down.
PIT STOPS: David Ragan led late until a critical mistake. Ragan slid in front of Bayne too soon on a restart, drawing a black flag and a penalty. Ragan ended up 14th. … Still relishing the Packers' Super Bowl victory, safety Nick Collins brought his family as guests of driver Travis Kvapil, a Wisconsin native. Collins, who played in college nearby at Bethune-Cookman, worked on the track's cleanup crew one year while in school. … Country music stars Brad Paisley, Martina McBride and Dierks Bentley performed in prerace festivities. McBride sang the national anthem perfectly, two weeks after Christina Aguilera messed up the lyrics at the Super Bowl. "You always want to do your best, and I'm sure that Christina definitely wanted to do her best," McBride said of Aguilera.