Earnhardt's legacy
Ever since Kevin Harvick took over the No. 3 after the 2001 Daytona 500, there's been a slow but steady move to ... not forget the old man exactly, but to create a new identity for Harvick. No one could replace Dale Earnhardt Sr., and Richard Childress was smart enough not to try.
Even before the grieving series went to the Rock for the second race of the 2001 season, Richard Childress announced a new number (29) and a new paint scheme. Everything else - the crew chief (Kevin Hamlin), the sponsor (GM Goodwrench), the over-the-wall crew, the cars - was exactly the same as it was six years ago yesterday.
On March 11, 2001 at Atlanta, when Harvick nipped Jeff Gordon at the line in one of the best finishes you'll ever see, the fans stood and cheered and cheered some more. They held up their signs and their three fingers because if they held enough enough signs and cheers and fingers maybe, just maybe, Senior and the black No. 3 would emerge from the burnout smoke on the front stretch.
He didn't, of course, but Harvick was close enough. Senior was gone, but daggone it, his spirit still lived in Harvick.
Over time it became clear that Harvick did have a lot of Dale Sr. in him. He had the drive to win and a willingness to use the bumper, and he was never boring. But he was a lot angrier, had a lot sharper tongue and didn't have the results of the guy who used to drive the 3. It was easy to ignore him, especially after back-to-back 14th place finishes in '04 and '05. He may have been Happy and smiling, but no was watching.
Over time everyone forget that Harvick had inherited Senior's old ride. The crew chief was gone, so was the crew. This year's change in sponsors - from the black and silver of the American GM to the red and bright yellow of Royal Dutch Shell -- was the final break. Look hard, and all you saw was Kevin Harvick. Senior and the black No. 3 lived only in the RCR museum.
But yesterday ... if you believe that folks in heaven have nothing better to do than to look down on us, you have to believe a certain race car driver Up There was smiling under his big bushy mustache. Coming from sixth to first in less than a lap and at the Daytona 500 no less - there's only one other driver who could have pulled off a move like that.
This time, though, there were plenty of boos when Harvick climbed out of his car. People didn't like the decision not to throw the yellow, people didn't like it that Mark Martin got robbed, people don't like Harvick and hated to see him win. It was the kind of reaction Earnhardt Sr. used to get back when he was wrecking and winning.
No, Kevin Harvick is not Dale Earnhardt. But for a minute there last night something seemed awfully familiar.
More elsewhere:
Harvick wins at Atlanta (8 laps to go)
Harvick wins at Atlanta (3 laps left, but more post-race)
Harvick edges Martin to win Daytona 500, by Dustin Long
NASCAR call at end doesn't make sense, by Ed Hardin
Comments (5)
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I would have loved to see Mark Martin win the 500,as much as any Mark Martin fan would have. However, Kevin Harvick won that race fair and square and would have, had the wrecks happened or not. If the caution had been thrown, it would have been a pity win for Martin. Kevin Rocked!! He pushed the edge and beat by sheer will, skill and determination. What a race!!
Posted on February 19, 2007 12:51 PM
Though, it would have been nice if NASCAR demonstrated some consistency with respect to the crash/yellow/guy in lead on last lap wins rule.
I believe it was my man JeffG who won Tally in 2005 on the last lap when the caution came out as a result of a wreck. Remember, that was the race that Jeff's fans out of sheer ecstacy for his win lost their composure and threw their beer cans and coolers onto the track hoping Jeff would stop and autograph them and throw them back.
If that race had been run according to the 2007 decision then Jr. would have probably won the race.
Based on precedent, Mark Martin should have won the race. NASCAR officials screwed up again, and in the process screwed Mark out of a win. Talk about a guy whose jinxed.
Posted on February 19, 2007 5:39 PM
The difference might have been distance to the line. Last night, the field was within sight of the finish. I don't know where the last scoring loop was, and I'm not sure if would have made a difference. At Talladega, I think the field still had a way to go. (I'm going off memory here correct me if I'm wrong.) Vickers win last fall at Dega was under caution, and he took out Johnson and Junior on the backstretch.
I have to admit, Clance, that I had no idea Harvick would win. Sure, I saw him back there but figured he had about as much chance as Junior. Then zooooooom - this is exactly the kind of finish NASCAR was hoping for. Having Clint Bowyer slide upside down across the line didn't hurt, either.
Posted on February 19, 2007 7:40 PM
Good post. I really enjoyed it. Here are some other interesting things about the RCR cars and how they finished;
- Harvick Finished went from 6th to 1st in 1 lap 6 years to the day Earnhardt died
- Jeff Burton finished in 3rd - Earnhardt's car number
- Clinton Bowyer finished in 18th on Feb 18th (the day Earnhardt died) while being involved in the last lap wreck (same as Earnhardt) all while driving a black and silver car (just like Earnhardt's)
Posted on February 22, 2007 10:26 PM
Awesome Post !!!
Posted on February 23, 2007 1:57 PM