Dateline: 07/12/01

It amazes me that some drivers and fans feel that the Pepsi 400 was "thrown", so that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. could have a win. When a race is 400 miles in length, with 43 drivers and cars, each of varying ability, there is no way to predict the winner. There are just too many variables to consider.

Let's be truthful, Junior was the sentimental favorite, but if anyone could have been predicted to win the Pepsi 400, it would have been Jeff Gordon. Jeff's been hot recently, and with one of his sponsors as the sponsor of the race, his car would have probably received more attention than usual, in order to impress the corporate executives in attendance. But Jeff got tangled up in an accident and ended the night in 37th place. It just as well could have been Dale Junior who was involved.

Perhaps Michael Waltrip did let Dale Junior win. Maybe he could have passed him on Turn 4 and beaten him to the checkered flag. But maybe he could have, just isn't enough. He didn't! That's all that matters. Yes, Michael owed one to Junior. After all, it was Junior running interference for Michael at the Daytona 500, but could he have caught him? The answer to that will never be known. The only thing known for sure is that these two seem to have figured out Daytona in 2001.

I even heard rumors that NASCAR allowed Junior to run a different restrictor plate than the other cars, so that he would have more horsepower. Come on, this is NASCAR we're talking about. These guys penalize you for having a front air dam that's not regulation. They penalize you for going below the line to pass, even when you're forced there. If you don't believe me, watch the replay and ask Tony Stewart. NASCAR allow a competitive advantage to Junior? Get real!

So how did Dale Earnhardt Junior win the Pepsi 400? The answer is simple. He had help, but not the kind these sore losers are claiming. His help was from a team that wanted to see him in the winner's circle more than anything else. Waltrip and Harvick had already been there. The DEI team wanted this one so bad that they pulled out every bit of experience and knowledge they had, to give him the chance.

It also didn't hurt that on this night, Lady Luck was looking down on Junior, and perhaps she was watching from a seat next to his dad. He was able to avoid the situations that could have put him out of the race, and that's a combination of skill and luck. He learned his lessons well and concentrated on one car at a time, just like his dad. When you combine desire, skill and luck, in the proper proportions, you get Victory, and that formula proved true in the Pepsi 400.