“I was blessed,” Mike Joy recalls Dale Earnhardt’s 20-year curse-breaking 1998 Daytona win

Mike Joy reminiscences Dale Earnhardt's first victory in Daytona 500 in 1998.

“I was blessed,” Mike Joy recalls Dale Earnhardt’s 20-year curse-breaking 1998 Daytona win

Dale Earnhardt, Image via Wikipedia

Dale Earnhardt, the late NASCAR legend and one of the top three drivers of all time, competed from 1975 to 2001. He was most known for driving No.3 for Richard Childress Racing. The legendary driver was rightfully called “The Intimidator,” “Ironhead,” and “The Man in Black”. His driving style was quite aggressive, which earned him those nicknames.

Undoubtedly, Dale Earnhardt Sr. is one of the greatest NASCAR drivers in the sport’s history. The stats show his 76 wins in the Cup series over the span of 26 years. The most joyous occasion was when he won Daytona 500, gunning for the win for almost 20 years. It all came down to that moment in 1998.

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Mike Joy, the Fox Sports broadcaster, was on call during the iconic moment, Dale Earnhardt’s first Daytona 500 win after trying for 20 years. The seven-time Cup Series champion already had a splendid record before entering Daytona 500 in 1998. Though he had an astonishing record, he hadn’t won the Daytona 500 yet. That was his year. Joy was a part of one of the most chilling moments in NASCAR. He wondered why Earnhardt had not won the Daytona 500 despite trying for 20 years. It led him to research with Patrick Perrin, who works for Fox Sports now, and Greg Fielden, an author.

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Dale Earnhardt’s first Daytona 500 win, breaking a 20 years curse

Dale Earnhardt, Image via Daytona Beach News-Journal

Joy spoke to Heavy about how they put it together. “There were only, I think, four laps of the race that he had never led, lap 200, of course, and a couple of laps in the 90s, all of which he led that day.” He emphasized how the whole country was rooting for Earnhardt to get his win finally.

Joy was ready with his commentary, all Earnhardt had to do was cross the line first. With one lap to go, Earnhardt was already ahead and closed to the win. He did not give up his spot despite the drivers attempting a pass. He reached the caution-checkered flag before Bobby Labonte and sealed his victory. Earnhardt thanked his fans and family.“The Daytona 500 is ours. We won it, we won it, we won it!” Jumped the winner of the Daytona 500.

“20 years of trying, 20 years of frustration,” “Dale Earnhardt will come to the caution flag to win the Daytona 500! Finally!” buzzed Mike Joy as Earnhardt made his way to the finish line. Mike Joy reflected that it was the best moment of his life. “So that call, the race call, and the words as he came around the final turn, It just came to me — the whole thing about 20 years. It just came to me, and I was blessed having Ned Jarrett and Buddy Baker in the booth with me. They didn’t interrupt or step on what I was doing there. And I’ve had some fellows that like to do that. So they were great with it,”.

Joy explained that they did not go into commercials like they were supposed to, instead soaked up the moment and let fans witness the greatness that had just happened. The moment that it was will be cherished forever. Joy’s call in the 1998 Daytona 500 will go down the history as one of the best. During the 2001 Daytona 500, Earnhardt collided with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin, this incident cost him his life. Later that day, NASCAR president Mike Helton confirmed his death to the press. It will remain one of the most sorrowful days in the sport’s history.

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