In part 3, of NASCAR'S BIGGEST WHAT IF'S: Dale Survives Daytona we pick up the NASCAR Cup Series at race 2 in Rockingham during the 2001 season. Dale Earnhardt looked as awesome as he did in his prime, scoring 8 poles and 6 wins along with his record breaking 8th Cup Series championship. Without having to deal with the pain and loss of Dale Earnhardt Incorporated's leader and founder, the team ran a bit better then they did in reality where we did actually lose him. Darrell Waltrip found victory lane at Fontana, Michael Waltrip finally was able to win a Cup Series points race. Steve Park was having his best season in the NASCAR Cup Series of his short career, before a freak accident during a Busch Series race would injure him so badly that Park would not return to the Nascar Cup Series until race 5 of the 2003 season and Dale Earnhardt Jr won 6 races himself and finished 3rd in final points in 2001.
The 2002 season saw a lot of the same from the team, though across the board they just were not quite as excellent as last season. Darrell Waltrip announced that 2002 would be his final season behind the wheel of a racecar, at year's end he was retiring. Waltrip did find victory lane one more time at Martinsville in the fall. Steve Park did not have the comeback he was hoping for, only scoring 2 top 10s in 32 starts. Both Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr was able to find victory lane as well.
After a long and storied career, Dale Earnhardt retired at the conclusion of the 2003 NASCAR Cup Series season. Dale Jr had a very strong season, winning
2 races and finishing 3rd in final Cup Series point
standings. Michael Waltrip also won 2 races. With Dale Earnhardt now able to devote his efforts towards his Dale Earnhardt Incorporated race team, the future sure looks bright for DEI.
Be sure to keep an eye out for NASCAR'S BIGGEST WHAT IF'S: Dale Survives Daytona (part 4)
PHOTOS COURTESY OF:
Fuller Motorsports and Collectibles
Getty Images
Motorsport Image
LAT IMAGES
Autosport Archive
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