Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s illustrious NASCAR career is speckled with many victories and memorable moments, none so emotionally remembered by him than his victory in 2014. Dale beat Jeff Gordon at the Martinsville Speedway, winning for the first time at the track. There was more to the race than the win though.
Advertisement
It was an emotional day for Dale Jr. and everyone associated with Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) since it was the 10th anniversary of the horrific plane crash that killed 10 people including team owner Rick Hendrick’s son, brother, and two nieces.
The race ended with a 1-2 finish for HMS thanks to Earnhardt Jr. and Gordon. The two-time Xfinity Series champion shared a post on X (formerly Twitter) reminiscing about that day and how happy he was to get his hands on the iconic grandfather clock.
The clock has been a trophy at the Speedway since 1964 and it represents the furniture industry of Martinsville and Henry County.
I still feel the great sense of relief to finally get a clock! ️ https://t.co/qTcNylbafR
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) October 26, 2024
Soon after the race in 2014, Dale spoke about how he understands what it means to lose someone in the family, connecting it with his father’s death while racing. Dale Jr. had lost his dad at the Daytona International Speedway three years before the Hendrick plane crash.
“This means so much to all of us,” he said. “I lost my daddy a long time ago and I know how hard that is. I can’t imagine losing the amount of people Rick lost. My heart goes out to him during this weekend. This honors them.”
Dale Jr. put on a fantastic defensive display towards the end of the race as he perfectly positioned his car at every turn to keep Gordon behind him. The team was elated after the win as they celebrated with the No. 88 car. Dale Jr.’s burnouts at the Martinsville Speedway remain an iconic image in the sport’s history.
That season was special for Dale Jr. Despite being in the twilight years of his career, he had driven like a champion the entire season. He picked up four race wins, which included his second Daytona 500 triumph. The other two wins came at the iconic Pocono Raceway.
2024 marks the 20th year since the plane crash. If Hendrick Motorsports wins the Cup Series championship this season, it would be a perfect way to honor the ones who lost their lives on that unfortunate day.
