The Earnhardts mastered the craft of drafting, making them dominate superspeedways. And Dale Earnhardt Jr. carried their legacy as he took his fifth win at the Talladega Superspeedway in 2004. However, his victory didn’t keep him happy for too long, as reality hit him soon after.
Dale Jr.’s goal took away the joy of winning five times at NASCAR’s fastest track.
3rd October 2004, Dale Earnhardt Jr. took his fifth win at Talladega. Of course, he was thrilled, but not for long, as his emotional goal to pay respect to his father brought the harsh reality back. Although Junior has multiple wins, it’s still not enough for him.
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Naturally, Earnhardt Jr. was delighted, appreciating his car and the team behind him, applauding their strategy. However, the important question came when the reporter asked, “What does it mean to win here, not only once, but to win here five times?”
To which, junior replied, “Well, it don’t mean sh*t right now dude, daddy’s won ten times here. So, I gotta do a little more winning.”
DIVE DEEPER
Dale Jr. had one goal, which is to match his father’s record, who is on a pedestal for him. And his fifth win means he’s only halfway there.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Performance In The 2004 NASCAR Cup Series
So, did Dale Earnhardt Jr. win the Cup Series Championship? How did he perform that entire season? Let’s find out.
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Junior finished the season as the 2nd most winning driver with 6 wins, putting him right behind Jimmie Johnson‘s 8. However, Dale Jr. was edged out of the round of four by Mark Martin, as he finished 5th in the season standings.
Eventually, Kurt Busch took his first, and so far, only Cup Series Championship in 2004.
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WATCH THIS STORY: Dale Earnhardt Jr’s NFT Collection, in Partnership With Tom Brady, Goes on Sale & Sells Out Within Minutes!
In the end, it’s unfortunate that Dale Jr. couldn’t take the Championship despite all his efforts. Do you think he should’ve won the Cup Series Championship? Let us know in the comments.