CONCORD — The final 10-lap shootout for $500,000 in The Winston All-Star event is like “being thrown to the wolves.”
So says Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will be defending the title in the annual event Saturday night at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.
Young Earnhardt surprised the field by racing off with the Winston title in his first appearance in The Winston last May.
“It is basically like being thrown to the wolves and seeing if you can get out in one piece,” is how Little E described the final 10-lap segment.
“All the drivers know that to win the race you have to be in one piece for the last 10 laps,” explained Earnhardt.
The Winston is run in a unique format that features two 30-lap segments, followed by an all-out 10-lap battle for the rich first-place prize and the championship.
“What I found more surprising than anything was how everybody paces themselves for the first 30-lap segment. Then you can feel the intensity rising for the last 10 laps of the second 30-lap segment. You can tell guys are jockeying for positions and trying to see what they have and what everyone is capable of doing,” added Earnhardt.
“It’s as cutthroat as any race I’ve ever been in.”
He pointed out that some drivers put themselves and others in dangerous positions in hopes of winning the race.
“That shows how intense everybody is,” said Earnhardt.
Little E charged from back in the pack to take last year’s victory.
The 26-year-old third-generation driver says winning The Winston last year will always be special for him.
“I remember at the time I could have quit driving race cars for the rest of my life and been happy,” added Earnhardt.
“It was an awesome race.The way it unfolded with us coming up through there with eight laps to go from back in the field, the way the car drove, just everything the way it happened was really exciting from inside the car,”Little E pointed out. “I have watched the tape of the race a hundred times and it’s just as cool as it was the day it happened.
“I’ve got some great memories from that night, including my father coming to victory lane,” young Earnhardt said. “That was one of the most enjoyable Victory Lanes with him. We threw beer on each other, jumped around and made fools of ourselves on national television. So it was a lot of fun. Ireally enjoyed that night and there was something about it that will always be special to me”
H. A. (Humpy) Wheeler, president and general manager of Lowe’s Speedway, was impressed by Earnhardt’s performance.
“Ihappen to think last year’s The Winston was the best NASCAR race ever run anywhere,”explained Wheeler. “Earnhardt Jr. did a job that was unbelievable coming through the field to win.”
Wheeler says, “The Winston is my favorite race, and the reason I like it so much is that 10-lap shootout. With somewhat relaxed rules, it produces a lot of drama and that is what this whole business is about.”
Having been around the sport his entire life, Earnhardt Jr. understands the significance of The Winston’s place in the rapidly changing sport of WinstonCup racing.
“I’ve watched every one of The Winston races and I have been in some great races,” Earnhardt Jr. noted. “It’s a real honor as a driver to be part of the group that is in the race. Hopefully, we’ve got the same thing we brought last year and we’ll be fine.”
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