As the field rounded turn four on the final lap in Saturday’s (April 23) Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway, the black No. 3 slotted into second place.
It didn’t matter that the car was right on the bumper of leader Noah Gragson, the field behind him was three-wide and the momentum wasn’t going to come in time. The race of a lifetime wasn’t going to end with the famed No. 3 made famous by Dale Earnhardt pulling into victory lane.
But a second-place showing shouldn’t have dampened any feelings, nor did it, for Jeffrey Earnhardt.
Hugs and words of congratulations welcomed Earnhardt after climbing out of his ForeverLawn Chevrolet Camaro. At times, it seemed as if the 32-year-old grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt was holding back tears. He wore a firesuit resembling the GM Goodwrench suit made iconic by his grandfather. And from the back and sides, it even looked as if it was “The Intimidator” on pit road surrounded by crew and fans alike.
Post race HUGS W/ @JEarnhardt1 & @LarryMac28! P2 finish for the 3 & @RCRracing @Lucas_Oil #XfinitySeries pic.twitter.com/Q78rdLlrm1
— SpeedFreaks (@SpeedFreaks) April 23, 2022
The second-place finish at Talladega was Earnhardt’s best career finish in NASCAR, let alone in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, topping a previous best finish of third set in 2019 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“It’s been a crazy road to get here,” Earnhardt told FOX.
And indeed, it has been quite the journey for him.
For the vast majority of Earnhardt’s NASCAR career, he has climbed into his car and buckled in knowing full well that he didn’t have a chance to win that day’s race.
After running nearly two full seasons in what is today the ARCA Menards Series East for Dale Earnhardt Inc., in 2007 and 2008, Earnhardt spent the next 10 seasons as a NASCAR journeyman. For most of the years, he pieced together part-time rides.
In 2011, he started the season with the plan to run the entire Camping World Truck Series schedule,…
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