Blk3GM's NASCAR Winston Cup News - He did it at Talladega and Damn sure might do it again

He did it at Talladega and Damn sure might do it again
August 4, 1999

Dale Earnhardt is poised to set an IROC record on Friday. He has already tied Rusty Wallace as the only driver to win three IROC races in a season. But Friday Earnhardt can sweep the 1999 IROC series by winning the fourth and final race of 1999. No one in the history of IROC has accomplished that and Earnhardt is going for the record books.

But don't count him out of contention for the win at the Brickyard 400 either. In April, at Talladega, Earnhardt won the IROC race and turned around on Sunday and won the Winston Cup race. At Daytona he won the first IROC race of the season and finished second in the Daytona 500.

"We have a chance to make history by going four-for-four, that would be something wouldn't it?" said Earnhardt, flashing his trademark grin. "As a driver to win not one, but all three races in equally-prepared cars, it can't help but give you confidence when you strap into the car, you've beat the best of the best with the same equipment. It brings it as close as you can get to testing each driver's talent and skill behind the wheel."

Earnhardt, 48, must work especially hard to make motorsports history since he's riding shotgun on the 12-car field. The starting grid is based on IROC's inverted point standings. Since Earnhardt leads in points, he starts last in the field.

"We're going to Indianapolis for the final race, and it is going to be tough to win," said Earnhardt, who boasts a record-tying seven NASCAR Winston Cup Series championships. "Most of the drivers have raced at the Brickyard, and half of them have been to the famous Winner's Circle and know what a special feeling that is."

Earnhardt's been there himself. In 1995, Earnhardt claimed the Brickyard 400 trophy, one of his 72 career Winston Cup victories since joining the tour in 1979 when he won Rookie of the Year honors.

But IROC is a completely different animal.

Each year IROC invites a dozen drivers from different racing series to run four sprint races in identically prepared sedans. So far in '99, the series has visited Daytona, Talladega and Michigan.

In each case, Earnhardt scored a heart-pounding victory, beating the runner-up by inches at the finish line.

He edged Mark Martin at Daytona then Rusty Wallace at Talladega. The round at Michigan Speedway was especially sweet for "The Intimidator," who beat his son Dale Jr. for the win.

"It has been a tremendous time for me and I think Dale Jr., too," said Earnhardt, who has two IROC championships. "The finish at Michigan will be a memory that I will cherish for a lifetime. To race against one another for an International Race of Champions victory just doesn't happen everyday. Now we're racing together at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a landmark in motorsports history. That will be special."

Only one other driver, Mark Martin, has a chance to knock the IROC championship from Earnhardt's hands. Still, Earnhardt needs only to finish eighth or better to score the title and pocket the $225,000 earmarked for the champion.

"I don't expect him to roll over and give it to me," said Earnhardt of Martin. "He's a tough competitor." The season-ending purse of $760,000 will be distributed to competitors based on the final point standings.

SCHEDULE: Practice will take place at 10 a.m. Aug. 4, and at 8 a.m. and 4:50 p.m. Aug. 5. The IROC at Indy race starts at 4 p.m. (EST) Aug. 6.

TV: IROC at Indy will be televised at 4:30 p.m. (EDT) Aug. 7 on ABC.

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Blk3GM's Dale Earnhardt Site was born on July 26, 1998 and is owned and maintained by Gary Harris. This site is a tribute to "NASCAR's Greatest Driver" and his up and coming son. We are not affiliated with any official Team, Sponsors, Media Group or NASCAR. This site is solely for entertainment purposes. Information and statistic's on this site have been collected from various NASCAR related sites on the internet, from Winston Cup Scene, Newspapers, Television and our personal experience at Winston Cup and Busch Grand National races. All statistics are believed to be accurate at the time they are updated but cannot be guaranteed.