Ford Racing put a thingo n Facebook asking what your favorite Ford Racing moment was... well I didn't feel like putting down Pearsons consecutive championships in a '68-69 Torino, since that wasn't technically a Ford Racing moment, Ford Motorsport iddn't come out until the late 70s and became Ford Racing in the 80s, so I said the 2000 Daytona 500, when Ford swept the top 5.


2000 Daytona 500 - Part 9 of 10 (The Finish) - YouTube


I was watching the ending of that race and reminscing about being an 11 year old Ford fan that day and watching the "Ford line and the Pontiac line" as the Dale Jarrett led the Ford freight train around Johnny Benson, who had the lead becuase he had stayed out on older tires when the rest of the Fords who dominated htat race pitted.


This is also the race that Dale Earnhardt climbed out of his car after a crash, and said "That was the sorriest racing I've seen at Daytona.... Bill France would be rolling over in his grave."

NASCAR - Dale Earnhardt Angry After 2000 Daytona 500 - YouTube

If only he saw it today, right?



I didn't see what was so wrong with it then. Don't really see what is wrong with it today. It's always changed. Just because it isn't the way it was 10 years ago doesn't mean its not good.



Anywho, the one thing I do miss and wish they owuld bring back, but understand why they won't, is the racing back to the line. Too much controversy in this freezing the field. I think NASCAR should allow racing back to the line in safe situations. Maybe have a solid yellow light on the track when the field is frozen, flashing yellow means racing to the line because there isn't a car in the way or anything.

That, or lets put a series of lines around the track. When the caution flies, the first line the leader crosses after the yellow light is displayed is the "finish" line, and whatever order every crosses that line is the order of the finish or restart.


And that Dale Jarrett... I remember from about 97-98 or so on out until Sr.s death, they used to call the restricter plate races the "Dale and Dale Show" because Dale Jarrett and Dale Earnhardt Sr. were simply the best at it and they ran 1-2 in several Daytona-Talladega races there....

Any thoughts on some old school racing?

 

That was a good race, & i think last lap should be race to the line unless cars are wrecked at the finish line

 

One of my favorites was when Dale Sr rattled Terry Labonte's cage a bit at Bristol.
Earnhardt "rattleing his cage" - YouTube

 

Yeah, he intended to rattle Terrys Cage right into that wall at Bristol. He had that little smirk that gave away how he was lying.


No one ever rememebrs how many people booed Earnhardt that night. I was pissed myself. And I was 10!

 

I remember! But being an Earnhardt fan, I was cool with it. Hey, it's Bristol and the Chrome horn. But I seriously doubt he didn't mean to spin him. Looks pretty intentional.

 

That driving style was the main reason I was never an Earnhardt fan. It doesn't take much skill to come into a corner too hot and use someone as a berm.

That being said, while I love the sport and the competitiveness, I would still love to see them take "stock" cars right off the showroom floor and have these guys race them.

 

I think my favorite was 2007. I was a Harvick fan from the first time I seen him race. I remember being on the edge of my seat thinking Harvick wouldn't win yet he pulled it off. The .020 margin of victory was very exciting and I still get the same feeling watching it on youtube.

 

Well Lou, I can say I was there
That was the last time I went.

 

The question wasn't favorite Daytona 500 moment that I was answering though... it was favorite Ford Racing moment....


My other favorite moment would probably be 1992 when Alan Kulwicki won the championship, 4 of the 5 cars in contention that day were Fords, with the top 3-4 ending up being Fords. The only ones with a real shot were the Fords of Davey Allison, Bill Elliott, and Alan Kulwicki. That was the year FoMoCo introduced the engine that they ran until they brought out the FR9. About the only thing that could outrun one was Dale Earnhardt. And not very often at that.