The iconic Coca Cola 600 is this weekend in Concord, North Carolina.
Of course, it’s always an exciting race, as it’s the longest one of the year at 600 miles and happens in the backyard of NASCAR at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The drivers always seem to enjoy it, too, as there’s not a whole lot of travel involved for them and tons of their friends and family get to make it the annual Memorial Day weekend race.
And in honor of one of racings biggest events, I want to throw it back to the late, great Dale Earnhardt’s very first win at his hometown track (he was from small town Kannapolis that’s right down the road from CMS).
Though this was the fall National 500 race that was held in October, it was a big deal when The Intimidator scored his first win at Charlotte, and he added that there was no better place to win:
“There’s no better place to win than home. It was a great day, you know, it wasn’t weather wise, but it was racing wise.
Always have a good show here in Charlotte, and had all the hometown people and fans here.
I’m just enjoying it. I’m making new friends and seeing new friends, and all my old ones. It’s good to win at Charlotte because all my old friends and new friends are there.”
I always love finding old footage of him from early in his career, and he was just 29 years old in this interview. He always had that certain star power about him that you could never quite put your finger on, but made him an American icon we all still love to this day.
Also, how iconic is that incredible stache paired with the vintage Busch jacket (with a fur collar, no less) he has on both after the race and in the TV appearance the next morning?
It simply doesn’t get any cooler or more legendary than this:
Sr. started in 4th place, and led 148 laps of the 334 lap event. He also collected $49,050 in winnings on this day… not too shabby for a very first hometown victory.
Check out some of the race highlights here:
