After 20 Years, Dale Earnhardt FINALLY wins the Daytona 500 in 1998

• For two decades, success in stock car racing’s biggest race had eluded Dale Earnhardt.

• It all came together in 1998.

• Earnhardt led 107 of the 200 laps, including the final 61, sparking a wild celebration—in the stands and along pit road.

Dale Earnhardt finally got the monkey off his back – literally.

After celebrating his 1998 Daytona 500 win in Victory Lane, Earnhardt marched to the Daytona International Speedway press box for the winner’s interview. As he sat down, he pulled a stuffed monkey from his shoulder and tossed it across the room.

“Finally got that monkey off my back!” Earnhardt said.

Earnhardt’s win in the 500 was as much relief as joy. For two decades, success in stock car racing’s biggest race had eluded him—and by ways most foul. He had won everything else in sight and had reached pinnacles few other NASCAR racers had seen, but the sport’s marquee event had been beyond reach—this despite the fact that he had dominated in virtually every other sort of stock car event at the 2.5-mile track.

It all came together in 1998. Earnhardt led 107 of the 200 laps, including the final 61, sparking a wild celebration—in the stands and along pit road.

In one of the most remarkable post-race events in NASCAR history, crew members from every team lined up along pit road to congratulate Earnhardt as he slowly moved toward a long-awaited victory lane.