2001 Pepsi 400: Celebration 

"All right, Mikey, you celebrate, too. You never got to celebrate your win in February. You celebrate now." That comment by the announcer still gets to me.

Yeah Dale Jr. winning at Daytona after his father died in the 500 is nice and all, but when Junior and Waltrip were on top of the car together, that's when I started shedding tears.

when people wonder why Jr is the most popular driver they need to watch this.We all needed this at this moment. Jr fan forever

Honestly, I don't think there has ever been another race ending with that much emotion since that point. RIP Dale.

With due respect to some very good announcers in NASCAR's past, this crew was the absolute best. From lead announcer to color announcer to pit announcers, that NBC crew was truly second to none. Today's crews would have screwed this celebration up so bad it would have been embarrassing. Only the 80's ESPN crew could keep up with this NBC crew.

Chocolate was the 1st one there. Loved that man

Dang, those were the days. Mikey and Dale were like brothers

This, Harvick's win at Atlanta, and Park's win at the Rock were the best moments of 2001.

michael deserved this damn it. he didnt get to celebrate when he won the daytona 500

At 1:50 you know that Big E is liking down from the heavens and just smiling from ear to ear and is very proud of both Michael and Dale, and I love how Michael was able to celebrate at Daytona that year since he was not able to because of what happened at the end of the 500.... Picture perfect for DEI :)

And now he's retiring, thank you for everything Dale Jr.

I can watch this even in 2017 and the emotion is the same

michael waltrip did the right thing and returned the favor dale jr did for him at the 500. he is an awesome guy and that was pure class!! this whole day was blessing from God, you cant script 180mph lol

This ranks right up there with Dale Sr and Wallace doing the Polish Victory Lap in Atlanta holding the 28 and 7 flags.

The best moment in NASCAR's history. Ultimate redemption. Dale Jr. & Michael celebrating together topped it off. =)

Dale Sr. was riding copilot that night, I swear

One of the greatest moments in all of Sport

That hug at 1:40 man.. that's just so heart warming.

I don’t think there will ever be a season like 2001

Idk how he kept it together. I would have been balling my eyes out during that interview.

I cried when Michael Waltrip finally got to celebrate with his teammate since Dale Sr. lost his life. So awesome.

Mikey said after that day I knew everything was going to be ok

Michael Waltrip is awesome

Honestly I think this win edges out Dale Sr's 1998 win in the 500 for emotion. Being the first race here after Dale died, the whole dynamic with Mikey and Junior in both the 500 and this race being 1-2 and 2-1

The first time I have watched this since it happened nearly 14 years ago. Still as cool today as it was then.

Mikey loved Jr, all those wins Jr had while Mikey pushed, wasn't just because of the speed and experienced Jr had with him, if it wasn't for MW i honestly don't think he would have those couple wins listed on the super speedways. Dale Sr told Mikey (Michael said this in his book) that the only way for you or the entire team to get a win at these tracks, is you got to push whoever is in front. Don't pass 'em, push 'em. Michael kept that to his heart.

I can’t watch Dale Jr. and Michael’s celebration on top of the car without getting choked up about it. Michael really didn’t get to celebrate his win in the Daytona 500 earlier that year. It was healing for everyone that was watching.

I love wathing Dale Jr. Celebrate with his teammate Mi hal Waltrip

I still get goosebumps and teary eyed watching this. In my book, the greatest NASCAR moment ever. RIP Dale Sr.

This is why people love Nascar. Hated to see Jr. retire but my goodness what a race car driver. Dale Sr. taught him well.

you cant watch this without getting a lump in your throat tearing up I saw that as closure

The radio call from the last 7 laps is one of the best. This is probably one of the top 5 greatest moments in NASCAR history

Got a grown ass man crying hahaha straight up

My Lord it's 2019 n I'm a grown ass man but when Mikey n Jr were on the roof the same feeling I had 18 years ago hit me. Tears of joy! Miss ya 3!

dale jr and mikey hugging on top of the 15 hugging with the 29*,15 and 8 teams all celebrating below is just as emotional as senior winning his 500. my god i cry every time.

This is by far my favorite NASCAR moment ever...what a magical season 2001 turned out to be. Seeing Michael finally be able to celebrate put tears to my eyes. This is the Junior I like...where has he gone? =\

im so happy that everyone was right there for him I know he was waiting for his dad my heart is still broken im so happy hes winning this year hes a awesome driver and we love him

who would dislike this video?

This wasn't just a victory for DEI but a victory for NASCAR after recovering from the losses of Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin Jr., Tony Roper in 2000 and Neil Bonnett's fatal practice crash in 1994. RIP Dale Earnhardt Sr.

Probably the best daytona moment ever! hard to call with jr's two 500 wins!

What a great moment in NASCAR history.

makes me teary eyed. yesterday was my first fathers day without my dad after he passed away. to see dale jr win on fathers day at michigan and the signifigance of everything really cheered me up. love ya JR!

Man... I've been a die-hard Jeff Gordon my entire NASCAR lifetime (since early '95). Of course, by default, I kinda rooted against Dale Earnhardt, but never in a million years did I doubt how important he was to the sport. When the unthinkable happened, I was in shock like everyone else for a while. When this race came around and Junior dominated like he did, and gave Mikey a chance to finally celebrate his 500 win, I got chills. I still do. Every year around this time, I watch this.

This victory celebration still gets to me! Nearly 19 years later.

Awesome Dale! :) Like Father, Like Son! #Legends

Hands down one of the best sports moments of all time.

I was about 10 years old on this day, but I kind of remember watching with my dad(where I get my love of NASCAR from). And I agree, most emotional race in NASCAR and Junior's best win.

I still get misty & smile ear to ear every time I watch this highlight. RIP Sr.

the most emotional, storybook ending in NASCAR history...gives me chills every time I watch this as a 3 fan...I was only 9 when this happened and I remember how awesome this race was

the most magical night in nacar history..unbelievable..you can't find stuff lik this in any other sport...incredible..

I'm glad to be a Earnhardt fan

This race will go down as one of the best races ever

Crowd in Daytona was awesome

Great moment for NASCAR

My favorite race of all time . ❤️

this is one my favorite moments in Nascar.. could not have ended better.. what a race.. what a finish.. so much emotion.. sorry to see JR retire.. .... will not be the same without an Earnhardt in the field..

I just watched this video. Still remember watching race live an f had tears running down my face. Same thing here with this video. R. I.P Dale Sr.

I was at that race ! So glad my driver won!

I remember the 2001 Daytona 500 and this race months later. This was a special moment!

Nobody deserved to win that race more than Dale Jr. and in 04 when he won the 500 for the first time two perfect ways to honor his father.

Watchimg this 18 years later this still hits your heart and brings out the emotion like it just happened

the most emotional part about this video is the fact that it goes so much deeper than this. If you come to this video having never known much about nascar, you're just not going to get as much out of it. There is so much more that goes into this win than you can see by just watching this video. You almost have to watch Nascar for the last 20 years to get the full impact. I am forever grateful of the Impact Dale Earnhardt has had on my life and i know that he will always be there in the stands.

beautiful just beautiful

It's hard to believe just how lucky I was to have been there. My parents bought the tickets on a whim on our way back from vacation. 11 year old me was sitting high up in the grandstand just after the start/finish line, knowing I was witnessing one of the greatest moments in the history of motorsports. I'll never forget watching my favorite driver pass that finish line in the ultimate tribute to his father. Never. One of the best days of my life, and the only time I can say I've personally witnessed a significant moment in history with my own eyes. Not shown here is the fireworks, one of which was in the shape of Dale Sr's 3. That moment was magic.

dale is missed and micheal ur a hero :)

i can watch this over and over again

This victory still gives me chills even after 9 years. That victory is what the sport is all about !!!

I cried then, I cry 20 years later

It's cause Jimmy's having his time, Jeff has had his time and Jr has had his time. Everyone will have there moment of greatness, thank god Earnheart had his on this day.

This makes me cry, I remember this night. JR

This win brought tears to my eyes...and I'm not even a NASCAR fan :) Bravo Jr, Bravo

Thanks bro! BTW, smelling Jr.'s AND Waltrip's spinout tire smoke on the hill at Phoenix last weekend was the sweetest smell ever.

Dude. The sound of that car pulling to victory lane. These cars have changed so much. And now that Jr Motorsports is the spiritual successor to DEI, I feel like all is right with the universe.

Allright I was 21 during this race all you guys that said it was staged back then admit it wasn’t staged Yet? 18 years later his restrictor plate performance along with Waltrip from 2001 they 2004 should speak for itself. DEI and Richie Gilmore has a badass restrictor plate program and u could even see hints of that prior too this race too. So anyone concede that claim now?

you know when your a true nascar fan when you cry watching this.

Almost 20 years later and this is still touching

I was there that night in Daytona, sitting in the Fireball Roberts Grandstand... Words can't describe that night! You'll never see a race like that ever again!

Michael Waltrip and Dale Jr celebrated their wins ! 🏁🏁🏁🏁

yeah im crying very emotional, specially when i saw this the day it happened and still makes me cry thanks for sharing

I still cry like a baby when I see this footage! This was so awesome for Jr!!

Could bring a tear to glass eye, what a finish

It was like fate had this all planned out that night. Dale Sr. had 76 wins before he died, Dale Jr. broke a 76 race winless streak, 3d win (Sr's #), and Jr's teammate won the Daytona 500. RIP Dale Earnhardt (The Intimidator).

one of the greatest moments in nascar history, i don't think a lot of dry eyes existed after that night, i know i cried, to clear a few things up that i believe happened: 1. Some people said Waltrip was an attention seeking person, guys he lost his owner and long time friend and couldn't celebrate at the time so when his teammate won and he was second, they had to celebrate 2. I think Park wanted to celebrate with them but there was a huge crowd by then he had to celebrate in victory lane

2:49 the crowd was so loud you couldn't hear that monster 350 fire up. Like Tony said "we love that kid to death".

this is the best moment in Nascar!! I still get choked up looking at this clip 5 months after sr's death jr wins at daytona that eased the pain of that daytona 500 2/18/01

They must have left it off for about the next 4 years because DEI owned the Restrictor plates races from Feb 2001 and on!

I lost it when I saw Chocolate Myers run up to Jr. Heck, we were ALL CRYING our eyes out in joy over this.

A lot of people said that NASCAR assured this win. I heard that it was probably a situation where the officials said through the pre-race tech inspection, "Okay, Junior. Here's your (ahem) restrictor plate." Junior can be heard on his frequency saying, "I'm only runnin' half-throttle behind these guys"

One of the few races you can hear the crowd over the cars

They should have never split up Tony Sr and Dale Jr......Thank TERESSA.......

I remember watching this with my family.... Me a DJ fan my bro loved KURT BUSCH pops liked HARVICK... But we were screaming and partying for Dale Jr that night. I still to this day can't believe they both went 1-2 again...

God, what I wouldn't give to see this kind of excitement again!

the greatest daytona moments, 1998 daytona 500, and the 2001 pepsi 400, R.I.P Dale Sr

Yeah...there was this awesome video package set to the song "Closing Time". I'll post it when I get the chance...I've got this one on DVD, too.

My favorite nascar moment of all time.

Is it just me or didn't the cars sound so much more.... BADASSED back then?

Whoever dislikes this video should burn in hell. What an emotional victory for him. RIP Dale Sr. #appreci88ion

couldn't have said it better myself

This happened on my birthday. RIP Dale Earnhardt

Notice how Michael said “.... since we lost our friend.” He didn’t say boss. That whole team was a family.