As the 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup Series (now Sprint Cup Series) prepared for its season opener in Daytona, one could not help but think back to the tragedy just one year earlier. A spectacular race quickly took a turn for the worse when the news of Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s death broke. One year after the tragic incident, the stars of the Cup Series returned to the 2.5-mile "World Center of Racing" to put the past behind them.

Outside the speedway thousands of hardcore race fans crowded around the newly unveiled nine-foot-tall bronze statue honoring "The Intimidator" outside Daytona USA. While a year had passed since Earnhardt's accident, the enormous loss to the sport was felt by almost everyone in attendance.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. honored his late father by taking the 2001 Pepsi 400 - the first race at Daytona after losing his father - and now looked to make it two-in-a-row by earning his first Daytona 500 victory. Starting the weekend off on the right foot, Dale Jr. took his Richard Childress Racing No. 3 Chevrolet to the victory in the 300-mile Busch (now Nationwide Series) event.

Also making news this Speedweeks was veteran driver Dave Marcis. The then 61-year-old driver would make his thirty-third and final start in the "Great American Race" and then retire from competition. A throw-back driver, Marcis was always a fan favorite and could not have picked a better place to end his storied career.

In fitting fashion, Kevin Harvick put his Richard Childress Racing No. 29 GM Goodwrench Service Chevrolet on the outside of the front row. After taking over at RCR, Harvick turned a lot of heads and by laying down a fast lap proved he was a legitimate threat in the 500. Rookie sensation Jimmie Johnson grabbed the top-spot in qualifying and led the field to the green flag in the 44th annual Daytona 500.

Just two laps into the 500-mile event, that year's Budweiser Shootout winner and eventual series champion Tony Stewart fell victim to an engine failure. The driver of the then No. 20 Home Depot Pontiac barely broke a sweat before retiring for the day.

Despite his win on Saturday, Dale Earnhardt Jr. could do little to make up for the two cut tires that ruined his day.

Leading the draft for much of the afternoon, Harvick's day came to an end when contact with Jeff Gordon going into Turn 1 triggered an 18-car pile-up on Lap 149. Harvick's car was demolished, while Gordon was able to drive away. Taking out a number of front-runners, the "Big One" with about fifty laps remaining shuffled the running order and brought a new group of contenders to the front.

Following the eighth caution of the day caused by Robby Gordon, Jeff Gordon led Sterling Marlin and the rest of the field to the green flag on Lap 195. With everyone up on the wheel and anticipating the start, the field stacked up at the Start/Finish Line. Michael Waltrip spun into the grass and others were collected in the incident. Racing into Turn 1, Marlin made a move on Gordon for the lead. Gordon threw the block and Marlin refused to give an inch. The two made contact and Gordon spun through the grass.

Taking time to clean up the mess on the frontstretch and to ensure a green flag finish, NASCAR officials threw a red flag. Parked on the backstretch, Marlin began talking with his crew about the damage caused by the contact with Gordon. With right front fender clearly rubbing the tire, Marlin knew he would have to give up the lead to hit pit road - and with only a handful of laps remaining, Marlin began looking at his options.

Exiting his No. 40 Coors Light Dodge, Marlin walked around the front of his car to assess the damage. Deciding he could solve the problem right then and there, Marlin tugged on the fender and cleared it from the tire. Quick on the scene, a NASCAR official sitting ahead of Marlin in the pace car stopped Marlin from any further work and sent him back to the cockpit of the car.

Clearly working on his car under the red flag, NASCAR had no choice but to black flag Marlin and force him to pit road anyway. The penalty ended any chance Marlin had at his third Daytona 500 victory.

With Marlin now out of the way, Ward Burton and Elliott Sadler looked to capitalize on the opportunity of a lifetime. Following the restart, Sadler quickly got by Geoffrey Bodine to move behind his fellow Virginian. Unable to make a challenge, Sadler pushed Burton's No. 22 Bill Davis Racing Dodge across the finish line.

Earning only his fourth career win, Burton did it in a big way. Staying out of trouble and playing the draft right, Burton was able to put himself in position to strike when it mattered most.

"My car ran better on restarts," Burton explained following his victory lane celebration. "You've got to be there at the end of the race. Elliott and I have worked together real good before and all I can say is it'll be quite a party tonight."

"I saw Sterling smoking when we raced back to the flag that time," Burton added, "so I knew something was up, there. We both knew how important that last restart was."

Making no excuses for his late-race mistake, Marlin explained, "I just pulled the fender off the tire, 'cause it was rubbing. I saw Dale (Earnhardt) do it at Richmond once and NASCAR let him get away with it, but I guess the rules have changed in the meantime."

At the end of the day, the fans in the grandstands and those watching and listening at home were treated with another spectacular race. A fan-favorite ended up earning his first Daytona 500 win and fans always love a great controversy and Marlin provided them with that.