On September 23, 2001, the NASCAR community gathered for the first time following the September 11th terrorist attacks and the whole day seemed like one perfect tribute to the victims in New York City, Washington D.C. and Shanksville, P.A, their families and America.

The setting was perfect.

Dover has a strong military presence with Dover Air Force Base. Due to the influx of military and emergency personnel and their families in the area following the attacks, the local hotels were calling the NASCAR teams to see if they would give up their room reservations so the space could be given to the Armed Forces.

At the track, the fans were given American flags to wave and Lee Greenwood was on hand to sing “God Bless The USA” during the pre-race festivities while Tanya Tucker sang “God Bless America” and the National Anthem.

Another addition to the patriotic festivities was the Grand Marshal, whose name was also in the race title, baseball great Cal Ripken, Jr.

Ripken was to play the final game of his career that night; however the terrorist attacks had postponed a week’s worth of games until the end of the season, so Ripken was not officially retired until October 6th.

NASCAR, a true American sport, tipped its hat that day to a legend of the American pastime at a point that patriotism was needed the most.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., got his second victory of the year that day. The win came just over seven months after he lost his father in the season-opening Daytona 500. It was fitting that NASCAR’s golden boy, Little E as he was known back then, would take the checkers on such a meaningful day.

The site of Junior doing his victory lap with that enormous American flag is something no NASCAR fan will ever forget.

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