The Monster Mile has always produced great racing and that is what keeps the fans coming back each year. On September 23, 2001, over 140,000 came to Dover International Speedway to heal and witness the first NASCAR race since the 9/11 attacks.

It didn’t matter which driver you cheered, on that day everyone at the track were unified as Americans. As fans entered the gate, they were handed small American flags and became part of a great tribute to the victims of 9/11, Lee Greenwood sang “God Bless the USA” and some race teams featured patriotic paint schemes.

Dale Jarrett took to the front early in the weekend as he took his UPS Ford to the pole with the speed of 154.919 mph. Bobby Labonte, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Ricky Rudd and Ricky Craven rounded out the top five in qualifying. It was Cal Ripken who had the honor of waving the green flag for this race and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

Similar to June 2001, Dale Jarrett had lost the lead on the first lap to a more dominant car, this time it was Dale Jr. who didn’t waste any time getting to the front. Jr. led the race early but a caution for a wreck between Bill Elliott and Bobby Labonte in turn two put Ricky Craven on the point.

Dale, Jr. was able to get the lead back from Craven on lap 41 before a crash ended Craven’s run up front. Jeremy Mayfield crashed on lap 56 after having a tire blow out with Ricky Rudd taking the lead. Mayfield was sent to a local hospital with a concussion and a chipped tooth. Dale, Jr. went back to the front for the next 100 laps before Rudd got back by on lap 184 and stayed there for 161 laps.

As it seemed Ricky Rudd would be the driver heading to Victory Lane, it was the lapped car of Rusty Wallace who eliminated Rudd’s chances of winning the race. On lap 345, Wallace got into Rudd just enough to send him spinning and causing a good amount of damage to the back end of the 28 Ford. Rudd’s teammate Dale Jarrett tried his best to catch race leader Dale Jr., but found his own trouble in an incident with Tony Stewart.

Dale, Jr. held off Jerry Nadeau for the final 39 laps and took his number 8 Budweiser Chevy to Victory Lane. Ricky Rudd recovered to finish third with Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart completing the top five. Polesitter Jarrett finished 12th.

"I grabbed the American flag and made a victory lap to show the fans we're all just people,” said Dale, Jr., who led 194 laps of the 400-lap race. “We put our pants on the same way they do."

Dale, Jr. made a reverse victory lap with the flag in honor of 9/11. It was on this day a nation began to heal and it was a day in NASCAR history that will never be forgotten.

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