Daytona, Feb 16: Dale Earnhardt Jr has won the Daytona 500, three years after his father was killed in a crash in the same race. It was Earnhardt Jr's first victory in the traditional Nascar Winston Cup season opener.

Where seven-time Nascar champion Dale Earnhardt took 19 years to win the 500, his son did it at his fifth attempt.

"I can't believe it, it's awesome," said Earnhardt Jr, who saw his father die in the 2001 crash. "It has got to be the greatest day of my life."

Earnhardt made the decisive move on Tony Stewart with 19 laps to go.

"It worked out perfect. I could do that 100 times over and it might not work out this way again," Earnhardt said.

Six years to the day after his father's only victory in his sport's most treasured race, Earnhardt Jr said he felt the spirit of his dad in the car with him racing around Daytona International Speedway's 2.5-mile oval.

"He was right over in the passenger side with me," Earnhardt said. "I'm sure he was having a blast."

Among the thoughts that overtook Earnhardt, who started from the pole position, were those of his father's decades of struggling for the same prize he captured relatively early.

"I have seen it lost so many times with my dad. I learned a lot from all that," Earnhardt Jr said. "I'm glad I don't have to worry about that now."

Stewart led 97 of the 200 laps while Earnhardt Jnr led 89. Earnhardt moved past Stewart in the 26th and last lead change of the day after trying and failing much of the afternoon.

Winning the season opener gives Earnhardt Jr the Nascar points lead for the first time in his career.

Bureau Report