DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. nearly traded paint with the car ahead of him, snatching the lead at the Daytona 500 with a brash, fearless move.Just like his old man.
Earnhardt later drove off the track in front of the main grandstand, spinning in the grass to celebrate his first Daytona 500 victory.
Just like his old man.
Earnhardt won NASCAR's biggest event Sunday on the same track that took his father's life three years ago, barreling past Tony Stewart with 20 laps left with a maneuver that would have made Daddy proud.
Junior showed the impatience of youth, needing only five tries to win the race that bedeviled his father for 19 years.
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