IROC: Dale Earnhardt Wins Over Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Michigan Speedway

12 June 1999

BROOKLYN, MI - The much ballyhooed Earnhardt vs. Earnhardt in IROC has finally come to fruition here in the third round of the True Value International Race of Champions held at the 2.0 mile banked oval Michigan Speedway.

Father beat son by .007 seconds-that translates to seven thousandths of a second, or in this case, by a gene! "That was one of the most unique, neatest, exciting, fun, and just everything all rolled up in one best times I've ever had in racing." Said Earnhardt about the racing for a win against his son. "Racing against your son is one thing, but racing him for the win-that's something you hope for or you write it as a script, " he continued, like father like son? Earnhardt Jr. started off his comments with similar words. "You couldn't write a better script." Earnhardt Jr. rushed into victory circle to celebrate with his dad. About battling his Dad for the win he said, "I came off the (fourth) corner and he (his father) hit me pretty hard, like 'you ain't gonna win it.' "I knew if I tried to pass him and didn't make it, I was going to get a chewing (out)."

The 1999 True Value International Race of Champions series once again challenges twelve of the world's best drivers to compete against each other in a four race series. The IROC racecars are as equal as humanly possible. All IROC racecars are equipped with Goodyear Eagle radial tires and specially finished with brilliant DuPont ChromaSystem colors.

The drivers are awarded points for each race. At the end of the fourth race the points are tallied and an IROC Champion is crowned. IROC XXIII will reward its champion with $225, 000 from the $760,000 purse.

Jeff Burton lead from the pole through lap six when he was overtaken by Earnhardt Jr.., taking Mark Martin and Dale Earnhardt with him. On the very next lap four-time IROC champion Mark Martin, who came from 11th starting spot (next to last), took the lead with Dale Earnhardt following. Mark held the lead through lap 26 when Dale Earnhardt made an inside pass going into turn one. This is the first time Earnhardt has led a lap other than the last one in IROC competition this year, he won the first two races with last-lap passes.

The potential for an accident couldn't have been higher when on lap 38 Bobby Labonte came off turn two in heavy traffic and had the car completely sideways. He was able to gain control only sacrificing a few positions.

1999 Indianapolis 500 winner Kenny Brack had the best finish, eighth, among the open wheel drivers, although, FedEx Championship Series driver Greg Moore put on a great show for the open wheel fans. Moore raced hard against the NASCAR contingent and was in the thick of the action throughout the day, he finished ninth.

Rusty Wallace finished third and was sitting right on the rear bumper of both Earnhardts as the checkered flag waived. He worked with Dale Earnhardt in the earlier going of the race as they made their charge to the front. "I did it because I like Dale and I think he's a great driver. I knew he could get through the crowd better than anybody else and I figured if I got him to the front I could get there too," said Wallace of his drafting partner.

The True Value IROC race from Michigan will be broadcast Saturday, June 12 at 3:00pm on ESPN.

IROC will conclude on August 6 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

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