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May 8, 2021; Darlington, SC, USA; Former NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. poses for a picture with the restored 1984 Chevy Nova driven by his father the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. on pit road prior to the Steakhouse Elite 200 at Darlington Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
May 8, 2021; Darlington, SC, USA; Former NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. poses for a picture with the restored 1984 Chevy Nova driven by his father the late Dale Earnhardt Sr. on pit road prior to the Steakhouse Elite 200 at Darlington Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Back in 1981, Ron Bouchard took his first and only Cup Series win at the Talladega Superspeedway. In all honesty, this win came as a shock to many, as it was his debut season. Now, Dale Earnhardt Jr is going to pay tribute to the late driver by driving his #47 car in a ceremonial lap.
That year, Bouchard was battling with Darrell Waltrip and Terry Labonte for the race win. On the final lap, Waltrip led from Labonte and Bouchard, and they were close together. Labonte jinked to the outside of Waltrip, while Bouchard dove down the inside. From there, the trio crossed the finish line almost in tandem, making it a photo finish.
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To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Ron Bouchardâs upset victory at @TALLADEGA, @DaleJr will drive a ceremonial lap today in the authentic No. 47 machine.
This finish back in 1981 is one you definitely need to see. đ pic.twitter.com/Dp7kmwkhrG
â NASCAR (@NASCAR) October 3, 2021
In the end, replays showed that Ron Bouchard had just nosed ahead, with Waltrip narrowly edging out Labonte. Since that lone visit to Victory Lane, Bouchard racked up 19 Top 5s, 60 Top 10s, and three poles. All of this came in the span of 160 Cup races between 1981 and 1987, with a best finish of eighth in the 1982 championship.
Dale Earnhardt Jr is paying tribute to the late driver
Now, soon-to-be NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr has been handed a golden opportunity. Before the race gets underway, the former NASCAR driver will drive Bouchardâs iconic #47 car for a demo lap, 40 years after Ron Bouchard won the race.
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Apr 25, 2021; Talladega, Alabama, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) leads during the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
On an interesting note, this is the second time this season that Dale Earnhardt Jr is performing a ceremonial lap. The first time he did it was back at the Darlington Raceway. Around that time, he got a chance to pilot his late fatherâs 1984 Chevrolet Nova ahead of that weekendâs Xfinity Series race. Needless to say, it was a momentous occasion and truly a sight to see.
READ MORE: Why Talladega Superspeedway Holds a Special Place in the Heart of the Dale Earnhardt Family
