The 2001 Pepsi 400 was quite possibly the most difficult race in Dale Earnhardt Jr’s career. Not because it was difficult from a skill perspective; in fact, he dominated that race. Instead, it was because of the possible emotional turmoil going on inside Dale Jr’s head. Apparently, it was the first race at Daytona since Dale Earnhardt Sr’s tragic accident. Despite all that, Dale Earnhardt Jr won, and now Denny Hamlin continues to admire him for that.

He wrote on Twitter, “Watching @DaleJr on this 2001 replay reminds me of how far ahead of his time he was on the art of passing on a super speedway. An absolute artist.”

It is clear that the Joe Gibbs Racing driver holds deep admiration for the former NASCAR driver. This is especially in a time of great emotional adversity, and he still managed to persevere.

How did Dale Earnhardt Jr win that Daytona race?

Dale Jr found himself running in sixth place and fought his way up to P1. The driver evidently studied the Dale Earnhardt Book of Overtaking and memorized it from cover to cover; he pulled off a masterclass and outraced the entire field. It was his third career win after Talladega and Richmond, but it was undoubtedly the sweetest.

In a way, it was also very poetic and a fitting tribute to his late father. The driver confessed once that it felt strange to be at the track that claimed his father’s life. However, once he banged in a few laps, he pushed everything to the back of his mind and simply let his driving do the talking.

Considering that he qualified 13th fastest, he quickly showed off his raw pace and rocketed up the field. Once he hit the front, there was no stopping him, and every fan was on their feet to watch this piece of greatness.

READ MORE: Dale Earnhardt Jr Recalls Racing at Daytona for the First Time After Dale Sr’s Emotional Death