Daytona 500 2000 - If I can only choose five, here they are

If I can only choose five, here they are
by Matt Yocum, Special to ESPN.com

DAYTONA MEMORIES

ESPN.com wants to know what your favorite Daytona 500 memory is -- no, not the time you met Miss Budweiser as she was walking down to Victory Lane -- but rather your favorite race. Click here and send us your thoughts on that one Daytona 500 that sticks out in you mind.

Below are some of the responses we've received already from fans. But we'll keep the mailbox open for a few days and keep posting the best comments leading up to the "Great American Race."

It has become a time-honored tradition each November. After 10 months of racing, and 36 grueling weeks at race tracks across the country, everyone in the garage can't wait for the Winston Cup season to finally end.

It's understandable, really.

But just as soon as the last car is put away for the winter, December brings the whirlwind banquet tours and holidays. The new year arrives, and suddenly January hits every driver without hardly a warning.

And then the excitement slowly builds.

Refreshed and energized, teams trickle into Daytona for testing. By the end of January, every team is wishing for another week to button up last-minute details before heading to "The Beach." Then again, if they had another week, they'd beg for two.

Then it's February. And the 500 is only days away.

Each time I return to Daytona Beach, it's like a homecoming. I grew up in Daytona (OK, actually five minutes down the road in Ormond Beach). The first 500 of the 21st Century will mark 28 years since I attended my first Daytona 500 on Feb. 20, 1972.

I was only 4 years old, but it was an unforgettable and awesome experience. I met those two dudes from Adam 12 -- Kent McCord and Martin Milner -- and James Garner from the Rockford Files. In fact, I hung out with TV's most famous private investigator for hours.

Whether you're 4, 14, or even 31, coming through the tunnel has the same experience. It's something very special and there's almost a romance to it. There are other great races on the Winston Cup schedule each year -- the Bristol night race and Southern 500 come to mind -- but none compare to the "Great American Race."

So what do I consider the best Daytona 500s? That's a tough one, tougher than anything Regis has asked anyone on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire."

But if I had to give a final answer, here are my top five:

No. 5: My first & the Dales duel


	The best Daytona 500? Matt Yocum said it was when Dale Earnhardt finally came home a winner in the '98 Daytona 500.

You never forget your first time, so I have to mention the 1972 race when I watched A.J. Foyt win his first Daytona 500 for the famed Wood Brothers, who already had two 500s to their credit. But I have a No. 5a (OK, I've added an extra one; so, sue me.) -- when the Dales dueled right down to the checkers in 1993. It remains one of the best finishes of any 500. Jarrett wound up claiming his first Daytona 500, while keeping Earnhardt a bridesmaid ... again.

No. 4: 'The King' makes the right call
I remember this one for the simple reason why "The King" won the race. Working the pits every week, I can appreciate a gutsy call. And Richard Petty, foregoing an opportunity to take on new tires during the final round of green-flag pitstops, made a winning call when he opted for just a few gulps of fuel and dashed out of the pits with a healthy lead. He wound up winning his seventh and final Daytona 500. The leader of the Alabama Gang, Bobby Allison, settled for second place.

No. 3: 'The Silver Fox' limps home a winner
As much as I'd like to forget this one, the 1976 race is still a classic. While this year is too painful of a finish to remember, it was a dramatic duel -- "The King" vs. "The Silver Fox" -- and like so many times before in their illustrious careers, Petty and David Pearson would battle to the checkers. With 13 laps to go, the No. 43 of Petty passed Pearson's white and maroon 21 car. "The Silver Fox" tucked in behind Petty's Dodge and drafted until the final lap. He used the famous sling-shot move to motor past Petty for the lead. But Pearson drifted high entering Turn 3, opening the door for last-lap fireworks. Petty ducked under Pearson in Turn 4, but after the 43 passed the 21, the two touched, both spun and hit the wall. Both cars slid down to the grass, Pearson was able to keep his engine running, Petty's car stalled and wouldn't start. Pearson limped across the line for the victory.

The final two choices are really a dead heat, both special and important for their own reasons.

No. 1a: A fight to the finish
This is the race that made NASCAR a household word. Forget about the first 199 laps, because it's the final lap that was the most important and exciting 2½ miles. Donnie Allison and Cale Yarborough traded more than paint racing toward the checkers. Exiting Turn 2, Yarborough tried the sling-shot move on Allison, but the Alabama native had other ideas. He tried to throw a big block and ran Allison down to the grass. The No. 1 and No. 11 cars slammed into each other and crashed in Turn 3. Then the donnybrook ensued. Bobby Allison stopped to make sure Donnie was OK, and the next thing a live TV audience saw was a fight between the Allisons and Yarborough. Meanwhile, Petty raced toward the finish with Darrell Waltrip in tow. It was the first live flag-to-flag coverage of the 500. And viewers got their money's worth.

No. 1: No longer a bridesmaid
As you might have gathered, I'm a Petty fan. Have been one since I left the Daytona track that day in 1972. But Earnhardt's first Daytona 500 victory even gets this No. 43 fan's vote as the best of the best. After finishing second four times, The Intimidator finally claimed the only prize missing from his spectacular career. Earnhardt kept Bobby Labonte at bay and was finally able to say first at last. The emotion from the entire NASCAR community was tremendous. Crew members lined up on pit road to high five the black No. 3 as it slowly cruised to Victory Lane. Then Earnhardt drove onto the grass that separates the front stretch and pit road, and carved the number "3" on the lawn in a series of victory donuts. By the way, I'm not alone on this one. My producer at RPM 2Night, Pam Surbaugh, for one would say Earnhardt's win comes in No. 1 as well.

There have been plenty of other exciting 500s. The 1959 photo finish with Lee Petty and Johnny Beauchamp; the 1961 heartbreaker for Fireball Roberts who lost an engine, the lead and the race with 13 laps to go; 1994 with Sterling Marlin and Ernie Irvan.

So many races and so many thrilling finishes to choose from. I guess that's why they call it the "Great American Race." It sure creates great memories.

Here's are some users' opinions when it comes to the best Daytona 500.

"My favorite Daytona 500 was when Dale Earnhardt took the checkered flag for his first time. I don't think there was a dry eye in the entire room."

Dustin Schmidt
New Berlin, Wis.

"Fifty years from now they'll still look at the pass Gordon made at the 1999 Daytona 500 to pass Wallace as maybe the most brilliant in history. No one would work with Gordon all day, finally with the help of Skinner and Earnhardt, Gordon got to second. With the laps counting, Gordon made a pass few would attempt running on apron to pass Wallace and get back on the banking just in enough time to avoid Ricky Rudd. Then the two best in the 90's slugged it out -- Gordon and Earnhardt, seven titles between them in the decade and about 90 wins. Dale put every move he could on the Kid, but Jeff blocked every move to the checkered flag. The race added to the already great legend and proved inside the last 10 laps that Jeff is one of the toughest drivers to deny victory. I remember jumping up and down as Gordon made the pass and then held off Dale. Even my family, who really aren't NASCAR fans, thought it was exciting. Fans who are sentimental might say the '79 or '98 races were better. But few who were at the race or saw it will ever forget it. The victory showed Gordon's true will and determination and his ultimate greatness -- just ask Rusty Wallace, he stills has nightmares about the 1999 Daytona 500."

Tim Nejman
Pittsburgh, Pa.

"The 1993 Daytona 500 is my favorite. With Dale Jarrett going for his first 500 win, and his father Ned calling the finish of the race. It was a very special moment, and I still get goosebumps every time I hear it."

Jeff Fannin
Urbana, Ohio

"The best Daytona 500? In 1989 when D.W. won and did 'The Icky Woods Shuffle,' and spiked his helmet in Victory Lane."

N.A. Lane
Tangerine, Fla.

"The 1976 Daytona 500 was an all-time classic with two of the greatest drivers of any era. Richard Petty and David Pearson down to the wire, both cars colliding on the last corner of the last lap, both drivers almost keeping control of their cars before spinning out yards short of the finish line. Richard Petty sitting within rock-throwing distance of finish line, but unable to restart his car. David Pearson having his engine running passes Petty at about 40 mph to take the checkered flag in front of delirious fans. Petty's crew pushes him across to finish the race! I believe that was the greatest Daytona 500 ever. I have been going to NASCAR races since I was 8 years old in 1966. My first birthday was on the day of the first running of the Daytona 500 on Feb.22, 1959."

James T. Grider
Bowling Green, Ky.

"At the 1988 Daytona 500, I was standing in Turn 4 and saw Richard Petty go airborne. I thought that he was killed it looked so bad. Then Bobby and Davey Allison finishing 1-2 was the best finish."

Rusty Judah
Plant City, Fla.

"The 1979 500 was the best ever because it put stock car racing on the map in terms of national sports. The first nationally televised NASCAR race and it ends with a last-lap crash, a win by the most recognizable name in NASCAR at the time, and a post-race fight. You couldn't script a better race. It was wonderful!"

Eric Heit
Seattle, Wash.

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