Legendary NASCAR crew chief and FOX announcer Larry McReynolds has recalled a memory of Dale Earnhardt from the legendary No. 3 car driver's first and only Daytona 500 win.

Earnhardt was already a bona fide legend of the sport coming into the 1998 edition of the race, with seven Cup Series titles and 70 wins to his name, but had gone 19 times into the Great American Race without winning a single one.

Richard Childress Racing were also still searching for their first Daytona 500 win, almost 30 years into their existence. The 1998 race broke both of those droughts and was, remarkably, the only race win for the Earnhardt/McReynolds partnership.

McReynolds spoke a while ago to Earnhardt's son Dale Jr. on his podcast, and had a couple of memories to share – one personal, and one about The Intimidator specifically.

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He said: "It was pouring down with rain when we finally loaded that thing back in that little trailer to be able to put it in to the Daytona Experience the next morning, and none of my family was down there, they were all home sick with the flu.

"I remember walking in the pouring rain from the garage to my motor coach, it was about 11:30, quarter to 12, and when I sat down to take my shoes off, that's when I think it finally hit me. I went 'Damn. Just won the Daytona 500 with Dale Earnhardt'."

McReynolds continued: "There's one other moment that I'll never forget as long as I live. It was in victory lane, and things were settling down a little bit, but there's still pictures after pictures after pictures.

"The crew was still there and the car was still there, but I remember taking a step back and watching your dad [Dale Sr.] and Teresa [Earnhardt], and quite honestly watching Richard [Childress] and Judy, it was their first time [winning the Daytona 500] too.

"I was fortunate enough six years prior to experience it with Davey, but it's still just as special. I'm sure if you win a third one, it's just as special too. But to watch especially your dad and Richard, it's almost like watching your kids unwrap their presents on Christmas. That's what it meant to me to just take that step back and just kind of take it in and watch their smiles and their actions and how much it truly all meant. "

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