A month ago, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was given an unexpected gift.
Fourteen years after the fact, a stranger presented Earnhardt with the firesuit his father, Dale Earnhardt Sr., wore in the last race he ever completed.
The firesuit was from the 2001 IROC (International Race of Champions) race at Daytona International Speedway, held on Feb. 16, two days before his death on the final lap of the Daytona 500.
Moments ago a fellas walked up and handed me my fathers 2001 IROC uniform. Quite emotional exchange. Completely floored me. Many thanks.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) July 24, 2015
Earnhardt Sr., who won 11 times in 59 IROC races, started from the pole and finished seventh in that race.
On Sunday, Dale Jr. slipped into the white firesuit before he put it away for safe keeping
Dale Jr. himself competed in eight IROC races from 1999 to 2000 and counts the 1999 race at Michigan International Speedway as a favorite of his entire career. That day saw his father pass him on the final lap to take the win in a photo finish.