Longtime fans of NASCAR know how significant not having the name Dale Earnhardt in the lineup is. Between Dale Sr. and Dale Jr., the name has been on the track as far back as a lot of people can remember.

That all ends after this season. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is retiring from driving, after he carried on the tradition for many years after his father's fatal crash.

Junior is receiving special recognition. It was announced Monday (10/9) that he will be inducted into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame.

The decision of his induction there is a good one. Dale Jr. had two milestone victories at Texas Motor Speedway (TMS).

He got his first career XFINITY Series win there in 1998. And he did it in exciting fashion with a thrilling last-lap pass of Joe Nemechek and then held off Elliott Sadler.

Then two years later, a historic race. Dale Jr. became the first Cup Series rookie to win at TMS. And what is forever carved into NASCAR history, was the celebration that ensued with his father. Let's take a look back at that:


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