Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his second Daytona 500 of his career last Sunday, a decade removed from his first victory, and he celebrated by joining Twitter. NASCAR's most popular driver doesn't have much to prove in that regard, but in just a few days he has amassed 519,000 followers.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. wins second Daytona 500
Fans can follow him at the handle @DaleJr, which had recorded over 235,000 followers before he ever tweeted once. His first tweet came on Monday following his win, featuring Dale Jr. posing with his trophy. "Tonight seemed like as good a night as any to join Twitter. How is everyone doin? #2XDaytona500Champ."
Tonight seemed like as good a night as any to join Twitter. How is everyone doin? #2XDaytona500Champ pic.twitter.com/4k4JVA7fG9 — Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) February 24, 2014
The victory was a validating one for Earnhardt Jr., who has raced his entire career in the shadow of his legendary father, and had gone 55 consecutive races without a win. "If you look at how happy I was Sunday after winning that race, you'll know how bad I want to win," Earnhardt Jr. said in response to critics who have questioned his hunger for years.
"You'll know how much winning means to me and you'll know from now on that there's no questioning my killer instinct or drive."
Dale Jr. endured brutal stretch of ineffectiveness in 2009 and 2010, when he could barely crack the top 20 despite remaining one of the sport's most popular drivers. That contrast between renown and on-the-track success made him a very polarizing figure. Since 2010 though, he has really made the leap, earning three straight berths in the Chase for the Cup.
"I can't even begin to tell you how grateful I am...that they believed in me," he said of Hendrick Motorsports. "(They) were trying to find ways to make the chemistry work, regardless of what the critics were saying, when everybody was saying I was finished, (questioning) whether I was going to do anything (good) ever again."
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