Earnhardt News
2001 Season

Kerry Earnhardt wins ARCA race at MIS
Photos: ARCA, Inc.

BROOKLYN, Mich. (June 9, 2001)
Kerry Earnhardt joined his late father Dale and his younger brother Dale Jr. as winners at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday by winning the Flagstar 200 ARCA RE/MAX Series race. Dale Earnhardt won two Winston Cup races at the 2-mile oval and Earnhardt Jr. won a Grand National race at the track in 1999.

Kerry Earnhardt passed Ed Berrier entering turn 3 with 15 laps left and ran away from Berrier to win by nearly six seconds. Earnhardt’s victory was his first since winning at Pocono last year and was his best finish at MIS since placing third in the same race last year.

In his Kannapolis Intimidators Chevrolet, Earnhardt dominated the race with 64 laps-led in the 100-lap, 200-mile event. With an assist from Steve Park's Pennzoil Winston Cup crew, he had flawless pitstops en route to the popular win, and received a rousing ovation by an estimated 70,000 fans at MIS upon taking the checkered flag.

After taking a victory lap, Earnhardt turned his No. 2 black Chevrolet around and came back to salute the crowd going the opposite direction and holding three fingers up. Earnhardt Jr. met Kerry as he pulled his car onto pit road and into Victory Lane.

"This is what it's all about, to come here and win for these fans," Earnhardt said as the large crowd roared its approval. "Just like dad would do, Ty (Norris) came on the radio before the race and said `Have plenty of patience. We have the car.' He was right, we had it."

Earnhardt said it was an emotional day. "My dad, he was there with me," Kerry said. "He's always with me and always will be."

Young Stuart Kirby took third followed by former NFL coach Jerry Glanville in fourth and Andy Belmont in fifth.

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