Richard Childress described a powerful NASCAR healing moment after Kevin Harvick, just three races into his unexpected Cup Series promotion, drove Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s legendary No. 3 car to victory lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The race, which occurred less than a month after Earnhardt’s passing on February 18, 2001, became a turning point for both Richard Childress Racing and a sport grieving the loss of one of its defining heroes.
Following Earnhardt’s fatal last-lap crash at the Daytona 500, Richard Childress was tasked with making hard decisions for his team’s future. He chose to retire the iconic black No. 3 Jeff Gordon as the dominant force, leading 118 laps and displaying control throughout much of the afternoon. However, during the final laps, Kevin Harvick found speed by running the high line while Gordon was momentarily slowed in traffic below. With six laps to go, Harvick surged past and held off Gordon in a dramatic side-by-side finish, winning by just 0.006 seconds.
Harvick’s victory celebration echoed Earnhardt Sr.’s famous style—after a frontstretch burnout, he turned the car around and completed a backward Polish victory lap, holding up three fingers through the window to honor Earnhardt. On pit road and in the Richard Childress Racing garage, emotions flowed freely as crew members embraced and pointed skyward in tribute.
The Ripple Effect of a Victorious Tribute
The significance of Harvick’s Atlanta win resonated deeply within NASCAR, its fans, and drivers such as Dale Earnhardt Jr., who provided another healing moment that summer by winning at Daytona, the very track where his father had died. For Richard Childress Racing, the victory demonstrated resilience during a period of pain and uncertainty, showing that the team—and NASCAR—could move forward.
Later, in 2014, the No. 3 returned to full-time competition with Austin Dillon, Richard Childress’ grandson, carrying the number and legacy once again in the Cup Series. Still, the pivotal day in Atlanta marked when the healing process truly began for the organization and the community surrounding it.
Kevin Harvick Remembers the Chaos and Emotion
Years after that fateful occasion, Kevin Harvick reflected on the emotional toll and confusion surrounding his breakthrough. At just 25 years old and thrust into the spotlight under impossible circumstances, he was aware the victory at Atlanta represented something much larger than a personal achievement.
“It was kind of the way that Atlanta always was. We saw a lot of those finishes back in the day that were side by side… On this particular day for me, not supposed to be there. Unique situation with Dale’s passing and being able to win my first race and win for the team in our third start together, it was pretty emotional and you can see the emotion with the team.”
—Kevin Harvick, Driver
Even as Harvick joined the crew in victory lane, joy and grief mixed in an almost surreal atmosphere, with fans and competitors unsure how to react.
“The crazy part was how loud the fans were. It was just nobody knew what to do. You didn’t know whether to be happy. You didn’t know whether to cry. You didn’t know if you should, be excited, talk about Dale, not talk about Dale. There were so many confusing things that were happening during that time period.”
—Kevin Harvick, Driver
Harvick recalled images of devoted Earnhardt supporters climbing the catch fence, celebrating through their grief as he secured the win that brought hope to a mourning community.
A Lasting Change for NASCAR
The impact of that day reached far beyond the victory lane at Atlanta. Harvick’s triumph proved Richard Childress Racing’s competitiveness and helped signal to the NASCAR world that its beloved sport would endure despite devastating loss. In the years to come, Harvick went on to secure 58 Cup wins and the 2014 championship, but the importance of his first win at Atlanta remains unparalleled for fans and the NASCAR community. The Richard Childress NASCAR healing moment continues to symbolize resilience, unity, and the ongoing legacy of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and those who raced forward in his memory.
