The first driver to attempt a qualifying lap under the lights at Daytona International Speedway in 1998? Dale Earnhardt. He also was the first driver to test under the lights at the track.

@DAYTONA @NASCAR For the race they would go on to put reflective tape from trailers so the spotter could see him better. I was there for that race.

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Dale was also the first turn a lap under the lights at a rain delayed Atlanta. Dale in classic Earnhardt fashion when asked said " I'm not scared of the dark " He went out and turned a wide open lap. When he came he stopped at the end of pit road and said "are we racing or not?"

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Ass end slammed down 🏁

@DAYTONA @NASCAR I have the T-Shirt that commemorates the first test under the lights. Haven’t seen many of them out there.

@DAYTONA @NASCAR and still some of y’all pretend like he wasn’t the blueprint for everything that came after 💀

@DAYTONA @NASCAR The thing that is really strange to me is ESPN doing a qualifying broadcast for a race that ended up being broadcast by TNN.

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Look at the squat on that thing

@DAYTONA @NASCAR we were on vacation in pigeon forge at the time. instead of going out to eat my dad insisted on getting pizza delivered to the room and us watching qualifying at night for the 1st time at daytona. QUALIFYING! thats how important it was to him back then

@DAYTONA @NASCAR That rear 🔥🔥

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Always interested me why they left the nose up a bit. Would think you wouldn’t want a lot of air packing under the car with the nose being higher than the rear

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Moved it from July to October that year because of the fires n all the smoke, correct????

@HardNASCARPics @DAYTONA @NASCAR Look at the ass end of that thing I love it

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Looks like hes running those old pull down shocks in the back. Gets that spoiler out of the air and helps reduce drag. But it would kill your back going over those bumps in the track.

@DAYTONA @NASCAR His up to be speed lap was almost 10 mph faster than you will see Friday and Saturday. With a restricted engine lol 😆 😂 🤣 Today's restart series kit spec pos car is pathetic. 27 years ago and they are still going backwards. @NASCAR

@DAYTONA @NASCAR What I see when I see these cars with the lowered rear end

@DAYTONA @NASCAR @NASCARClassics The G.O.A.T. Dale Sr.

@DAYTONA @NASCAR I dunno why, but to me the lights reflecting off that Black car is sooo cool looking. IMO opinion he was & is the GREATEST stockcar driver in history, the sport was never the same w/out him

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Bump stops in the rear completely non-existent in Q trim back then

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Holy negative rake

@DAYTONA @NASCAR BMF

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Next gen car

@DAYTONA @NASCAR I was there when he tested. It was a big deal

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Bad to the Bone 👊🏁3

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Looks like he's just screaming

@DAYTONA @NASCAR You can see the speed in these cars….cant say the same for current cup cars….🫠

@DAYTONA @NASCAR The rear end was dancing around like crazy sheesh

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Ol sparky

@DAYTONA @NASCAR I was there in 98' 😊

@DAYTONA @NASCAR This is when NASCAR used to be at its greatest before the Kool-Aid drinkers inserted their bullshit and to every single sport hockey and NASCAR are the only two that they haven’t fully infiltrated and Lord help us

@DAYTONA @NASCAR That race was awesome. Rescheduled in October beautiful night and the great 24 won.

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Was there👍🏻

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Loved the 90's plate track qualifying setups. Gotta get that spoiler as low as possible!

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Was there for the test. We all thought it way cool

@DAYTONA @NASCAR

@DAYTONA @NASCAR Amazing