Friday, Dec. 21, 2001

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

He got behind the wheel of a race car the week after his father — the NASCAR legend, the Intimidator — died in a crash that stunned the nation. Then, in July, he returned to the same Daytona speedway where the crash had occurred to win the first of three races on the year. "One day soon [my] team will headline this joint," noted Earnhardt Jr., sounding just like Pop.