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Top 20 moments of 2014, #15: It's about time, Dale Jr and Will Power

Looking back over the top moments of 2014, we simply couldn't nail down one of these stories to make the list, so we thought they could share. Will Power wins the IndyCar title, and Dale Jr joins Twitter.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet takes a selfie in front of a statue of his father

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet takes a selfie in front of a statue of his father

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Will Power, Penske Racing Chevrolet
Will Power, Penske Racing Chevrolet
Championship winner Will Power celebrates
Will Power, Penske Racing Chevrolet
Graham Rahal, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing Honda and Will Power, Penske Racing Chevrolet
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet takes a selfie in front of a statue of his father
NASCAR President Mike Helton with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and girlfriend Amy Reimann
Race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. with girlfriend Amy Reimann
Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet takes the win
Race winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Getting a monkey off your back, breaking the trend…no matter how you put it, both Will Power and Dale Earnhardt Jr will look back on 2014 with fondness.

2014 was an “it’s about time” year for Will Power because he finally was able to win the IndyCar title, after four seasons fighting for the championships.

Will Power was hired by Roger Penske in 2009, and since that moment, Power has not started a season in a Penske car without a win…but for a long time that formula of success could not deliver a title.

The biggest hurdle standing in Power’s way was his oval track prowess, and the season finale at Fontana. which had taken the driver out of contention in the final race an amazing three different times.

Last season, he was able to win at Fontana, being mathematically eliminated from the title heading into that race, but it proved he could win at the challenging oval. A 9th place finish the following season would lock up that first Championship for the Australian driver.

“It was one of the hardest races I ever drove,” Power said.

“It went on and on and I started making up positions. The car wasn’t good. When I took the lead, I thought ‘We have a chance’ to win the championship. When Helio got the drive through penalty, I thought, ‘We’ve got it.'"

Joining Junior Nation

The season also saw another “it’s about time,” when after winning his second Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt Jr. joined the millions of fans on Twitter. 

His second tweet was a heartfelt one, as he took a “selfie” in front of the bronze statue of his father the next morning at Daytona USA during the Champions Breakfast. It didn’t take long for the driver to have as many or more followers than most Hollywood stars.

"Tonight seemed like as good a night as any to join Twitter," he tweeted. "How is everyone doin?"

"I don't what I was thinking, why I didn't get on there earlier," Earnhardt said later in the season

"It's a great way to tell people things you appreciate and it's instant."

Team mate Jimmie Johnson, who we can only believe must have thought “it’s about time” too, was quickly impressed with Earnhardt Jr.’s Twitter prowess.

"It's been a very interesting follow, him getting creative," Johnson said.

“He must have been watching for afar for a while because he has the lingo down, attacking people, holding up pretty well. He didn't enter as a rookie on Twitter, in my opinion. He's off to a pretty good start."

 

 

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