A self-described second-stringer in a supposedly inferior car with a new team and a rookie crew chief had just beaten the kingpin of stock car racing in the sport's biggest event.
But Dale Jarrett was in no mood to crow about dashing once again Dale Earnhardt's dream in the Daytona 500."Make it perfectly clear that it wasn't the driver that won this race today," he said Sunday after beating Earnhardt for the second time in four years. "There's no better than Dale Earnhardt."
But a career boxscore for the race says: Jarrett 2 for 8; Earnhardt 0 for 18.
"I'm not going to say I feel sorry for him," Jarrett said, although he did admit it would be nice for "the best driver to come along in the time I've been in the sport" to eventually win its premier race.
As in 1993, when he beat Earnhardt in a close finish, Jarrett was a few car-lengths the better when the checkered flag signified that the lion's share of a $3.6 million purse - $362,775 - was his.
But it wasn't as easy as his victory in 1993, even though Jarrett led the last 24 laps.
"This was definitely more nerve-wracking," he said. "The last lap was close to 500 miles in itself.
"I tell you, I think I'd rather look in the mirror and see anybody but that 3 car back there, knowing his history."
But Jarrett, who spent the final lap covering each zig-zag move of the determined Earnhardt, said his Ford had one big advantage over Earnhardt's Chevrolet.
"What he didn't have was a Robert Yates engine," said Jarrett, who also won the non-points Busch Clash a week earlier.
Earnhardt, who had little to say afterward, agreed that the power plant was decisive.
"We didn't have anything for him," he lamented.
But what Earnhardt did have was an experienced crew. They don't come any greener than the group that serviced Jarrett.
"The first pit stop we made today was the first one they've ever made," Jarrett said. "They didn't even have a chance to practice."
Because teammate Ernie Irvan was nearly killed in a 1994 accident and unable to start last season, Jarrett came aboard as his replacement. He brought with him a reputation as an underachieving driver, and the victory Sunday was just the fifth of his 10-year Winston Cup career.
He was asked if the decision by car owner Yates gave him a feeling of vindication for the difficult press he's had.
"They asked me to drive a car for them if they formed a second team," Jarrett explained. "That was good enough for me, that they had confidence in me."
And he had their car, albeit a Ford. In 1995, Chevrolets beats Fords 21-9. But the Ford teams complained and NASCAR permitted changes that leveled the playing field.
"We just didn't have anything to match those Fords," said Earnhardt, one of only two Chevrolets in the top 11.
Ken Schrader was third in a Chevy, followed by the Fords of Mark Martin, Jeff Burton, Wally Dallenbach, Ted Musgrave, Bill Elliott, Ricky Rudd, Michael Waltrip and Jimmy Spencer.
Aside from Earnhardt and Schrader, the day was disastrous for the top Chevy teams.
Sterling Marlin, seeking an unprecedented third straight Daytona 500 victory, was 40th in the field of 43. He went out with engine problems after 81 of 200 laps.
Reigning Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon made an ill-advised move to the top of the high-banked fourth turn that triggered a six-car accident on the 10th lap. He finished 42nd.
Terry Labonte, a teammate to Schrader and Gordon, led 44 of the first 76 laps. But he developed mechanical difficulties and faded to 24th, four laps down.
The 39-year-old Jarrett averaged 154.308 mph in a race slowed by caution eight times - three for multicar accidents - for 26 laps. But it was extremely competitive, with 32 lead changes among 15 drivers.
Jarrett had one bad stretch early in the race and disappeared from the leader board for nearly 50 laps. His new crew was responsible.
"On one of our early stops, we made an air pressure adjustment and it just messed things up real bad," Jarrett explained. "I fell back quite a ways. But we finally got the car so it could just fly."
Jarrett said crew chief Todd Parrott was brilliant.
"Todd Parrott has done a terrific job getting the car to this point and calling the race today," Jarrett said. "We have a lot of confidence in him."
Parrott is a 32-year-old, second-generation crew chief, the son of Buddy Parrott, who has turned wrenches for the likes of former Winston Cup champions Darrell Waltrip and Rusty Wallace.
Jarrett is a second-generation driver, the son of Ned Jarrett, a racing broadcaster and two-time NASCAR champion three decades ago. Unlike his son, and very much like Earnhardt, he won everything of any value - except the Daytona 500.
The Younger Jarrett couldn't have authored a better script.
So now it's off to Hollywood today for an appearance on the "Tonight" show, then back to his native North Carolina to get ready for next Sunday's race at Rockingham. When he arrives at the North Carolina Motor Speedway, Jarrett says he'll be just another guy trying to qualify.
"That's the thing about Rockingham," he said. "Nobody cares that we won the Daytona 500. We'll just be starting all over again."