DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — With the production of the penny coming to a halt, collectors will soon be the only ones seeking the remaining 1-cent coins. Yet, one penny will always hold a special place in NASCAR history, forever attached to Dale Earnhardt’s classic Chevrolet—it’s celebrated as the luckiest piece of currency in the sport.

This week, President Donald Trump instructed the Treasury Department to cease minting new pennies, pointing out the increasing production costs.

Nearly 24 years after his passing during the 2001 Daytona 500, memories of Earnhardt remain vivid. A particularly touching moment recalls the penny bestowed upon him by a 6-year-old girl just before his 1998 Daytona 500 triumph—an occasion cherished by all who witnessed it.

“I know about the ’98 lucky penny,” confirmed Earnhardt’s crew chief, Larry McReynolds, when asked about the coin’s fate.

Indeed, it was a stroke of luck. At that stage in his career, despite clinching seven NASCAR championships, Earnhardt had encountered unfortunate setbacks, missing the top spot in the sport’s most prestigious race—a disappointing 0 for 19.

Known as NASCAR’s “Intimidator,” Earnhardt earned this moniker through his aggressive driving style and his unyielding pursuit of victory, which ultimately led to his Hall of Fame induction.

Securing a win at the Daytona 500 remained the only elusive milestone for Earnhardt during the first two decades of his racing career. He faced a string of misfortunes in the iconic race: in 1997, he crashed with just 10 laps remaining, sending his car tumbling down the backstretch; in 1993, Dale Jarrett overtook him during the final lap; in 1991, a collision with a seagull damaged his radiator, forcing an unscheduled pit stop for repairs; and in 1990, a tire blowout less than a mile from the finish line allowed Derrike Cope to snatch away what could have been one of Earnhardt’s two career victories.

Despite these challenges, Earnhardt benefitted from one of the strongest teams in NASCAR, led by team owner Richard Childress.

Little did he realize that it would take a young girl and her penny to help him finally conquer Daytona.

During a meeting facilitated by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Earnhardt met Wessa Miller, a 6-year-old girl who gifted him the penny, claiming she had rubbed it for luck. As she handed it to him, he expressed hope that it would indeed bring him fortune.

In the garage, Earnhardt eagerly searched for adhesive often used for attaching lug nuts, which he humorously used to secure that penny on the dash of his iconic No. 3 car.

“He had enough glue to stick a dollar’s worth of pennies on,” McReynolds recalled. “It was running down his sleeve! I finally told him, ‘If you let me help you attach this penny, can we get back to discussing the race car?’”

Whether it was sheer luck, fate, or simply Earnhardt’s undeniable talent, he ultimately clinched the Daytona 500 victory.

Upon crossing the finish line, the stands erupted with joyous cheers, and the celebration extended to the pit area as crew members from various teams came forward to congratulate him.

Today, 27 years later, the No. 3 Chevrolet is enshrined as it was in victory lane, complete with confetti and the penny affixed to the dash, proudly displayed at the RCR Museum in Welcome, North Carolina.

“I always love visiting and seeing the mural of the victory lane photo behind it,” shared McReynolds.

This win was a landmark moment in NASCAR that was truly worth every penny—especially that final one.

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