"Last year was a long season and it will be even longer this year," Earnhardt added. "It seems like the winter time was a short time, but it seems like a long time too. We have already started testing in Daytona and will in Las Vegas. (Team member) Michael Waldrip is in Rockingham, Steve Parks in Texas and (son) Dale Jr., is going to be in Kentucky.

"So there is a lot going on even before racing season gets started. It does seems like a long winter but I'm ready to go racing."

Earnhardt answered questions from his fans for almost an hour before taking a seat and signing autographs for even longer.

He claimed he didn't remember how he won the October race in Talledega when he made a charge from 18th place with five laps to go, but does remember the fan who won $1 million along with him.

"It was a great win for me," Earnhardt said. "But it was a greater win for the fan that won $1 million. It was so neat to see a race fan win something like that. He was a truck driver that made around $40,000, now all of sudden he has $1 million.

"There is so many things you want to buy with the money or even take the money and retire. But he invested the money, kept his job and bought himself a Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet pick-up truck. It is just good to see race fans like the ones here to win that much money."

"Iron Head," as he is called by some, had the full attention of his fans while on stage. Questions came from all directions and from all ages. Every time he mentioned Dale Earnhardt Jr., another shout would come from the crowd. And when asked where his son was Friday night, Earnhardt leaned back in his seat and explained how important his racing children are to him and his role as a parent is just as important as his racing.

"When he isn't testing for me or doing something for me, I don't know where he is," Earnhardt explained. "I can call his house all hours of the day and night and can never get a hold of him. Now as a parent do I worry about Dale Jr. Not as much in a race car as I do when I don't know where is.

"But really, I am concerned for him and work hard to make the cars as safe as I can for him. He knows how you can make mistakes and get into trouble and he knows the risk. There is not a safe race track anywhere because something can always happen.

"I am really at peace with him and Kerry racing. I care to the point that I make sure the seat belts and padding, plus all the safety equipment in the car, is the best.

"Yes, I am concerned when they race but I don't worry about it. Now it does concern me when Dale Jr. gets on the inside of me and starts to rub on me a little," he said with a smile.

Earnhardt finished second in the 2000 NASCAR points race and says he isn't over the hill as he reaching the half-century mark in age. He talked about last season, what his chances are for the 2001 year, and his plans for the future.

"The last few races of last year is where we really made our mistakes," Earnhardt explained. "We didn't really get to race Bobby (Labonte) like we wanted. Rockingham was a tough race and Homestead was a total disaster. We ran good early at Charlotte but then got behind late in the race.

"And we didn't get close enough to him in Atlanta to put any pressure on him. But it was good to come home second overall because it really got my fans pumped and my team fired up for this year. So we are really looking forward to going out there and really getting after it this year.

"And I feel good about our chances and will keep racing as long as I feel that I can win and win a championship. I don't want to get out there and finished 30th every week. I wouldn't like that and my fans wouldn't like it either. I like to drive race cars and I like to win. I don't like to run second because it isn't any fun.