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Chocolate Myers Retires..We'll Miss you Danny By L.M. Burke
November 22, 2002
He was by Dale Earnhardt's side for sixteen years. He celebrated six NASCAR Winston Cup championships with The Intimidator. He was a part of the infamous Earnhardt crew that won four consecutive pit crew championships. As Bobby's son, he came from and represented the roots of the sport. And on Sunday, November 17, 2002, Danny "Chocolate" Myers fueled a stock car for the last time. Chocolate Myers became as much a fixture in Winston Cup racing as Richard Childress himself - and perhaps more recognizable. Richard Childress summed it up best. "Chocolate has been an icon in NASCAR since his early days and has served as a tremendous spokesman for the sport and RCR." Whether it was with the 3, the 29, or the 31, Myers served RCR with dedication and enthusiasm for the seventeen extraordinary years. During the Earnhardt days, Chocolate could always be found right in the middle of the many jubilant celebrations. Some say Earnhardt was the heart of the team, of the sport even; Danny Myers, especially in celebration, was clearly the heart of the pit crew. Who can forget the look on Chocolate's face when The Intimidator finally won the Daytona 500? But Myers also displayed determined perseverance in any situation. Whether winning four straight pit crew titles or working through adversity - be it driver injuries, wrecked cars or lost championships, Chocolate always displayed focus and resolve that became a hallmark of the #3 GM Goodwrench team. With the loss of Dale Earnhardt in February 2001, RCR somehow carried on, and the pain and emotion on Chocolate's face as they worked to put the 29 car on track each week represented the melancholy everyone felt. Something was missing. Until Kevin Harvick won, in only his third race in the famed GM Goodwrench car, by only six-one-thousandths of a second at Atlanta. Chocolate's tears of happiness, disbelief, and sadness expressed it all. Perhaps one of the most memorable celebrations came in July 2001, when Dale Earnhardt, Jr. took the checkers in the Pepsi 400 at Daytona - a little more than four months after his father lost his life at the famed track. As Junior pulled the All-Star Baseball car to the infield, in a spot on the infield that brought back memories of his father's Daytona 500 victory doughnuts, Chocolate's bigger than life presence once again joined an Earnhardt celebration. And somehow, it was exactly right. "I've had the time of my life on the pit crew all these years at RCR but it's time to step down," Myers said. "I'm trying to do what is best for RCR. I'm still physically able to gas the car and would love to do so, but it's time to let some new guys have the chance." After 17 years as part of RCR's pit crew, Myers hangs up his gas can, as his predecessor once did for him, to make way for new crew members. Myers will with the RCR family and will now serve as the organization's Director of Safety. And while race fans may no longer see Chocolate over-the-wall, here's hoping we still see him around the garage from time to time. For his tears of joy and sadness - and his ready smile during those euphoric celebrations touched us all.
Other articles by L.M. Burke The thoughts and ideas expressed by this writer or any other writer on Insider Racing News, are not necessarily the views of the staff and/or management of IRN. Although we may not always agree with what is said, we do feel it's our duty to give a voice to those who have something relevant to say about the sport of auto racing. illnesses through research and teatment
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