Kerry Earnhardt shows off his Busch Series car at Kentucky Speedway. (Patrick Reddy photos) | ZOOM |

        SPARTA, Ky. — On Feb.18, the motor sports world lost an icon and Kerry Earnhardt lost his dad.And while Dale Earnhardt's eldest son still isn't ready to speak publicly about his loss, he is grateful he was given a second chance in motorsports by a man his late father had helped.

        Kerry Earnhardt, who appeared at Kentucky Speedway Thursday to help promote the June 16 Outback Steakhouse 300, recently signed on with Michael Waltrip Racing Inc. to pilot Waltrip's No.99 Aaron's Rent Chevrolet in three Busch Series Races.

        Waltrip, who drives for Dale Earnhardt Inc. and won this year's fateful Daytona 500, made Kerry Earnhardt the offer early last month.

        “It's a great opportunity that Michael gave me,” Earnhardt said. “It's something where I can't express my feelings enough. I think Michael had an opportunity that my dad gave him, and he'd like to give me that opportunity.”

Dale Earnhardt's oldest son can't talk about his death. | ZOOM |

        Earnhardt, who never finished better than 20th in a previous NASCAR stint, found himself surrounded Thursday by a gathering of media suitable for a Winston Cup Champion.

        He preferred to receive questions unrelated to his famous bloodlines.

        Before Earnhardt stepped to the microphone for a press conference, many of the media's queries were silenced when Wal trip Racing's public relations director, Brooke Mitchell, asked that questions surrounding Earnhardt Sr. were avoided, calling the loss “too recent,” and asked that the media instead “just focus on the race.”

        Waltrip Racing issued a statement from Kerry Earnhardt about his loss.

        “It has been a long and difficult six weeks since we lost my father. Since that day, it has been truly overwhelming to see how many people loved and respected my dad.

        “I miss him very much and know that he is proud of why we are here today. He will always be alive in my heart. I think about him every minute of every day and always will.”

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