DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. swore his career was over. He was defeated and dejected and depressed, so he strangled a bottle of vodka and sank into the couch to swill and sulk. A couple of buddies tagged along, cracked some beers. But th

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. swore his career was over. He was defeated and dejected and depressed, so he strangled a bottle of vodka and sank into the couch to swill and sulk. A couple of buddies tagged along, cracked some beers. But th