Dale Earnhardt Jr says anniversary of father's death at Daytona is not a day for mourning

Dale Earnhardt Jr. climbs into his race car during Sprint Cup practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015. (AP Photo/Orlando Sentinel, Stephen M. Dowell) MAGS OUT; NO SALES (The Associated Press)

Dale Earnhardt Jr. waits in his garage for the start of a practice session for the Daytona 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2015, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna) (The Associated Press)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. recognized the anniversary of his father's death Wednesday, saying it was not a day for mourning.

Junior took to Twitter to acknowledge the 14th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt's death, which came on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. Earnhardt Jr. wrote: "(On) this day I do not mourn his death. I thank God he lived. #DaleEarnhardt."

He later said the date doesn't really stir painful emotions anymore.

He said: "You're fortunate to have known him and fortunate to have learned and have the experiences that you had with him. So you think about those and be glad that was an opportunity you got to experience."