I’m in no way a NASCAR fan, and definitely a much larger F1 fan, but this story is one that needs it be told. I wouldn’t actually mind if you continue doing more NASCAR vids for the future
Michael Waltrip literally had the greatest moment of his life become his worst nightmare. Dale Sr. gave Waltrip a shot when nobody else would sign him; 400+ races and 0 wins. But Dale saw something in him and promised that with DEI Michael would be a winner. Waltrip said didn’t really believe Dale but was happy to just have the opportunity. His documentary on the whole event is heartbreaking; my wife and I both were in tears by the end.
As a NASCAR Fan, I’m Really Glad to Hear That Someone who Normally Focuses on F1 Content, Has Made a NASCAR Video, Being Positive About the Sport, Mentioning How Tough It is to Race in NASCAR, As Well as How Good the Races Can Be 👍
Dale Earnhardt is similar to Senna in F1. Both are super famous and pristeigous drivers in their racing series, both are considered to be the strongest by many, and both left a huge impact in the racing world, during their lives and after their lives. Most importantly, both drivers are cemented in history as the greatest drivers of all time. May both rest in peace🙏
The day Senna died Dale Sr won the race at Talledega. In victory lane Dale acknowledged his talent and sent thoughts and prayers to his family and fans. They were both so good. Dale could “see the air” and Senna drove with a millimeter tolerance when it came to his driving lines
Feb. 18 2001 was such a messed up day. Michael - couldn't even celebrate his first ever win, THE Race. Kenny - literally the first to know, forever scarred by what he saw. Junior - losing his father. Sterlin - unjustly blamed for Dale's death, received death threats.
The last 1 about sterling I was 1 of the people who blamed him I feel bad about that now but I should be cut some slack because I was at the time a 12 year old Dale Earnhardt fan who just lost his idol and was hurting
I have never been an Earnhardt fan. It made me mad when the first thing reporters asked him as he came out of the infield care center was "how is Earnhardt?", it kind of made me mad. But when Ken responded "I don't know, I'm not a doctor" then walked away, my heart sank. I felt then that the racing world had lost him. Definitely a tragic day for motorsports.
Watched this live. Everyone was so happy for Waltrip and amazed at what Dale did to get Waltrip the win. Then the news came through, it was very surreal. Great video! Haven’t watched nascar since those days, but this definitely brought me back.
I watched this race with friends. I also recorded it on VHS . When the big wreck with Tony Stewart hapened I knew this is why I recorded it. Then at the end when Earnhardt was turned into the wall I jumped off my chair and cheared. I was so excited to see Waltrip win. After watching Ken Shcrader come to the car and signal safety crew my heart sank. Being a fan for as long as I had been you dont see competitors react this way.
@@maverickgaming7834 no, there is a technical side to NASCAR. It may not be as technically advanced as formula, but it’s still a feat that a car you can drive on a road can reach 200 mph on the track. Also, a wrecked car can go back racing if the engine is okay, in formula you need that +2.4% aero or ur gonna retire
@@CambrianExplosionContextthe cars today are the new f1 cars. one tap to the wall, your tow is knocked out. you cut down a tire, your tow is knocked out. the new cars are full sized diecast cars at this point. it sucks.
What’s crazy is the next week Steve Park (other Dale Earndhart Inc driver) won and was emotional in victory lane, and two weeks after that the guy who had to replace him (Kevin Harvick) won in a photo finish in his 3rd start, and later in the summer his son (Dale Jr) won at Daytona (the place Dale lost his life) was definitely a healing experience for us all
I actually watched this race. Seeing the crash during the race, it seemed like a normal NASCAR race crash. But, the death of Dale was truly heartbreaking. Thanks for posting this.
This was brilliant and I’m totally on board with stories from all motorsports, we are all fans of motorsport, at the end of the day we like racing and don’t care how it’s done
One and only thing before with which i remember Nascar as a person from Poland, was this what happened at Martinsville 2022 with the best move of that year by Russ Chastain. So good that it was banned after it. It will be pleasure to watch an episode about it.
Well done DFU, this was done really well for an F1 content creator. I love your F1 content and now seeing you branch out to other series is amazing! Hop over to Indycar next! I'd love to see you do a video on the history of the Indy 500!
I first know of Nascar from watching a 1996 Best Motoring video, when the series visited Japan for an exhibition run at Suzuka Circuit. I was only 3 years old back then, and was fascinated by the tall, moustachioed man who climbed in and out through the #3 car's window. That memory stayed in the back of my mind for years, then I totally forgot about him for more than 2 decades. When I started collecting Nascar models just before the Covid pandemic, I suddenly recalled Dale Earnhardt and Googled him up. Turns out he had died at the 2001 Daytona 500 after a very successful career. I now have a large collection of Dale's #3 models, and am still looking for more.
Wow. I’m really impressed with the way this video turned out! I’ve been a racing fan all my life. Because of my father’s love for racing, I was exposed at a young age to Formula One, Indycar/CART/IRL & NASCAR. I watched the 2001 Daytona 500. It was an absolutely crazy, emotional day. Being a fan of Earnhardt and RCR as well as Junior and DEI being my favorite driver and team. The adrenaline and excitement of the last 1/3 of the race was so insane. But then you see the continued work at the 3 and you know something’s not right. It was so sad when the announcement was made by Mike Helton. Truly a tragic moment in motorsports history. You did a fantastic job with this story and I appreciate the reverence and respect you show towards the incident and those lost. Stick with the multi-racing focus! I dig it! I’d love to see you do a video on Dan Wheldon. (Indycar) He lost his life at the season ending race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in a horrifying crash. He was such a remarkable young man and contributed so much to racing.
I was only 10 when this happened and I was watching it. even to this day, my stomach turns at the thought. Even back then, I knew we lost him, even before my father and grandfather did. Even those of us not old enough to really understand it all, understood that. how can you not when everyone around you, loving who you love, radiates a dispair you've never felt anywhere else?
Been watching F1 since 2010 and NASCAR in 2020 because it was the first motorsport that found a way to continue during The Pandemic. I believe NASCAR is heavily underrated. If you're a core racing fan, please don't think that it's only about turning left. Thanks for telling this story. RIP Seven Time Champ.
Thank you for showing NASCAR respect. It’s so much more than turning left. When you see a race in person it’s amazing. Go see a race at Bristol. I started watching in 89 at 5 years old. Dale Sr was my favorite. RIP Legend. That day is burned into my memory.
This is a truly engaging and thorough video essay, and I love it! You did an awesome job of providing the right context of the event before diving into the race details. As a lifelong NASCAR fan who even grew up calling them "zoomcars" when I saw them on TV, I am so happy that I stumbled onto your video. It's exciting because I feel that you properly represented NASCAR to a new audience that can get into the sport and maybe even learn to love it as much as I do. You're awesome!
This day changed my life I have commented many times across numerous videos. I was a outcast DieHard earnhardt fan from age 4. In 2001 I was 14. My entire room and possessions were all earnhardt, it was my life When I watched him die it changed me. I thought my life was over. Since Sundays were now free, I had more time to make friends, which I did with the wrong crowd, formed a band, started taking drugs and drinking,and high school became a blur. Years or drugs and rehab and mess ups and being near death it took until I was 30 to turn things around I am now 38 and have been sober for 8 years, still watch nascar as a blaney fan, and still remember watching the man in black, the best who ever did it do his thing. Best times of my life. I still go to Dover every year with my Dad to this day, starting in 1992. Dale Earnhardt was larger than life, and is my hero.
Some more context: At this time NASCAR had no traveling safety team. in addition to their lack of care about safety in the sport following the period from 1990 to 2000. Steve Olvey, CART's chief doctor, who had overseen that very thing for CART was highly, highly critical of this move, and had been critical of NASCAR for years for relying on local doctors and hospitals instead of having a dedicated safety team, which CART had since the 1980s with a state of the art traveling hospital that went to every CART series event, even the international ones. NASCAR had none of this in 2001 at all. You had the infield hospital then then the local ones, and the safety team were the local track and its workers. The NHRA had their safety safari at that time too, and F1 had the late Sid Watkins and the fantastic Gary Hartstein for many many years by that point. NASCAR it could be argued was behind the curve and paid for it. This was the second scandal Ed Hinton was involved in, in 1999 he got into a spat with Tony George, or rather, Tony George started it, and nearly faced press not covering the Indy 500 due to Ed writing an article on safety, and being unaware of a graphic photo being used for the article. Somehow, this was Ed HInton's fault (it wasn't) and in 2001, Hinton was involved in the aftermath of Earnhardt's death while working for the Orlando Sentinel. Actually, the whole 1999 Visionaire 500k scandal about Hinton, Sports Illustrated and the scandal with Tony George vs the press would make for an interesting video. A lot of Dale's fans jumped ship to Jr and, it was claimed, before racing-reference took down comments, that a ton of Dale's fans had gone to Jr and wanted him to be Dale 2.0. This crash and Jr's attitude towards his team and the sport and his personality would absolutely affect him in the years post 2001. He's gone on record as saying he was partying and would show up to the shop late and hung over and not putting the entire effort in, and looking back he was not mature enough to handle what happened in February 2001. he was just a young man thrust into this role, he's said he wasn't prepred for it and didn't know how to handle it, and he was a partier and a rock star at that point in time, DEI cars were so good at the plate tracks Jr could be hung over but stil have a dominant car, especially with the admissions by Tony Eury that in the early 2000s the 8 team had some, shall we say, creative rule interpretations, as did RCR and 3 theam, thinner windshield is the big one. As mentioned, steve Park and Kevin Harvick both got their first wins in the races after Daytona Oh and this is why we have the Double yellow line rule, even though it's been exploited and abused time and again, and is a free pass if you have a popular driver in that car. One more, there was a photo of the 3 and 38 tangled up together in the grass with Schrader stood by the 38. I want to say that was a double page spread in Autosport, I know it was in magazines internationall, along with an overhead shot of marshals at Monaco. It was used in quite a lot of magazines to argue for better safety in motorsports
@@FlashoftheBlades You're right, I thought Park didn't win at the Glen for some reason, I got it confused with the 2003 race in my mind while writing the comment
While the death of his father had a profound role in his decline, I'd have to say Theresa Earnhardts insanity and gross mismanagement of DEI was the primary factor in the collapse of the team and Jrs integrity, at least until Mr Hendrick revived his legacy. Speaking of further context, I highly recommend Brock Beards story, 3 Before February. Really shines the light on the naive approach Nascar had pre Earnhardt accident. Give it a watch.
Drafting not drifting. You are learning and doing well! You should do a video about how it took Dale 20 years to win the Daytona 500 or how his team did in 2001 after his death.
First NASCAR video, and correct pronunciations on the drivers mentioned in the video? Yessir, we need another NASCAR video. Would love you diving in to the history of Richard Petty or Jimmie Johnson, if you like to.
As someone who likes racing in general. I liked this video, it was interesting to see and I was curious how they did things in Nascar as supposed to F1 or Le Mans
Bro great video! I'll never forget that day. The Intimidator was always my favorite! Just was never the same without him! So sad, every time I ride by DEI knowing it's a shell of what it once was, when Dale was still here.
I' m a week late, but this sent me thru some memories! You did a great job on this! I grew up watching nascar with my father. He is no one of note to you, but he spent much of his young adulthood in the infield, helped a couple of friends with their late model dirt car, etc. He met Dale Sr in passing a handful of times as liked him as a person. He said Dale was always friendly, would speak, etc - in short, he was a true good ole boy, in a good way. However, my dad didn't cheer for him at all because of his aggressive driving style. All that to say, even southerners who didn't cheer for him, or any nascar driver, felt a gut-punch when this news broke. Half loved him, half sort-of hated him, but everybody respected him. Everyone missed him. It really did change everything in the sport and it's kinda hard to overstate the cultural significance of it. I believe he'd be proud of Dale Jr who has been able as real southern icon to move the sport forward and away from the intertwined racism that plagues our culture. He was a good driver who used his last name to try to affect positive change. He seems like a good man.
im from that NASCAR generation and id like to say fur a F1 fan you did a great job on this i liked most how you added little bit of the sport in it to give your F1 fans alittle taste of NASCAR racing and i hope come next daytona maybe some of yall might join us heck after seen this i might start watching F1
Those words were impossible. That’s what I really remember about that day. I was at work so I didn’t get to see it or hear about it, but after getting home hearing it from my dad, I was like “No Way! Dale doesn’t die, he’s survived it all! How can he be dead??” And then I saw the news over every channel. That was a shock like no other in the world of sports.
This story was very impactful. im only 22 years old and i was born well after the Dale Earnhardt ERA *2002* but ive been following NASCAR for the better part of 15 years. ive heard the story a thousand times but never like you have told it. it brought tears to my eyes that others havnt done. you did a spot on job with this story and i would love if you did more NASCAR videos. you earned a subscribe from me!
This was a great video, but super tragic - RIP Dale. Would you also consider covering Moto GP and/or World Superbikes? Look up Carl Foggarty in WSB or Rossi vs Gilbernau in Moto GP in Jerez 2005 for example. Keep up the great work.
Brilliant video, im a huge NASCAR and F1 fan, i like pretty much any 4 wheeled motorsport, BTCC would be a good 1 to cover maybe the group A sierra days. Please make more NASCAR videos, this is one of the best one's ive seen 👍👍
Ive been watching your Formula 1 content for a bit. Im glad to see NASCAR on this channel. While I'm a fan of the sport I love the history of it. Keep up the great work. 🤙🏼
I remember watching that race with my kids. Although we weren’t on the Earnhardt bandwagon we liked him. The wreck looked minor compared to what was common at the time so fully expected Dale to climb out and wave but as minutes passed and watching Kenny we all started losing our race excitement. As a longtime race fan it was a huge blow and yes, it changed us forever.
Dale was my favorite Driver. I followed his son and Kevin Harvick for a while but it was never the same without Dale. I am now an F1 fan and have been following Mercedes for many many years. I personally do like Mercedes cars as I think they are for people who think they are some how better than the rest of us but none the less they have a pretty good F1 team. This has been a good season so far and I hope Lando can get the championship.
Well done, sir. We miss Dale, Senior and I hope NASCAR smartens up to the kind of aggressive driving we now see. Or we'll lose another great driver, and person. Do make more of these. You did a damned fine job.
Hey no problem besides I've been watching NASCAR for 20 years now so no need to worry and yes it definitely was a sad day at Daytona when Dale sr died still hurts even today really.
@@DailyFuelUp Well, you could focus one on the aerodynamics of the cars and how they've changed over the years. Or, the history of how the Truck Series got started...
i remember that day. 11 yrs old. was over anxious as the race came to an end. waited wat seemed oike HOURS to finally see the broadcast. me and my dad sat and cried. unbelieving of what had happed. i hardly slept that night and even missed school the next day. we knew nascar had changed forever. for good or bad. its changed to save sooo many lives over the years in learning from this 1 incident.
i was gonna post that the ai thumbnail is terrible, but i'm glad you kept the actual photo of the impact off it. i never got to watch dale sr, but his impact on safety is still being felt today. while the recent car sucks, you should look at the cars from his death to today, and put together the safest car in history (the halo is a start for f1, but it's not enough.) this a great video on a topic that is still widely talked about to this day. good luck on your journey through nascar history!
These are the stories that have to be told when talking about motorsport. We've seen it so many times, in so many different racing series. This is why motorsports need to keep pushing for safety, so in the years to come, we don't have to talk about new stories.
Well. As of three minutes in, as a born southerner with a love of this sport. You're doing a very good job and seem very aware and respectful. Love it. - At 5:05 you mention Sr was controversial, and he absolutely was. Most younger folks dont know (>30) he was Boo'd a lot. I'm sure you watched "Three Before February."
Dale actually told his team owner during the big red flag that if they didn’t do something to those cars and the package that somebody was going to get killed
R.I.P you legend we all miss you at the time i was beyond being born yet but hearing his legacy throughout my life and watching his racing is incredible you are missed JustMikeC 9-23-24
i watched this race live and even after all these years i can not watch the crash without tears. crying as i write this. R.I.P Dale we still love you!!!
This changed my life forever... I remember every single part of the day all the way down to what I ate for dinner. That day is imprinted in my head forever. Dale Earnhardt Sr. was my hero.
Big nascar guy since the 90’s. I’m literally trying to play f123 right now and have recorded and watched every Grand Prix in 2024. NASCAR is very different from the sport I fell in love with as a kid. There’s some mistakes in this video, but he gets it.
This is one of 3 days in that year that I will remember for the rest of my life. Dales death, 9/11, and Juinor getting the win when Nascar returned to Daytona.
Just wanna tell you that you did a very good job explaining this story like literally i was watching this like a Netflix series love the vid imma go sub now
MotoGP 2003 Darkest and Scariest Race Crash in Suzuka Japan 2003 April Particularly Casio Triangle Corner at lap 3 that claimed Daijiro Kato 74 Telefonica Honda life into tragedy later pls upload next time
Another great video. I would recommend you to take a look at the Brazilian stock car series aka stock car pro series ! Would be cool to have a video about it
I watched that race and really didn't think the wreck was all that serious (especially after seeing 'the big one' earlier). I was only after the gathering of the safety vehicles and not seeing Earnhart get out of the car did I realize it was something more serious. And even then, there was no thought in my mind that the wreck had killed him.
I like many, not a Nascar fan, but occasionally get that hype and love for it (i love cars), but that statement... "We've lost Dale Earnhardt." So tragic.
February 2001 was the first race I actually watched. I was at my great grandmother's house with my grandfather and I remember Dale Jr running and the newspapers that came out after Sr was killed. Then I was at my great grandmother's house when Wheldon was killed in 2011. HANS devices were officially mandated after Blaise Alexander was killed in October 2001, battling for the lead with Kerry Earnhardt. Kerry lost his father and friend 8 months apart. I had a family member who worked for Alexander during his rookie season and he was also an Earnhardt Sr fan so 2001, added with 9/11, was a negative year in my family.
Thanks for making me shed tears again 23 years after that day 👍. I just want to add that Michael waltrip had never won a race in 500 starts and so much that the rest of the drivers had backlash toward him for being involved in so many accidents and before 2001 no one would hire him as a driver but Earnhardt specifically built a race car for him to race for d.e.i. because he knew waltrip had it in him to win if he just had the right people around him and waltrip's first race with d.e.i. was 2001 Daytona 500. Waltrip when on to win several more races including a 2nd Daytona 500 and became one of the most if not the most feared on super speedways along with dale jr. Them two together dominated the track's finishing first and second in no particular arrangement at Daytona and Talladega amidst any mechanical malfunctions or involvement in someone else's accident. Ironically Steve Park Earnhardt's third driver the number 1 pencil car won the third race that year. Kevin harvick as a rookie took dales seat won on his third start and won three races that year.
Loved this NASCAR vid, how about we mix it up with other race classes as well? Indy, Le Mans, Super GT? I mean we're all petrol heads here. I'm not a big NASCAR fan, but seeing a fleet of OP V8's peaking speeds that make Le Mans drivers nervous, passing you like contained explosions... That gets the old ticker pumping. So, might it be a possibility for other race classes as well?
I’m in no way a NASCAR fan, and definitely a much larger F1 fan, but this story is one that needs it be told. I wouldn’t actually mind if you continue doing more NASCAR vids for the future
With all the positive feedback I’ve been getting on this video, I think I’ll dive deeper into NASCAR and different types of motorsports 💪🏻
Nascar is fun to watch
@@DailyFuelUp Glad to see you've finally posted it.
Watching it as I type (and have finished typing) this comment.
Finished it. Epic.
Need to see a Le Mans video ASAP.
Michael Waltrip literally had the greatest moment of his life become his worst nightmare. Dale Sr. gave Waltrip a shot when nobody else would sign him; 400+ races and 0 wins. But Dale saw something in him and promised that with DEI Michael would be a winner. Waltrip said didn’t really believe Dale but was happy to just have the opportunity. His documentary on the whole event is heartbreaking; my wife and I both were in tears by the end.
As a NASCAR Fan, I’m Really Glad to Hear That Someone who Normally Focuses on F1 Content, Has Made a NASCAR Video, Being Positive About the Sport, Mentioning How Tough It is to Race in NASCAR, As Well as How Good the Races Can Be 👍
I do believe dale is racing senna in heaven rip legends ❤
Dale Earnhardt is similar to Senna in F1. Both are super famous and pristeigous drivers in their racing series, both are considered to be the strongest by many, and both left a huge impact in the racing world, during their lives and after their lives. Most importantly, both drivers are cemented in history as the greatest drivers of all time. May both rest in peace🙏
But we lost both of them in unexpected ways both Senna and Earnhardt were legends
Is this how the McLaren got its name for the Senna?
@@johnathonkelley5234yep
@@johnathonkelley5234 Correct, Senna won his 3 championships driving for McLaren. Did some pretty amazing things with other teams too.
The day Senna died Dale Sr won the race at Talledega. In victory lane Dale acknowledged his talent and sent thoughts and prayers to his family and fans. They were both so good. Dale could “see the air” and Senna drove with a millimeter tolerance when it came to his driving lines
Feb. 18 2001 was such a messed up day.
Michael - couldn't even celebrate his first ever win, THE Race.
Kenny - literally the first to know, forever scarred by what he saw.
Junior - losing his father.
Sterlin - unjustly blamed for Dale's death, received death threats.
The last 1 about sterling I was 1 of the people who blamed him I feel bad about that now but I should be cut some slack because I was at the time a 12 year old Dale Earnhardt fan who just lost his idol and was hurting
@@NASCARfan38-v6n consequence of restrictor plate pack racing. Nothing more, nothing less
@@briantaylor9285 yeah I know it wasn’t sterling’s fault
@@briantaylor9285 Michael's deppression killed his talent after the tragedy
I have never been an Earnhardt fan. It made me mad when the first thing reporters asked him as he came out of the infield care center was "how is Earnhardt?", it kind of made me mad. But when Ken responded "I don't know, I'm not a doctor" then walked away, my heart sank. I felt then that the racing world had lost him. Definitely a tragic day for motorsports.
Hey man, we are core racing fans: doesn't matter if it is nascar, f1, rally racing. Just keep it coming for the OG fans.
>we
Appreciate it mate ❤️
You actually should make it 2/4 f1 videos and the 1/8 Le Mans 1/8 Indycar 1/4 NASCAR. But keep up the good work, so underrated. ❤
Love the idea mate, will definitely consider it ❤️
Wow, absolutely nailed this. One of the best NASCAR videos currently out there. For being your first on this topic you hit a Grand Slam!
Watched this live. Everyone was so happy for Waltrip and amazed at what Dale did to get Waltrip the win. Then the news came through, it was very surreal.
Great video! Haven’t watched nascar since those days, but this definitely brought me back.
I watched this race with friends. I also recorded it on VHS . When the big wreck with Tony Stewart hapened I knew this is why I recorded it. Then at the end when Earnhardt was turned into the wall I jumped off my chair and cheared. I was so excited to see Waltrip win. After watching Ken Shcrader come to the car and signal safety crew my heart sank. Being a fan for as long as I had been you dont see competitors react this way.
I like how some f1 fans are slowly becoming more in touch with nascar and understanding it’s more than just driving cars in circles
You’re correct because that’s exactly what it is besides an emotional factor
@@maverickgaming7834 no, there is a technical side to NASCAR. It may not be as technically advanced as formula, but it’s still a feat that a car you can drive on a road can reach 200 mph on the track. Also, a wrecked car can go back racing if the engine is okay, in formula you need that +2.4% aero or ur gonna retire
@@CambrianExplosionContextthe cars today are the new f1 cars. one tap to the wall, your tow is knocked out. you cut down a tire, your tow is knocked out. the new cars are full sized diecast cars at this point. it sucks.
What’s crazy is the next week Steve Park (other Dale Earndhart Inc driver) won and was emotional in victory lane, and two weeks after that the guy who had to replace him (Kevin Harvick) won in a photo finish in his 3rd start, and later in the summer his son (Dale Jr) won at Daytona (the place Dale lost his life) was definitely a healing experience for us all
I actually watched this race. Seeing the crash during the race, it seemed like a normal NASCAR race crash. But, the death of Dale was truly heartbreaking.
Thanks for posting this.
This was brilliant and I’m totally on board with stories from all motorsports, we are all fans of motorsport, at the end of the day we like racing and don’t care how it’s done
One and only thing before with which i remember Nascar as a person from Poland, was this what happened at Martinsville 2022 with the best move of that year by Russ Chastain. So good that it was banned after it. It will be pleasure to watch an episode about it.
Well done DFU, this was done really well for an F1 content creator. I love your F1 content and now seeing you branch out to other series is amazing! Hop over to Indycar next! I'd love to see you do a video on the history of the Indy 500!
Noted!
I first know of Nascar from watching a 1996 Best Motoring video, when the series visited Japan for an exhibition run at Suzuka Circuit. I was only 3 years old back then, and was fascinated by the tall, moustachioed man who climbed in and out through the #3 car's window. That memory stayed in the back of my mind for years, then I totally forgot about him for more than 2 decades. When I started collecting Nascar models just before the Covid pandemic, I suddenly recalled Dale Earnhardt and Googled him up. Turns out he had died at the 2001 Daytona 500 after a very successful career.
I now have a large collection of Dale's #3 models, and am still looking for more.
Wow. I’m really impressed with the way this video turned out! I’ve been a racing fan all my life. Because of my father’s love for racing, I was exposed at a young age to Formula One, Indycar/CART/IRL & NASCAR. I watched the 2001 Daytona 500. It was an absolutely crazy, emotional day. Being a fan of Earnhardt and RCR as well as Junior and DEI being my favorite driver and team. The adrenaline and excitement of the last 1/3 of the race was so insane. But then you see the continued work at the 3 and you know something’s not right. It was so sad when the announcement was made by Mike Helton. Truly a tragic moment in motorsports history. You did a fantastic job with this story and I appreciate the reverence and respect you show towards the incident and those lost.
Stick with the multi-racing focus! I dig it! I’d love to see you do a video on Dan Wheldon. (Indycar) He lost his life at the season ending race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in a horrifying crash. He was such a remarkable young man and contributed so much to racing.
He went of out of this world doing what he loved. I can't think of a better way for Dale. RIP. Thank you for the memories
As a long time fan of NASCAR, I really enjoyed this video. Very well made, and I look forward to more of your vids!
As a NASCAR and F1 fan you making nascar videos makes you amazing
I was only 10 when this happened and I was watching it. even to this day, my stomach turns at the thought. Even back then, I knew we lost him, even before my father and grandfather did. Even those of us not old enough to really understand it all, understood that. how can you not when everyone around you, loving who you love, radiates a dispair you've never felt anywhere else?
Been watching F1 since 2010 and NASCAR in 2020 because it was the first motorsport that found a way to continue during The Pandemic. I believe NASCAR is heavily underrated. If you're a core racing fan, please don't think that it's only about turning left. Thanks for telling this story.
RIP Seven Time Champ.
Thank you for showing NASCAR respect. It’s so much more than turning left. When you see a race in person it’s amazing. Go see a race at Bristol. I started watching in 89 at 5 years old. Dale Sr was my favorite. RIP Legend. That day is burned into my memory.
This is a truly engaging and thorough video essay, and I love it! You did an awesome job of providing the right context of the event before diving into the race details. As a lifelong NASCAR fan who even grew up calling them "zoomcars" when I saw them on TV, I am so happy that I stumbled onto your video. It's exciting because I feel that you properly represented NASCAR to a new audience that can get into the sport and maybe even learn to love it as much as I do. You're awesome!
This day changed my life
I have commented many times across numerous videos.
I was a outcast DieHard earnhardt fan from age 4. In 2001 I was 14. My entire room and possessions were all earnhardt, it was my life
When I watched him die it changed me. I thought my life was over. Since Sundays were now free, I had more time to make friends, which I did with the wrong crowd, formed a band, started taking drugs and drinking,and high school became a blur. Years or drugs and rehab and mess ups and being near death it took until I was 30 to turn things around
I am now 38 and have been sober for 8 years, still watch nascar as a blaney fan, and still remember watching the man in black, the best who ever did it do his thing. Best times of my life. I still go to Dover every year with my Dad to this day, starting in 1992. Dale Earnhardt was larger than life, and is my hero.
Some more context:
At this time NASCAR had no traveling safety team. in addition to their lack of care about safety in the sport following the period from 1990 to 2000. Steve Olvey, CART's chief doctor, who had overseen that very thing for CART was highly, highly critical of this move, and had been critical of NASCAR for years for relying on local doctors and hospitals instead of having a dedicated safety team, which CART had since the 1980s with a state of the art traveling hospital that went to every CART series event, even the international ones. NASCAR had none of this in 2001 at all. You had the infield hospital then then the local ones, and the safety team were the local track and its workers.
The NHRA had their safety safari at that time too, and F1 had the late Sid Watkins and the fantastic Gary Hartstein for many many years by that point. NASCAR it could be argued was behind the curve and paid for it.
This was the second scandal Ed Hinton was involved in, in 1999 he got into a spat with Tony George, or rather, Tony George started it, and nearly faced press not covering the Indy 500 due to Ed writing an article on safety, and being unaware of a graphic photo being used for the article. Somehow, this was Ed HInton's fault (it wasn't) and in 2001, Hinton was involved in the aftermath of Earnhardt's death while working for the Orlando Sentinel. Actually, the whole 1999 Visionaire 500k scandal about Hinton, Sports Illustrated and the scandal with Tony George vs the press would make for an interesting video.
A lot of Dale's fans jumped ship to Jr and, it was claimed, before racing-reference took down comments, that a ton of Dale's fans had gone to Jr and wanted him to be Dale 2.0. This crash and Jr's attitude towards his team and the sport and his personality would absolutely affect him in the years post 2001. He's gone on record as saying he was partying and would show up to the shop late and hung over and not putting the entire effort in, and looking back he was not mature enough to handle what happened in February 2001. he was just a young man thrust into this role, he's said he wasn't prepred for it and didn't know how to handle it, and he was a partier and a rock star at that point in time, DEI cars were so good at the plate tracks Jr could be hung over but stil have a dominant car, especially with the admissions by Tony Eury that in the early 2000s the 8 team had some, shall we say, creative rule interpretations, as did RCR and 3 theam, thinner windshield is the big one.
As mentioned, steve Park and Kevin Harvick both got their first wins in the races after Daytona
Oh and this is why we have the Double yellow line rule, even though it's been exploited and abused time and again, and is a free pass if you have a popular driver in that car.
One more, there was a photo of the 3 and 38 tangled up together in the grass with Schrader stood by the 38. I want to say that was a double page spread in Autosport, I know it was in magazines internationall, along with an overhead shot of marshals at Monaco. It was used in quite a lot of magazines to argue for better safety in motorsports
The Rockingham win was actually Steve Park’s second Cup Series win, his first coming the previous season at Watkins Glen.
@@FlashoftheBlades You're right, I thought Park didn't win at the Glen for some reason, I got it confused with the 2003 race in my mind while writing the comment
While the death of his father had a profound role in his decline, I'd have to say Theresa Earnhardts insanity and gross mismanagement of DEI was the primary factor in the collapse of the team and Jrs integrity, at least until Mr Hendrick revived his legacy. Speaking of further context, I highly recommend Brock Beards story, 3 Before February. Really shines the light on the naive approach Nascar had pre Earnhardt accident. Give it a watch.
@@travisburton2948 I have seen that documentary and I agree that it’s a must-see.
Drafting not drifting. You are learning and doing well! You should do a video about how it took Dale 20 years to win the Daytona 500 or how his team did in 2001 after his death.
But drafting is not only done in Nascar
First NASCAR video, and correct pronunciations on the drivers mentioned in the video? Yessir, we need another NASCAR video. Would love you diving in to the history of Richard Petty or Jimmie Johnson, if you like to.
Happy I nailed it lol, il definitely look into the stories you mentioned mate ❤️
@@DailyFuelUp Anytime mate❤️
I feel really bad for Kenny having to carry what he seen and has never said anything about it in public
As a NASCAR fan it really makes me happy when fans from other series take a try watching NASCAR. Just earned yourself a new subscriber
23 years later and this just made me tear up again... #3 enjoy the view from above and races those golden streets up there
That was an awesome rendition for Dale, as a fan of NASCAR and Dale that was a touching story. Keep doing more stories about NASCAR. Good Job
Very respectful mini doc. Thank you.
I’m a Dale fan since 1979.
I got a memorial tattoo three days after his crash.
Thank you for telling this story. From US & even watched some nascar growing up but never knew all the lore around this.
Been a nascar fan since 96. Was on a race team in 96 so that’s why. Became a diehard f1 fan over the past decade. I love crossover content
Was it one of the big 4 series or a regional series?
Great video and tribute to Dale. Subbed.
Happy en enjoy the video mate 💪🏻, and thanks for the sub. ❤️
As a NASCAR enthusiast myself, I can say you did an amazing job on this video and you definitely did great research on our sport as well!
As a Earnhardt fan I will never forget that day 😢
As someone who likes racing in general. I liked this video, it was interesting to see and I was curious how they did things in Nascar as supposed to F1 or Le Mans
At first I was thinking of the wall ride by Chastain but then realized that the thumbnail is way to old for that 😅
Bro great video! I'll never forget that day. The Intimidator was always my favorite! Just was never the same without him! So sad, every time I ride by DEI knowing it's a shell of what it once was, when Dale was still here.
I' m a week late, but this sent me thru some memories! You did a great job on this! I grew up watching nascar with my father. He is no one of note to you, but he spent much of his young adulthood in the infield, helped a couple of friends with their late model dirt car, etc. He met Dale Sr in passing a handful of times as liked him as a person. He said Dale was always friendly, would speak, etc - in short, he was a true good ole boy, in a good way. However, my dad didn't cheer for him at all because of his aggressive driving style. All that to say, even southerners who didn't cheer for him, or any nascar driver, felt a gut-punch when this news broke. Half loved him, half sort-of hated him, but everybody respected him. Everyone missed him. It really did change everything in the sport and it's kinda hard to overstate the cultural significance of it. I believe he'd be proud of Dale Jr who has been able as real southern icon to move the sport forward and away from the intertwined racism that plagues our culture. He was a good driver who used his last name to try to affect positive change. He seems like a good man.
Great job for somebody that doesn't know much about nascar. Your story was done with taste. I look forward to many more of your nascar videos
im from that NASCAR generation and id like to say fur a F1 fan you did a great job on this i liked most how you added little bit of the sport in it to give your F1 fans alittle taste of NASCAR racing and i hope come next daytona maybe some of yall might join us heck after seen this i might start watching F1
Those words were impossible. That’s what I really remember about that day. I was at work so I didn’t get to see it or hear about it, but after getting home hearing it from my dad, I was like “No Way! Dale doesn’t die, he’s survived it all! How can he be dead??” And then I saw the news over every channel. That was a shock like no other in the world of sports.
You're such an amazing storyteller Daily - absolutely gets me hooked even on subjects I don't necessarily thought i was interested in, like Nascar! 😍
This story was very impactful. im only 22 years old and i was born well after the Dale Earnhardt ERA *2002* but ive been following NASCAR for the better part of 15 years. ive heard the story a thousand times but never like you have told it. it brought tears to my eyes that others havnt done. you did a spot on job with this story and i would love if you did more NASCAR videos. you earned a subscribe from me!
This was a great video, but super tragic - RIP Dale.
Would you also consider covering Moto GP and/or World Superbikes?
Look up Carl Foggarty in WSB or Rossi vs Gilbernau in Moto GP in Jerez 2005 for example.
Keep up the great work.
I’m not sure if MotoGP would work well on the channel, but I could give it a try in the future. Thanks for the recommendation, mate!❤️
@@DailyFuelUp At least watch the Jerez 2005 Rossi vs Gilbernau battle. It's crazy. Keep up the great work, all thanks to you.
You said y’all so I’m a fan! Thanks for covering this amazing sport. Do it for Dale!#3forever
Brilliant video, im a huge NASCAR and F1 fan, i like pretty much any 4 wheeled motorsport, BTCC would be a good 1 to cover maybe the group A sierra days.
Please make more NASCAR videos, this is one of the best one's ive seen 👍👍
We all love you continue what you are doing and it doesn't matter what Motorsport it is, its always interesting
I gotta say, you, as an f1 fan not custom to nascar you covered the sport very well. Good job.
Ive been watching your Formula 1 content for a bit. Im glad to see NASCAR on this channel. While I'm a fan of the sport I love the history of it. Keep up the great work. 🤙🏼
I remember watching that race with my kids. Although we weren’t on the Earnhardt bandwagon we liked him. The wreck looked minor compared to what was common at the time so fully expected Dale to climb out and wave but as minutes passed and watching Kenny we all started losing our race excitement. As a longtime race fan it was a huge blow and yes, it changed us forever.
Really love you trying new things in the racing scene keep up the work and we didn’t lost dale he’s just a lap ahead
Happy you liked this new type of video mate, will definitely keep them coming ❤️💪🏻
And im new into F1. Welcome to Nascar. Glad to have you in the community 😁
Welcome to NASCAR man, we are happy to have you.
Really nice. Great that i could learn about a new Motorsport keep up the good work 🎉🎉🎉
Dale was my favorite Driver. I followed his son and Kevin Harvick for a while but it was never the same without Dale. I am now an F1 fan and have been following Mercedes for many many years. I personally do like Mercedes cars as I think they are for people who think they are some how better than the rest of us but none the less they have a pretty good F1 team. This has been a good season so far and I hope Lando can get the championship.
Really love how this video is edited, keep it up!
"I know how yall are" that was a perfect accent lol really hittin home with us in the midwest
Well done, sir. We miss Dale, Senior and I hope NASCAR smartens up to the kind of aggressive driving we now see. Or we'll lose another great driver, and person. Do make more of these. You did a damned fine job.
Hey no problem besides I've been watching NASCAR for 20 years now so no need to worry and yes it definitely was a sad day at Daytona when Dale sr died still hurts even today really.
This being michael waltrip’s first career points victory in cup in 462 consecutive starts also played into the drama of the finish
Thank you for this video. I love Nascar, it is my second favourite racing series after F1
I'm a long-time NASCAR fan, and I like F1. After this video, you've got a new subscriber. Great job, it was perfect.
Glad you enjoyed the video, mate, and thanks for the sub❤️
Do you have any interesting NASCAR stories in mind that I could base a video on?
@@DailyFuelUp Well, you could focus one on the aerodynamics of the cars and how they've changed over the years. Or, the history of how the Truck Series got started...
i remember that day. 11 yrs old. was over anxious as the race came to an end. waited wat seemed oike HOURS to finally see the broadcast. me and my dad sat and cried. unbelieving of what had happed. i hardly slept that night and even missed school the next day. we knew nascar had changed forever. for good or bad. its changed to save sooo many lives over the years in learning from this 1 incident.
i was gonna post that the ai thumbnail is terrible, but i'm glad you kept the actual photo of the impact off it. i never got to watch dale sr, but his impact on safety is still being felt today. while the recent car sucks, you should look at the cars from his death to today, and put together the safest car in history (the halo is a start for f1, but it's not enough.) this a great video on a topic that is still widely talked about to this day. good luck on your journey through nascar history!
These are the stories that have to be told when talking about motorsport. We've seen it so many times, in so many different racing series. This is why motorsports need to keep pushing for safety, so in the years to come, we don't have to talk about new stories.
Well. As of three minutes in, as a born southerner with a love of this sport. You're doing a very good job and seem very aware and respectful. Love it. -
At 5:05 you mention Sr was controversial, and he absolutely was. Most younger folks dont know (>30) he was Boo'd a lot.
I'm sure you watched "Three Before February."
Dale actually told his team owner during the big red flag that if they didn’t do something to those cars and the package that somebody was going to get killed
“I know how yall are” good one bro 😅 by the way this is a great video keep it up
Not a huge f1 or nascar fan but man this had me hooked! You should also dig into MotoGP as a future idea, love the videos!
Thx you so much. This is the very video that will make people be more inclined to watch the sport.
Happy you enjoyed it mate❤️
R.I.P you legend we all miss you at the time i was beyond being born yet but hearing his legacy throughout my life and watching his racing is incredible you are missed JustMikeC 9-23-24
i watched this race live and even after all these years i can not watch the crash without tears. crying as i write this. R.I.P Dale we still love you!!!
I’ve heard this story multiple times before but it still hurts
YOU DID GREAT. ACCURATE INFORMATION. (40 PLUS YR OLD NASCAR FAN.)
New to the channel, fs got my sub. Def do some more nascar along w f1
This changed my life forever... I remember every single part of the day all the way down to what I ate for dinner. That day is imprinted in my head forever. Dale Earnhardt Sr. was my hero.
Should do v8 supercars. Nascar, bttc. Your docos on racing so far im enjoying mate. Love your work
Big nascar guy since the 90’s. I’m literally trying to play f123 right now and have recorded and watched every Grand Prix in 2024.
NASCAR is very different from the sport I fell in love with as a kid.
There’s some mistakes in this video, but he gets it.
This is one of 3 days in that year that I will remember for the rest of my life. Dales death, 9/11, and Juinor getting the win when Nascar returned to Daytona.
Rip Dale, he truly was a legend
Just wanna tell you that you did a very good job explaining this story like literally i was watching this like a Netflix series love the vid imma go sub now
Glad you enjoyed it, mate. I put a lot of time and effort into making this video as good as possible. ❤️
MotoGP 2003 Darkest and Scariest Race Crash in Suzuka Japan 2003 April Particularly Casio Triangle Corner at lap 3 that claimed Daijiro Kato 74 Telefonica Honda life into tragedy later pls upload next time
Another great video. I would recommend you to take a look at the Brazilian stock car series aka stock car pro series ! Would be cool to have a video about it
I watched live and can't even get though the race now even at 30.... Although 2001 july healed alot of broken hearts
I watched that race and really didn't think the wreck was all that serious (especially after seeing 'the big one' earlier). I was only after the gathering of the safety vehicles and not seeing Earnhart get out of the car did I realize it was something more serious. And even then, there was no thought in my mind that the wreck had killed him.
Damn, that "start your engines!" got me chills
I like many, not a Nascar fan, but occasionally get that hype and love for it (i love cars), but that statement... "We've lost Dale Earnhardt." So tragic.
February 2001 was the first race I actually watched. I was at my great grandmother's house with my grandfather and I remember Dale Jr running and the newspapers that came out after Sr was killed. Then I was at my great grandmother's house when Wheldon was killed in 2011.
HANS devices were officially mandated after Blaise Alexander was killed in October 2001, battling for the lead with Kerry Earnhardt. Kerry lost his father and friend 8 months apart. I had a family member who worked for Alexander during his rookie season and he was also an Earnhardt Sr fan so 2001, added with 9/11, was a negative year in my family.
Amazing video as per usual. I thought I heard he wasn’t a good family man.
That was the first time I ever witnessed my Father cry growing up. Nascar in general died that day in our house. RIP Legend. Raise Hell, Praise Dale
Ah, switching it up with Nascar :)
Looks like f1 is so boring that my guy switched to NASCAR
I had to give it a try 💪🏻
You should do a story on Blaise Alexander the man who was Jimmie Johnson’s best friend and there was a memorial to Blaise in jimmies bumper
Great video once again! The Audi dynasty at Le Mans would also be cool 👀
Glad you liked it, mate, and thanks for the recommendation! I’ll make sure to look into this topic. 💪🏻
Great vid
Thanks for making me shed tears again 23 years after that day 👍. I just want to add that Michael waltrip had never won a race in 500 starts and so much that the rest of the drivers had backlash toward him for being involved in so many accidents and before 2001 no one would hire him as a driver but Earnhardt specifically built a race car for him to race for d.e.i. because he knew waltrip had it in him to win if he just had the right people around him and waltrip's first race with d.e.i. was 2001 Daytona 500. Waltrip when on to win several more races including a 2nd Daytona 500 and became one of the most if not the most feared on super speedways along with dale jr. Them two together dominated the track's finishing first and second in no particular arrangement at Daytona and Talladega amidst any mechanical malfunctions or involvement in someone else's accident. Ironically Steve Park Earnhardt's third driver the number 1 pencil car won the third race that year. Kevin harvick as a rookie took dales seat won on his third start and won three races that year.
Loved this NASCAR vid, how about we mix it up with other race classes as well? Indy, Le Mans, Super GT?
I mean we're all petrol heads here. I'm not a big NASCAR fan, but seeing a fleet of OP V8's peaking speeds that make Le Mans drivers nervous, passing you like contained explosions... That gets the old ticker pumping. So, might it be a possibility for other race classes as well?
Glad you enjoyed the video, and thanks for the feedback, mate! ❤️ I’ll definitely be exploring different motorsports in the coming months. 💪🏻