Mike Joy is a true professional. He kept his composure throughout the post-race replays, the Polish victory lap tribute, the high fives on pit road and victory lane celebration but you could hear in his voice damn near everytime he spoke, he wanted to bust out in tears.
2001 had everything from the good, bad, triumph and tragedy. No other year since had so much emotion and probably never will. Hard to believe that this was the first win for Kevin Harvick with how much pressure was on his shoulders after what happened in Daytona a few weeks before.
Waltrip: This is Ingredients for a 5 car wreck!... Mac: LOOK AT EM ALL OVER THE PLACE HIGH LOW AND IN THE MIDDLE!!! my FAVORITE reaction from Larry Mac and Darrel Waltrip
That is an AWESOME image! It's V shaped with a every car on every line on the track and I have to agree though we may never see that racing again, though I'm not going to give up hope and believe someone will force Brain France out of NASCAR and the person restores it back to the way it was or to this racing would be even better.
Player 1 I hope you're right man. Last night, prime example. Just Junior and Johnson leading EVERY lap. Boring as hell. There's about 8 guys who have a chance to win every week. The level of competition is laughable these days, and it's killing the sport. That, and this stupid points system, and the way the championship is decided.
MrBaddog7676 I have to agree. The problem is the Hendrick cars are too dominant because of money and favoritism. No buddy could make a run on them last night. And I even heard the commentators saying everytime a car went to push a Hendrick car, the Hendrick car would just start to pull away. Nobody could compete with them last night. But yeah I hope somebody kicks France to the curb and personally to turns the racing back to 2001 because it was my favorite in NASCAR and one of NASCAR's best years.
Player 1 Yeah man. I started watching NASCAR back in 1999, and began rooting for Tony Stewart. Since then I've stayed with the #20 car, and now root for Kenseth. But yeah, I think from 1995-2005/06 was the best time in NASCAR, but especially 1999-2003 (Before that stupid chase). I hate the points system, and the lack of competition. Also, in my opinion anyway, there were a lot more likeable drivers back then, than there are today. One of 20 guys could've won back then and I would've been happy for them. There's about 4 or 5 I like today
MrBaddog7676 I 100% agree with you. 1995- 2006 was the best for NASCAR and you could even include the non COT races in 2007 because even thought that NASCAR still good that year. But yeah once COT became full time in 2008 is when the sport was done. And definitely the best years in NASCAR for me were 1995-2003 before the chase with 2001 being my favorite year because of the racing package was at its best and I think one of the reasons is because of 2000 Daytona 500 being so boring they stepped it up so they didn't have the same issue so they changed a car a tad to making it really exciting for plates tracks which ended being exciting the whole year with a lot of three wide racing at mile half's as well plus it was my first year watching NASCAR. I grew up watching #24 Jeff Gordon flames car, my favorite paint scheme to this day. But yeah and for the drivers I agree they are not as likeable. I don't even like Jeff Gordon as much as you used too as he was much nicer back then. It's like they more whiny and more diva like and I don't know why.
Even though Dale Earnhardt died in 2001, 2001 was probably the best year racing wise in Nascar history. The variety of winners was astounding as 18 different drivers won at least one race that year and Mark Martin wasn't even one of them, the competitive balance in the sport was as good as ever, the mix of older drivers in good equipment combined with some of the younger up and coming talent was there as well, and the way the cars were designed allowed for some of the best racing the sport has ever seen, not to mention that all of the drivers were actually likeable and well respected and actually had personality unlike most of the drivers today. Listening and seeing the size of the crowd here makes me miss this Nascar, but sadly the Nascar that I grew up with seems to be dead and unfortunately it doesn't seem to be returning any time soon.
Glad to know I'm not the only one. I felt like that for years that 2001 was the best year for NASCAR, racing wise. I also heard that 2000 was the other good year but I think Dale death had also to do with the good racing too as everybody was sad so they focused all on racing and on nothing else because like Dale always did and think that led to people trying also along with I agree the car, which I think is the best made in NASCAR history.
I've watched most of the 2001 races hundreds of time-saver again.. I remember the Winston. we were up all night while fox really made you feel like family.. Brian France killed or r sport
+Justin Knust Amazing to think 18 drivers won races that year and neither of them included Martin or Matt Kenseth.Seems like just yesterday Kurt and Harvick were rookies.
Man I miss seeing this good of racing in nascar this race in particular brings back childhood memories for me because this is the NASCAR that I grew up watching not the crap you see in tv today.
Each one of those wins in 2001 it's like it was meant to be, first Steve Parks win at Rockingham the week after, Kevin Harvick, two weeks later here in Atlanta, Dale Jr winning when they returned to Daytona and don't forget Rusty Wallace winning at California on Dale's 50th birthday and riding around the track after with a number 3 flag out the window. Each one was healing for everyone
You know what, Jeff was so humble in the situation because he knew that this was such a special win for NASCAR. Gordon was happy with second knowing what this young man named Kevin Harvick just did
I know the whole talking point is Kevin Harvick winning in Dale’s old car and how awesome that was, but I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if Dave Blaney won this race. It’s a shame he never won in his cup career and this race was probably the closest he ever came to winning.
Considering that as a rookie he had massive shoes to fill, it would have been so easy for Kevin Harvick to make a mistake under the immense pressure of driving Dale Earnhardt's car. But with his win here, he delivered an entire sport the tonic it needed in the grief from the loss of its figurehead, most well known driver. For those more familiar with F1, it's akin to David Coulthard replacing Ayrton Senna
this is the first nascar race i saw, i was 13, with no background on nascar somehow i was rooting for the cool flame car, first of many to thrill the shit out of me, gordon fan ever since.
1:45:38 Jerry Nadeau's only win came in the Atlanta race in the November before this one. However, he did come close couple times to win such as in this race, the fall Atlanta race of 2001, and Sonoma in 2002. Unfortunately Jerry had a career-ending crash in the practice session at Richmond in 2003. Dave Blaney's engine troubles took him out of contention and I think that sucks because if Kevin Harvick wasn't going to win I would've wanted to see Blaney get his first Cup win. Blaney would never win a Cup race after 10+ full-time Cup seasons. Speaking of Harvick, he's the only driver Larry mentioned that's still racing in NASCAR and now has a Cup championship with 40 wins. Crazy to look back at this race and hear those comments today.
+gary24fan new aero cars so the front car always have an advantage in clean air, repaving tracks so tire wear isnt the issue. All the cars today are the same, so all cars are equal. if Nascar would go back to the old 01 cars, think about how racing would be today... better racing, car out front, or anyone near the front would have tiny advantage only if they have a great racecar. pit stall selection wouldnt be an issue, just great damn racing!
Harvick wasn't treated like a rookie his first year. Usually when there's a rookie with a lot of hype, as Harvick was, there's an emphasis on them being a rookie. Harvick never received that
I don't think people realize how historically well did that year either. 9th in a real championship format with one less race than everyone else, and ran the entire Busch series schedule at the same time. First one to ever do both. Won in only his THIRD start (ZERO previous starts prior to 2001). It's not a surprise that now he is directly behind Dale in the All-time wins category now (and could have been in front of him if only RCR's equipment didn't waste half of Harv's career at RCR).
Also, I think the entire 2001 season was the most important in NASCAR history. NASCAR moved to Fox, a major network, and it brought in new fans and it eventually became one of the most popular sports in the US. When it brought in new fans, what better commentator to have than DW, Mike Joy & Larry Mac to explain everything?
It's amazing how well they meshed from the start considering DW and Larry were still driver/crew chief the year before and didn't have broadcasting ecperience. Like BP, once they left the track for the booth, they REALLY fit well.
Eventually became one of the most popular sports in the US? Uhh....at this point in time they were second only to the NFL. They already WERE popular. Now, in 2014, they're fighting with NBA/MLB for 3rd/4th most popular. The CoT era, and especially the Chase all thanks to Brian France has destroyed what once was a great sport.
not only an emotional win for harvick, but a testament to what nascar used to be, past 10 to go, there was a back and fourth 5 car battle for lead and we'll probably never see anything like that again
that win, that reaction from EVERYONE wow it almost brings tears in my eyes. that must have been so emotional for everybody out there. and think of it Dale's number was 3 and Kevin wins in his 3th race in Dale's car. that is awesome
All the emotion that we saw here, the only thing that comes close to this was when Dale Earnhardt finally got the Daytona 500 win in 1998. You can see Kevin choking up in Victory Lane. I think that was the icing on the cake that made fans was when Dale had the #3 car and then Kevin Harvick won in that same car and only his 3rd start. That deserves a huge ovation. He earned this one and he became a legend after this.
I was at this race when I was 8 years old, my only nascar event but I’ll never forget harvicks and Gordon’s photo finish. Ironically my parents got me the tickets the day Dale Earnhardt died
You know what... that description in your video make me realize that this race was just destiny. I knew the "3 races after Dale" element as it was Harvick's 3rd start, but I never considered the factors with Dale Sr.'s birthday. Very nice work!...
Simply an all-time classic race. If this was a movie script, it'd be rejected for being too unrealistic. That last green flag run with 5 cars all fighting for the win and that photo finish was just unbelievable. You can't tell me that this being career start number 3 for Harvick was a coincidence. It's as if Dale was gently guiding Harvick home in that final run to help the millions of people with broken hearts begin the healing process. This race and Daytona later in the year with Jr. were just absolutely surreal.
Very same car just different number, but very same outcome. The car that was used here by Kevin Harvick was re-painted black and put the 3 back on it and sits in the RCR Museum.
Everything was lightyears better in those days. The drivers(overall), the commentary(except for DW), the pit reporters, the cars, the racing. The one thing, one big thing missing. Number 3, Big E. Nascar absolutely died at the Daytona 500 in 2001, and if it didnt, Brian France and Jimmie Johnson shelved it for good. It's gonna take some major, major doin to get Nascar back to what it was in these days.
I'm the same way. I got into at the same time as when FOX first started covering it. Now, I don't get upset if I miss a race due to work. Another problem is that over half of the races are on cable, which makes watching a race even harder.
The car of tomorrow was what slowly ate away at my NASCAR love moreso than the Chase by itself. The first few years of the Chase weren't problematic for me because at least the race cars still LOOKED like race cars. Look at Jimmie Johnson's car in 2006 compared to 2013. Huge difference. 2004- you knew what car Kevin Harvick or Jamie McMurray drove just via the Goodwrench/Havoline paint schemes. Now, it's too confusing.
I think the cars today would be great if there were not so many aerodynamic properties to them. The aero push needs to be addressed, not horsepower. The bodies need to be made so that a door ding won't ruin your day... but I guess it wouldn't be a problem if the majority of the tracks were short tracks! NASCAR has become a bunch of monopolies in my opinion and it has made the sport so hard to enter and compete in. More adjustability needs to be allowed in the cars and there should be a wide variety of engines... not just the main for of TRD, Roush-Yates, Hendrick, and ECR.
Interesting thing with Kevin Harvick winning this race (in addition to driving what had been Dale Earnhardt's car) is that this was supposed to be Harvick's Winston Cup debut (originally, RCR was planning to run him part-time in Cup along with the Busch Series and then have him move to the Cup Series full-time in 2002)
Watch as he comes out of the turn next to Harvick and begins to slide up towards the 29 and has to slightly let off accelerator. its just a slight let up but it was the difference between a win and a loss.
Some things I never understood: Why whenever you see documentaries about the 500 that year, they always talk about Dale telling Mikey that "you, me and Dale Jr are going to the front together". What about Steve Park? Why was Mikey more special than him? They were both drivers unrelated to Dale that drove for DEI, and Park had driven for Dale the year before too. It seems that they made a concerted effort to leave him out at the 500 based on Mikey's quotes of Dale. And the other thing is why this was "NASCAR's healing moment" more than Park winning in a DEI car the week after DE himself died? Like this was definitely a huge healing moment but why MORE than that?
Dale and Mikey had been best friends long before he starting driving for DEI. Steve was thought of more of as an employee. Anyway, yeah, DEI won a week after Daytona and that was great, it really was. Steve drove his butt off but it wasn't Dale's team and the car Harvick drove was the exact same car Dale drove a year earlier. That's why it had more significance: same car, same team, same crew ..... only a different driver.
First and foremost, Steve was never a good plate racer, which is the most logical reason that Dale's plans for Daytona did not include him. Dale cared about Steve as much as he cared about Junior and Mikey though, make no mistake. He was more than just an employee, as Scott wrongly suggested. Dale made it a goal to mentor Steve, hence Steve's comments in victory lane at Rockingham about Dale teaching him how to drive into the corner hard at Rockingham. Even though I'm a Steve Park fan, I never had a problem with the NASCAR community considering this the big healing moment for the sport. This was Dale team, his car, right around his birthday, and a finish replicating his most famous finish. Hard to beat that. I appreciate the concern for Steve though, great to see somebody showing him some love. :)
@@cocacola150dr Steve Park was running 1-2-3-4 with them at one point in the 500 until the big one. I think he was part of the plan unofficially unless he fell out or lost the draft.
So much wheel to wheel action here! As much as Nascar is doing pretty decent currently, races around this era had a lot of competitive drivers. Also note all the heritage from the fans here. Kinda wish nascar was like this again
I feel bad for Dave. That was a hell of a race car and his best chance to win a race. I always did like the looks of that Amoco car especially his 2000 car. But I was happy with how my boy Gordon had preformed in this race
True. You just don't see to many races like this one anymore, or for now at least, I hope Nascar can figure somthing out in the near future to bring racing like this back.
never got to see the entire event in its entirety, we were spending the day going to get puppy from my sisters friend who's apricot colored poodle had two dozen pups and was looking to unload them.
I started following NASCAR in 1997 and I agree its different now but the cars and teams are more even which is an improvement. I remember days when Jeff Gordon's car was so much faster he felt bad for lapped cars and so he started letting large groups of cars by when a yellow came out. Nowadays the leader races like hell to lap as many as possible and doesn't give an inch because he knows virtually every team is capable of a comeback due to the even cars/more enforced rules.
Hopefully the new Gen 6 cars can improve better races. The last few races of the 2012 season were not that bad already.... thanks to the Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer fight. I think THAT woke NASCAR up again. Keep it up, boys. We got fans to excite.
Anthony Kernich There would need to be more than just those two changes, but that's a good start. It would make at least not awful racing. I don't why they race with a splitter anyway if they have the safer barrier to protect the cars.
amazing mark martin is my favorite driver but when i was little i loved dale sr but i was born in 2000 so i was watching a race in my earnhardt halloween costume and i asked my dad wheres dale and he told me i was in tears and that was 4 years after he died
"What could be more fitting? What could be more special?" I still get chills when I hear Mike Joy's voice cracking when he says that.
Mike Joy is a true professional. He kept his composure throughout the post-race replays, the Polish victory lap tribute, the high fives on pit road and victory lane celebration but you could hear in his voice damn near everytime he spoke, he wanted to bust out in tears.
"A legacy is not about what you did while you were there, it's about what happens after you're gone."
So true
The last 12-15 laps of this race were AWESOME.
2001 had everything from the good, bad, triumph and tragedy. No other year since had so much emotion and probably never will. Hard to believe that this was the first win for Kevin Harvick with how much pressure was on his shoulders after what happened in Daytona a few weeks before.
I'm here after Ryan Blaney won at Atlanta and said it was redemption for Dave Blaney having a winning car in this race and breaking a wheel.
Imagine the Buckeye getting Ohio's first Cup Series win since Tim Richmond and Dodge's first in 30 years. Love that Ryan eventually won.
2:56:47 - Listen to the crowd when the replay stops.
Chills.
this was the first race I ever watched. Never heard of NASCAR as a kid from the NW before dale's death and I've been a Harvick fan ever since
Waltrip: This is Ingredients for a 5 car wreck!...
Mac: LOOK AT EM ALL OVER THE PLACE HIGH LOW AND IN THE MIDDLE!!!
my FAVORITE reaction from Larry Mac and Darrel Waltrip
2:54:00 just pause it, and look at how awesome that is.
We'll NEVER see racing like that again, unfortunately.
That is an AWESOME image! It's V shaped with a every car on every line on the track and I have to agree though we may never see that racing again, though I'm not going to give up hope and believe someone will force Brain France out of NASCAR and the person restores it back to the way it was or to this racing would be even better.
Player 1 I hope you're right man. Last night, prime example. Just Junior and Johnson leading EVERY lap. Boring as hell.
There's about 8 guys who have a chance to win every week. The level of competition is laughable these days, and it's killing the sport.
That, and this stupid points system, and the way the championship is decided.
MrBaddog7676 I have to agree. The problem is the Hendrick cars are too dominant because of money and favoritism. No buddy could make a run on them last night. And I even heard the commentators saying everytime a car went to push a Hendrick car, the Hendrick car would just start to pull away. Nobody could compete with them last night. But yeah I hope somebody kicks France to the curb and personally to turns the racing back to 2001 because it was my favorite in NASCAR and one of NASCAR's best years.
Player 1 Yeah man. I started watching NASCAR back in 1999, and began rooting for Tony Stewart. Since then I've stayed with the #20 car, and now root for Kenseth.
But yeah, I think from 1995-2005/06 was the best time in NASCAR, but especially 1999-2003 (Before that stupid chase).
I hate the points system, and the lack of competition. Also, in my opinion anyway, there were a lot more likeable drivers back then, than there are today.
One of 20 guys could've won back then and I would've been happy for them. There's about 4 or 5 I like today
MrBaddog7676 I 100% agree with you. 1995- 2006 was the best for NASCAR and you could even include the non COT races in 2007 because even thought that NASCAR still good that year. But yeah once COT became full time in 2008 is when the sport was done. And definitely the best years in NASCAR for me were 1995-2003 before the chase with 2001 being my favorite year because of the racing package was at its best and I think one of the reasons is because of 2000 Daytona 500 being so boring they stepped it up so they didn't have the same issue so they changed a car a tad to making it really exciting for plates tracks which ended being exciting the whole year with a lot of three wide racing at mile half's as well plus it was my first year watching NASCAR. I grew up watching #24 Jeff Gordon flames car, my favorite paint scheme to this day. But yeah and for the drivers I agree they are not as likeable. I don't even like Jeff Gordon as much as you used too as he was much nicer back then. It's like they more whiny and more diva like and I don't know why.
Can’t believe this race is 20 years old
20 years ago today
3-12-2020
I still tear up watching this. Man I love the ending. The emotion and the racing is just so captivating.
Twas the second year in a row that RCR car beat the eventual season champion!
Watched the last 10 laps, what a race and the ending tribute to Dale Sr was a special sporting moment.
Darrell's singing getting cutoff by the commercial break is perfect comedic timing
Ive never understood "real racing" until I saw this. Got to make the cars less aero dependent
Even though Dale Earnhardt died in 2001, 2001 was probably the best year racing wise in Nascar history. The variety of winners was astounding as 18 different drivers won at least one race that year and Mark Martin wasn't even one of them, the competitive balance in the sport was as good as ever, the mix of older drivers in good equipment combined with some of the younger up and coming talent was there as well, and the way the cars were designed allowed for some of the best racing the sport has ever seen, not to mention that all of the drivers were actually likeable and well respected and actually had personality unlike most of the drivers today. Listening and seeing the size of the crowd here makes me miss this Nascar, but sadly the Nascar that I grew up with seems to be dead and unfortunately it doesn't seem to be returning any time soon.
Glad to know I'm not the only one. I felt like that for years that 2001 was the best year for NASCAR, racing wise. I also heard that 2000 was the other good year but I think Dale death had also to do with the good racing too as everybody was sad so they focused all on racing and on nothing else because like Dale always did and think that led to people trying also along with I agree the car, which I think is the best made in NASCAR history.
I've watched most of the 2001 races hundreds of time-saver again.. I remember the Winston. we were up all night while fox really made you feel like family.. Brian France killed or r sport
+Justin Knust 2001 and it carried through 2003. 2004-2006 were decent, but it was definitely downhill from there.
+1
+Justin Knust Amazing to think 18 drivers won races that year and neither of them included Martin or Matt Kenseth.Seems like just yesterday Kurt and Harvick were rookies.
Man I miss seeing this good of racing in nascar this race in particular brings back childhood memories for me because this is the NASCAR that I grew up watching not the crap you see in tv today.
Each one of those wins in 2001 it's like it was meant to be, first Steve Parks win at Rockingham the week after, Kevin Harvick, two weeks later here in Atlanta, Dale Jr winning when they returned to Daytona and don't forget Rusty Wallace winning at California on Dale's 50th birthday and riding around the track after with a number 3 flag out the window. Each one was healing for everyone
This is one of the top 10 best races i've ever seen. And I didn't mind that Jeff finished 2nd
You know what, Jeff was so humble in the situation because he knew that this was such a special win for NASCAR. Gordon was happy with second knowing what this young man named Kevin Harvick just did
I can't watch the end of this race without crying. Just amazing.
I know the whole talking point is Kevin Harvick winning in Dale’s old car and how awesome that was, but I can’t help but wonder what it would be like if Dave Blaney won this race. It’s a shame he never won in his cup career and this race was probably the closest he ever came to winning.
Considering that as a rookie he had massive shoes to fill, it would have been so easy for Kevin Harvick to make a mistake under the immense pressure of driving Dale Earnhardt's car. But with his win here, he delivered an entire sport the tonic it needed in the grief from the loss of its figurehead, most well known driver. For those more familiar with F1, it's akin to David Coulthard replacing Ayrton Senna
still get emotional when watching this....CLASSIC!!!!!!!
Even the commentary is better than it is today
Great last 15 laps, racing back then was so much better, sad to say
when is the last time in at least a couple of years at any race track where we saw 5 cars able to win with 15 laps top go? What a beautiful sight
I hear that man. I've been following since '92 and it really sucks to see how bad it is these days. I rarely even watch anymore.
You picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel
they had the best starting lineups ever back then
Every single time I'd prefer a duel to the end over a gwc where the whole field wrecks in turn 1.
Harvick was incredible in that race.
2:56:11 Best finish of 2001 up there with Dale Jr using lessons learned from his father to go from 6th to 1st and score the win at Daytona
Kevin Harvick was a rookie when he won this. Amazing.
Brayden Taylor on his 3rd try!!!
And now he's won just about everything there is to win in NASCAR.
This was when NASCAR racing could make a grown man cry. This was 12 years ago, and I'm getting tears in my eyes watching the finish and post-race.
Hmm. Can't remember the last time I saw racing that good during the last 15 or so laps.
Actually that would be when Jeff Gordon won his 85th race, right here at Atlanta.
JxC Thinking the same thing
'
this is the first nascar race i saw, i was 13, with no background on nascar somehow i was rooting for the cool flame car, first of many to thrill the shit out of me, gordon fan ever since.
1:45:38 Jerry Nadeau's only win came in the Atlanta race in the November before this one. However, he did come close couple times to win such as in this race, the fall Atlanta race of 2001, and Sonoma in 2002. Unfortunately Jerry had a career-ending crash in the practice session at Richmond in 2003. Dave Blaney's engine troubles took him out of contention and I think that sucks because if Kevin Harvick wasn't going to win I would've wanted to see Blaney get his first Cup win. Blaney would never win a Cup race after 10+ full-time Cup seasons. Speaking of Harvick, he's the only driver Larry mentioned that's still racing in NASCAR and now has a Cup championship with 40 wins. Crazy to look back at this race and hear those comments today.
It’s crazy too because 4 years later he’s sitting at 60 wins. One of the best of our lifetime for sure
thank you for putting this race on u-tube, sure wish we had anoucers like this today.
Fox should go back to this presentation. It easily trumps how they present races in 2017.
2:53:40..."This is ingredients for a 5 car wreck. This is incredible!" That is an awesome shot.
What happened to this type of racing in NASCAR? I mean, this really was not that long ago. What....freaking.....happened??????
Lot has changed in 14 years
+gary24fan Brian France got a hold of it.
+gary24fan new aero cars so the front car always have an advantage in clean air, repaving tracks so tire wear isnt the issue. All the cars today are the same, so all cars are equal. if Nascar would go back to the old 01 cars, think about how racing would be today... better racing, car out front, or anyone near the front would have tiny advantage only if they have a great racecar. pit stall selection wouldnt be an issue, just great damn racing!
+bean soup and also they went to (seems to me) PG era
ilackedtheheart And then you'll get a yellow flag within 5 laps and it'll just be another GWC finish.
Kevin Harvick's 1st Career NASCAR Winston Cup Series Victory
2:52:10 "His Cornflakes have done got soft, he ain't got time to do anything."
Harvick wasn't treated like a rookie his first year. Usually when there's a rookie with a lot of hype, as Harvick was, there's an emphasis on them being a rookie. Harvick never received that
I don't think people realize how historically well did that year either. 9th in a real championship format with one less race than everyone else, and ran the entire Busch series schedule at the same time. First one to ever do both. Won in only his THIRD start (ZERO previous starts prior to 2001). It's not a surprise that now he is directly behind Dale in the All-time wins category now (and could have been in front of him if only RCR's equipment didn't waste half of Harv's career at RCR).
@@Rocker3829 And won the Busch series championship.
Almost forgot what a real race without stages and comp cautions looked like…
"This is ingredients for a 5 car wreck, this is incredible!"
If only we could have racing like this again.
At 2:54:10 NASCAR today would have thrown out a caution. In fact, they would have thrown out at least 20 cautions in the last 20 laps here.
Kevin Harvick won again at Atlanta tonight 2/25/18. 17 years after this race.
Also, I think the entire 2001 season was the most important in NASCAR history. NASCAR moved to Fox, a major network, and it brought in new fans and it eventually became one of the most popular sports in the US. When it brought in new fans, what better commentator to have than DW, Mike Joy & Larry Mac to explain everything?
It's amazing how well they meshed from the start considering DW and Larry were still driver/crew chief the year before and didn't have broadcasting ecperience.
Like BP, once they left the track for the booth, they REALLY fit well.
Eventually became one of the most popular sports in the US? Uhh....at this point in time they were second only to the NFL. They already WERE popular. Now, in 2014, they're fighting with NBA/MLB for 3rd/4th most popular. The CoT era, and especially the Chase all thanks to Brian France has destroyed what once was a great sport.
aquariex24 Agreed!
I 100% agree with you.
not only an emotional win for harvick, but a testament to what nascar used to be, past 10 to go, there was a back and fourth 5 car battle for lead and we'll probably never see anything like that again
I was a Jeff Gordon fan but this time I was not upset that he lost
We miss you Steve Burns.
Wow what an amazing last 10 laps that was racing !! Just amazing !!!
I am still in tears
This one is for you Dale!!!
he does the best burnouts....
great win.. thanks for the post..
I remember the day still....
that win, that reaction from EVERYONE wow it almost brings tears in my eyes. that must have been so emotional for everybody out there. and think of it Dale's number was 3 and Kevin wins in his 3th race in Dale's car. that is awesome
All the emotion that we saw here, the only thing that comes close to this was when Dale Earnhardt finally got the Daytona 500 win in 1998. You can see Kevin choking up in Victory Lane. I think that was the icing on the cake that made fans was when Dale had the #3 car and then Kevin Harvick won in that same car and only his 3rd start. That deserves a huge ovation. He earned this one and he became a legend after this.
I was at this race when I was 8 years old, my only nascar event but I’ll never forget harvicks and Gordon’s photo finish. Ironically my parents got me the tickets the day Dale Earnhardt died
Harvick by inches! Harvick by inches!
this is the very first Cup Series race that I was alive for, I was born 4 days prior; So glad I can say this race took place during my lifetime
My favorite NASCAR race from Atlanta! Funny/entertaining coverage, amazing racing, and the heartfelt win by Kevin Harvick over Jeff Gordon. 👍🏁
I can't believe I'm crying. Rewatching the last 10 laps and then everything after the race made me shed some tears.
You know what... that description in your video make me realize that this race was just destiny. I knew the "3 races after Dale" element as it was Harvick's 3rd start, but I never considered the factors with Dale Sr.'s birthday. Very nice work!...
11 years later, still brings a tear. thks for posting!
Honestly, the last ten or so laps of this race were some of the greatest in racing history! Incredible!
Simply an all-time classic race. If this was a movie script, it'd be rejected for being too unrealistic. That last green flag run with 5 cars all fighting for the win and that photo finish was just unbelievable. You can't tell me that this being career start number 3 for Harvick was a coincidence. It's as if Dale was gently guiding Harvick home in that final run to help the millions of people with broken hearts begin the healing process. This race and Daytona later in the year with Jr. were just absolutely surreal.
Very same car just different number, but very same outcome. The car that was used here by Kevin Harvick was re-painted black and put the 3 back on it and sits in the RCR Museum.
Man that's crazy if Nadeau didnt box gordon in at 2:54:15 he might've been able to pass harvick on the last lap
sucks watching how well dave blaney was doing , then his day just kinda went to hell
Somethin about the music they used to play on the FOX/FX broadcasts...brings me right back to being a kid watching these races.
Plus the gwc's (multiple ones) and the double-wide restarts. We had racing like this race w/o those gimmicks.
There were no cautions on lap 3, it was just a silent lap (commentators said nothing).
Everything was lightyears better in those days. The drivers(overall), the commentary(except for DW), the pit reporters, the cars, the racing. The one thing, one big thing missing. Number 3, Big E. Nascar absolutely died at the Daytona 500 in 2001, and if it didnt, Brian France and Jimmie Johnson shelved it for good. It's gonna take some major, major doin to get Nascar back to what it was in these days.
I'm the same way. I got into at the same time as when FOX first started covering it. Now, I don't get upset if I miss a race due to work. Another problem is that over half of the races are on cable, which makes watching a race even harder.
The car of tomorrow was what slowly ate away at my NASCAR love moreso than the Chase by itself.
The first few years of the Chase weren't problematic for me because at least the race cars still LOOKED like race cars. Look at Jimmie Johnson's car in 2006 compared to 2013. Huge difference.
2004- you knew what car Kevin Harvick or Jamie McMurray drove just via the Goodwrench/Havoline paint schemes.
Now, it's too confusing.
Too confusing? It's easier now than ever....
I think the cars today would be great if there were not so many aerodynamic properties to them. The aero push needs to be addressed, not horsepower. The bodies need to be made so that a door ding won't ruin your day... but I guess it wouldn't be a problem if the majority of the tracks were short tracks! NASCAR has become a bunch of monopolies in my opinion and it has made the sport so hard to enter and compete in. More adjustability needs to be allowed in the cars and there should be a wide variety of engines... not just the main for of TRD, Roush-Yates, Hendrick, and ECR.
Interesting thing with Kevin Harvick winning this race (in addition to driving what had been Dale Earnhardt's car) is that this was supposed to be Harvick's Winston Cup debut (originally, RCR was planning to run him part-time in Cup along with the Busch Series and then have him move to the Cup Series full-time in 2002)
To this day, almost 13 years since this race, I still haven't seen where Gordon got loose off of Turn 4.
Watch as he comes out of the turn next to Harvick and begins to slide up towards the 29 and has to slightly let off accelerator. its just a slight let up but it was the difference between a win and a loss.
Some things I never understood: Why whenever you see documentaries about the 500 that year, they always talk about Dale telling Mikey that "you, me and Dale Jr are going to the front together". What about Steve Park? Why was Mikey more special than him? They were both drivers unrelated to Dale that drove for DEI, and Park had driven for Dale the year before too. It seems that they made a concerted effort to leave him out at the 500 based on Mikey's quotes of Dale.
And the other thing is why this was "NASCAR's healing moment" more than Park winning in a DEI car the week after DE himself died? Like this was definitely a huge healing moment but why MORE than that?
Dale and Mikey had been best friends long before he starting driving for DEI. Steve was thought of more of as an employee. Anyway, yeah, DEI won a week after Daytona and that was great, it really was. Steve drove his butt off but it wasn't Dale's team and the car Harvick drove was the exact same car Dale drove a year earlier. That's why it had more significance: same car, same team, same crew ..... only a different driver.
First and foremost, Steve was never a good plate racer, which is the most logical reason that Dale's plans for Daytona did not include him. Dale cared about Steve as much as he cared about Junior and Mikey though, make no mistake. He was more than just an employee, as Scott wrongly suggested. Dale made it a goal to mentor Steve, hence Steve's comments in victory lane at Rockingham about Dale teaching him how to drive into the corner hard at Rockingham.
Even though I'm a Steve Park fan, I never had a problem with the NASCAR community considering this the big healing moment for the sport. This was Dale team, his car, right around his birthday, and a finish replicating his most famous finish. Hard to beat that. I appreciate the concern for Steve though, great to see somebody showing him some love. :)
@@cocacola150dr Steve Park was running 1-2-3-4 with them at one point in the 500 until the big one. I think he was part of the plan unofficially unless he fell out or lost the draft.
This was the best race that wasn't a plate race and we will never see racing racing like this again
1:57:39 DW's tribute to Kenny Rogers ...loose wheel
I was 4 years old when this race happened I watched it again when I was 10 I got choked up I still get choked up every time I watch this
So much wheel to wheel action here! As much as Nascar is doing pretty decent currently, races around this era had a lot of competitive drivers.
Also note all the heritage from the fans here.
Kinda wish nascar was like this again
I feel bad for Dave. That was a hell of a race car and his best chance to win a race. I always did like the looks of that Amoco car especially his 2000 car. But I was happy with how my boy Gordon had preformed in this race
My all-time favorite non-restrictor plate race. Awesome action all the way to the unbelievable end. And yes, I was crying post-race.
True. You just don't see to many races like this one anymore, or for now at least, I hope Nascar can figure somthing out in the near future to bring racing like this back.
Whenever somebody asks me to define the term "work of art", i'll always say the final 15 laps of this race.
never got to see the entire event in its entirety, we were spending the day going to get puppy from my sisters friend who's apricot colored poodle had two dozen pups and was looking to unload them.
2:48:56 15 laps to go
I started following NASCAR in 1997 and I agree its different now but the cars and teams are more even which is an improvement. I remember days when Jeff Gordon's car was so much faster he felt bad for lapped cars and so he started letting large groups of cars by when a yellow came out. Nowadays the leader races like hell to lap as many as possible and doesn't give an inch because he knows virtually every team is capable of a comeback due to the even cars/more enforced rules.
Hopefully the new Gen 6 cars can improve better races. The last few races of the 2012 season were not that bad already.... thanks to the Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer fight. I think THAT woke NASCAR up again. Keep it up, boys. We got fans to excite.
I'm not the biggest JJ fan but damn he can win some races
this was when racing was racing!
man richard in the end brings me to tears
RIP Dale
that damn finish still chokes me up
I wish Nascar was like this race nowadays.
if they took away the splitter and tapered spacer it would be
Anthony Kernich There would need to be more than just those two changes, but that's a good start. It would make at least not awful racing. I don't why they race with a splitter anyway if they have the safer barrier to protect the cars.
I think that's on of the biggest pops from the crowd ever in a Nascar Race.
I love it when they say harvick doin a John force down the front stretch
amazing mark martin is my favorite driver but when i was little i loved dale sr but i was born in 2000 so i was watching a race in my earnhardt halloween costume and i asked my dad wheres dale and he told me i was in tears and that was 4 years after he died
Oh I loved this and still do
I don't understand why nascar doesn't copy the 2001 era cars..the racing was amazing