Our friend Shirley takes a moment to remember Dale Earnhardt on this anniversary of his death.
By: Shirley Buttacavoli
February 18, 2001 – At this moment 9 years ago, NASCAR fans were watching the Daytona 500. None of us knew how that day would end.
Being a Waltrip fan, I was crying as Darrell called his brother, Michael, across the finish line for his first Daytona 500 win, his first points Sprint Cup win, and first win at Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
Unfortunately, those tears of joy turned to tears of sorrow. After Ken Schrader looked into the window of the famous black 3, and walked away, it was painfully obvious the injury was serious.
DW’s words: “I hope Dale’s okay” stuck with me for hours. Then Mike Helton’s announcement: “….we lost Dale Earnhardt…”
Years later, I read this quote from Ken Schrader’s book, “Gotta Race” (which I recommend highly to all):
“While it was happening, I was pretty pissed to be caught up in the wreck. I mean, I had a solid finish going to happen, too, and it was going up in tire smoke and a crunched front end. I also figured, as I got out of my car and walked over to Dale’s, that he was going to be really mad, but at least he wasn’t going to be mad at me.
I walked up, took down the window net and knelt down to jaw with him about our shared bad luck. But the first word never got past my lips.”
We’ll never know if the HANS would have saved Dale, but since then, even a reluctant Tony Stewart is wearing the safety device.
This is just one of several safety requirements created and developed since that tragic day.
NASCAR sanctioned tracks are now required to have the SAFER barrier on outside walls.
The Car of Tomorrow was created for driver safety.
Carbon fiber seats and their equivalent are being developed and upgraded daily.
These are all positive outcomes from the head-on collision on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.
As NASCAR progressed, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. struggled.
It is understandable that Teresa Earnhardt would grieve, and fans would understand if that grief included her not attending Nationwide or Sprint Cup races. We just wanted her to tell us.
As sad as Dale’s passing was to his fans, so is the demise of Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
I’m sure everyone remembers Tony Stewart’s quote when Dale Earnhardt, Jr. announced he was leaving DEI: “DEI without Dale Jr is a museum.”
Smoke wasn’t too far off.
Max Seigel has come and gone.
The partnership with Ginn Racing has done so as well, along with numerous employees.
Earnhardt-Childress Racing Technologies and the engine development program between DEI and Richard Childress Racing was formed, which continues today.
Then the recent merger with Chip Ganassi with Felix Sabates, and the formation of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing.
In 1998 DEI moved from the Busch series to Winston Cup with Steve Park driving the 1 Pennzoil Monte Carlo.
The popular teams of Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Budweiser 8 and Michael Waltrip’s NAPA 15 no longer participate in any series.
The only surviving team of Dale’s ‘legacy’ is the 1 Bass Pro Chevy with Jamie McMurray.
How appropriate that 12 years after Dale’s Daytona 500 win and 9 years after his death, his first car is celebrating its first Daytona 500 win. And all thanks to Chip Ganassi and Richard Childress.
Too bad there’s no museum in Mooresville, North Carolina, to put it in.
I was pissed in the days that followed at fans that blamed Schrader and Marlin for the wreck and Dale Earnhardts death. I was not a huge fan but I was sad for the sport when DEI merged and was no longer DEI.
I thought the timing of the Sunday was awesome. I just wish it was really a DEI car.
Agree 100% about the death threats to Kenny & Sterling. Remember when Vickers got death threats after Talladeg, when he won & Jimmie and Jr. were wrecked?
Those are NOT fans. Those are people that live a very sad and lonely life.
As for Jamie’s car not being a DEI car, I read yesterday that Martin Truex said the car Jamie won the 500 in was a new car. So you are correct, Frank, it was NOT a DEI car. Bummer.