Does Dale "I didn't think it was my place to tell the world," Schrader said. He didnt get mad at all at the question about how beer and guns could coexist on the quarter panel of a racecar. Kenny, I know you might sometimes wish you werent the one, but Im glad it was you. How did we let this happen?'". He looked completely at ease as he rode his bright yellow motorcycle through the infield at Atlanta and was confident when he climbed into his race car and drove it to a season-high eighth-place finish Sunday in the Cracker Barrel 500. I cant imagine knowing that and then having to go on National TV, and then having to All she said was, "No. Dale Earnhardts death still an unforgettable day. Earnhardt, 49, died after a crash into the retaining wall after making contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Thats all I ask. A note, a comment, a last conversation with a lost loved one that wasn't really an indicator of cosmic tumblers about to fall into place, but man, in retrospect, they sure feel like it. Stream now on demand. The death of Dale Earnhardt from a crash during the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 is considered the darkest day in the history of NASCAR. It was the day that NASCAR fans and the racing community and family were in shock. Racing and winning, Budweiser and No. In 1997, he flipped his car with just 12 laps to go. But he can do something about how it affects him. It was only my third time covering the Daytona 500 for The Charlotte Observer. The summer before, Dorothy Schrader had spent a week with the Earnhardts on their yacht. I really owe this one to Dale Jr. It's a test of skill, reflexes, and concentration, along with resource management and nerves. I didnt know what the final deal was, so I just told him it was big and Dale was in trouble, Schrader said. Ive seen photos of the wrecked car. There were other drivers I had been much closer to who had been killed in races, and NASCAR was having a string of deaths. Schrader had to talk to his 11-year-old daughter, a fan of The Intimidator and friend of Earnhardts daughter, Taylor. So many years have passed since this day and the man who was involved in the crash, the man who looked into Dale Sr.s window after the crash, has never spoken publicly about what he saw, until his March 2020 appearance on Dale Jrs podcast, The Dale Jr Download. Age discrimination, How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Rainn Wilson, Hunter Renfroes three-run blast powers Angels to rain-disrupted win over Red Sox, Jalen Hurts agrees to five-year, $255-million extension with Eagles. Unconscious, unresponsive, not trying to breathe. Senior writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com. Per Earnhardt's request, she started doing it for him as well. Tony Stewart's orange No. How would Earnhardts death affect him? people are fascinated by morbid things. ?Negotiations with a bouncer?Damn Terry Labonte?Dale Sr. & BambiNote to Ken ?Little ass spoilers, LISTEN:Web: https://t.co/Bifc95ifTgApple: https://t.co/7XKWk1gWvTGoogle: https://t.co/f6o18GTh9c pic.twitter.com/UcXTy2PVN1, Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) March 11, 2020. "I saw a friend in trouble. How NASCAR had to learn a harsh lesson ahead of Next Gen arrival, How Larson took the long way round to NASCAR Cup glory, How Larson took the long way round to NASCAR Cup glory Unfortunately, Dale Sr. collided with driver Ken Schrader and hit the outside wall head-on. As his good friend Earnhardt was doing, Marlin was simply trying to win the Daytona 500. American racecar driver who was named 1985 Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year. Actually, it was in fact the entire Earnhardt clan who got Waltrip to victory lane. "I feel pain for you to have to carry that memory, but you carry it for me you carry it for anyone who's ever cheered for him. From Senna to Earnhardt," published just prior to Hubbard's death in February 2019. Other racing drivers to be killed by a similar injury were Roland Ratzenberger (F1), Blaine Johnson (NHRA drag racing), Blaise Alexander (ARCA stock cars) and Gonzalo Rodriguez (IndyCar). Things happen and people are going to look for somebody to blame. Earnhardt led four times for a total of 17 laps up front. Stuff flying everywhere. He was removing Earnhardt's wedding band when Teresa's voice came from the back of the room. Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash. When NASCAR and Joe Gibbs Racing looked over the car in the garage, they discovered that the steering wheel was bent, dented from the impact of Stewart's full-face helmet. Like most observers, he can't believe it was bad enough to kill the racing legend. At the time of the interview, Ken still raced and 2020 marked his 50th year in racing, so it has been hard to schedule around that, but they finally got him. On February 18, 2001, Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Dale Earnhardt Sr. were vying for the Daytona 500 trophy during the last lap in the 1, 2, and 3 spots, respectively. Earnhardt Jr. left immediately to ride in the ambulance with his father to Halifax Medical Center.. Some speculated that the belt had broken, which but Tommy Propst, who took part in the futile effort to save the racing legend, was adamant that the seat belt was intact, via the LA Times. Racing is a dangerous way to make a living and these things are going to happen. "Yellowstone" Stars Debut Relationship On Instagram, Dale Jr. "So, there's a stupid saying that you'll hear around the sport. Months later, when the photos of the car were released as part of NASCAR's presentation of its crash investigation, hardly any image didn't include blood stains. Earnhardt crash haunts Schrader | CBC News Loaded. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. We'll never truly know what he really saw, and that's probably for the best. His face was pale and his voice shaky when he lied and said he didnt know. I don't know why people are so fascinated by this. You can see blood, the bent steering wheel . It's going away from me with that junk. For me, Earnhardt was a man whom everyone wanted to be. Unlike his fellow competitors, who didnt learn Earnhardt was dead until well after the accident on the final lap of the Daytona 500, Schrader knew how bad it was the moment he poked his head into the battered No. "Because he's a racer, he has a very realistic attitude and has been able to cope with it.". It certainly didnt take long for fans of Dale Earnhardt Sr. to begin threatening Sterling Marlin following the fatal accident. Dale Earnhardt, also known as The Intimidator, Ironhead and Man in Black had died after a crash on the last lap in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18, 2001. 40 Dodge and was turned to the left and onto the flat apron at the bottom of the track. Schraders next thought was to go to Michael Waltrip, who was celebrating his first win, unaware of Earnhardts death. For many of us, that day 13 years ago is still clearly etched in our minds. I am a big believer that we all put our pants on one leg at a time. I dont like that, thats the kind of crash that hurts you. there was a very large sub called WatchPeopleDie a few years ago. 3. It suggested that, had Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin Jr. and Tony Roper worn head and neck restraints, they would likely still be alive. Just use common sense and look at the tape. I know that's a graphic description. It was a weird emotion. Ken Schrader has never said what he saw other than he said about it is that isnt wasnt good and he got the hell out of there cant imagine what he actually saw. Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who were running 1-2 when the white flag dropped, had separated themselves a bit as the pack hit turn three, which is always a madhouse as every NASCAR driver worth his salt wants to make that one last push to win. On his way, Schrader was stopped by a TV crew and asked about Earnhardt. We can only imagine why. For every individual, Earnhardt and his legacy mean something different. I couldn't do it for you right now. His car slid alongside Earnhardt's and they stopped nose-to-door in the infield grass. 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The wreck really didnt look all that bad. Whatever that was. He called time on his 26-win Cup career in 2017, and successfully transitioned to a media career, both as a commentator with NBC and a host of his hugely successful podcast, The Dale Jr Download. The summer before, Dorothy Schrader had spent a week with the Earnhardts on their yacht. There was no movement from Dales #3 car, but Ken managed to wiggle out of his and ran to his friends window. That forced Earnhardt's car to ricochet back up into the steep 31-degree banking, cutting across the front of the pack of the cars behind him. He made eye contact with Schrader, who was behind a curtain being examined. In a teleconference from Dodge MotorSports just a few days after the accident that killed Dale Earnhardt Sr., Sterling Marlin told his side of the story and explained that definitely didnt do anything intentional on that final lap. "It was Mikey's biggest moment and you're adding news that he doesn't want. Per NASCAR, the legendary racer supported the idea of the walls being made softer, but he did not like anything that would have slowed the races down. "I told him it wasn't him. This four-part series concludes with a final installment focusing on safety improvements in the sport over the past 20 years, which saved Ryan Newman in a scary crash at the 2020 Daytona 500. But he was immediately distracted by Earnhardt's crash, watching the No. As the garage was emptying, we were soon shooed away from Earnhardts team hauler. But this time he stopped to shake hands, laugh it up and hug it out. After the crash, NASCAR did an internal investigation and found that there were some design flaws in the cars that pertained to safety, per the Orlando Sentinel. 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