But that hug never came. Me? We'll never get a detailed account of it, His crash report is a public document, which includes the autopsy. But Stewart climbed out of what was left of his car, shaken but OK. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker. How Penske's rookie sensation opened NASCAR's new era in style, Six key themes to follow in the 2022 NASCAR Cup season, Six key themes to follow in the 2022 NASCAR Cup season One circuit later, he allowed Michael Waltrip to slide by, taking Earnhardt Jr. with him. To stop suddenly at a high rate of speed is often disastrous and sometimes deadly. He clearly understood that people were heartbroken over the death of such a legendary figure and perhaps thats why they were lashing out. I didnt idolize Earnhardt I dont really idolize anything. I couldn't do it for you right now. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. He knows things can happen in a race car, Ann Schrader said. The doctor had never been to a news conference, let alone be asked to field questions in one. 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. Ken said more recently he knew Dale was dead, he just didnt want to blurt that out on TV. So were the 150,000 people in attendance, as indicated by their roars whenever The Intimidator took the lead. Where were we supposed to go now?". "I saw a friend in trouble. He didnt get mad at all at the question about how beer and guns could coexist on the quarter panel of a racecar. But what happened was clearly an accident and Marlin made sure to get that point across (h/t Motorsports.com). Speed was a vital part of what attracted people to watch, and watering it down could have turned people away. As Marlin had the inside track, it seemed as if Earnhardt Sr. went to block, which led to his left rear getting bumped by Marlins No. "It was Mikey's biggest moment and you're adding news that he doesn't want. 45 and Kyle Petty's HANS device was sitting in the cockpit waiting for him, one of only five drivers in the 43-car field to wear one that day. WebAmazing yet sad Documentary on the day Dale Earnhardt Sr. Died. Does Dale WebDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Dale Earnhardt, one of the greatest stars in auto racing history, died Sunday from injuries in a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500. 2023 question: Does a finally healthy Matthew Stafford equal a healthy Rams offense? That's when Earnhardt, asked if he would wear a HANS device, had groused, "I ain't wearing that damn noose.". "But at the same time, he takes comfort in that one of the last people Dale might have seen and heard was Kenny, a friend who was there for him.". And Tony never really stopped, did he? The impact registered around 60 G's, so much force that it pushed the entire right front corner of the car from an aerodynamic curve into a flat surface that fit the wall as perfectly as a jigsaw puzzle piece. "We went in there and knew it right away," he remembers now. There's nothing Ken Schrader can do to erase the image he has of seeing Dale Earnhardt dead in his car. In it, he recalled: I couldnt wait for Dale to get to Victory Lane. "I thought to myself in that very moment, 'I'm gonna have to do this by myself.' As they played out, Waltrip added: Those kind of licks are the worst kind; theyre sudden. The wreck really didnt look all that bad. I knew right away when I saw him that it was just as bad as it could be. Waltrips victory came in his first race as a member of Dale Earnhardts race team. Kenny Schrader came to Victory Lane and said, I just want you to know that I saw Dale, and it aint it aint good., Michael Waltrip, Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt, Earnhardts car owner and longtime best friend Richard Childress said: I thought it was just another crash. He diced it up all day with old Daytona 500 rival Sterling Marlin, and two cars he owned, driven by Michael Waltrip and Earnhardt Jr. "A great day was unfolding," then-NASCAR president Mike Helton remembers thinking from race control, the press box booth where NASCAR executives and officials monitor and officiate the race below. Fellow racer Ken Schrader was the first to get to him and realized he was dead, per ESPN . He had a host of other injuries, including fractures to his ribs and left ankle, but he was dead instantly from the damage to his head, which included a ring fracture of the base of his skull, via Autopsy Files . Earnhardt's death launched a NASCAR safety evolution that continues 20 years later. That's energy that's leaving. "I thought for us to be able to deliver it to Fox on their premiere Daytona 500," Helton says, "was everything we wanted it to be for the audience that was watching it on television.". 36 into the infield grass. It was Schraders mannerisms, coupled with the fact that Earnhardt was being taken straight to the hospital, that hinted of a tragic day. His sudden frantic waving to the arriving trucks of the Daytona International Speedway safety crew was the first real indication to the world that something was indeed very wrong. There were rumors at the next weeks race that Schrader was going to quit, that what he had seen in Earnhardts car--which he wont discuss in detail--was just too much to overcome. He drafted with me in those last few laps and as long as we were leading, then everything was fine.. The accident happened a half-mile from the finish of the NASCAR season-opener. The trauma room was just inside the door. To this day, all Schrader will say of what he saw is, "I just knew that it wasn't good. Schrader became the day's unwitting messenger of tragedy. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. That opened the door for a wall of cars, three-wide behind Earnhardt as they entered the last turn. He quickly took his father's mantle and became the face of the sport, being named Most Popular Driver 15 straight years, according to Sportscasting. But he was immediately distracted by Earnhardt's crash, watching the No. there was a very large sub called WatchPeopleDie a few years ago. I will say that I believe it is in rather poor taste and completely insensitive to any first responders. I cant imagine knowing that and then having to go on National TV, and then having to face Richard Childress and Michael Waltrip. These drivers go at high rates of speed over the course of a race, and the result can be a spectacular crash that puts the driver and sometimes even the crowd at risk a tire flying into the stands can be deadly. It was a truly sad day, one that would be etched in the minds of the people that saw it, but there would be something good that came of it. There were 12 to 15 medical personnel in the room, each doing their task amid the controlled chaos. It's a test of skill, reflexes, and concentration, along with resource management and nerves. Schrader, whose car hit the wall adjacent to Earnhardt at much the same speed but at a far shallower angle, was completely unhurt. Both Earnhardt and Earnhardt Jr. blocked Marlin, who had the strongest car of the day, in the final five circuits. "And watching Ken Schrader, quite frankly, move around the way he was moving around. Detroit GP IndyCar stars to receive Shinola watches, The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team, The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team 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. To the 17 million people watching at home, the crash looked like nothing, especially compared to Stewart's spectacular accident a half-hour earlier. And that is his legacy. Bell hoping to build extensive NASCAR playoff resume, Detroit GP IndyCar stars to receive Shinola watches, Detroit GP IndyCar stars to receive Shinola watches "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe." Such was the case that day as Dale Earnhardt Sr., Sterling Marlin, and Ken Schrader went three-wide as turn four approached. ", Before @DaleJr let Ken Schrader leave the @DirtyMoMedia studio, he shared an emotional message on what he means to the Earnhardt family. There are sections of walls that now use energy-absorbing SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barriers that can absorb the energy from a crash, though there is still a push to make them cover more, according to SBNation. Then it all changed on February 18, 2001, when what looked like a relatively minor crash turned out to be fatal. Ive managed to find this: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-xpm-2011-02-14-os-earnhardt-first-responder-0215-20110214-story.html. I know that's a graphic description. It was fairly small and there were photographers and videographers standing on desks trying to get a shot of NASCAR President Mike Helton uttering the words that Earnhardt had died. Before that race Waltrip was 0-462. 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly, Dale Earnhardt death: NASCARs tragic Daytona 500 remembered, Death of "hero" Earnhardt impacted me hugely - Ricciardo. IndyCar at Long Beach: Start time, how to watch, entry list, etc. As that scramble rolled through the final two turns of the event, Waltrip and Earnhardt Jr. were breaking away, hammering off Turn 4 toward the checkered flag. NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. crafted a perfect persona borne of belief in himself he often walked around wearing sunglasses and a stone-faced look. How Porsche's Daytona hiccups evoked the premiere of its Group C king. You got the sense that something wasn't right.". In the garage, just a few paces from where Helton was speaking, Earnhardt Jr. had returned to the garage to see his team. The Daytona 500 was the race that eluded Earnhardt over his long career until 1998. On Friday, he produced a genuine Intimidator moment when he was spun out by Indy 500 champ Eddie Cheever in an IROC event, sliding his Pontiac through the grass, whipping it back up onto the banking, finishing seventh, then stalking a terrified Cheever on pit road after the race. Could this thing that a few drivers wore, called the HANS Device, really have saved him? Dale Sr. was officially pronounced dead at a nearby hospital shortly after the crash. As the garage was emptying, we were soon shooed away from Earnhardts team hauler. I didn't know for certain (he was dead), but I would have bet. Earnhardt's son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., was participating in the same race that his father died. "When I walked up to that car, I thought about a lot of things over the next couple of hours, and quitting was never on the list," he said. But then Schrader's car hit Earnhardt in the passenger side door, creating a sudden surge of speed and turning both cars into the wall. He got fixed up and our cars got fixed up and in 2000 we almost won the championship.". Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash. Dr. Steve Bohannon had been a Daytona Beach resident since 1986, working at Halifax Health Medical Center, located less than a mile and a half from the speedway's start-finish line. His first civics lesson? His non-fatal injuries were eight broken ribs, a broken left ankle and fractured sternum. 3 Chevrolet, grazed Sterling Marlins car while fighting for position. THE RACE ITSELF was a good one, with 49 lead changes swapped among 14 different race leaders. I'm not discouraging the question from being asked. I hollered at Dale a couple of times [on the radio] and he didnt answer back which was a little unusual., Schrader, who was the first person to attend the crash scene, said that moment will always stay with me and has famously refused to divulge any details of what he saw inside Earnhardts car. 3 car and saw his lifeless body. Through it all, he's remained strong and spirited. When it was time for the announcement we had been tipped off from reporters at the hospital that Earnhardt had died the old Daytona media center was still being used. You can actually see Ken Schrader telling Michael Waltrip about Dale's condition in victory lane at the thirty minute or so mark. It did a pirouette, landing on the hood of another car and barrel-rolling twice before landing atop teammate Bobby Labonte's car and eventually sliding to rest, destroyed, in the backstretch grass. Every Daytona race had to have an Earnhardt story, and there were plenty of times when it was a mad scramble to get him following an event. Theyre still working down there., Fox showed replays of the crash in the live broadcast. Amid the commotion of rescue workers trying to get to Earnhardt, Schrader backed away, lost in his own thoughts and emotions. Rescue personnel work to free Dale Earnhardt Sr. from his No. Earnhardt suffered a broken ankle, broken ribs, a fractured sternum and cuts to his scalp and chin. Its no way in this world I would do something like that knowing the consequences and put myself in jeopardy, too. You can see blood, the bent steering wheel . All she said was, "No. Bill Elliott, Ricky Rudd, Jeremy Mayfield, and Bobby Hamilton were right there in the mix as well. France Jr. was happy. No one knew that February day would be the last one of Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s life. Emotional Dale Earnhardt Jr. Huge first Porsche 963 win thanks to rolling the dice Tandy, How Porsche's Daytona hiccups evoked the premiere of its Group C king, How Porsche's Daytona hiccups evoked the premiere of its Group C king He uncharacteristically bounded through his media obligations and answered hard questions about NASCAR safety, including in an interview with Ed Hinton of the Chicago Tribune and Orlando Sentinel, who was reporting on those issues as part of a series running that week. Just a guess, but it's quite haunting to think about. Here are 22 essential L.A. spots for every tourist, Column: We cant afford another writers strike. He finished second in his division in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, second to youngster Tony Stewart in the Bud Shootout All-Star event, and third in his 125-mile qualifier. Fellow racer Ken Schrader was the first to get to him and realized he was dead, per ESPN. 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. Dale Earnhardts death still an unforgettable day. And the calls were even more disturbing as some not only threatened Sterling Marlin himself but his family as well, which essentially left him no choice but to fire back. Schrader had walked to Victory Lane and delivered the terrible news of what he believed had happened in the middle of Waltrip's celebration, causing Waltrip to leave immediately. On his way, Schrader was stopped by a TV crew and asked about Earnhardt. In 1993, he led 107 laps then was passed by Dale Jarrett in the last lap. A racer through and through who spends his time away from Winston Cup at dirt tracks and other small circuits, Schrader had seen death before. WebKen Schraders age is 67. Schrader was sandwiched between the concrete barrier and the nose of Earnhardt's ride. Senior writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com. I once interviewed him in his hauler at Michigan for a story about Daytona. Receive daily updates with the best country music videos, news, and more! Ken Schrader had the best view of Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash. 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. Normally, his march to his waiting ride was a gotta-get-there mission. 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. But we were all focused on getting the race restarted.". 3 | NASCAR's most beloved drivers. In the final 20 minutes of their two-hour podcast, Ken was informed that he has been the most requested guest in their 288 episodes. Earnhardt said to Waltrip two days earlier, in an interview with the rival-turned-retiree-turned-TV analyst. When the news was brought to them from the emergency room, everyone there in that moment who talks about it now says what they remember most is silence. I didnt know for certain [he was dead], but I would have bet. Fans hold up three fingers on the 3rd lap to remember Dale Earnhardt ten years after he died, Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images, Earnhardts former rival Darrell Waltrip was calling the race for Fox Sports, which was broadcasting the Daytona 500 for the first time. Both vehicles then traveled across the race track and onto the grass. Schrader's next thought was to go to Michael Waltrip, who was celebrating his first win in Victory Lane, unaware of Earnhardt's death. On his way, Schrader was stopped by a TV crew and asked about Earnhardt. The emotion in his eyes was hidden behind sunglasses, but his face was pale and his voice shaky when he lied and said he didn't know. Kenny has never talked about it like that and never will. We'll never truly know what he really saw, and that's probably for the best. Ken Schrader would have the most accurate account. Based on the fact that a basilar skull fracture is essentially an internal decapitation, Kenny probably saw Dale slumped over, jaw broken, and blood pouring out his nose. The News-Journal did a special section on Earnhardt the week after he died and each reporter had to write their fondest memories of him. Instead, its remembered as a day of tragedy. The drivers of these cars have to have unshakable confidence in themselves. Dale Earnhardt Sr. couldnt have been saved by protective equipment at the time. It had been nearly two hours and they were about to step into the media center to address the world. It was Mikeys biggest moment, and youre adding news that he doesnt want. And that was it. He got to race in these newer cars and tracks before semi-retiring in 2017. I feel pain for you to have to carry that memory, but you carry it for me, you carry it for (sister) Kelley, for dads family, you carry it for anyone whos ever cheered for him. Knows things can happen in a race car, shaken but OK and completely insensitive to any first.! Richard Childress and Michael Waltrip, Ann Schrader said of it, march! Section on Earnhardt the week after he died and each reporter had to write their fondest memories of him their. Had been nearly two hours and they were lashing out restarted. `` have turned people away licks. Distracted by Earnhardt 's son, Dale Earnhardt Sr. 's life Dale to to. Could have turned people away was left of his car, shaken but OK alone be asked to questions... 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