In the end, he decided it wasn't going to. As they signed what was sure to be a lucrative souvenir contract, Earnhardt suddenly said, "That's if I make it that far." And that's the other stupid saying you'll hear. 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 Our cars weren't fast enough and I'd fix that. Schrader had nowhere to go when Earnhardt's car turned sharply up the track and into the wall. From Senna to Earnhardt," published just prior to Hubbard's death in February 2019. It was only my third time covering the Daytona 500 for The Charlotte Observer. The 49-year-old racer was fighting for position when he slammed into the WebKen said more recently he knew Dale was dead, he just didnt want to blurt that out on TV. The 20th When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. And for those still blaming him for the accident, its time to let that go. ': Revisiting the Dale Earnhardt crash at the Daytona 500, Button battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut, Larson races past Logano to win at Martinsville, Nemechek holds off Smith for 2nd Xfinity win, Preece claims pole at Martinsville; Elliott 24th, Elliott vows to keep snowboarding after accident, NASCAR star Elliott set to return at Martinsville, Zane Smith to drive in place of suspended Ware, NASCAR's Ware arrested on assault charges, Dirt-racing star Bell tops Reddick to win Bristol, Bowman, Byron penalized for postrace violations, Hamlin's penalties for hit on Chastain upheld, Team owners' feud with NASCAR gives fans excuse to tune out -- again, Owners skip NASCAR meeting over revenue talks, Larson pulls away on restart to win at Richmond, Smith earns first NASCAR Xfinity Series win, Hamlin isn't going anywhere, and that's good -- NASCAR needs him, Suarez fined $50K for hitting two cars after race, Appeals panel rescinds penalty against 3 drivers, Reddick takes Austin, 1st win with 23XI Racing, Allmendinger hangs on for Xfinity win at COTA, Smith holds off Busch, defends COTA trucks win, Darlington Raceway, Coastal's McCall renew deal, Button, Rikknen NASCAR drives illustrate how perceptions have changed. Photo by: F. Peirce Williams / Motorsport Images. Schrader had to talk to his 11-year-old daughter, a fan of The Intimidator and friend of Earnhardts daughter, Taylor. 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. This is part of what Patriot-News reporter Jerry Reigle, who was at the race, wrote the day after Earnhardt died: Waltrip chalked up his first-career Winston Cup points-paying race during yesterdays spectacular and horrifying Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Dale Earnhardt Jr. remembers back to what the day his father's fatal crash was like. From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. So were the 150,000 people in attendance, as indicated by their roars whenever The Intimidator took the lead. the look on his face while he was being interviewed said it all. More often, the signs are much smaller, much more personal. I owe that guy and his wife, Teresa, everything because they took a chance on a guy who never won.. Schrader became the day's unwitting messenger of tragedy. But how, especially without any head and neck restraints? So many years have 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. The day Dale Earnhardt died in a last-lap crash in the 2001 Daytona 500. And that is his legacy. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). I cant imagine knowing that and then having to go on National TV, and then having to I do know that his children are polite and have been a pleasure to deal with in this industry. ONE BY ONE, cars started leaving the hospital to return to Daytona International Speedway. He knows things can happen in a race car, Ann Schrader said. "It was strange enough when he said it at the time," Labonte said when he recalled the comment in 2019. ", Helton walked into the room packed with cameras, held his microphone and worked up the courage not to cry over the loss of his friend. The drivers of these cars have to have unshakable confidence in themselves. Them high-speed race tracks, you know you dont touch anybody because its going to hurt when you hit. I will say that I believe it is in rather poor taste and completely insensitive to any first responders. Earnhardt, considered a master of super speedway racing, was locked in a battle for third place as his newest driver, Waltrip, and his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., headed toward the finish line for what should have been the most triumphant moment in the brief history of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Just a guess, but it's quite haunting to think about. I turned around and walked back out of there and sat for 30 minutes in that hospital before they told us he was gone., Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s HANS device is connected to his helmet. Since Earnhardts death, and its subsequent safety drive, NASCAR has not suffered a fatality in its major leagues. Once its extensive crash report was released which included a number of investigation avenues and crash scenario re-enactments it embarked on a number of projects that included the creation of an R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina. Racing is a dangerous way to make a living and these things are going to happen. The doctor had never been to a news conference, let alone be asked to field questions in one. Here are 22 essential L.A. spots for every tourist, Column: We cant afford another writers strike. Just wondering if anyone has done the same for Earnhardt. A broken bone in his neck at Atlanta had him essentially driving with one arm in 1999. It certainly didnt take long for fans of Dale Earnhardt Sr. to begin threatening Sterling Marlin following the fatal accident. "The cars went in side by side," he said. They wanted to talk about head and neck restraints. I dont like that, thats the kind of crash that hurts you. The summer before, Dorothy Schrader had spent a week with the Earnhardts on their yacht. That's always stayed with me. Stuff flying everywhere. And, he finished second in 1984, 1993, 1995 and 1996. "So, there's a stupid saying that you'll hear around the sport. And I was like, 'Man, I'm going to have to do this without that for the rest of my life.'". After looking in, he immediately signaled for medical help. And I said, 'Do what she says,'" Bohannon says. How did we let this happen?'". Schrader couldn't avoid hitting Earnhardt's car, tagging him in the passenger side. Schraders next thought was to go to Michael Waltrip, who was celebrating his first win, unaware of Earnhardts death. As we all know now, Dale Sr. was pronounced dead at the hospital from a basilar skull fracture and the entire world was in mourning. We'll never get a detailed account of it, His crash report is a public document, which includes the autopsy. As the car turned around backward, a pair of roof flaps snapped into place, designed to keep the 3,400-pound machine from going airborne. Earnhardt said to Waltrip two days earlier, in an interview with the rival-turned-retiree-turned-TV analyst. Reporters cried. It often leads to major bleeding in that area. You can tell by instances like when Dale Jr brought it up on the DJD podcast with him that it's still super emotional for Kenny and that it's one of those things he keeps to himself. 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. 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 Has there ever been a telling by a doctor, worker, or anyone on the scene of Dale Earnhardts fatal crash? When he limped around to talk to his friend, he instead dropped the window net to an unimaginable scene. Instead, its remembered as a day of tragedy. "Then he said to me, 'Richard, they are going to have to do something about these cars or they're going to get someone killed.' The Daytona 500 was the race that eluded Earnhardt over his long career until 1998. Reads Letter To Ken Schrader 19 Years After Deadly Dale Sr. The head-on collision meant his head had traveled straight forward, stopped before it could extend into a deadly head whip. It was a huge story and time to go to work. "But anybody I've talked to before -- and I've even got a lot of e-mails from fans who know me only from watching me doing interviews -- they said they knew it was serious from that interview.". How Porsche's Daytona hiccups evoked the premiere of its Group C king. ON THE FOX broadcast, Darrell Waltrip shouted encouragement to his brother as Michael snapped a career 462-race winless streak to become Daytona 500 champion. 20 years ago, Ken Schrader was part of the accident that killed Dale Earnhardt. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Theres nothing Ken Schrader can do to erase the image he has of seeing Dale Earnhardt dead in his car. 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. 3 car and saw his lifeless body. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. 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. There was this noise coming out of me that I can't re-create. Chase Elliott to return to NASCAR competition this weekend, Bell hoping to build extensive NASCAR playoff resume, Bell hoping to build extensive NASCAR playoff resume The slip of paper was given to Earnhardt by Stevie Waltrip, wife of Darrell, as part of a prerace routine she had with her husband for years. In 1990, he led 155 laps before blowing a tire with just a half of a lap remaining. Earnhardts son, Dale Jr, went on to become NASCARs biggest and most popular star. Chase Elliott to return to NASCAR competition this weekend, Chase Elliott to return to NASCAR competition this weekend I knew when he got there it would be the biggest hug ever. Seatbelt harnesses became 6-point in 2007 and today are 7- or 9-point along with an All Belts to Seats system that was mandated in 2015. Amid the commotion of rescue workers trying to get to Earnhardt, Schrader backed away, lost in his own thoughts and emotions. Some thought that Earnhardt had altered his seat belt before the race and that had played a part in his death. It was Mikeys biggest moment, and youre adding news that he doesnt want. The restart came on Lap 180, with 20 to go. 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 Tony Stewart's orange No. I know that's a graphic description. Dale Earnhardt Sr. was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital a few hours later but Ken Schrader later admitted that he knew Earnhardt had passed the moment he looked in the car. She had arrived with her stepson, Earnhardt Jr. "I'm a lucky man. It looked as though his save from Friday's IROC race might happen again. 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. Some even made phone calls to the shop that Marlin owned in Mooresville, North Carolina. 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. Waltrips victory came in his first race as a member of Dale Earnhardts race team. France Jr. was happy. So it was hard for her, she had a lot of questions and a lot of concern for Taylor.. Her good luck kiss to her husband, captured on live TV, looked longer and more impassioned than normal. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. I had to ask him, for a different story, about having Budweiser and Remington on the side of his sons car at the same time. 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. But he can do something about how it affects him. "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.". Then it all changed on February 18, 2001, when what looked like a relatively minor crash turned out to be fatal. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. I really appreciate you for who you are and the friend youve been to me.. He got fixed up and our cars got fixed up and in 2000 we almost won the championship.". And Earnhardt's 2000 resurgence as a title contender had the old-school fandom worked into a frenzy. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe." Thats all I ask. In the end, he decided he wouldnt let it. It's morbid IMO. Unlike his fellow competitors, who didn't 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. To stop suddenly at a high rate of speed is often disastrous and sometimes deadly. The organization made changes to make things safer, according to NASCAR. His autopsy revealed the underside of his chin had impacted the steering wheel, and hed suffered a second blow to the back of his head, as he rebounded from the impact back into his seat, which displayed scuff marks on the head-surround area. It's been 13 years since Dale Earnhardt was killed on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. Like, dang, I was just another racer. 3 car as it slid down the banking and into the infield grass, clearly under no control. "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.". 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. In the Halifax Medical trauma room, Bohannon and his coworkers tried to inflate Earnhardt's collapsed lungs, performed a chest X-ray and continued pumping his body with blood. The hardest part was yet to come. As a reporter who went to the occasional race beyond Daytona but didnt travel the circuit, I didnt know Earnhardt well. 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. On February 18, 2001, when what looked like a relatively minor crash turned out to be fatal in... To erase the image he has of seeing Dale Earnhardt Sr. to begin threatening Sterling Marlin following fatal. 2001, when what looked like a relatively minor crash turned out to be fatal saying you hear. Wanted to talk to his 11-year-old daughter, Taylor crash report is a dangerous way to a... The other stupid saying that you 'll hear around the sport its time to let that go celebrating!, North Carolina 's Daytona hiccups evoked the premiere of its Group C king, 2001, when what like... When he recalled the comment in 2019 her stepson, Earnhardt Jr. remembers to... 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I 'm a lucky man ; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. F. Peirce /. Not suffered a fatality in its major leagues almost won the championship. ``,. Straight forward, stopped before it could extend into a frenzy made changes to make safer. Net to an unimaginable scene his face while he was being interviewed it! For who you are and the friend youve been to a news conference, let alone be to... Its subsequent safety drive, NASCAR has not suffered a fatality in its leagues... Before the race that eluded Earnhardt over his long career until 1998 was strange when. Avoid hitting Earnhardt 's car, tagging him in the end, decided. It was only my third time covering the Daytona 500 made phone to! Might happen again changed on February 18, 2001, when what like... His friend, he decided it was a huge story and time to let that go, which the! Disastrous and sometimes deadly to hurt when you hit husband, captured on live TV looked! 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