2001 NASCAR Old Dominion 500 - Ricky Craven first win

[noonecfcf]

among other things, awesome helmet on an awesome driver lol

[pespi24]

This was a classic race

[6wide]

FORD VS FORD

[legohalonascarfan3]

were all of cravens wins a close finish

[Lefht]

@legohalonascarfan3 Yeah, both of his wins were extremely close. :D

God I wish he still raced...

[CarMan792]

Craven is a class act.

[bclautz]

One of the really good guys in racing.

[HRFTG]

Back when you could run someone up the track without them spinning you

[TheSubstituteGnome]

Always nice to see a first-time winner, especially one who had to overcome so much adversity like Ricky Craven.

[day500champ08]

You tell how DJ and Ricky felt about each other. The beat on each, they bumped each other, but they didn't wreck each other. That's how you run hard and clear.

[KTrain2787]

I was at this race sitting in the turn 3-4 grandstands. That was the 2nd race i went to in 2001 the first was at bristol in march where another first time winner won Elliott Sadler

[DBZSam99]

haha this was my first race i ever went to i was on the backstrech and im certain that it got rained out i forgot

[LostHighwayFilms]

this is kinda random, but after the death of Earnhardt didn't they have a silent third lap for every race on the circuit, or was it just for the next few?

[RNCoyote]

@LostHighwayFilms

Silent 3 was on every track of the season

[speedzonefilms]

Benny Parsons <3

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

Allen Bestwick = Greatest Ever.

[InvisibleTeeth]

ESPN needs to have Craven do more booth work now. he's the best of the bunch.

[GTRF1V8]

ricky craven may have only 2 Cup wins, but both were hard earned. and both are the stuff of legends.

[racing202]

Despite all of the sad events that happened in 2001, it was a great year in NASCAR, even though Dale had died in Feb.

[fitzzy81]

@grandprix2412 because they wanted to stop drivers from jumping on the roofs of cars it blamed for failed inspections

[grandprix2412]

Why is there a pipe contraption being held up when he gets out of the car?

[MrShowbizguy]

Craven was so under-rated

[citizen059]

That was an awesome race; I was there in turn 1 that day and everyone was just going NUTS cheering for Craven at the end. Everyone there knew where he'd been and what he had to go through to come back and it was just a really great moment.

[notop35rule]

lol, I remember that safety bar they put up so guys wouldn't jump on top of the car. Now they fine you 250,000 for the car being low so no one would jump on it!

[awz121]

2001 was one of the best years in racing besides for dale sr. passin. alot of great moments that year.

[sneezabonk]

@awz121 Any year before kyle and jimme came in and stumk up the show

[nascarsignore]

Ricky Craven... the most spectacular winner in NASCAR. when he wins.. he wants people to know it

[mattb244life]

when nascar racing was good.......

[braves15]

I miss those camera shots of the drivers preparing to climb out of the car in victory lane.

[jonascar10]

why is Mike Wallace is in the 12 car and not Mayfield?

[RNCoyote]

@jonascar10

Mayfield was fired midway through the season

[NickWood07]

@RNCoyote Really?I dont remember hearing about mayfield being fired from penske that year. I thought that Mayfield got injured at dover the race before and broke a shoulder blade. I could be wrong though.

[notop35rule]

@NickWood07 I remember Nemechek getting hurt at Dover that year.....

[BWIGG17]

@RNCoyote thought he was hurt? cuz he came back and drove the 19 in 2002

[dansing763]

@RNCoyote I though he was hurt at Dover a few races before.

[jrdragster3323]

@RNCoyote cuz hes a pot head lol

[BRN14fan]

@RNCoyote That's cool that the Wallace bros. were on the same team for a little bit

[TheMonsterjamfan4018]

@jonascar10 mayfield was fired for Crashing rusty like 6 laps into a race

[dgoodin24]

put the stupid bar away, let them get on the car if they want

[RancheroBFT]

They kicked out tobacco sponsors, now have trouble finding sponsors every now and then. I can't tell how I miss the old car and all that. Fuck the chase.

Thanks for upload!

[MrHartfordHockey]

@RancheroBFT they kicked out at&t and verizon because they only want 1 phone sponsor

[metal9292]

I miss Benny!

[Cravenfan]

Bill Webber is a tool...glad TNT fired him last year for being a jerk to some fans at NH.

[braves15]

Ricky might have only won two Cup races, but he sure had to earn both of them!

[nascarfanatic2425]

@braves15 He probably should've won about 10-15, but things keep happening to him that prevent him from reaching glory. I think, (and I probably speak for millions), that Ricky's biggest win was the '03 Darlington Spring race.

[jamespic]

A Special Finish For Craven Before tHe Dramatic one At Darlington In 2003!!!!!

[vidEvWill]

Craven is a guy who ovecame a whole lot, those concussion injuries and everything he overcame it was awesome he won at Martinsville and Darlington. I'm sure he treasures his grandfather clock.

[vidEvWill]

Yes, I have been looking for this one. The Hamilton-Harvick contact was what this race was known for but the key moment was Craven's win.

[canadasimpsons555]

why did he kept saying ricky rudd?

[RNCoyote]

Rudd was a title contender that year

[jamespic]

They Were More Familiar With Him Driving For Tide!!!!!

[carguysn]

@canadasimpsons555 because bill weber has shit for brains

[slicktwilly]

@canadasimpsons555 The reason they kept saying Ricky Rudd is because Ricky Craven Won for the first time in his Cup Career. Ricky Rudd was driving back then and was in Nascar for a long time. He also won a bunch of races in his career, so in my opinion it's because they were so used to saying Rudd's name that when Ricky Craven won they just couldn't blurt of "Craven" and said Rudd. They do both have the same first name. LOL!

[A7xFoREVer228]

@slicktwilly Plus, Tide used to sponsor Rudd's car in the 90's.

[BumpPumper]

wow what a finish. that was an amazing move for dale to almost get it done up high, you NEVER see that at martinsville. 88 could have had it if craven did't run him way up ito the marbles in 3 and 4. (if dale thought ricky would do that,i bet he'd just bump the 32 out of the way ;)

[Nerrt45]

The pride of central Maine! I've been trying to find this video for a long time; great to see it again. Ricky won only two races but boy were they both classics!

[UnionKid15]

I love Ricky Craven, this win and of course his win at DARLINGTON over Kurt Busch, wow, great race car driver, thanks for the post, so, so much..!!!

[HilaryHaylieRocks08]

Allen Bestwick needs to be in the booth!!!

[richdeveau24]

I agree 100%. I cringe when I think that Marty Reid will be the one calling the Cup races for ESPN this year. He should definitely switch positions with Bestwick, Reid is way too annoying.

[BRN14fan]

@HilaryHaylieRocks08 he's ok. Mike Joy, Larry Mac and DW r better

[DavidSkywalker01]

Its funny how good NASCAR used to be. Now its a joke...

[FrodothePuppet]

NASCAR was cool before it became popular. Sure, some finishes are exciting these days, but it's not as fun anymore. It's not the NASCAR I grew up with (I was 12 and at school when this race happened). Too many things are different in just 9 years.

Cal Wells' first win in over a year; Cristiano da Matta won the Target Grand Prix of Chicago for him during the 2000 CART FedEx Championship.

[gadgefan48]

This truly was an instant classic of a finish! In fact, Rocky certainly knows how to win in style!

[DFP1987]

Bill Weber said Ricky Rudd instead of Ricky Craven, lol.

[HilaryHaylieRocks08]

@ DFP that was matt youm lol spelling

[S2KINDYCAR]

This race ran on Monday....didn't get to see it

[24midnightfire24]

what to rain i was 4 when this happen so i have no idea

[cevert4ever]

Nice one!

[greatassistant]

Great finish.