Dale Earnhardt Fatal Crash

Earnhardts car slid off the track's steep banking, onto the flat apron, and then turned sharply up the track toward the outside retaining wall. As the #3 car came up the track it collided with the #36 Pontiac driven by Ken Schrader. Schrader's car hit Earnhardt's car just behind the passenger door, causing both cars to run nose-first into the wall. Earnhardt's #3 hit at a critical angle at nearly 150 miles per hour. The right-rear wheel assembly broke off the car on impact. The hood pins severed and the hood flapped open, slamming against the windshield as the car slid slowly down the track. To most observers, the crash looked minor, and certainly not as dramatic as his famous 1996 wreck at Talladega, when Earnhardt's car was pelted several times in the roof and windshield as it slid across the track.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• motorsport
• crashes

[bryonlape]

No matter how many times I see it, I still find it hard to believe that was a fatal hit.

[funkybassmaster]

If Dale knew you would have used this music I think he would have crashed into the wall on purpose.

[gbsailor88]

after watching the video of his '96 crash, i wouldve thought the '96 crash was the more violent crash. i remember watching this race and seeing him crash (he was and still is my favorite driver) and thinking oh he'll be okay, that wasnt that bad. Turns out the angle of that crash and no HANS device just were crazy enough to cause the injuries he sustained. Sad day for the sports world that was.

[legomarmadroblox]

Whats with the dislikes? Come on man this guy died for crying out loud

[MarkusReese]

@KironStrife Indeed, I cannot imagine what it was like for Michael Waltrip who was a team mate. For those of you who never watched the race (I watched live) it was even more dramatic with announcer commentary and lack of knowledge. Dale and jr were running block for Waltrip to get his first 500 win. And alot more to the story, recommend wiki Waltrip's 500 win. Was first race with team, got on front start, etc. But to your comment, not only died doing what loved, but much more.

[MarkusReese]

@bryonlape Basal skull fracture, essentially the safety harness restrains the body, but at the time they didn't use the hans (head and neck safety) harness. Going fast, forward motion rapidly stops, base of skull separates from spine. In fact, it is exactly what hanging execution is and why there is the long drop on the rizen platform. Instant death.

The irony is Earnhardt was one of the leading people against the device saying in an accident they would be strangled like a hanging

[dsiphor98]

@KironStrife i feel like he had a heart attack or something

[KironStrife]

@bryonlape I know right? people have survived crashes so hard, that it left the car an unrecognizable heap of twisted metal, but he lightly hits the wall and it's game over? that doesn't make sense.

[KironStrife]

At least the man died doing what he loved. No better way to go in my book.

[SK8antonio99]

Another reason he died is because he refused to wear a hans device which would have saved his life

[london6465]

@bryonlape ...totally agree. Its hard to accept this as a fatal crash. RIP Dale

[2pac4lyfe420WEEDLORD]

turn left dale noooooooooo