Please Remember Me!

THANKS FOR WATCHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MADE 100% BY ME!!!!!

TO OUR FAMILY...DALE IS A HERO!


Always a media favorite, in the weeks before the 2001 Daytona 500, Earnhardt stirred up controversy by skipping the annual fan and media preview event, drawing criticism from fellow driver Jimmy Spencer.

Despite the early start, Speedweeks was a disappointment for Earnhardt, who had a long-running tradition of winning at least one race during the two-week season kick-off. Earnhardt finished second to Tony Stewart in the Budweiser Shootout. He was also denied victory in the Gatorade Twin 125 qualifying race in which he participated. Earnhardt had won every Twin 125 event he competed in during the 1990s, and was in 3rd place on the final lap in 2001 when Sterling Marlin pulled off a slingshot pass going down the backstretch.

Taking it in stride, Earnhardt appeared relaxed and confident in television interviews on the morning of the 2001 Daytona 500. When the Daytona 500 started, Earnhardt showed early promise, leading the race and running up front for most of the event.

A multi-car wreck late in the race eliminated several cars in spectacular fashion. Tony Stewart, who had beaten Earnhardt in the Budweiser Shootout, found his car tumbling wildly down the backstretch. As it tumbled, Earnhardt managed to weave his way through wrecked cars and come out unscathed. The race was stalled to facilitate cleanup of the track, and when the race resumed, it was Earnhardt and DEI drivers Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip who were running up front. As the laps wound down, Waltrip was leading Earnhardt Jr. and Earnhardt.

On the front stretch coming to 3 laps to go, Sterling Marlin made contact with Earnhardt's left rear fender. Earnhardt's car wiggled but Dale kept control and he remained in third position. Marlin was known for having a fast car throughout the race, and Earnhardt repeatedly blocked his attempts at passing during the last few laps. With less than two laps remaining, Darrell Waltrip commented that "Sterling has beat the front end off of that old Dodge (Marlin's car) trying to get around Dale (Earnhardt)".

Heading into Turn 3 on the last lap, Earnhardt was racing three wide with Marlin to his left and Schrader to his right. In the corner, Earnhardt's left rear fender made slight contact with Marlin's front bumper.


Dale Earnhardt's crash in Turn 4 during the 2001 Daytona 500 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 rolled across the track.

While Michael Waltrip raced toward the checkered flag to claim his first victory, with Earnhardt Jr. close behind, the cars of Earnhardt and Schrader slid off the track's asphalt banking toward the infield grass just inside of turn four. After climbing from his car, Schrader peered into Earnhardt's car, only to jump back and signal for EMTs. As medical crews converged upon the crash scene, NASCAR on FOX reporter Jeanne Zelasko asked Schrader about Earnhardt's condition. "I'm not a doctor, but I got the heck out of the way as soon as they got there," Schrader said solemnly. Earnhardt was taken to Halifax Medical Center by ambulance after being removed from his car. Hours later, at a press conference, NASCAR President Mike Helton made the formal announcement to the world saying, "Undoubtedly this is one of the toughest announcements I've personally had to make. After the accident in Turn 4 at the end of the Daytona 500, we've lost Dale Earnhardt."

I DO NOT OWN PICTURES!
I DO NOT OWN SONG!
I DON'T OWN ANYTHING!!!!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Dale
• Earnhardt
• Tribute
• Daytona
• 500
• Cras
• Death
• Hero
• Tim
• Mcgraw
• Please
• Remember
• Me
• Race
• 2001
• Sterling
• Marlin
• Turn
• Sad
• February

[jman7t]

that was awesome...the best tribute ive seen

[vicky13vicky]

thank you so much!

Dale is always our hero!

Its so cool going to races seeing people show their 3 fingers in the air!

RIP #3!!

[polara08]

Beautiful vid. Nice work.

[vicky13vicky]

thanks!

i got more than 1,000 views and only one comment!!

THANKS FOR COMMENTING!!

[rblranger84]

probally the best tribute ever very good. wasnt ever a real big fan of him. but it still isnt the same with out him still to this day

[rbmx222]

and to think all he was doing was keeping everyone back so his son n team mate could be 1st and 2nd

[cie35]

loved this mostly because I did not have the negative posts(who could honestly post one???) not even a NASCAR fan..until I started looking at these vids...thanks...

[dragonflyjw86]

Nascar hasn't nor will it ever be the same without you!! I have tried to watch races here and there but since 2001 I just can't do it. It is lacking you!! RIP Dale.

[SPEEDSTER7201]

#3 rulz

[trueamerican1]

I must admit i still look for him o nthe track after almost 10 yrs. I havent been back to daytona since that day and i dont think i can go back. God Speed dale we miss you.

[RyDogRidesTheBus]

beautiful tribute ;)

I haven't heard this song in forever. It's a good song to remember Dale through.

[patrocks8803]

dale earnhardt your are and will always be the best in the business

GOD BLESS U DALE I HOPE U REST IN PEACE my friend

[patrocks8803]

dale earnhardt your are and will always be the best in the business

GOD BLESS U DALE I HOPE U REST IN PEACE my friend

[patrocks8803]

thank you for honoring a great legend

[summ3rqtpiex333]

or woman* haha :P