Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - 2001 Daytona 500, through my eyes, in my words.

DEI37 · 07-07-2003, 08:53 PM

This was just a quick essay, or whatever you want to call it, that I wrote about a year after Dale Earnhardt's death on February 18, 2001, during the Daytona 500. This is the way I think, and the way I feel about the happenings of that race. Some of the ideas expressed are my opinion, whether they be fact or not doesn't bother me. I believe that they are. Anyways, without further ado, here it is. I have no title for it. For reference, I was NOT there, but rather watched the events on the television screen. Honestly, I'm thankful I wasn't there.

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Sitting in the grandstands before the race, it was electrifying. We’d been there for six hours before the opening ceremonies, and had mingled with other fans, looking forward to a superb race. We’d met some new people, made a few new friends. The crowd of more than one hundred thousand just felt like family. During driver introductions, the crowd cheered the arrival of Dale.

Dale Earnhardt had a good season the previous year, and this, 2001, was to be his year. The year for the 8th championship. Everybody knew it. That sleek black number three car was definitely back in the hunt after a couple of less than stellar years. But the 2000 season had been good, and he finished second in points.

Dale Sr, and his son, Dale Jr, had raced together, and had battled several times. It was always exciting to watch. Junior didn’t look very much like his father, but he had his father’s driving style, and attitude. There was no middle ground on the elder Earnhardt. You either loved him, or you hated him. Either way, you respected him. You had no choice. For most, the hate was of his driving style.

We watched the race, and it was spectacular. One of the best Daytona 500's in recent history. Around lap 170, there was the massive pileup on the back stretch, and Tony Stewart’s car got airborne, and we figured that he’d be hurting pretty badly. Getting down into the final laps, Michael Waltrip was leading NASCAR’s biggest race. He’d had more than four hundred and fifty starts in the big leagues, but wins had eluded the younger Waltrip.

Michael is a calm, good-natured man. He’s usually laid back, and just enjoying the good life. His older brother Darrell, had seen much success in NASCAR’s ranks. He was Earnhardt’s teammate. Dale had faith in Michael, and signed him to a ride, and instantly put him into one of NASCAR’s top folds.

Dale Jr was running second, just inches off of Michael’s rear bumper. Nobody knew who was going to win. The two drivers were several car lengths ahead of the black number 3, piloted by Dale Sr. He was sort of running interference for the hungry pack roaring behind him.

Down to the final lap, Waltrip’s number fifteen is still leading, and Dale Jr is still there. The number three, however has closed in, and we wonder if he’s gonna do his famous “bump-n-run” on the two drivers, and win his second Daytona 500.

Of all the races he’d won, the Daytona 500 had been quite elusive in Dale Earnhardt’s career. Up until 1998, he wondered if he’d ever win the great race. He’d been close too many times to count. The 1998 running of the Daytona 500, though, brought that pain to a close. In an emotional finish, he finally took the win for the event. He was definitely a happy man.

As we watch the field come down the back stretch, it’s still Waltrip, Junior, and Earnhardt, 1-2-3. But, cars are closing in. Sterling Marlin runs down low going into turn three. Kenny Schraeder is up high on the track, trying to gain a position. Bill Elliot is in the mix, along with several other cars.

We think of Earnhardt’s typical moves on the track. Doing whatever it takes to win the race. Seeing the famous “bump-n-run.” Blocking low to prevent a pass. This time is a little different. He knows that Waltrip is leading, and his son is second. Of course, he also knows that Waltrip hasn’t won a race yet. What a thrill it would be to have the 2001 Daytona 500 as his first win. So, in a selfless move, he runs a block down low to keep Sterling Marlin from getting on by. Marlin moves up a little, and nudges that black Monte Carlo.

The previous one hundred ninety nine and three quarter laps had been the best 500 in a long time. The next three seconds would make it the most remembered in history. And, for yet to come. For all the wrong reasons. Marlin’s nudge should have sent Earnhardt’s car a bit loose, and maybe a harmless spin into the grass. We all know that didn’t happen.

The nudge was payback for an incident earlier in the race. Nothing bad was intended of course. Earnhardt had made a move for the lead on Sterling Marlin. Of course, a little bit of bumping was involved. It wouldn’t be Earnhardt if it hadn’t had been that way.

For whatever reason, the famous Chevy shot up the track in turn four. Kenny Schraeder, left with nowhere to go, t-boned the Monte Carlo. The car hit the wall head on. Things took place inside the cockpit of the number three that we’ll never understand. In the blink of an eye, our hero, the legend of our lifetime was killed.

The crash didn’t look too severe. But, we knew something wasn’t right. We weren’t sure. Those watching on TV saw the track safety crew work on his car. Then they saw nothing. We weren’t sure why.

Later that evening on the news, we heard the news anchor give his condolences to the family of the driver killed in the Daytona 500. Of course, having witnessed the wreck involving Tony Stewart, we figure that it was he that was killed in that violent accident. Of course, losing Stewart would be unpleasant, we’d get over it, and go on our way. Tragically, our first impulses were wrong. Mr Restrictor Plate, The Intimidator, Dale Earnhardt. He had been the one in that fatal crash, February 18, 2001.

Yes, racing did and does go on. We’ve gotten used to running without that black car on the race track. The TV networks paid homage with a little logo in the bottom corner of the screen on lap number three of each race for the rest of the season. Fans help up a three finger salute on lap three.

Some strange coincidences occurred during the next few races. For the next three races, there would be a caution for an accident. On lap three. Kevin Harvick, quickly shoved into Earnhardt’s car, won his first ever NWC race in just his third start, in an extremely close finish with Jeff Gordon at Atlanta. After that, the coincidences pretty much went away. Some people thought them coincidences. Most die hard’s say it was The Man in Black looking down from Heaven, giving his approval of NASCAR continuing on.

For me, Dale Earnhardt was my introduction to NASCAR. Some years ago, at the impressionable young age of about seven, while watching a NWC race at Talladega, I watched that black number three fly around the track. He didn’t win the race, but the car looked cool, and it was a Chevrolet. That sealed the deal for me. Sunday’s were racing day from then on.

While he was my hero, the guy I looked up to, he wasn’t that to only me, of course. He was many people’s hero. Even to those that were his competitor’s on Sunday, those were his best friends the rest of the week.

Yes, racing goes on. We’ll move forward. Unfortunately, there will always be something missing on the racetrack. It’s not replaceable. It’s not a physically large item. It is, however, the biggest thing in racing. The presence of a single man, in a single car. We will miss Dale Earnhardt. We embrace the legacy he leaves behind. We pay our respects, and move on. Albeit with wet eyes, and a heavy heart.

07-07-2003, 08:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
DEI37 Go faster! Location: Wisconsin	2001 Daytona 500, through my eyes, in my words. This was just a quick essay, or whatever you want to call it, that I wrote about a year after Dale Earnhardt's death on February 18, 2001, during the Daytona 500. This is the way I think, and the way I feel about the happenings of that race. Some of the ideas expressed are my opinion, whether they be fact or not doesn't bother me. I believe that they are. Anyways, without further ado, here it is. I have no title for it. For reference, I was NOT there, but rather watched the events on the television screen. Honestly, I'm thankful I wasn't there. It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon. Sitting in the grandstands before the race, it was electrifying. We’d been there for six hours before the opening ceremonies, and had mingled with other fans, looking forward to a superb race. We’d met some new people, made a few new friends. The crowd of more than one hundred thousand just felt like family. During driver introductions, the crowd cheered the arrival of Dale. Dale Earnhardt had a good season the previous year, and this, 2001, was to be his year. The year for the 8th championship. Everybody knew it. That sleek black number three car was definitely back in the hunt after a couple of less than stellar years. But the 2000 season had been good, and he finished second in points. Dale Sr, and his son, Dale Jr, had raced together, and had battled several times. It was always exciting to watch. Junior didn’t look very much like his father, but he had his father’s driving style, and attitude. There was no middle ground on the elder Earnhardt. You either loved him, or you hated him. Either way, you respected him. You had no choice. For most, the hate was of his driving style. We watched the race, and it was spectacular. One of the best Daytona 500's in recent history. Around lap 170, there was the massive pileup on the back stretch, and Tony Stewart’s car got airborne, and we figured that he’d be hurting pretty badly. Getting down into the final laps, Michael Waltrip was leading NASCAR’s biggest race. He’d had more than four hundred and fifty starts in the big leagues, but wins had eluded the younger Waltrip. Michael is a calm, good-natured man. He’s usually laid back, and just enjoying the good life. His older brother Darrell, had seen much success in NASCAR’s ranks. He was Earnhardt’s teammate. Dale had faith in Michael, and signed him to a ride, and instantly put him into one of NASCAR’s top folds. Dale Jr was running second, just inches off of Michael’s rear bumper. Nobody knew who was going to win. The two drivers were several car lengths ahead of the black number 3, piloted by Dale Sr. He was sort of running interference for the hungry pack roaring behind him. Down to the final lap, Waltrip’s number fifteen is still leading, and Dale Jr is still there. The number three, however has closed in, and we wonder if he’s gonna do his famous “bump-n-run” on the two drivers, and win his second Daytona 500. Of all the races he’d won, the Daytona 500 had been quite elusive in Dale Earnhardt’s career. Up until 1998, he wondered if he’d ever win the great race. He’d been close too many times to count. The 1998 running of the Daytona 500, though, brought that pain to a close. In an emotional finish, he finally took the win for the event. He was definitely a happy man. As we watch the field come down the back stretch, it’s still Waltrip, Junior, and Earnhardt, 1-2-3. But, cars are closing in. Sterling Marlin runs down low going into turn three. Kenny Schraeder is up high on the track, trying to gain a position. Bill Elliot is in the mix, along with several other cars. We think of Earnhardt’s typical moves on the track. Doing whatever it takes to win the race. Seeing the famous “bump-n-run.” Blocking low to prevent a pass. This time is a little different. He knows that Waltrip is leading, and his son is second. Of course, he also knows that Waltrip hasn’t won a race yet. What a thrill it would be to have the 2001 Daytona 500 as his first win. So, in a selfless move, he runs a block down low to keep Sterling Marlin from getting on by. Marlin moves up a little, and nudges that black Monte Carlo. The previous one hundred ninety nine and three quarter laps had been the best 500 in a long time. The next three seconds would make it the most remembered in history. And, for yet to come. For all the wrong reasons. Marlin’s nudge should have sent Earnhardt’s car a bit loose, and maybe a harmless spin into the grass. We all know that didn’t happen. The nudge was payback for an incident earlier in the race. Nothing bad was intended of course. Earnhardt had made a move for the lead on Sterling Marlin. Of course, a little bit of bumping was involved. It wouldn’t be Earnhardt if it hadn’t had been that way. For whatever reason, the famous Chevy shot up the track in turn four. Kenny Schraeder, left with nowhere to go, t-boned the Monte Carlo. The car hit the wall head on. Things took place inside the cockpit of the number three that we’ll never understand. In the blink of an eye, our hero, the legend of our lifetime was killed. The crash didn’t look too severe. But, we knew something wasn’t right. We weren’t sure. Those watching on TV saw the track safety crew work on his car. Then they saw nothing. We weren’t sure why. Later that evening on the news, we heard the news anchor give his condolences to the family of the driver killed in the Daytona 500. Of course, having witnessed the wreck involving Tony Stewart, we figure that it was he that was killed in that violent accident. Of course, losing Stewart would be unpleasant, we’d get over it, and go on our way. Tragically, our first impulses were wrong. Mr Restrictor Plate, The Intimidator, Dale Earnhardt. He had been the one in that fatal crash, February 18, 2001. Yes, racing did and does go on. We’ve gotten used to running without that black car on the race track. The TV networks paid homage with a little logo in the bottom corner of the screen on lap number three of each race for the rest of the season. Fans help up a three finger salute on lap three. Some strange coincidences occurred during the next few races. For the next three races, there would be a caution for an accident. On lap three. Kevin Harvick, quickly shoved into Earnhardt’s car, won his first ever NWC race in just his third start, in an extremely close finish with Jeff Gordon at Atlanta. After that, the coincidences pretty much went away. Some people thought them coincidences. Most die hard’s say it was The Man in Black looking down from Heaven, giving his approval of NASCAR continuing on. For me, Dale Earnhardt was my introduction to NASCAR. Some years ago, at the impressionable young age of about seven, while watching a NWC race at Talladega, I watched that black number three fly around the track. He didn’t win the race, but the car looked cool, and it was a Chevrolet. That sealed the deal for me. Sunday’s were racing day from then on. While he was my hero, the guy I looked up to, he wasn’t that to only me, of course. He was many people’s hero. Even to those that were his competitor’s on Sunday, those were his best friends the rest of the week. Yes, racing goes on. We’ll move forward. Unfortunately, there will always be something missing on the racetrack. It’s not replaceable. It’s not a physically large item. It is, however, the biggest thing in racing. The presence of a single man, in a single car. We will miss Dale Earnhardt. We embrace the legacy he leaves behind. We pay our respects, and move on. Albeit with wet eyes, and a heavy heart. __________________ Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.