"I went back in my bus in the room and shut the door to my bedroom and just sat there," Earnhardt Jr. says. 3 on the pole for the 2014 Daytona 500, it will bring back plenty of memories of seven-time Cup champion Dale Earnhardt. Speed was a vital part of what attracted people to watch, and watering it down could have turned people away. A broken collarbone at Talladega and Earnhardt's rushed return had taken away his feel for the car. 40 Dodge and was turned to the left and onto the flat apron at the bottom of the track. His own teams cars, driven by good friend Michael Waltrip and his son Dale Earnhardt Jr, finished 1-2 on a day that should have been filled with great joy. 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. Theres nothing Ken Schrader can do to erase the image he has of seeing Dale Earnhardt dead in his car. Sometimes, it's through a formal investigation of a historic event, like a terrorist attack or space shuttle explosion. Earnhardt's death launched a NASCAR safety evolution that continues 20 years later. Earnhardt said to Waltrip two days earlier, in an interview with the rival-turned-retiree-turned-TV analyst. 40 Coors Light car. If only it had happened sooner. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Ken Schrader was the driver that hit Earnhardt behind the passenger door. Reads Letter To Ken Schrader 19 Years After Deadly Dale Sr. Rusty Wallace finished third while Ricky Rudd and Bill Elliott, who went from the pole to 42nd in a span of 30 laps, was fifth. Johns Hopkins Medicine describes this injury as the most serious type of skull fracture, and involves a break in the bone at the base of the skull. Them high-speed race tracks, you know you dont touch anybody because its going to hurt when you hit. I owe that guy and his wife, Teresa, everything because they took a chance on a guy who never won.. The strong run propelled him to 10th place in the standings prior to Sunday's race in Darlington, S.C., and did wonders for his psyche. Greg Newman recalls his sons frightening Daytona 500 crash: It was pretty agonizing just to stand and wait. "But it sure came back to my mind just about exactly 24 hours later.". There were 12 to 15 medical personnel in the room, each doing their task amid the controlled chaos. 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. A new @DaleJr Download Ken Schrader: The Best Week Ever! "And now I'm thinking, 'I wonder what's gonna happen with all this stuff?' It looked as though his save from Friday's IROC race might happen again. "He's been absolutely on cloud nine, just ecstatic," Ann Schrader said. But the fatal injury was a basilar skull fracture, with breaks in every bone where the skull meets the spine. I cant imagine knowing that and then having to go on National TV, and then having to It's a day many people will never forget. "We went in there and knew it right away," he remembers now. But this time, he made a point to come see me.". 8 cars, DEI, championships," he says. I didn't know for certain [that he was dead], but I would have bet. DAYTONA BEACH Dale Earnhardt died from a severe fracture to the base of his skull that caused bruising and bleeding to the soft tissue in his brain. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I think if people just come back to their senses and listen to what everybody is saying, and watch the tape, theres no question. "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe." As they signed what was sure to be a lucrative souvenir contract, Earnhardt suddenly said, "That's if I make it that far." "He came up and was like, 'Hey, you can do this. ONE BY ONE, cars started leaving the hospital to return to Daytona International Speedway. Earnhardt suffered a broken ankle, broken ribs, a fractured sternum and cuts to his scalp and chin. No one knew that February day would be the last one of Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s life. Sterling Marlin himself but his family as well. For racing fans although they were all on the same team this was on track to being one of the most exciting finishes in history. "It was Mikey's biggest moment and you're adding news that he doesn't want. Schrader had to talk to his 11-year-old daughter, a fan of The Intimidator and friend of Earnhardt's daughter, Taylor. Schrader had to talk to his 11-year-old daughter, a fan of The Intimidator and friend of Earnhardts daughter, Taylor. He was removing Earnhardt's wedding band when Teresa's voice came from the back of the room. It's been 13 years since Dale Earnhardt was killed on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. Darrell Waltrip was there too, with a growing number of NASCAR officials. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The engine stayed put, but everything around it moved, in some cases a full two or three feet to the right. Could this thing that a few drivers wore, called the HANS Device, really have saved him? (3:04). That's when Earnhardt, asked if he would wear a HANS device, had groused, "I ain't wearing that damn noose.". Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Schrader saw some bad shit that day though. These drivers go at high rates of speed over the course of a race, and the result can be a spectacular crash that puts the driver and sometimes even the crowd at risk a tire flying into the stands can be deadly. He touched many people in different ways. I was more excited about that hug than the trophy or the money. It was Dale Earnhardt who got me in victory lane and he should have been right down there with me. IndyCar at Long Beach: Start time, how to watch, entry list, etc. There were other drivers I had been much closer to who had been killed in races, and NASCAR was having a string of deaths. He diced it up all day with old Daytona 500 rival Sterling Marlin, and two cars he owned, driven by Michael Waltrip and Earnhardt Jr. "A great day was unfolding," then-NASCAR president Mike Helton remembers thinking from race control, the press box booth where NASCAR executives and officials monitor and officiate the race below. After the two cars slid down the track and onto the grass, Schrader rushed over to check on his friend. I knew right away when I saw him that it was just as bad as it could be. She didn't interrupt, she didn't, um, disrupt anything," he says. Just wondering if anyone has done the same for Earnhardt. Earnhardts left-side lap belt had separated in the impact, allowing his body to twist forward and to the right inside the car. It was a surreal moment. 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. Reporters cried. It was a weird emotion. We've got good cars, man. Instead, its remembered as a day of tragedy. Racing is a dangerous way to make a living and these things are going to happen. There were rumours at the next week's race that Schrader was going to quit, that what he had seen in Earnhardt's car -- which he won't discuss in detail -- was just too much to overcome. 'The ones that look really bad are never really bad, and the ones that don't look bad can be bad,'" Petty explains. Earnhardts teammate, Michael Waltrip, won the race a hollow victory. Dale Earnhardt's death caused the sport to look inward. It makes me feel close to you, Kenny. The leader is gone. It's just like a bellow of shock and sorrow and fear.". The emotion in his eyes was hidden behind sunglasses, but his face was pale and his voice shaky when he lied and said he didn't know. His non-fatal injuries were eight broken ribs, a broken left ankle and fractured sternum. As he threw his final block, Earnhardts left-rear corner tagged Sterling Marlins right-front fender, getting his car loose. The 49-year-old racer was fighting for position when he slammed into the I didnt think it was my place to tell the world, Schrader said. Her husband tried to talk her into finding a different verse, something less ominous. 1 in this weeks top 20 high school softball rankings, Clippers expect Kevin Durant to play more aggressively on offense in Game 2, Eric Kendricks finds himself in middle of a big hole in Chargers defense, The actor, the hairstylist and the eye surgeon: Drugs and death in a Malibu beach house, Have guests in town? Its been 20 years since the crash at the Daytona 500 that took the life of motorsports legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. and there are still a few folks out there that believe Sterling Marlin is to blame. Taylor explains calamitous pitstop that led to fateful Acura charge, Huge first Porsche 963 win thanks to rolling the dice Tandy, Huge first Porsche 963 win thanks to rolling the dice Tandy SN's Bob Pockrass recalls what it His first civics lesson? And that was it. Or do I write about the time after the Rolex 24 At Daytona when he says, Hey guys with a smile to a couple of reporters in victory lane?, I ended it with: Sorry, cant do it. And that is his legacy. Crew chief Tony Eury Sr. was also his uncle, handpicked by Earnhardt Sr. to lead his son's career. ", NASCAR vice president Paul Brooks replied: "Just like that. From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. The injury is caused by: impact to the chin, jaw and face; impact to the head anteriorly, posteriorly or laterally; impact near the top of the head; and inertial head loading, in which the spine and neck muscles are called upon to stop the moving head. Besides, Schrader had a lot of things going on and a lot of work to keep him busy. But I think we were all also thinking, 'Where do we all go from here? How could he attract the legions of dedicated, worshipping fans? Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The summer before, Dorothy Schrader had spent a week with the Earnhardts on their yacht. Chase Elliott to return to NASCAR competition this weekend, Chase Elliott to return to NASCAR competition this weekend Amid the commotion of rescue workers trying to get to Earnhardt, Schrader backed away, lost in his own thoughts and emotions. Before stepping out of the NASCAR trailer, Helton asked his colleagues, "How in the world do I say that we've lost Dale Earnhardt? It is memories such as those and others that Ken Schrader prefers to recall instead of what he saw Feb. 18. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. How Porsche's Daytona hiccups evoked the premiere of its Group C king. I thought I had this path and this direction, with him, to do what we were going to do. I know that's a graphic description. More often, the signs are much smaller, much more personal. Reads Letter to Ken Schrader 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. Youre one of only a few to see the darkest moment for my dad. Based on the fact that a basilar skull fracture is essentially an internal decapitation, Kenny probably saw Dale slumped over, jaw broken, and blood pouring out his nose. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. For those who ever made death threats to Sterling Marlin following the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr., shame on you. It was a truly sad day, one that would be etched in the minds of the people that saw it, but there would be something good that came of it. I don't know why people are so fascinated by this. On race day, there were so many of those stories, especially during the prerace ceremonies. 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 Detroit GP IndyCar stars to receive Shinola watches, The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team, The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team Sterling Marlin went on to finish fifth behind Waltrip, Earnhardt Jr., Wallace, and Rudd. Though you have intimate knowledge of those moments, you are a keeper of that delicate information. Bill Elliott, Ricky Rudd, Jeremy Mayfield, and Bobby Hamilton were right there in the mix as well. You can watch this clip below and listen to the full podcast here. Its no way in this world I would do something like that knowing the consequences and put myself in jeopardy, too. Its just the nature of the sport. Theres nothing Ken Schrader can do to erase the image he has of seeing Dale Earnhardt dead in his car. Thats all youve got to do.. After cheering home his brother Michael to victory in the commentary box, he said on air: As excited and proud as I am for Michael, Im praying for Dale. There was some initial confusion about what had happened with the crash. Fellow racer Ken Schrader was the first to get to him and realized he was dead, per ESPN. "I walked out after that. When we look back on Feb. 18, 2001, the day Earnhardt died at the end of that race, we find so much of both -- personal recollections about conversations that feel so foreboding now, and moments when so many racers chose to stick with the norm, even amid the constant sounds of safety experts' warnings, ambulance sirens and funeral parlor organs. The car was Adam's No. And for those still blaming him for the accident, its time to let that go. It was 13 years ago today when Earnhardt died on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. I saw it on TV and it didnt look that bad just another tough crash. Fellow racer Ken Schrader was the first to get to him and realized he was dead, per ESPN. Just a guess, but it's quite haunting to think about. Before @DaleJr let Ken Schrader leave the @DirtyMoMedia studio, he shared an emotional message on what he means to the Earnhardt family. #DJD pic.twitter.com/yuUtVhuJcB Actually, it was in fact the entire Earnhardt clan who got Waltrip to victory lane. His sudden frantic waving to the arriving trucks of the Daytona International Speedway safety crew was the first real indication to the world that something was indeed very wrong. I didnt know what the final deal was, so I just told him it was big and Dale was in trouble, Schrader said. "I was in the garage at the invitation of those teams and I knew who was going to listen to me and I knew who wasn't going to listen.". Dale Earnhardt Sr. couldnt have been saved by protective equipment at the time. The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team, The early benefits and challenges of NASCAR's Next Gen car, The early benefits and challenges of NASCAR's Next Gen car It happened with 25 laps to go, a multicar crash on the backstretch that involved 20 cars, nearly half the field. The day Dale Earnhardt died in a last-lap crash in the 2001 Daytona 500. "People didn't realize how hurt Dale had been back in 1996 and then again in '99," recalls Richard Childress, car owner for six of Earnhardt's seven Winston Cup championships and his closest friend in the garage. It led to the adoption of head and neck restraints (such as the HANS device) and the SAFER barrier, which was developed in conjunction with IndyCar and the University of Nebraska. Photo by: F. Peirce Williams / Motorsport Images. PHOTOS: Memorable moments of Earnhardt's No. He uncharacteristically bounded through his media obligations and answered hard questions about NASCAR safety, including in an interview with Ed Hinton of the Chicago Tribune and Orlando Sentinel, who was reporting on those issues as part of a series running that week. For many of us, that day 13 years ago is still clearly etched in our minds. Senior writer for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com. The Tragic Death of 20-Year-Old Sprint Car Racer Kevin Ward Jr. He was survived by Dale Jr. and his other son Kerry as well as his daughters Kelley and Taylor. When everyone else in the room broke out into laughter, he never joined them. 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 The summer before, Dorothy Schrader had spent a week with the Earnhardts on their yacht. Ive known you a long time and a lot of time has passed since that happened, Earnhardt Jr. reads. As soon as Earnhardt Jr. saw Schrader's eyes, he knew he would need to go offsite to Halifax Medical to see his father. But then Schrader's car hit Earnhardt in the passenger side door, creating a sudden surge of speed and turning both cars into the wall. Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash. Earnhardts son, Dale Jr, went on to become NASCARs biggest and most popular star. The News-Journal did a special section on Earnhardt the week after he died and each reporter had to write their fondest memories of him. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. When NASCAR and Joe Gibbs Racing looked over the car in the garage, they discovered that the steering wheel was bent, dented from the impact of Stewart's full-face helmet. I just want you to know that, and I know this is hard.' Tragic Details Found In Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s Autopsy Report. The wreck really didnt look all that bad. 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Peirce Williams / Motorsport Images of..., Dale Jr, went on to become NASCARs biggest and most popular star like, 'Hey you. The 2014 Daytona 500 crash: it was pretty agonizing just to stand and wait Beach start. Runs into it and is safe.: F. Peirce Williams / Motorsport.! Earnhardts on their yacht he saw Feb. 18 but it sure came back to my mind just about 24...: it was pretty agonizing just to stand and wait the 2001 Daytona 500 i... Accident, its time to let that go and onto the grass, Schrader rushed over to check his. Hurt when you hit around it moved, in some cases a full two three... Almost 200,000 people were in the stands at Daytona International Speedway why are!, DEI, championships, '' he says love our sport, just like that corner tagged Marlins... Knew that February day would be the last one of only a few drivers wore, called the HANS,., Teresa, everything because they took a chance on a guy never... 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