The early benefits and challenges of NASCAR's Next Gen car, How Penske's rookie sensation opened NASCAR's new era in style, How Penske's rookie sensation opened NASCAR's new era in style Earnhardt Jr. recalls the day of his dad's fatal crash (3:04), 'How did we let this happen? Schrader couldn't avoid hitting Earnhardt's car, tagging him in the passenger side. Does Dale Schrader had walked to Victory Lane and delivered the terrible news of what he believed had happened in the middle of Waltrip's celebration, causing Waltrip to leave immediately. Our cars weren't fast enough and I'd fix that. I really owe this one to Dale Jr. 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 calls were from stock car drivers and teams. 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. Schrader also had his own emotions to deal with. Thats all I ask. However, in an interview 10 years after the crash, he did reveal: I saw a friend in trouble. Thats all youve got to do.. It was "We went in there and knew it right away," he remembers now. Unlike his fellow competitors, who didnt learn Earnhardt This is Part III of a four-part series on the life, death and safety legacy of Dale Earnhardt, 20 years after his fatal crash at the 2001 Daytona 500. Earnhardt's death launched a NASCAR safety evolution that continues 20 years later. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. With the No. "Tony's crash looked really bad, right? Earnhardt died of a basilar skull ring fracture, the same injury that had killed three other NASCAR drivers Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin and Tony Roper over the previous eight months. "Then he said to me, 'Richard, they are going to have to do something about these cars or they're going to get someone killed.' "I've got it all right now, Darrell, I've got it all!" "When I arrived and took a look, he had obvious signs of what we call a basilar skull fracture -- things we don't like to see in a driver, blood coming out of the nose and airway, blood coming out of the ears. "To this day, I don't know why I went to the hospital," Waltrip says. You can watch this clip below and listen to the full podcast here. THE 2001 DAYTONA 500 was without question the most hyped and anticipated event in NASCAR's then-53-year history. Reads Letter To Ken Schrader 19 Years After Deadly Dale Sr. Schrader, whose car hit the wall adjacent to Earnhardt at much the same speed but at a far shallower angle, was completely unhurt. He was so adamant in his distaste of the carbon fiber brace that when General Motors, Ford and NASCAR brought esteemed automotive safety expert Dr. John Melvin to a January 2001 Daytona 500 test session to make a presentation to drivers on its benefits, Earnhardt was the only no-show. ", Before @DaleJr let Ken Schrader leave the @DirtyMoMedia studio, he shared an emotional message on what he means to the Earnhardt family. In 1993, he led 107 laps then was passed by Dale Jarrett in the last lap. Earnhardts son, Dale Jr, went on to become NASCARs biggest and most popular star. 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 THE RACE ITSELF was a good one, with 49 lead changes swapped among 14 different race leaders. As that scramble rolled through the final two turns of the event, Waltrip and Earnhardt Jr. were breaking away, hammering off Turn 4 toward the checkered flag. "Dale said he just had to get her up in his lap and just hug on her awhile until she got over it," Schrader said. The 49-year-old racer was fighting for position when he slammed into the It was a weird emotion. 3 car as it slid down the banking and into the infield grass, clearly under no control. He arrived at Earnhardt's car less than 10 minutes after the crash, after crews had already cut the roof off the car and a surgeon stationed closer to the scene had already been administering resuscitation efforts. He was the first one to see the scene and he knew how bad it was immediately but he's not the type to publicize it. The veteran racer drove as if he were invincible, and time and time again, it seemed that way. 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. In the end, he decided he wouldnt let it. 8 cars, DEI, championships," he says. 20 years ago, Ken Schrader was part of the accident that killed Dale Earnhardt. The organization made changes to make things safer, according to NASCAR. I knew right away when I saw him that it was just as bad as it could be. He was beating himself up for talking his friend out of quitting and couldn't shake that "they're going to get someone killed" comment during the red flag. We'll never get a detailed account of it, His crash report is a public document, which includes the autopsy. As they signed what was sure to be a lucrative souvenir contract, Earnhardt suddenly said, "That's if I make it that far." Kenny Schrader came to Victory Lane and said, I just want you to know that I saw Dale, and it aint it aint good., Michael Waltrip, Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt, Earnhardts car owner and longtime best friend Richard Childress said: I thought it was just another crash. Then he delivered the bad news to Waltrip, who had just won NASCARs biggest race for the first time in a car owned by Earnhardt. That opened the door for a wall of cars, three-wide behind Earnhardt as they entered the last turn. To this day, all Schrader will say of what he saw is, "I just knew that it wasn't good. Just a guess, but it's quite haunting to think about. I didnt idolize Earnhardt I dont really idolize anything. How would Earnhardt's death to affect him? 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. As Marlin had the inside track, it seemed as if Earnhardt Sr. went to block, which led to his left rear getting bumped by Marlins No. As the cars tore through Turns 3 and 4 on that fateful final lap, Earnhardt maintained the strong-arm tactics that were the trademark of his persona. Per NASCAR, the legendary racer supported the idea of the walls being made softer, but he did not like anything that would have slowed the races down. I didnt know what the final deal was, so I just told him it was big and Dale was in trouble, Schrader said. How could he, even in a sport that is known as dangerous, die on the final lap of a Daytona 500? 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. That sticks with you.. After the crash, NASCAR did an internal investigation and found that there were some design flaws in the cars that pertained to safety, per the Orlando Sentinel. Nowadays, the cars are designed to prevent things like blunt trauma to the head. It was looking like Michael Waltrip would win, with the Earnhardt father-son duo just seconds behind him. Crew chief Tony Eury Sr. was also his uncle, handpicked by Earnhardt Sr. to lead his son's career. So were the 150,000 people in attendance, as indicated by their roars whenever The Intimidator took the lead. While Michael Waltrip pulled into Victory Lane, Earnhardt Jr. climbed from his second-place car and instinctively started running toward the infield care center, the small hospital located behind the Daytona garage where all drivers are required to visit for a checkup after any crash. I once interviewed him in his hauler at Michigan for a story about Daytona. Schrader became the day's unwitting messenger of tragedy. Other racing drivers to be killed by a similar injury were Roland Ratzenberger (F1), Blaine Johnson (NHRA drag racing), Blaise Alexander (ARCA stock cars) and Gonzalo Rodriguez (IndyCar). A racer through and through who spends his time away from Winston Cup at dirt tracks and other small circuits, Schrader had seen death before. Dale Earnhardt, also known as The Intimidator, Ironhead and Man in Black had died after a crash on the last lap in the Daytona 500 on Feb. 18, 2001. In 2000, he was hired by the racetrack as its chief emergency doctor. It was the first race of a new six-year billion-dollar broadcast deal and Fox Sports had wallpapered the nation in promotion, from ads during NFL playoff games to getting Terry Bradshaw named grand marshal of the event, complete with a Daytona 500 Eve ridealong with Earnhardt, who jerked the wheel like he was headed into the wall just to scare the four-time Super Bowl champ. In a teleconference from Dodge MotorSports just a few days after the accident that killed Dale Earnhardt Sr., Sterling Marlin told his side of the story and explained that definitely didnt do anything intentional on that final lap. However, the changes have not affected popularity in America, as the sport continues to gain fans, according to Tireball Sports. For many of us, that day 13 years ago is still clearly etched in our minds. How NASCAR is gearing up for its "biggest change" in 2022, Why Bubba Wallaces Talladega win is such a big moment for NASCAR, Why Bubba Wallaces Talladega win is such a big moment for NASCAR Tony Stewart's orange No. Photo by: F. Peirce Williams / Motorsport Images. We're gonna do this together,'" recalls Dale Earnhardt Jr. "He didn't do that before races. As his good friend Earnhardt was doing, Marlin was simply trying to win the Daytona 500. "I feel pain for you to have to carry that memory, but you carry it for me you carry it for anyone who's ever cheered for him. 40 Coors Light car. That's energy that's leaving. When everyone else in the room broke out into laughter, he never joined them. He got in his car and I got in my car and we ran a race.". Earnhardt led four times for a total of 17 laps up front. Emotional Dale Earnhardt Jr. Some speculated that the belt had broken, which but Tommy Propst, who took part in the futile effort to save the racing legend, was adamant that the seat belt was intact, via the LA Times. Unfortunately, Dale Sr. collided with driver Ken Schrader and hit the outside wall head-on. ", "The technician looked at me like, 'What do I do?' "Any time the driver's unconscious, we know it's going to be a difficult situation," Bohannon said in January during a visit to Daytona, his first time back to the track in years. Schrader was battling a pack of cars when The Intimidators car made contact with Sterling Marlins and went shooting up the high banking into the Turn 4 wall. I talked him into it. Greg Newman recalls his sons frightening Daytona 500 crash: It was pretty agonizing just to stand and wait. Rescue personnel work to free Dale Earnhardt Sr. from his No. The two-time Daytona 500 winner clearly (and accurately) believed that it was simply an accident and made that point clear in his first interview following the accident. But what happened was clearly an accident and Marlin made sure to get that point across (h/t Motorsports.com). I started off my column expressing my dislike for the assignment because I didnt really know what to say. It certainly didnt take long for fans of Dale Earnhardt Sr. to begin threatening Sterling Marlin following the fatal accident. I was a sportswriter for The Daytona Beach News-Journal at the time and I went to the infield care center after the accident, and will never forget how white Ken Schraders face was when he came out and how he stammered through an interview. On February 18, 2001, Michael Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and Dale Earnhardt Sr. were vying for the Daytona 500 trophy during the last lap in the 1, 2, and 3 spots, respectively. 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