Seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Dale Earnhardt tragically lost his life on February 18, 2001. Considered one of the darkest days in the sport’s history, the ‘Intimidator’ was driving his #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo when he crashed into Turn 4 on the final lap of the Daytona 500. While both his cars, driven by good friend Michael Waltrip and his son Dale Jr. finished first and second, the result was overshadowed by the tragedy of losing one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers.

Recalling the incident at Daytona International Speedway, Dale Earnhardt’s best friend Donnie Rives shared the emotional moment as he saw the tragedy occur, and his gut feeling hinting at the outcome, even before he officially received the news.

A heartbreaking experience from Daytona 2001

It was the final lap at Daytona International Speedway and Dale Earnhardt was defending his teammates Michael Waltrip and Dale Jr. from any late runs that might be attempted by rivals. As the cars passed through turns 3 and 4, Earnhardt’s #3 Chevy’s left-rear corner hit Sterling Marlin’s right-front fender, making his car loose. While struggling to maintain control, Earnhardt’s car clipped the apron and began spinning clockwise, moving up the track and in the direction of Rusty Wallace and Ken Schrader. As a result, the right-rear corner of Earnhardt’s car hit Schrader’s left front, before slamming hard into the concrete at 160 mph.

Only the ones who saw it first-hand would know the silence in Daytona! Speaking about the incident on Dale Jr. Download, as Junior asked Donnie Rives where he was when the accident occurred at Daytona International Speedway. A visibly emotional Rives replied, “Sitting at the television. Looking, watching, it.” He went on to say, “After the wreck, I said, ‘Dale is bad’. I said ‘Real bad’. I just knew it. In about 30 minutes I got a call from Daytona, that they said, ‘He didn’t make it’. And I already had that feeling. I mean, it just comes over to me.”

When asked about how he coped with the tragedy, Rivers said, “It’s going to happen to everybody. The only way to handle it is if you know the Lord Jesus Christ is your personal savior. I mean, that’s the only thing.”

While the crash itself wasn’t anything unseen in NASCAR before, the 55-degree angle of the crash combined with the force of impact proved to be fatal for Dale Earnhardt. Schrader’s car hit the wall adjacent to the one Earnhardt crashed in, at much of the same speed, but at a shallower angle. As a result, Ken Schrader escaped the accident completely unhurt while Dale Earnhardt was transported to Halifax Medical Center promptly, where his death was announced.

A basilar skull ring fracture was the reason given for Dale Earnhardt’s death, the same injury that NASCAR drivers Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin, and Tony Roper also succumbed to in the eight months before the accident. Following Earnhardt’s passing, NASCAR made driver safety its number-one priority, which ultimately resulted in the adoption of neck and head restraints, as well as the introduction of SAFER barriers along with many more measures. As a result, NASCAR has not suffered a fatality in its major leagues since Dale Earnhardt’s death.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. fears his father’s legacy will be forgotten

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. has revealed that he’s trying to keep his father’s legacy alive in the ever-changing world of NASCAR through the documentary series, “Earnhardt” released on Prime Video in 2025. The documentary focuses on Dale Earnhardt’s illustrious career, during which he won a record seven Cup championships, tying with Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson. With newer NASCAR fans not getting the opportunity to watch Dale Earnhardt Sr in action or his impact on the sport, the documentary series hopes to keep the memory fresh in the minds of fans.

Speaking on the Rubbin Is Racing podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said, “There are a lot of fans in our sport, dad’s been gone for almost 25 years, there’s a ton of fans that have never watched him race. Tons of fans who never saw him race and hopefully we’re able to tell those people what his impact was and why it was important. I mean I’m rambling but when Dad passed away, my biggest fear was how he might be forgotten.”

While Dale Earnhardt’s legacy is etched in NASCAR’s history books, Dale Jr. hopes that the documentary series will offer newer fans a unique perspective and give valuable insights into the career of one of NASCAR’s all-time greats. As for many old timers, Earnhardt’s death marked a turning point in the sport, with lessons learned from the tragedy saving the lives of drivers even today.