The car was Adam's No. I started off my column expressing my dislike for the assignment because I didnt really know what to say. Out of compassion for his friend, he went to the car and I think maybe he saw more than what he bargained for, said Schraders wife, Ann. It was You can tell by instances like when Dale Jr brought it up on the DJD podcast with him that it's still super emotional for Kenny and that it's one of those things he keeps to himself. All rights reserved (About Us). When we look back on tragic days in our lives, we always find what feel like missed signs of what was to come. Thats all youve got to do.. Evans Chebet and Hellen Obiri give Kenya a Boston Marathon sweep, USWNT standout Julie Ertz joins Angel City FC on a one-year contract. 3 car and saw his lifeless body. Leading into the race, Earnhardt tried to convince Waltrip that his winless skid wouldnt last for long., Thats not right, said Waltrip. Where were we supposed to go now?". That's energy that's leaving. Dale Earnhardt Jr. remembers back to what the day his father's fatal crash was like. "Truthfully, when I took a look at him in his car, when you have no signs of life after a major blunt trauma, major car accident, the chances of being resuscitated and survival from that are close to zero, but we try heroic measures.". Receive daily updates with the best country music videos, news, and more! Does Dale IndyCar at Long Beach: Start time, how to watch, entry list, etc. A broken bone in his neck at Atlanta had him essentially driving with one arm in 1999. It was the day that NASCAR fans and the racing community and family were in shock. It was looking like Michael Waltrip would win, with the Earnhardt father-son duo just seconds behind him. 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. As the garage was emptying, we were soon shooed away from Earnhardts team hauler. In 2000, he was hired by the racetrack as its chief emergency doctor. people are fascinated by morbid things. The impact registered around 60 G's, so much force that it pushed the entire right front corner of the car from an aerodynamic curve into a flat surface that fit the wall as perfectly as a jigsaw puzzle piece. "There's a great photo of that moment," Petty says. He clearly understood that people were heartbroken over the death of such a legendary figure and perhaps thats why they were lashing out. Dale Earnhardt Sr. died after his car crashed into a wall during the final lap of the Daytona 500 20 years ago. The rest of my life. There were just so many questions. An autopsy completed Monday showed Earnhardt died of blunt force injuries to the head. And the calls were even more disturbing as some not only threatened Sterling Marlin himself but his family as well, which essentially left him no choice but to fire back. It's a day many people will never forget. 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. He didnt get mad at all at the question about how beer and guns could coexist on the quarter panel of a racecar. WebDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Dale Earnhardt, one of the greatest stars in auto racing history, died Sunday from injuries in a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500. 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 What can be done to the walls? Just being honest, over the years what I remember is hearing his head was turned in an unnatural position and he had blood coming form his ears. These included the uncommon severity and trajectory of the car's impact with the wall, an immediately prior collision with [Schraders] car that put him out of position and a separation of the left lap belt under load that allowed greater motion within the car.. Stream now on demand. Ive known you a long time and a lot of time has passed since that happened, Earnhardt Jr. reads. Ken said more recently he knew Dale was dead, he just didnt want to blurt that out on TV. there was a very large sub called WatchPeopleDie a few years ago. Though you have intimate knowledge of those moments, you are a keeper of that delicate information. You can actually see Ken Schrader telling Michael Waltrip about Dale's condition in victory lane at the thirty minute or so mark. There were other drivers I had been much closer to who had been killed in races, and NASCAR was having a string of deaths. I didnt know what the final deal was, so I just told him it was big and Dale was in trouble, Schrader said. In 1997, he flipped his car with just 12 laps to go. Bohannon was still in the trauma room, watching a technician prepare Earnhardt's body for the mortuary. Theres nothing Ken Schrader can do to erase the image he has of seeing Dale Earnhardt dead in his car. But the people who lived that day in the arena with the man in his final hours still find themselves wrestling with the reality that Dale Earnhardt is gone. There's nothing Ken Schrader can do to erase the image he has of seeing Dale Earnhardt dead in his car. So many years have passed since this day and the man who was involved in the crash, the man who looked into Dale Sr.s window after the crash, has never spoken publicly about what he saw, until his March 2020 appearance on Dale Jrs podcast, The Dale Jr Download. Schrader had nowhere to go when Earnhardt's car turned sharply up the track and into the wall. In 1986 Earnhardt was in the lead then ran out of gas with three laps remaining. Them high-speed race tracks, you know you dont touch anybody because its going to hurt when you hit. "What I saw in the car that day, that will stay with you," Schrader said in his first extensive interview about the crash. "We went in there and knew it right away," he remembers now. 3 car and saw his lifeless body. Do I write about the time after qualifying where he slipped inside a gate and speedway security slammed the gate shut to keep fans from getting autographs? Chase Elliott to return to NASCAR competition this weekend, Chase Elliott to return to NASCAR competition this weekend Schrader later learned that interview was the first real sign to many viewers at home that Earnhardt might be dead. 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 the garage, just a few paces from where Helton was speaking, Earnhardt Jr. had returned to the garage to see his team. How Larson took the long way round to NASCAR Cup glory, How NASCAR is gearing up for its "biggest change" in 2022, How NASCAR is gearing up for its "biggest change" in 2022 Darrell Waltrip was there too, with a growing number of NASCAR officials. To the 17 million people watching at home, the crash looked like nothing, especially compared to Stewart's spectacular accident a half-hour earlier. It was Earnhardt, considered a master of super speedway racing, was locked in a battle for third place as his newest driver, Waltrip, and his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., headed toward the finish line for what should have been the most triumphant moment in the brief history of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. A new @DaleJr Download Ken Schrader: The Best Week Ever! Things got so bad in the days following the wreck that Marlin received death threats, which he essentially had no choice but to address. How could he, even in a sport that is known as dangerous, die on the final lap of a Daytona 500? He had a host of other injuries, including fractures to his ribs and left Age discrimination, How to have the best Sunday in L.A., according to Rainn Wilson, Hunter Renfroes three-run blast powers Angels to rain-disrupted win over Red Sox, Jalen Hurts agrees to five-year, $255-million extension with Eagles. I talked him into it. 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. Some even made phone calls to the shop that Marlin owned in Mooresville, North Carolina. Schrader saw some bad shit that day though. When everyone else in the room broke out into laughter, he never joined them. Michael Waltrip was not there. I am a big believer that we all put our pants on one leg at a time. Earnhardt, seemingly trying to straighten out without slowing down, went to the apron for the briefest of moments before veering back up the track into the outside wall, hitting it nearly directly head-on before being pushed by Schraders No. They couldnt believe he was gone. From Senna to Earnhardt," published just prior to Hubbard's death in February 2019. Just use common sense and look at the tape. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. With the No. 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. Not Hollywood, not L.A., not the country, At 19, he won a local school board seat. 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 On his way, Schrader was stopped by a TV crew and asked about Earnhardt. He made contact with another car and both vehicles hit the concrete wall. Schrader was sandwiched between the concrete barrier and the nose of Earnhardt's ride. WebDale Earnhardt Jr. shares note to Ken Schrader after dad's death. Waltrips victory came in his first race as a member of Dale Earnhardts race team. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. There was even a puff of brake smoke. I was sad, but unfortunately, death is a reality in racing. Its just the nature of the sport. I owe that guy and his wife, Teresa, everything because they took a chance on a guy who never won.. It looked -- and was -- awful. Earnhardt later told Schrader how Dorothy had gotten homesick on the trip, and that he'd spent a night comforting her. the look on his face while he was being interviewed said it all. Following a huge outpouring of grief from his legion of fans, the NASCAR industry made driver safety its number one priority. A new teammate of Johnny Benson, Schrader has had to relocate his own shop during the season in the aftermath of the Earnhardt accident. The result was blunt force trauma to his head, which is what killed him, according to the autopsy result. In the end, he decided it wasn't going to. For many of us, that day 13 years ago is still clearly etched in our minds. If they could drop out of school, accomplish great things, help out friends in need, own businesses, including a race team, and yet also dictate their will on many people, that would be a great life. 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. I cant imagine knowing that and then having to go on National TV, and then having to But just like 13 years ago, its still difficult to sort it all out, Earnhardts death. I knew when he got there it would be the biggest hug ever. 45 and Kyle Petty's HANS device was sitting in the cockpit waiting for him, one of only five drivers in the 43-car field to wear one that day. ONE BY ONE, cars started leaving the hospital to return to Daytona International Speedway. "Tony's crash looked really bad, right? and Ken Schrader knew there was trouble. He got fixed up and our cars got fixed up and in 2000 we almost won the championship.". 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. His steering wheel had likely saved his life. But he had might as well have been conjuring the feelings of the entirety of NASCAR. I knew right away when I saw him that it was just as bad as it could be. But Stewart climbed out of what was left of his car, shaken but OK. Some thought that Earnhardt had altered his seat belt before the race and that had played a part in his death. THE BIBLE VERSE was taped to the instrument panel of Dale Earnhardt's Chevy Monte Carlo when it veered into the Turn 4 wall at the end of the 2001 Daytona 500. "She stood on the back wall of the room, and she was very composed. For me, Earnhardt was a man whom everyone wanted to be. Sterling Marlin himself but his family as well. NASCAR's safety revolution was finally taking shape. In the days leading up to the race, his car's garage stall was in between those of Dale Jarrett and Bill Elliott, both of whom were fitted for devices by HANS co-inventor Robert Hubbard. 3 car as it slid down the banking and into the infield grass, clearly under no control. I've got it all! Schraders next thought was to go to Michael Waltrip, who was celebrating his first win, unaware of Earnhardts death. Nowadays, the cars are designed to prevent things like blunt trauma to the head. Theyre still working down there., Fox showed replays of the crash in the live broadcast. You got the sense that something wasn't right.". We've got good cars, man. Fellow racer Ken Schrader was the first to get to him and realized he was dead, per ESPN . He had a host of other injuries, including fractures to his ribs and left ankle, but he was dead instantly from the damage to his head, which included a ring fracture of the base of his skull, via Autopsy Files . Schrader also had his own emotions to deal with. How would Earnhardt's death to affect him? "Yellowstone" Stars Debut Relationship On Instagram, Dale Jr. That opened the door for a wall of cars, three-wide behind Earnhardt as they entered the last turn. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker. Once its extensive crash report was released which included a number of investigation avenues and crash scenario re-enactments it embarked on a number of projects that included the creation of an R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina. There are sections of walls that now use energy-absorbing SAFER (Steel and Foam Energy Reduction) barriers that can absorb the energy from a crash, though there is still a push to make them cover more, according to SBNation. It was Mikeys biggest moment, and youre adding news that he doesnt want. Earnhardt Jr. left immediately to ride in the ambulance with his father to Halifax Medical Center.. "I went back in my bus in the room and shut the door to my bedroom and just sat there," Earnhardt Jr. says. ", Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Earnhardt Sr. was there with one purpose in mind each race: win. "You could tell in the communication from those arriving on scene," Helton says of his view from race control. Theres also some photos that you mentioned in another comment that are tough to find. 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 18+, UK residents only, T&Cs Apply, Gamble Responsibly, Dale Earnhardt death: NASCARs tragic Daytona 500 remembered, Death of "hero" Earnhardt impacted me hugely - Ricciardo. I knew both those guys [Earnhardt and Earnhardt Jr.] would be right there at the end, said Waltrip. The Daytona 500 was the race that eluded Earnhardt over his long career until 1998. But how, especially without any head and neck restraints? Its a secret that youll keep til your last breath. It was just strictly a racing accident. Ken Schrader had the best view of Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. After the two cars slid down the track and onto the grass, Schrader rushed over to check on his friend. We'll never truly know what he really saw, and that's probably for the best. Do I write about the time he let the clutch out of his car at the gas pumps and his car lurched forward, almost hitting a number of people? Ive managed to find this: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/os-xpm-2011-02-14-os-earnhardt-first-responder-0215-20110214-story.html. 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. Schrader had to talk to his 11-year-old daughter, a fan of The Intimidator and friend of Earnhardts daughter, Taylor. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. 2023 question: Does a finally healthy Matthew Stafford equal a healthy Rams offense? It's not going back into my body as a race car driver. 3 Chevrolet, grazed Sterling Marlins car while fighting for position. I didnt idolize Earnhardt I dont really idolize anything. Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared Or do I write about the time he was so gracious in his hauler talking to me and another reporter about Daytona? But two hits from onrushing cars punted Stewart's car into the air. Dale Earnhardt Sr. couldnt have been saved by protective equipment at the time. His car slid alongside Earnhardt's and they stopped nose-to-door in the infield grass. ", "The technician looked at me like, 'What do I do?' However, in an interview 10 years after the crash, he did reveal: I saw a friend in trouble. For those who ever made death threats to Sterling Marlin following the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr., shame on you. Schrader, whose car hit the wall adjacent to Earnhardt at much the same speed but at a far shallower angle, was completely unhurt. That's when Bohannon realized someone else was in the room with them. WebKen said more recently he knew Dale was dead, he just didnt want to blurt that out on TV. But what happened was clearly an accident and Marlin made sure to get that point across (h/t Motorsports.com). It had been there when his crew secured his window net on pit road and he rolled away to take the green flag. It suggested that, had Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin Jr. and Tony Roper worn head and neck restraints, they would likely still be alive. For a fraction of a second, the nose of Earnhardt's Chevy corrected itself, pointed briefly in the right direction to resume racing. "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.' To stop suddenly at a high rate of speed is often disastrous and sometimes deadly. As Dale Jr. read the letter, Ken wiped away tears. As a reporter who went to the occasional race beyond Daytona but didnt travel the circuit, I didnt know Earnhardt well. So many years have 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. Theyre good people, and that is a reflection of the influence of their father and others on their lives. Back then, The Observer had two beat writers who covered NASCAR the late David Poole and myself. The accusations started flying almost immediately following the announcement of Earnhardts death, which came just a few hours after the fatal accident, accusations that werent true then and obviously arent true now. Dale Earnhardts death still an unforgettable day. ON THE FOX broadcast, Darrell Waltrip shouted encouragement to his brother as Michael snapped a career 462-race winless streak to become Daytona 500 champion. We travel together, we live together, we're a tribe. The veteran racer drove as if he were invincible, and time and time again, it seemed that way. Dale was in serious trouble." 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. He got so excited that he leapt out of his seat. When his race car smashed into a concrete wall at an estimated 180 mph Sunday at Daytona International Speedway, it broke eight ribs, his left ankle and his breastbone. Chase Elliott to return to NASCAR competition this weekend, Bell hoping to build extensive NASCAR playoff resume, Bell hoping to build extensive NASCAR playoff resume Unlike his fellow competitors, who didn't learn Earnhardt was dead until well after the accident on the final lap of the Daytona 500, Schrader knew how bad it was the After the two cars slid down the track and onto the grass, Schrader climbed from his car and rushed over to check on his old friend. Schrader also had his own emotions to deal with. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. I think if people just come back to their senses and listen to what everybody is saying, and watch the tape, theres no question. He took one look and instantly recognized by the body language of the doctors that the battle was over. An autopsy completed Monday showed Earnhardt died of blunt force trauma to the head not! 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