Ten years ago today...

#1
S

SyxxSynse

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#1
We lost Dale Earnhardt.

I still remember very clearly coming home after church and hearing the news. I had watched the 500 that day, including the crash and the camera shots of the ambulance taking Dale to the hospital. I didn't think much of it. I mean come on, it was Dale Earnhardt! How could "The Intimidator" possible get hurt in a crash that looked so minimal? But there it was plain as day, his face with the numbers "1951-2001" under it. I couldn't believe it.

I also remember watching the pre-race and seeing how many times FOX kept showing Dale. Walking on pit road, chatting with Jr., and kissing Teresa before he got in the car. I couldn't help but feel a little strange. I guess it was a premonition. I had a weird feeling that something was going to happen with him today.

His death is one of those moments (at least for NASCAR fans) where you remember where you were and what you were doing when you heard the news. Time stops. Reality doesn't seem real.

What are your memories of that day or of Dale Earnhardt's career?
 
#2
#2
I was in U.K. hospital. I had open-heart surgery on the 13th. I had watched the race and didn't think much of it. I found out the next morning because the medication I was on kept me pretty sleepy.

I can remember people buying anything associated with him like crazy. I guess, they thought they would quit making memorabilia in his name.

It's hard to believe it's been ten years.

#3 :superman:
 
#5
#5
Watched the race then drove an hour to the bowling alley in Bristol at exit 7. Was meeting some some friends to go to dinner. Flipped on the radio to hear post race comments and was shocked when I heard the news.
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#7
#7
I can't believe it's been ten years. I remember being young and playing basketball in the yard after watching the race then hearing he passed.
 
#8
#8
i admit that the media has wore this subject out. yes i know he was the MJ of the sport but still.
 
#9
#9
I don't remember where I was, nor do I care.

It's been 10 years. Time to move on.
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#10
#10
Finished watching the race and went on to church. Found out just after church started when one of my buddies cam in in tears. I was never an Earnhardt fan. I didn't dislike the guy, just never pulled for him.
 
#11
#11
We were in the hospital. My son, who was 5 at the time had gotten into his grandmother's pill bottle and swallowed one of her diabetes pills (he didn't have any problems but they wanted to keep him overnight for observation). After the race I went out to get some food, and when I came back to the room my wife told me that he was dead.
 
#12
#12
At home on my parents couch watched the whole think and thought nothing of the wreck. Went outside and shot some hoops, then was on my way back in to wash up for church and heard it on the tv that he had passed away.
 
#13
#13
I remember the concern in DW's voice and how Kenny Schader just walked away from the car after arriving on the scene first.
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#15
#15
I remember how he could get away with murder on the track just like that pissant offspring of his. With all of the "Intimidator" hype I will be very surprised if Jr. doesnt win Sunday. i.e 2001 Pepsi 400.
 
#16
#16
bubbacurry1 said:
I remember how he could get away with murder on the track just like that pissant offspring of his. With all of the "Intimidator" hype I will be very surprised if Jr. doesnt win Sunday. i.e 2001 Pepsi 400.
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Its-A-Conspiracy.jpg
 
#17
#17
I really don't remember what I was doing when his death was announced. I knew he was dead at the end of the race telecast by the way things transpired. There are certain things NASCAR typically does when there is a fatality, one of which is to cover the car, which they did. Also Schrader's body language indicated it was very serious.

He was a large part of the sport, but death is a possible part of it too. I actually was more impacted by Kulwicki's death.
 
#18
#18
rbroyles said:
I really don't remember what I was doing when his death was announced. I knew he was dead at the end of the race telecast by the way things transpired. There are certain things NASCAR typically does when there is a fatality, one of which is to cover the car, which they did. Also Schrader's body language indicated it was very serious.

He was a large part of the sport, but death is a possible part of it too. I actually was more impacted by Kulwicki's death.
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I started watching Nascar right after Davey Allison's death. Never saw Kulwicki race or Allison or Richmond for that matter.

Dale was the face of Nascar and Jeff Gordon was just getting started, those were some good times.

First race i attended was Talledega. The very last time they ran the June race. It was Hot as Hell, they were taking people out of the stands on stretchers. Also last time they ran 17/1 compression. Lead pack was averaging somewhere around 204 mph. I was hooked after i witnessed that. Gordon won that race, followed by Martin, Jarrett and Earnhardt.
 
#19
#19
I remember a friend coming to the door wanting to play basketball or something during the red flag after Stewart's flip. Well we ended playing all the way through the end of the race, so I never actually saw the wreck happen. When I came in side my mom told me Earnhardt had wrecked in 4 on the last lap. I was pissed. I mean he had missed the big one, how was he going to go and wreck on the last lap? I did look over at the TV to see some post race interviews and saw the ambulance, but assumed he was just injured and getting checked out away from the track. When they made the announcement later that night, I just went down to the basement to be alone, but my grandparents ended up calling because they knew how much I loved NASCAR and how big of an Earnhardt fan I was. I think I only watched like 5 or 6 more races that year. I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
 
#20
#20
if Dale Sr were still here, he'd be disgusted by all this knobslobbing and would be tired of it by now too. thank god we won't hear about it anymore after today.

he'd probably laugh at DW for crying during the pre-race too.
 
#21
#21
doozer said:
if Dale Sr were still here, he'd be disgusted by all this knobslobbing and would be tired of it by now too. thank god we won't hear about it anymore after today.

he'd probably laugh at DW for crying during the pre-race too.
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I can just hear him saying watch out for the piss ants eating your candy azzes.
 
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