Times later on, at the a news conference, NASCAR President Mike Helton produced brand new formal statement to everyone saying, «Positively this is one of several most difficult notices I have actually got and then make
Inspite of the early start, Speedweeks try a dissatisfaction for Earnhardt, who’d a long-running lifestyle regarding profitable a minumum of one competition inside a couple of-day 12 months kick-of. He was also refused earn from the Gatorade Dual 125 qualifying battle in which he took part. Earnhardt got claimed all Twin 125 event he competed in while in the the 1990s, and was at third place on the last lap in the 2001 when Sterling Marlin taken from an excellent slingshot solution taking place the fresh new backstretch.
Getting it for the stride, Earnhardt appeared relaxed and you can confident in tv interviews on the day of the 2001 Daytona five hundred. If Daytona five hundred started, Earnhardt shown very early promise, best new competition and you will powering in advance for the majority of of one’s feel.
Because tumbled, Earnhardt was able to incorporate their means as a result of ruined trucks and you will become aside unscathed
A multiple-car accident later regarding race got rid of numerous vehicles inside the dazzling trends. Tony Stewart, that has beaten Earnhardt on the Budweiser Shootout, discovered their vehicles tumbling very down the backstretch. The fresh battle is red-colored flagged to help you facilitate cleanup of your track, if in case the fresh race started again, it actually was Earnhardt and you will DEI drivers Earnhardt Jr. and you may Michael Waltrip who had been running up front. Due to the fact laps injury off, Waltrip is leading Earnhardt Jr. and you may Earnhardt.
Towards the side offer visiting step three laps commit, Sterling Marlin generated connection with Earnhardt’s remaining butt fender. Earnhardt’s vehicle wiggled but Dale leftover handle in which he stayed when you look at the third updates. Marlin try known for with a simple vehicles on the battle, and you can Earnhardt repeatedly prohibited their attempts at the passageway over the last partners laps. Having below a few laps left, Darrell Waltrip said one to «Sterling features beat the leading end away from one old Dodge (Marlin’s auto) applying for to Dale (Earnhardt)».
Heading for the Turn step three on the history lap, Earnhardt is actually rushing three large which have Marlin so you’re able to their left and you may Schrader so you can golf dating apps his right. Throughout the place, Earnhardt’s leftover rear fender produced moderate exposure to Marlin’s side bumper.
Earnhardt’s car slid from the track’s steep banking, onto the flat apron, and turned into sharply within the song on the the exterior sustaining wall structure. As the #step 3 automobile came up the fresh new tune it collided towards the #36 Pontiac motivated by Ken Schrader. Schrader’s vehicle hit Earnhardt’s auto only at the rear of the newest traveler home, resulting in both vehicles to operate nostrils-first to your wall surface. Earnhardt’s #step 3 struck within a serious perspective during the nearly 150 miles for each and every time. Best-bottom wheel installation broke off the vehicles into the perception. The newest hood pins severed and also the bonnet flapped open, slamming up against the car windows given that vehicle slid much slower down the song. To many observers, the newest crash looked minor, and certainly not once the remarkable once the his well-known 1996 wreck within Talladega, when Earnhardt’s car are pelted a few times in the rooftop and you will car windows since it slid along side track.
If you’re Michael Waltrip raced on the latest checkered banner in order to claim their first winnings, which have Earnhardt Jr. close behind, the vehicles from Earnhardt and Schrader slid off the track’s concrete financial for the new infield grass only inside turn four. Immediately following hiking out-of their car, Schrader peered towards Earnhardt’s automobile, simply to diving back and laws to own EMTs. Since the medical crews converged on the newest crash scene, NASCAR towards the Fox reporter Jeanne Zelasko expected Schrader about Earnhardt’s position. «I am not a health care provider, but I’d the new hell out of the way as soon as they got around,» Schrader told you solemnly. Earnhardt was brought to Halifax Medical center of the ambulance shortly after are taken from his vehicles. Following accident therefore cuatro at the end of new Daytona 500, we’ve got missing Dale Earnhardt.