Mike Joy couldn't have said it any better when he said "The Sky is Crying". That day, It most certainly was.

Looking back, it's crazy how the 1st 3 years of my life played out: 1. I was 1 month old when Dale won the 1998 Daytona 500. 2. I was 3 years old when Dale died That leads me to this. That gives me such an emotional connection to the number 3 and Daytona in general. I legit cried when Austin Dillon won the 2018 Daytona 500. That's when NASCAR came full circle.

This is when NASCAR had class, bigger than life drivers, and badass racing. I miss this.

I'm glad they interviewed Kenny Schrader about being back at the track. Darrell really conducted an excellent interview with Sterling about the last lap crash with Dale. Fans can really be so mean on one driver.

The first race without Dale man this still chokes me up Nascar was never the same. The magic was gone and a huge void still exists to this day. AD-1 first week after Dale. Tore me up too see his son even there and the way he must of felt. He is one strong dude to go thru the loss of his Father and carry thru with whole weight of the world on his shoulders. Most people could not handle that well but he managed too stay strong.

Daytona was the start of what turned out to be the worst year ever. First Dale died, then the horror of 911, and a month after that the airliner that crashed into the neighborhood where so many NYC firefighters lived. 2001 was the worst, most tragic and heartbreaking year.

This still hits me so hard .... Even in 2018 it still hurts knowing dale earnhardt is gone ...

I had been looking for this tribute video for a long time, and I'm really glad to finally have found it. It's one of the more fitting tributes. The part at the end, when the doors open up, revealing the bright light; and while he's walking toward it; at the very end, just as he's about to enter; you hear a large applause; finally, his voice, as if for the final time; saying "Thank You"......................... I liked that.

Dale went out on top and that’s all any of us can hope for. He also went out doing the one thing that he loved most on this earth.

Gordon leaving The Pole Position Open in Honoring of Dale Sr in The Pace Laps is One of The Reasons He's My Favorite Driver Proud To Be from California Just Like Jeff Gordon 24

The weirdest thing for me is watching the IROC 23 races in 1999, seeing Dale Earnhardt and Greg Moore in the field. It looked as though Dale was on his way back to his absolute best. It looked as though young Greg would dominate Champ Cars with Penske in the years to come. It looked...

What I heard was that Dale told his crew to modify his belts to make them more comfortable, a design that Dale himself, with input from a Bell official, came up with. May have made the belt system weaker. Also, there area of the wreck (the 33° banking) could have made the impact worse. When you look at "vectors", the cars velocity vector is at a 33°+90° = 123°. On a flat part of the track it would just be 90 deg. Going "uphill", your fighting the "weight vector" (the line that goes straight down) as well as the vector of the car. This could have made the "whiplash" effect more severe than in just a hit into the wall (like his Talladega wreck in 96 on the much flatter trioval. So instead of breaking his neck, he broke his sternum)

Dale was my hero. And It was my childhood dream to meet him, or at least watch him race. I never got to live that dream. If god is real then maybe I'll get to meet Dale when I die.

they need to go back to the Rock.

I can't believe it's 13 years already, it's hard to get over RIP Dale miss you=(

DW’s prayer and then at 1:34:00 Gordon’s tribute was awesome. The heart of the sport was on full display here.

I couldn't agree more. I was at the NH race last Sunday and it was tough to not yawn. These days it's all about calculators, wind tunnels, fuel mileage, etc. The balls-first, slam-the-gas type racing of guys like Petty, Pearson, and most of all Earnhardt is gone forever.

“That better not be my son out there on that scooter in the rain!” “That better not be my daughter either!” Man, I miss these guys and the things they come up with during these rain delays. LOL.

That was a great win for Steve Park and DEI in general. It's a shame he got injured as much as he did.

It was DW's classy prayer that earned him favoritism amongst many peers and fans. That alone should make every fan respect DW, because he spoke the truth, whether you like him as a commentator or not. Jeff's "missing man" formation was a such a classy move by a man who has Earnhardt's talent and the respect of The Intimidator. Also, don't want to sound like an ass but Ron Hornaday, seriously? On the 1st lap? Out of all the people you had to crash, Jr. was the one you should have given a break.

I hope the people blaming/sending threats to Sterling Marlin are suffering!

The 2001 Daytona 500 was one of only 2 races I ever watched flag to flag as a kid...at 5 years old I watched one of my absolute favourites die...and honestly it hurts more now than it did then

i was only 14 (would turn 15 that year) and i am dutch so at that time i was not even into the USA. racing maybe a bit but that was because back then my dad watched Formula 1 so that was a different type of racing. but i have watched a lot of historic moments out of the USA since i now am a huge USA lover. hearing that Dale said "if i die on track i would have been doing what i loved" and that nobody should cry for him is beautifull. But even if you are happy about that he died doing what he loved, or when someone dies after a long time living with pain so you know they now have no pain anymore. that doesn't mean you can hold tears back. He did what he loved doing, and he died while trying his best to make sure that his team won. i think he was smiling down at Michael Waltrip just like a proud father or something like that.

Used to go to EVERY race at Rockingham i live 20 min from the track was sitting in turn 1 on this day there was just a very solem strange atmosphere that day ill never forget that day Jr crashing on the 1st lap scared the bajesus out of everyone. I can't hardly stand to even drive by the track these days seeing it abandoned its a shame.

Such a good track...it should be on Cup list

I just dont know how people moved on from this. I was a longtime fan of Wheldon and I was still a wreck after a week.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!! I've been looking for the prerace all over KZfaq, and I'm so glad you posted it as well as the full race. The opening ceremonies were so emotional, I felt like crying that day. Sadly I did'nt get to watch the rest of the race because it was postponed to the next day and the race got moved to FX and my cable company did'nt have it. I was so upset about that.

How crazy it was for Junior to hit just like Dale did. I felt that was some kind of message that was sent.

It was so much fun watching the rivalry between Jeff Gordon and Dale Ernhardt. I havent watched a full race since the 2001 Daytona 500

0:33 FUCK WMG!! Freebird is a great song

1:04:34 RIP John Andretti driver of the Petty 43.

suck they don't race here anymore

dale passed the 18th, I lost my job on Wednesday the 21st for missing too much work caring for my dying mother, who I found passed away on the following rainy Sunday morning (the 25th, day of this broadcast). The worst week of my life.

i think what makes me most emotional to see is Dale jr. being there 1 week later and all the support for him. that is some strength that man had. a lot of people would not have the strength to be there or at least would not have the strength to drive.

I firmly believe tht Kevin Harvick was the only man who could’ve done what was asked of & do what he done. I forgot how much interest Dale had in Kevin.

Live how ya silenced Free Bird to prevent copyright strikes. 👍

Was at this race as I was many at Rockingham but I'll never forget the lap 3 salute and just the weird energy that was in the air that day and Jrs accident scared the crap out of everyone just a tragedy all around, unfortunately NASCAR has never recovered .

Thanks for the awesome quality!

Tears in Heaven, by Eric Clapton.

This is still hard to watch but I am so glad I can. Thank You.

R.I.P Dale Earnhardt, The Intimidator, he was sorely missed. The man in black I became an instant fan when I watched the Michigan Goodwrench 400 and some NASCAR races back in the mid-late 90s. The 1999 Bristol race and the thrilling final win for Dale Earnhardt at Dega were some of my favorites. Park brought it home for his late boss. The three of them at DEI were great teammates together with Eury Sr. and Jr as their crew chief. Harvick bringing RCR victory with Dale's old car at Atlanta. Anyone know what name of the symphony music playing in the background in Michael Waltrip's segment? I've heard it at the beginning of Fox broadcast of the Daytona 500 for the first time.

Anybody who believe Sterling Marlin is wrong for what happened to Dale I don't agree with them. That's racing. Third place was up for grabs and you going to do whatever it takes you can't back off and let someone in line at that point of the race. Dale wasn't wrong for what he did either he's trying to hold third while he's watching two of his cars battle for a Daytona 500 win.

1:09:52-1:10:33 You can't blame Sterling Marlin because he too, was battling for a position on the track, and if you watch the last 10 laps of the Daytona 500, Dale cut Sterling off I don't know how many times, but that last time Dale cut him off was one time too many, and you can clearly see that Marlin had the speed, and the advantage to go underneath Dale and maybe pass him, and when he tried to pass him, Dale attempted to put the block on him, but it was too late... but at least Dale died by what he loved doing: driving a racecar.

Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Earnhardt was a legend, although he drove hard. Had he not died, he'd have had championship #8.

The first race after Dale's death here in the Dura Lube 400 at Rockingham, was like the Phillies' first game after Harry Kalas' death in Washington, DC on April 13, 2009.

THIS WAS THE RACE THAT MADE ME A NASCAR FAN.....

Dale Jr. only got to race the 2000 season with his dad but they also spent a lot of time together during the 98 & 99 seasons when Jr. when the back to back busch series championships...

when dale earnhardt passed away i was seven and was a jeff gordan fan and i didn't like earnhardt but i remember saying to my dad that didn't look good and then he told me to go get a shower the shortly after that my dad came in and told me that dale earnhardt was dead i was in absolute shock. this last decade alot has change in nascar and ive seen alot of races that had dale in them. ive seen every documentry about him and i can say that he was the greatest racecar driver ever today he ismissed

Dale was made immortal by the intro It was so perfect

I never understood why in 2001 or heck 2002 nascar or the media didn't really pay much attention to the fact that Kyle Petty was driving his sons.... Let me Repeat his sons car who had died at 19. I'm not discounting Earnhardt at all I'm just saying what kyle Petty did was more meaningful than Dale Jr etc

I think he would have taken more of the path of Richard Petty, running his team and still being at the track but not being on camera a whole lot.

man if only dale wore that new stuff everyone had in 01

i was one when Dale died:'( now im 12. I still cant belive it has been 11-12 years since he passed R.I.P

John Andretti. RIP John.

This is one of the teracks I wish NASCAR would come back too

Darrell's invocation was so poignant and beautiful.

Wow, look at young Chris Myers.

Steve Park was so promising

I've been looking for the full interview of Dale JR at 13:23 for the longest time. Does anyone know where I could find it? Thank you

Nice tribute to dale there

thanks men. keep the good work :-)

"Buffy" Waltrip is hot in this 30:30,

It’s crazy how it literally took Dale Earnhardt for NASCAR to realize how bad their safety was. I look back at how the cockpit and safety was back then and think how in the hell did they race like that

And this is first race of new nascar

I still cry over him

I know NASCAR really doesn't want another death in their sport, but getting rid of these cars (Gen 4), and bringing the COT and the Gen 6 car, is ridiculous. Back then, racing was good, the championship was decided fairly by the best driver the entire season, now the championship system is flawed, the cars are crap, the two greatest drivers of the modern area are now retiring, and there's no more integrity, there's no more actual racing no more, it's getting lucky with a good car, not making your car the best over the race. Everything's about passing nowadays. I'd give everything for NASCAR to overthrow everyone making the decision to change the cars every week, and get people who can make the sport great again in their spots.

apparently, the rock had a really good p.a system.

What happened with the audio. Did someone say that video violated a copyright law with the music in this video.

We miss you Dale

This race is where Jeff Gordon became the face of the sport.

What is the song at the end?

Dale seemed to be pretty content at the time of his death. That brings me a lot of solice personally.

OH BOY I CAN'T WAIT FOR SUPERBOWL 36 NEXT JANUARY!!!

What was the song on the opening on dale earnhardt.

It’s the only race weekend they used that western song. What’s that from?

man those Gibb's Pontiac's sound good

my heart goes out to mse and jr

What is the orchestrated piece at 30:18?

Rockingham & Earnhardt RIP

First race without Dale Earnhardt since the 1979 Southern 500; first race that Marcis Auto Racing did not attempt since the 1989 Goody's 500 at Martinsville.

I mean come on.... after the death of the 1st person in a 1 year span changes NEED to be made. It was very foolish of Nascar to wait until a superstar racer died for them to make changes. I mean, it shouldn't take a death for Nascar to realize that changes need to be made!

What’s with blocking out the music at certain times?

Man, it sure seemed hard 4 mike helton 2 sit there through that interrogation

I lost respect for Dale Earnhardt fans that day for the way Sterling Marlin and Simpson were treated. Truly disgusting behavior. What? No death threats for Hornaday for wrecking Junior on the first lap of the next race after Daytona? I guess they were still too busy harassing Sterling.

Was wondering do have full race of 98 Cummins 250 truck series were feud between Hornday Jr & Jack Sprague I think Sprauge went on to win that race

The Music Is Wrong, It Is Free Bird By Lynyrd Skynyrd At The Beginning

i signed that trailer,wonder where it is now?

It seems like Jr. left the youth he had back in daytona

when Steve got imjured @ atlanta in 1998 dale hired dw to run some races for them in the #1 that was what dw was talking about

Watching this I didn't feel that Mike Helton was too concerned about safety. He seemed to just dance around the questions didn't really seem like he was going all in to keep these drivers safe.

yeah idk about you but i could imagine dale sr being retired today commentating races with DW what could of been good times

I was at this race.. It was just... misery. I went back on the Monday, much better then. What was MW talking about at 32 mins in though? About not having Car owner points and needing to qualify to get in. I get that Sr was gone, but DEI was still there and he won the previous race.??

1:43:00 when jr crashed sounded like joy and waltrip crying

1:09:54-1:10:00... pay attention and look very closely at the driver's window... you can see head movement from Earnhardt right after he hit the wall, as in he slumps as soon as he went head on....

ty and austin dillon brought back the #3 in 2010

Someone/company did a copyright on it and muted the entire video -_-

Sterling's a good guy he didn't cause that wreck

@Brian211978 ME NEITHER! lmao i feel like i'm 8 again watching all these races!

Hasn't that already been posted on here by oldschoolnascardude1? Or was the memorial service?

I was 25 at the time