Michael Waltrip right behind Jr still brings me to tears to this day. He took up the place of Earnhardt Sr that day, he protected Jr the same way Sr had protected them both.
I was 10 years old on my first ever vacation in Florida. My dad woke me up one morning and told me that for my birthday I got to choose the Pepsi 400, or Disneyworld. I will never regret my decision. For this to be my first Nascar race and to have it all on home video is amazing. Absolutely incredible.
Waltrip didn't even think, for a second. He stayed behind Junebug, not even considering trying any attempt to win. He just stayed behind Jr. guaranteeing that no-one would even attempt to get the win.
What's even more impressive is MW going from 14th to 2nd. He drove the wheels off that car, and made sure no one passed him to rain on Juniors parade. He did what did Dale Sr did for them at the 500. Very impressive driving by Michael. Dale would have been proud
It doesn't matter whether he drives like his father or not. This man carries himself with great class week in and week out. How could you not root for him?
@@j9vlikz683 Yeah but just once and that was his only win in the Car of Tomorrow and if you say "Well actually he won Michigan in 2012 with the Car of Tomorrow" im just gonna be on the record here is that i pefer the Car of Tomorrow and Gen 5 to be seperate and people say that the COT is the Gen 5 car
Come July 4 this year, it will be 20 years since this win. Jr and Mikey winning the night, immediately followed by the fireworks commemorating Independence Day, it was a perfect American storybook ending.....until September, that was
I love how the vast majority of the whole crowd was wanting him to win. These are the moments that make sports truly special when a man who just had his heart ripped from him puts everything he has in a performance because it means so much to him in that moment.
Could you imagine if someone passed junior for the win on the last lap of this race? They would have been the most hated driver on the face of the earth.
when Dale took the lead in turn 4. Chills. When Waltrip takes second, CHILLS. They crossed the line 1-2, TEARS. Perfect moment, perfect win, it was like Dale Sr used God's power and made it happen. At this moment Dale Jr was not ready to hold NASCAR on his shoulders, but the fans immediately jumped to him and he just wasnt ready.
Quentin Diaz Like the fallen Goku coming to distract Cell as he fought Gohan, or James McCloud helping Fox escape Venom, this was a perfect example of divine intervention. Scary that I am looking at this for the first time in my life and I could only imagine what Jr. and the team were going through, including putting Dale Sr. to rest by winning and nailing the fourth turn.
Thomas C. Did you watch nascar in the early 2000’s? From 2001-2004 DEI won 10 out of 16 superspeedway races Dale Jr accounting for 7 of those. This race wasn’t coincidence Jr just had dominate cars at Daytona and Talladega in this era of nascar and if you believe otherwise your ignorant as hell
@@88fanforlife when something is too good to be true. That means it is. If you dont think moments and games in sports arent rigged than you must be new to watching sports. Juniors was always gonna win the next Daytona race. They were either gonna do what they did or if he got wrecked or blew a engine they were having him win the next years 500. You dont think Nascar knows how many eyes and how much more money comes their way if this story happens? Nascar's owner was a piece of shit since day one. He was obsessed with becoming a mega mainstream program not just a sport. He wanted the fairytale stories to happen. It's why he made the playoffs a d chase. He couldnt control who wins a title for over the course of season and he wanted drama. With the playoffs, he could control for the most part what he wanted to happen or least have more of a hand in it than what the old Winston system did. He wanted Kyle busch to win the one year and he did. A driver who misses 18 races wins a title... but yeah keep believing the sport isnt fixed. Jr was never a great driver. Good yeah but never great. Also he never was known for having a strong mental fortitude to get over things. Easy to get in his head and it messes him up. But he can have the biggest win of his career up to that point at the track where his dad died cause he was blocking for him. So the very next race at that track where he probably still grieving hard. He has to pass the spot where he died 250 times in just that race plus all week it was all over the news and he probably couldnt get away from it. You really think he be able to win a race like that in his mental shape? Well guess what. You could if you already heard that people are making sure you win. Makes it much easier.
Thomas C. You need to go outside and find some hobbies or something dude lol. Lemme guess the NFL told the Seahawks Falcons and Rams to let Tom Brady win those Super Bowls. Or the NBA told the Warriors “hey let Lebron get one on you guys.” What about Brett Farve winning that Monday night game like right after his father passed away that was set up too right? Also of course Jr would let stuff get to him mentally towards the end of his career that’s what having 20 plus concussions will do to a person but this race. It’s just common knowledge that in this era of nascar DEI was a powerhouse at these tracks. If he just had this performance and no other success then there’s merit to saying nascar was up to something but when he goes onto win 6 outta the next 16 superspeedway races and is always in contention at those races always leading a ton of laps it turns from fix to that team was just that good at those tracks. Lastly I’m not gonna get into everything you said about the owners and the chase and all that mess cause there’s so many false things you said there but if nascar was really wanting to fix everything wouldn’t it be Dale Jr that had Jimmie Johnson’s success?
i'm almost 30 and i'm the same way. Dale Sr was my favorite driver growing up and i bawled my eyes out when he got killed in that crash in the 500. Pretty much sucked the life and mood out of me. Haven't really watched much Nascar since that day
"It's going to be Dale Earnhardt Jr. USING LESSONS LEARNED FROM HIS FATHER to go from sixth to first to score the victory at the Pepsi 400!" Gives me chills every time.
I turned 11 years old a little over 3 months after Dale SR was killed so I remember it quite well. In fact I saw the death anouncement on the news before my mom did and told her about it.
You were there?! Man, that had to be the most incredible thing to see. It feels like in that moment everyone was one team, all teams crews, people in the stands, everyone was for Jr. What did it feel like being there and seeing it in person? To you did it feel like everyone came together?
Nicole Slater damn that had to be a once on a lifetime moment. I watched on this race on tv and loved every min. of it. Just wished he could be this good again.
87Jaws Seriously! We know he's got it in him, but that fire inside him hasn't been visible for awhile. Although he seems to have started to get it back these past few seasons. Maybe this will be the year? Either way, I'll be watching every race to see what happens lol :)
+Nicole Slater i still say the fire in him would return 100% if DEI was brought back, being in the #8, Austin being #3 i think has fueled Dale to getting better out of his little slump. He won the 500 when the 3 returned after all.
You are so lucky to have experienced this. A once in a lifetime experience. The spirit there, with everyone so happy and overjoyed that Jr won. The entire crowd was cheering, crying and hugging one another.
Awesome as this moment is, my favorite part is Chocolate _booking_ it across the infield. Not only because, of course he's gonna be the first one to the car. But also because, headstart or not, he outran everyone there! Always loved seeing him on race days. Even though we had Jr, I feel like seeing Chocolate in that fire suit every week _really_ helped carry on Sr's memory.
It was fake. Nascar scripted the hell out of this. Jr acting was terrible after the race, it's almost like he knew he be winning the whole day. Plus the reporter over selling the story of it really let's you know it's all bullshit and Nascar just wanted a story so they scripted the race.
@@thomasc.5219 Stupid theory. The rest of 2001 was dominated by DEI - at least in the restrictor plate races. Get your tinfoil hat and shove it up your ass
This was the moment I became a huge fan of NASCAR and of Dale Junior. I'd been a casual fan and still remember screaming in my living room when Dale Earnheart captured his 500. I didn't watch the 2001 500, and wasn't really a Dale fan, per se. But after his death, I started watching more and more, and I saw what his son went through and gained a lot of respect for how he did his job in spite of the spotlight's glare. Then I watched this race. And man, was I screaming at my TV. The whole neighborhood knew something was up. At that moment I became a pretty hardcore fan of NASCAR and a diehard fan of Junior. This year, I made my pilgrimage to Daytona and saw him dominate the field. It's a great year to be a long-time fan of the driver. Cost of trip to Daytona and a day spent at the trailers--$1400. Sitting on the front stretch watching that finish--PRICELESS.
It was fake. Nascar scripted the hell out of this. Jr acting was terrible after the race, it's almost like he knew he be winning the whole day. Plus the reporter over selling the story of it really let's you know it's all bullshit and Nascar just wanted a story so they scripted the race.
@@thomasc.5219 Shut the fuck up the only reason no tried to pass cause Michael Waltrip would block them and Teammates could do that now why not you step in a car and run 400 miles around daytona with 42 cars chasing you at over a 190 MPH trying to pass you
I remember watching this live. When I saw Waltrip come barreling in behind Jr I knew there was some magic in the air. I cried when he came out of turn 4 and heard "using lessons he learned from his father to go from 6th to first". What a moment.
The thing that gives me chills every single time I watch this is when the announcer says "180,000 on their feet, screaming wildly! Two and a half miles to go!" along with the cars screaming past the grandstands.
Only nascar race I ever been to. Sitting in the backstretch grandstand. After the race they shot fireworks that were in the shape of 3's it was an experience.
It's so crazy & rare to HEAR a nascar crowd over the broadcast bc of just how loud the cars themselves are, & it's just rare so many are behind one driver. The eruption when Jr. took the lead & then the checkered has to be one of the loudest reactions in sports history. Especially considering it's a wide open grandstand. No acoustic stadium setup to artificially inflate the decibels, just thousands of people, in unison, letting out their pain, their hope, their joy together. Easily the most underrated moment in all of sports history.
There are times when finishing 2nd is a victory. This is one of them. Michael Waltrip understood what this meant to Dale Jr. and the NASCAR family in general.
I was watching this with my dad today and he said, "Look at that smile." And then, "They love that kid." I thought he was just repeating what was said, but then I realized that he was saying it before they did. I guess we've both watched this over and over. One of the greatest moments in NASCAR history. #20Years
It was fake. Nascar scripted the hell out of this. Jr acting was terrible after the race, it's almost like he knew he be winning the whole day. Plus the reporter over selling the story of it really let's you know it's all bullshit and Nascar just wanted a story so they scripted the race.
Man this was way back in the day. Saw it live when I was 10, on summer break from school. Me and the family were so thrilled to watch Jr. and Waltrip win. It was amazing.
+William Smith Waltrip definitely let him win, he can say other wise in his book "blink of an eye", that was he was going but he just didn't, he KNEW Dale needed that win, especially since it was at Daytona. Waltrip saved DEI that year, if Dale Jr hadn't won that race, i believe he would have had 0 wins that year with #15 having the 500 win #1 having the win from the second race, and not having Jr lead DEI in wins bring backing DEI from a horrible incident.
@@quentindiaz9418 I don't think he could have passed him if he wanted to; Juniors car was so much better through the corners than everyone else's during that race, nobody could pass him.
I second jrs car was phemonial! No car in the field could hang with him. I remember jr talking about it later in week/weeks and he was saying car was so fast he was mostly 3/4 throttle leading. If anymore he just pulled away until the field caught him. No one was passing that all star car that night.
"I'll be crying sooner or later. I don't know, I feel so good right now." I love that quote from Jr. He just won! There's no reason to cry, because his dad is right there with him.
Man, i wasn’t even born yet when Dale Sr died or when Jr won this race but this finish gets me emotional every time I watch it, one of the most beautiful moments in NASCAR history right here
From the worst moment in race history when Dale Sr passed to the greatest moment when his son put it on their ass. Nothing will ever surpass this night in racing. NOTHING!!!!
MrJimmy3459, i honestly think it doesn't compare. It was a special night for him to win in the 3 car after years of not being in it in from the busch series, but it just didn't have the, "feel" or something to it.
I was 12 years old when this happened but now looking back as an adult you can just see the way he tries to hide his emotions in that post race interview. Can't imagine being an introvert and having an entire sport thrown on your shoulders under those circumstances
It was fake. Glad your happy bout watching a soap opera. Nascar scripted the hell out of this. Jr acting was terrible after the race, it's almost like he knew he be winning the whole day. Plus the reporter over selling the story of it really let's you know it's all bullshit and Nascar just wanted a story so they scripted the race.
Every year around Daytona and Talladega I rewatch all of juniors Talladega/Daytona wins. There was nothing like watching a plate race when junior took the lead. I pull for chase now and even when he takes the lead you hear the crowd roar but not like when junior would especially in that red 8. It was something special and will never be anything like it again. Every time I watch this I get choked up.
What like one year. Get over yourself. No one be saying that only reason they do is cause Sr died. It was fake. Nascar scripted the hell out of this. Jr acting was terrible after the race, it's almost like he knew he be winning the whole day. Plus the reporter over selling the story of it really let's you know it's all bullshit and Nascar just wanted a story so they scripted the race.
i miss the good ol days. ill tell you what idc how long time passes this race clip always chokes me up. anyone who was a true nascar fan will get emotional when they see these race clips. deffinatly miss the old days. love it when i c mikey and jr running together. RIP DALE.
My Grandfather always listened to the race on the radio. This was the one race I remember him not only making it a point to watch on TV, but staying up past his usual bedtime to watch it. When the finish came up, he pointed out something that to my knowledge no one else ever has. In 3rd Place, the #21. 2 + 1 = 3.
I remember both Dale Sr passing and Dale Jr winning this Daytona. I was 6 and 7 years old and I cried for Jr after he won this race when me and my stepfather watched this race. Bless both Sr and Jr both great drivers and good old southern boys.
I remember it like it was yesterday. Also remember seeing the headline in the paper the following Monday. I still don't have the right words for that feeling.
It was fake. Nascar scripted the hell out of this. Jr acting was terrible after the race, it's almost like he knew he be winning the whole day. Plus the reporter over selling the story of it really let's you know it's all bullshit and Nascar just wanted a story so they scripted the race.
@@bigpots9142 when something is too good to be true, that means it is. Whole year had scripted moments. Harvick wins Atlanta the exact same way Dale did year before in first race. Come on man. Nascar been manufacturing drama for a long time now. France was all about trying to make it all dramatic. Why do you think points and championship fights keep changing? So he can make dramatic moments. The drivers even are fake fighting and starting scripted rivalries. You be lying if you say you cant see that. But end of day who cares. Nascar a dying sport. It peaked and now we are watching it's slow death. I remember in 90s and early 00s. Even people who never watched racing still knew when and kinda watched the daytona 500. And non fans could still say a driver they liked or atleast new some of them. Tracks were packed with people and the infield was a party. The bristol night race was a big event. Nascar merchandise was every where and it sold like crazy. Hell even the busch series had a decent amount of fans coming to races. But now no one cares minus the diehard and even they are leaving. The sport once was the biggest spectator sport and now they lucky to fill 3/4 and the Daytona 500 comes and goes with no one caring. The drivers they have lack any real talent. They bitch and moan when the car is tight or loose all day and since it's not perfect they cry saying they cant drive it when like that. Anybody bumps them they throw tantrums and wreck them. Start fake fights for attention trying to be next bad boy. What happened to real drivers. Guys who could race anything with 4 wheels. Loose tight didnt matter they just drove and muscled the sum bitch. Guys who didnt crash from every little bump. Guys who could race a lane properly and jesus guys who could make it down put road without causes wrecks in pit road. The sport is dead. Stock cars arent even stock. They all the same just different stickers. Sponsors are leaving like crazy. Remember when those cars and drivers were plastered head to toe in sponsors? Well never see the glory days again. Kiss the sport goodbye. Only thing that will save it is going back to old ways and having 80% of races being in the south with the core audience. And also go back to stock cars. None of these lab tested mega aero cars anymorethe cars from 1997 to 2002 were the best. And you could actually still race them if they had damage. Now one scratch and it's over with these pussy wagons.
Jr wasnt acting. That's the way he is. He doesnt like talking or being on the spot. You would know that if you were a real nascar fan. Go troll somewhere else.
The ovation when Jr. took the lead is something that will live with me forever. That wasn't just the moment Jr., DEI, & Nascar needed, but also the moment every Nascar fan needed to begin the healing process. I feel like the entire sport was in a fog until that moment. I know in many aspects it's never fully recovered, but without this moment, I don't know that it would've ever bounced back even as much as it did.
The shout out to his stepmom is something most would overlook, but for him bring her up just shows Jr. had his heart in the right place the whole time. One of the absolute greatest moments in sports history, no question. Dads win is ranked right there with this.
Cause god is made up, just like the finish to this race. It was fake. Nascar scripted the hell out of this. Jr acting was terrible after the race, it's almost like he knew he be winning the whole day. Plus the reporter over selling the story of it really let's you know it's all bullshit and Nascar just wanted a story so they scripted the race.
@@thomasc.5219 I guess you think Tony Sr. crying was an act too? Man, you're just a complete asshole; NASCAR is way too precise to be rigged, especially on superspeedways. As if Junior needed it to be rigged to win anyways, he's one of the most dominant plate drivers there's ever been. He went on to win 5 of the next 7 races at Talladega and finished 2nd in the 2 races he didn't win. Also, we get it, you're edgy and don't believe in God; that doesn't make you cool.
Every now and then I come back to this moment. I was there. Just a young 6 year old who had grew up to that point watching Dale Sr tear it up. When Jr entered 1st it was the loudest I've ever heard a crowd and I was wearing noise cancelling headphones.
I cant believe some people still believe NASCAR planned Dale Jr to win this race that they had the other racers let junior pass so he can honor his father, no way this was all skill of Dale Jr! I remember this race as if it was yesterday!! I still get excited when i watch it!!
Yeah because waltrip owed him from when jr pushed him to win the 500 just months before this.You don't think dale could have passed him then? They're teammates.
Will Blake cuss that was his teammate n waltrip won the 500 that year . this was a return favor cuzz dale jr came in 2nd at the 500 DEI was taking over . sad how good things were gonna change nascar forever
It was fake. Nascar scripted the hell out of this. Jr acting was terrible after the race, it's almost like he knew he be winning the whole day. Plus the reporter over selling the story of it really let's you know it's all bullshit and Nascar just wanted a story so they scripted the race.
Also you say this is when Nascar was right but this is the start of the downhill slide. The day they scripted stories and before just as fake as wwe. Now they do it all the time and it all started here
Michael Waltrip didn't want to win that race. He wanted Jr. to win that race. This was one of the most unselfish, classiest things I've seen in sports. He understood the moment and to that, a tip of the cap to you michael.
Look, i’m just getting into NASCAR, and this happened before i was born, never watched a full race, but this is such an impactful moment. I feel like everyone in the audience, even deep inside, hoped Junior would win this.
I remember watching this live.... and bawling like a baby, watching it now at work 19years later.... I’m bawling, if this didnt hit u in the feels you are not human
I was just a 6 year old kid, but I will never forget going to this race, Dale Sr. Was a hero to me as a child. I like to think my parents took me because they felt bad about how sad I was following his death. When Jr took that final turn you couldn't hear the cars roaring, you couldn't hear anything but the cheers of a hundred thousand with tears in their eyes all the same.
Even after so long, I remember watching this at home. Its been several years and watching junior get first place and when at the place of his fathers death still sends chills down my spine. Awesome!
