@@lskiller1903 I was always a 3 fan and I totally agree with you. Mark was one of Earnhardt's fierce competitors from day one. The only thing that ever made Mark lose a race to Dale were luck and circumstances. Intimidation was never a factor. Both drivers also had an immense amount of respect for each other and it showed on sunday.
Even though Dale Earnhardt has only one road course win compared to Jeff Gordon’s 9, they have the same number of top 5’s (20) and Dale Earnhardt has a better average finish on road courses (10.40) than Gordon (13.02). They both ran 47 races and Dale has 40 top 20’s compared to Jeff Gordon’s 33. My point is, just because he only won once does not mean he wasn’t good on road courses. Don’t be deceived
Dale was not known as a road course driver, but he was getting better on them every year. If 1996 Talladega doesn't happen he would have won a couple more road course wins. Most notably Watkins Glen in 1996 where he got the poll.
Dale Earnhardt is my favorite driver, and Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon (the second and third place finishers) are my brothers' favorites. It's interesting how our favorite drivers happened to finish 1-2-3 in this race.
You know . I think of people who were larger than life and I think of Johny Carson, Jackie Gleason, John F. Kennedy, and Ronald Regan . I have to put Dale Earnhardt in this category. He was awesome and is still truly missed.
ESPN and their crew was the best in the business when it came to broadcasting NASCAR. They always had some of the most innovative and interesting camera angles as well, especially on the road courses. I always loved watching the foot cams of Ricky Rudd and some of the ones showing how hot the rotors got when the drivers hit the brakes or the spring travel in different places on the track.
I remember watching this pass from the bridge overlooking the carousel. One of the best passes I've ever seen. Set him up for 2 laps and then dove to the inside. @Greg, they used to race here earlier in the year when it had rained recently. Now they race in the summer.
My dad and uncle were at this race. They were up on one of the bridges across the track. I think at the end of the carousel or maybe right as he was passing martin in the carousel. They were on their way out to get ahead of the traffic. Then they stopped on the bridge as they went by right after the pass. The most relatable feeling I have to that is when instead of just my dad and uncle I was added to the mix for the 2016 race when Stewart punted Hamlin in turn 11. That was amazing.
Earnhardt ran the 2001 24 Hours of Daytona with Jr, hoping that he would improve his skills on road courses. Had he survived his crash in the 500 weeks later, I'm sure that NASCAR would have added more road courses to the calendar. His ultimate goal was to eventually run the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Earnhardt Jr, but he only would have done so had he achieved more success on road courses. They were really the only kind of racing he wasn't great at.
I really believe after his finish in points in 2000, the goodwrench team had momentum, and I honestly believe that 2001 would have been championship #8!
Charlie Doyle O, he was a lot better on a road course than most people know. Look back a few years, while in the Wrangler 3 . He ran for the lead consistently. And had a pole also in the Black 3. Big E could drive anywhere, anytime, in any car. Also the Iroc series. People nowadays don’t really , fully understand just how great of a pure driver he was. THE IROC cars were prepared as equal as possible. That’s why he was so successful in that series. People don’t realize that some years he didn’t have the strongest car. But his pure raw driving talent was UNEQUALED. And if he by chance had the fastest car on that day? Then all the others had a Very Very bad day.
There going to bring back this full road configuration for 2019 and the return of turn 6 where Earnhardt took the lead the carousel hasn't been used and bypassed for 20 years now
I saw this live...great race. there was nothing wrong with Mark Martins car. He just had his testiculer fortitude, taken away by the master...Mr. Restricter Plate...front of the pack hungry guy...once I get the lead with a good car...I will not relinquish it kind of guy...you are welcome,
i didnt see this race live because I started watching the following year but I heard that martin ran over some oil and dale saw the oil a few turns back and knew martin would get lose, thats pretty impressive awareness by dale
Way too nice on the track. Dale was a nice guy off the track, but on it he would dump his best friend. That’s why he was a seven time champ and Mark was second place so many times.
1:20 I know some people complain about Earnhardt Saying moves People out of the way To win a Race and Earnhardt is a Dirty Racer and he shouldve never raced in Nascar ever but you see Here Earnhardt was no where near Martin's Back bumber Mark just Messed it up in the Turn and Dale Took advantage
I remember when he won that race on ESPN, can someone help me out, who was the guy with the blonde hair in the background, he was always there for the winner
All the grass comments.... people this race use to be held in early spring when the grass is green just like the grass is EVER YEAR! not a drought issue lmao just that time of the year.🤦🏻♂️ The green grass was a parking nightmare back then.those hills get so muddy
Climate change. There's been major droughts in California for years now. Making grass look pretty for a race isn't really a necessary use of water, they need to save it for the vital reasons to use it, like for farming.
