The Greatest Story In Racing 

everything here is a nascar fan’s definition of poetry raise hell, praise dale.

Every single time i hear " You got him mikey" i always get chills down my spine

“If they don’t do something to these cars it’s gonna end up killing somebody” still makes me shiver. RIP Dale.

No matter how many different times I see it in various editorial styles, seeing how 2001 played out will never fail to move me emotionally. The best screenwriters in the history of television couldn't tell a better story of tragedy, healing, and triumph over the course of 17 weeks.

Damn bro, you can’t make me cry for a sport I got into this year, for a tragedy I wasn’t even born for, and a day before Christmas Eve!

I want to give a shoutout to a forgotten victory from 2001. Rusty Wallace won a race at California that would've been on Dale's 50th birthday. While Gordon is remembered as Earnhardt's adversary, Wallace was Earnhardt's true biggest rival throughout his career, and the two men would even become friends. Wallace winning on Big E's first posthumous birthday was another poetic moment, but it has unfortunately faded from memory with the passage of time. I'm shocked no one has made a movie about the 2001 season yet

dale isn´t dead he´s just lap ahead

😢 that "we've lost Dale Earnhardt" still hurts to this day. It wasn't "dale has passed" it was "we lost".. two words any racer hates to say. It was spot on though. We (the people) lost a legend, a driving force, a great man , father, role model, etc. Im not even a nascar fan but have always like the Earnhardts since when i was young and seen they were redskins fans. Rest easy Dale you were loved by all.❤

It’s very understandable why Kenny didn’t want to say what he saw in Dales car

"i guess hes alright int' he?" really hits hard, the glory of mikey winning the 500 without him knowing the tragedy that occurred behind, dale letting his son and friend race for the win is just heartbreaking to think about

Though not part of the same tale, Jr winning at Dover a week after the 9/11 attacks is yet another moment of poetry in this crazy sport

Babe wake up Elly Productions posted

I've noticed how close Dale was to being in the big one. Crazy to think if he hadn't slipped through he would probably still be with us. If there was ever a time I wanted him in a wreck that would've been it.

Its DW's reaction that gets me every time. Hes so happy and so proud of his brother but hes also no fool and he knew his friend was likely anything but "OK".

10:45 Holy cow Connor, that was the most beautiful video I’ve ever watched, I get goosebumps every time I see anything about this. I always wonder what it would be like if Dale had survived. I can hear you holding back tears in this moment

Earnhardt was nascars Elvis Presley, came from nothing and became a icon. Still is a icon, icons don't ever die in our hearts. He's still my favorite driver and I'm 40, great video

Greatest driver in NASCAR history. There will NEVER be anyone that can challenge his domination of NASCAR.

I've heard this story a thousand times, and I never get tired of it. I remember watching in tears as a kid when Dale Jr's win happened, and to this day that finish still gives me goosebumps Also, gotta call out the editing on this one, brilliantly done, overlaying Dale's 2000 win with Jr's 2001 win: I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone do that before, but it's genius.

Dale is without a doubt the greatest. The only knock on him is road courses, but when you actually look at it, he was one of the most consistent and statistically best road course drivers in NASCAR history. He also dominated during one of the most competitive eras in NASCAR history.

Holy cow. I can’t even describe how amazing this video is. In literal tears. One of, if not the best NASCAR RU-vid video I’ve ever watched. 😭

Incredibly edited, the entire Rockingham section is fantastic. Music and all.

10:51 - 10:56 I could tell you were trying not to cry while reading those lines, and I don’t blame you… 🥺

I've always though his driving at Talladega should have more recognition!! He literally just plowed his way through that field that day. Kenny Wallace pushing and history was made

I was pretty young when Dale passed, but I’ll never forget watching it on tv with my family. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Still makes me cry. Raise hell and praise Dale

Michael's best day along with his worst nightmare. R.I.P. Dale your Legend will be here for eternity. #3 ✝️

Whenever people ask me why I love this sport so much and why I keep watching, I will show them this video now. You've explained it perfectly.

I think as sad as Dale’s story is, I’m glad people have found the beauty in it as I have found. He made the ultimate sacrifice in hopes of seeing his own succeed. We never will forget Dale, he was an innovator, a rebel that only listened to himself, and definitely an example of how to be a good man. Thank you for making a video that isn’t completely somber, he didn’t seem to believe in holding your head down about things, especially when you know the price of the game you play.

Check out Brock Beard's series "500 Days"! Chronicling the 2001 season, including the smaller lost stories of that season.

I'm actually tearing up, over here. That was beautiful!

I’ve never seen your videos before. You happened to pop up on my feed as a recommendation. I thought this would be something similar to what I’ve seen in the past. But the time you took in editing, in storytelling, and in making sure everyone could understand you, I stayed through it all. Followed immediately after the video ended.

Man I got a family reunion in 20 minutes and you got me crying now,Rip Dale ❤️

My parents had gathered all of my friends together to watch the race and celebrate my 11th Birthday. We had no idea. We lived in Kannapolis, North Carolina and even the non-race fans flew the number 3. Definitely the second most tragic thing to happen in 2001.

This was uploaded on my birthday and Dale Sr was my favorite driver.

Dale Earnhardt is one of the last real og’s in NASCAR

Dale chose one hell of a way to go out: doing his favorite thing in the world, the thing he was best at, watching his friend and his son scream towards that checkered flag with nothing but empty racetrack ahead of them.

You're just a different tier of storyteller and NASCAR historian, man. I can't praise this enough

Christmas came just in time

Dale had a keen sense of the tracks groove and a good memory of where each tracks corner ended because of how many times he went full throttle around them. He was the perfect Nascar driver that still can't be met in this day and age

This might be one of the best story telling videos on RU-vid. I was just watching The Last Dance on ESPN and then started this. The connectedness of the story and the players involved. Bravo.

Put this in that do men even cry section of the titanic meme

Man i miss dale.... the best car is 3

Enough to make a grown man cry 🥲🫡

It’s impossible to watch this without tearing up.

That win at the end from Earnheardt Jr. is absolutely awe-inspiring. I think that his dad would have been so proud. Honestly something out of a movie. Rest in peace, Dale

Starcraft 1 Terran's theme just, fits Dale so well.

I know it wasn't as flashy, but Rusty winning at California on Dale's birthday that year has just as much meaning

Didn’t expect to break down in tears

Wow, dude, this might be your best video yet. You are a fantastic writer. Keep it up!!

Been saying that if I had a time machine the first place I’m going is 2001 Pepsi 400

Good day when ellyproductions uploads

22:00 okay these tears are absolutely uncalled for i've always had a rough knowledge of NASCAR, not as full as my knowledge of F1.The Cars movie brought me into cars as a whole and i've always had a soft spot for NASCAR. I knew about Dale's crash, but I never knew about Jr's win. I'm genuinely so emotional side note: this channel has been amazing to watch for so much NASCAR content, you deliver information in such a concise and entertaining way, ur channel is so underrated.

man its hard to believe this is anything other than a drama tv show so beautiful the way everything went it was epic sad beautiful just everything this was my childhood man it is easy to sometimes forget how great it was.

Can't wait for the next storybook seasons video! Personally I'd go with 2004

U know it’s a good day when Elly uploads 10 minutes after u check if he did

Ah yes my monthly cry over February 18th 2001 right on time

man im almost in tears watching this.. RIP Dale "The Intiminator" Earnhardt 1951-2001 You will never be missed Dale, even though i wasnt born for the tragedy.

man you had me in tears. great video.

I wasn't alive when this happened, but between Mikey's book "In the Blink of an Eye" and this video, I see how this is the greatest recovery from the biggest tragedy.

This video was great. It reminds us about when things end in a bad way there may be time to pick up the pieces and rebuild. Turns what was a terrible moment in the sport into something to build off of. Merry Christmas by the way 😐🫴🎄🎁🎄🎁🎄🎁🍬☕🍬☕🍬☕🍬☕

No matter how many times I watch the 2001 Daytona 500 I always shed a tear. Even tho this took place 4 years before I was born it always hit me like I was actually alive in that moment. It is one of the worst tragedies in motorsport history.

The 2001 Pepsi 400 will always be my favorite race ever in NASCAR. That finish was on another level.

Man great job, refrained from using explicit language so I can show it to my family.

2001 was the first full season of Nascar I ever watched. It couldn't have started in a worse way. Even now watching this video, I get a tear in my eye watching the clip of Jr's wreck at Rockingham one week after and just imagining the emotions going through his mind in that moment. Now just weeks after the final race of Harvicks career I applaud him for the path that he blazed. 60+ wins, a championship, wins in all the biggest races Nascar has to offer, and many memorable moments to boot, he proved he was the right person at an unexpected time to carry on the legacy of the #3 car. Also great video, giving a window into part of Nascars past, as with Harvick retiring after Phoenix, there are no drivers left whose careers began pre 9/11.

I was only born in 99, half a globe away from the US. But even I, not even knowing what nascar is, knew the name Dale Earnhardt. Only later in life did i learn about the sport, and while it's difficult to be able to watch races over here I still went to youtube to watch some older races, to watch Dale do what he did best. Pure insanity. One of the greatest racers of all times.

I was 11 at the time of dale's death and was really into nascar due to him and jeff. My joy for the sport died that day too and I'm 34 now and still can't recover from it. Seeing that live as a kid fucked me up.

I always felt terrible for Ken Schrader. He's from my area here in Saint Louis and I've talked to him a number of times at various events and tracks around here. He's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. He didn't deserve to see his friend that way.

Dale at dega is one of the reasons why I fell in love with NASCAR

Fantastic video. This video really helped remind me of what Nascar and sports in general are all about. People will only want to talk about numbers and championships but the true allure of sports are special moments and stories. Dale Sr had some of the most incredible and fun to watch moments in Nascar history and the story told here after his death truly says it all R.I.P #3

12:08 you can hear how sad and how stunned Darrel was, just in his voice 😢

Needed this today. Thank you man

Rest in Peace Dale

nascar and ellyproductions got me crying 2 days before christmas

23 Years ago, to this day, a tragedy would strike. And this sport would change forever. "Raise Hell, Praise Dale!" RIP to Dale Earnhardt.

When I first got to NASCAR, in 2016 I really liked Richard Petty and Dale they were so dedicated to the board. It made me want to be dedicated to the sport. It showed me how much people really cared about NASCAR and I became dedicated to the sport as well. I knew somebody in my school who was watching the race live, and he said to me“I already knew he was dead. By the way he hit the wall” it made me want to appreciate how Dale Junior has come in the sport and the big burden that he had to carry for the rest of his career. It showed me to care about the people that are around you care about the people that are with you, and it also showed me no matter what even though people are gone, it doesn’t mean that they’re gone forever they’ll be with us in our hearts rest in peace, Dale, sr

My wife and I were at that race where he came from 18th or whatever and one the people in the crowd were screaming so loud you couldn’t even hear the cars go by. It was awesome. Dale was my favorite driver.

I remember watching the 2001 Pepsi 400. I can remember exactly where I was, with my parents cheering for Dale Jr. As inconsolable as I was after Dale Sr died, this was one incredible moment of healing.

Terran 3 is such a good theme for Earnhardt. "YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME BOY"

I was on my 19th day of basic training for the Air Force, and my first letter from home was from my mom which included a news paper about Dale . Not the letter I wanted to get ..rip Dale Earnhardt

This video just shows how much you’ve grown in video quality since you’ve started, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you get emotional during production. Amazing video.

This. This is by far one of the greatest NASCAR themed videos ive ever seen. Let alone any video ive seen where its all about one topic. Fantastic work, cant fathom the emotions i have. I pray your holidays are as fantastic as this video.

F1 fan here Something similar happened when Ayrton Senna died. Everyone was in shock. He also was an exceptionally talented driver, won 3 drivers championships, 41 wins, but the numbers aren't enough to describe this legend. Prior to him, lots of drivers, from normal ones to talents like him, had died. But this one stuck really hard. And, after he died, new regulations were passed, the cars, the tracks and the helmets became safer, and it would take 21 years to another driver to die. But, even today, everyone remember his tragic death, and specially in Brazil, were he was born and i live, there where several tributes to him, like statues, streets, etc. Both Dale and Senna shall forever be remembered.

This was Beautiful. Thank you.

This was beautiful man. Ive seen this story before time and time again. Having a slow day at work, saw the video, and just about had me in tears. Thank you man.

No one would pass the black number 3 hauler on its way back home... the 'traffic jam' was many, many, many miles long...! I bought a poster, taken from an overpass... So sad...! This is why I'm a lifelong Harvick fan...!!! Thanks, keep up your awesomeness...

Incredible job. Very emotional tribute video for anyone, even people who aren't fans. Great work!

That instant moment the eyes start tearing up at 8:06 knowing what is about to happen.... I was a little kid when that happened but still remember my dad's reaction to it.

great video man, you got me back into nascar

This was amazing Well done Elly I’m emotionally moved by this video Rest in Peace Dale 🏁 Gone but never forgotten

this is an actual masterpiece

I’ve heard this story countless times and witnessed as a young kid and it never fails to make me an emotional wreck. Great video

That was amazing. Thank you for making that. I can’t believe it’s been almost 23 years since that fateful day. NASCAR is not the same since that day. And it’s gotten further and further away since.

Probably the greatest video ever made. Thank you🥺

A beautifully put together video. It's this story among others that makes me believe that like the tracks themselves, everything in NASCAR comes full circle

Incredible video. Got my dad and I in tears on Christmas Eve. Thank you for this moment.

Man 23 years later and I still get shaky and misty eyed when the lose of Dale gets brought up. 😢

Absolutely fantastic job, one of the best videos I have seen on this platform!

Wow. This was far better than I expected. Really puts in perspective how poetic that 2001 season was. Add in things like the next plate race after Dale's death went caution-free and Gordon taking the Cup after being his biggest rival and one could be accused of making it up.

Thank you for making this video! I was just a little kid, but what an emotional season that was and an impact to an 8 year old Earnhardt fan. I’ve tried to explain this to others about the legend, the prodigy, the friend, the son, and the rookie before. I’ll just show them this video now!! Beautifully made! ❤

Thank you very much. That was really well done. We’ll miss the old fella.

The first video that actually made me cry in years great storytelling