As Y’all know the drill. Where has the Freakin’
time gone?
Little did I know that my day would be
bookended by thee Intimidator’, aka ‘Ol Ironhead, ergo Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Began the day, Thursday Feb 12th by listening
to a great story about the young girl who gave Dale Earnhardt a lucky penny in
1998. Listening via my Newsline for The Blind’s telephone service’s ESPN Online
Motorsports Headlines section.
Then I finished the day off by Watcin’, Err
listening to the Dale Earnhardt 25 Years later one hour TV Show on FOX. As
don’t tell anybody, I “watched” one and a quarter of the two NASCAR Cup Duels
preceding this program…
Yet like many stories here upon thoust mystical
Isle ‘O Nofendersville. I hadn’t gotten round to scribblin’ my thoughts before
another month’s time slipped by. Hoping to watch an encore presentation March
8th. But ironically, due to the Phoenix Cup race running long, it was
pre-empted.
It was weird hearing former NASCAR boss Mike
Helton speaking again. And His words were most prophetic when simply saying
We’ve lost Dale Earnhardt.
As I enjoyed Helton’s perspective on Earnhardt,
who was also a friend of His. But found it odd there was nothing from arch
nemesis Jeffry Pretty boy Floyd’ Gordon.
And I enjoyed Curt Busch’s recollections of
tangling with thee Intimidator’, and how it was only a matter of time until He
got paid back!
Now twenty-five years later, obviously I
remember very little from that fateful day. Other than I know I watched the
race live and heard ‘Ol Boogity-Boogity-Boogity DW’ (Darrell Waltrip) crapping
His pants over His brother Mikey, ah Shucks Waltrip getting ready to win the
Day-Toner’ 500!
As Earnhardt Sr. was running third and blocking
both Kenny Schroeder and Sterling Marlin in order for the two Dale Earnhardt
Inc. (DEI) entries of Waltrip and His son ‘lil e’, aka Dale Earnhardt Jr.
running 1-2 to finish ahead of Him.
After light contact with Marlin, Schroeder and
Earnhardt collided on the final lap, with Earnhardt hitting the wall Head-on!
And I’m fairly certain we as an audience, or at
least myself didn’t know that Earnhardt had perished in that last-lap pile-up…
As all I remember now, is that snowbyrd’ MJ
mailed me a copy of Times Magazine with thee Intimidator on its cover. Along
with His death being the lead story.
As I had a co-worker at the time who wore
shorts all year round, no matter the temperature in Seattle who was a ginormous
Dearnhardt fan, i.e.; T-Shirts, Diecasts, etc. So I ended up giving the
magazine to Him. Although I don’t remember if He even said anything to me
afterwards? Since He still seemed in shock over His Hero’s death…
Thus I was eager to “See” how FOX would portray
Earnhardt’s death, and discuss any of the real facts of what happened? With
Bill Simpson and His Simpson Performance Products company being made the
scapegoat for Earnhardt’s death…
Now I understand the need to burnish ‘Ol
Ironhead’s legend, despite His on-track antics. He did do many good things
behind the scenes, and away from the camera’s eye.
Perhaps there’s still some legal ramifications
over what transpired? Or FOX simply didn’t wish to paint a true picture of how
Earnhardt Himself was responsible for His death, or how NASCAR was wrong. And
thus I had a hard time swallowing the narrative of how thee Intimidator brought
about new safety standards that haven’t seen another drivers death since…
After the Daytona Beach Police Department and NASCAR
opened two investigations into Earnhardt’s death. Allegations over the crash
regarding seat belt failure forced Bill Simpson to resign from His company.
Having received many death threats.
Now I’m going off of memory here, so bear with
me. As I tend to recall that Earnhardt enjoyed driving with loose lap belts and
refused to wear a HANS device. The Head And Neck restraint System that has long
since become mandatory in racing around the world, because it was uncomfortable
to Dale. Who preferred open faced helmets instead.
Reportedly NASCAR claimed that Earnhardt’s left
lap belt failed, allowing His head to strike the steering wheel upon impact
with the wall. Yet I also tend to recall there was speculation over paramedics
using a boey knife to cut Earnhardt from His seat following the accident.
Dr. Barry Myers, a Crash Incident expert from
Duke University was appointed to independently study Earnhardt’s death, and
concluded the broken lap belt held no cause regarding His death, rejecting
NASCAR’s assertion. Which Bill Simpson said was the best news He’d heard in
several weeks.
Subsequently, three doctors, including Dr. Steve
Olvey, CART Medical Director during Greg Moore’s death, all concurred that they
agreed with Dr. Myres assessment.
Simpson subsequently sued NASCAR $8.5m for
Defamation, since Dr. Myers accident investigation rendered the seat belt
failure moot. Although Simpson held steadfast to the lap belts being installed
incorrectly, which NASCAR said nothing about.
The lawsuit was settled out of court for an
unspecified amount, while the HANS device became mandatory in NASCAR in October
that year. (2001) Along with a total of 37 safety recommendations being made.
So the program ended by making Earnhardt a Hero for propelling the sport forward. And skillfully side-stepped telling the real story behind the late Intimidator’s death…
