As impressive as it was seeing Jr going from 6th to 1st, don’t forget that Waltrip went from about 14th to right behind Jr and finished 2nd. Without a doubt one of the best finishes in NASCAR history.
Michael Waltrip is 2nd but it’s going to be Dale Earnhardt Jr! Using lessons learned from his father to go from 6th to 1st and score the victory in the Pepsi 400!
I think Wally just sort of knew to take a back seat to the both of Allen and Benny (or he just wanted to watch like all of us) so for me, him barely saying much still meant a lot. He was allowing those two to spotlight it while letting the pictures tell the story
@@gnnascarfan2410 It was, but he did have good analysis for the race. I think it was really good of him to just watch and let the two take it home to finish.
Junior had to fight off paint schemes of Velociraptors(Bobby Labonte), A winged horse(Jeremy Mayfield), A T-Rex(Tony Stewart) to get to the front in victory lane.
You know, if Michael Waltrip had been able to make the pass for the win and got it done, he would've become NASCAR's public enemy #1. NASCAR usually calls their races down the middle, but this is one time I'm okay with them rigging the finish for Jr. (Which I think was honestly a lot more rare than a lot of people imply.)
@@lesscobrandon6803 A better question would be how do you think they didn't? - Jr. was the only driver who was allowed to wear the open face shell helmet in that race. - Jr. was able to pass cars by himself at a track where drafting was necessary to go faster. (My ex-girlfriend's dad went to the race in person, and he said it looked like the front guys literally slowed down.) - It was the first race at Daytona since Dale Earnhardt died. - Dale Earnhardt Jr. is obviously Dale's son. - Dale Jr. drove for his dad's team at the time. - The race ended with a DEI 1-2 finish just like the Daytona 500 did in a season where Michael Waltrip otherwise struggled. Now, I don't deny that Cinderella-like stories happen in NASCAR legitimately, and it's more coincidence when it happens than not, but there are definitely times where some things seem a little too perfect to suggest that it's just a coincidence. Dale Jr.'s 2001 Pepsi 400 win, and his 2010 Subway Jalapeño 250 win in his dad's Wrangler colors were two of those times. Rare times, but they happened nonetheless.
I remember it like it was yesterday! And I still cry. I loved Sr. Watched the race he passed in. This race here was such an emotional night. This was when Nascar was still great. Now they have stages and playoffs.
Yeah Dale on his podcast basically admitted this raced was sort of fixed for him. I believe it was his engine he said something was special in it that NASCAR "overlooked." Im a dale fan but that kind of rubbed me wrong him saying that
Man... this is when NASCAR was the best. The big show was neve the same after Dale died. Today the sport is barely a shadow of its former glory. This race though as good as it felt always felt a little to good to be true, but no one cared. Certainly no one said anything.
As awsome as it was and still is that Dale jr won. Just to show how good those DEI cars where it was over shadowed how far back Michael Waltrip was back in 14th and finished 2nd.
There was no one else winning that race on that night. I'm not saying nascar is scripted which it is not but boy it felt like there was nothing Dale Jr could have done wrong he was still going to win that race on that night.
Most rigged race in motorsports history. Godhardt Jr was bragging about pulling away from the pack only using 7/8ths throttle. Benson and Blaney, both going for their first wins didn't even try to block the high side at the end. And then Mikey obviously playing roadblock on the last lap. Spencer was right to call him out, and the fact Godhardt Jr was butthurt about it shows this wasn't on the up-and-up.
Great drama but come on, this was was rigged from the start. All Dale Jr had to do was not crash and he was going to be gifted the win. All the other drivers were instructed to back off and let him take the lead. Then told never to pass him. This was more scripted than the WWE.
Junior and Waltrip embracing at the end...I'm not crying, there's tire dust in the air...
Man, I miss those days of Nascar.
As impressive as it was seeing Jr going from 6th to 1st, don’t forget that Waltrip went from about 14th to right behind Jr and finished 2nd. Without a doubt one of the best finishes in NASCAR history.
They gave DEI special engines in this race
I was there..as a Gordon fan. It's moments like this that made Nascar what it was.. Everyone was pulling for Jr on the last laps. Still brings tears!
As a fan this race is right at the top of my All Time Favorites list. Benny Parsons and Allen Bestwick were fantastic Broadcasters.
And Wally Dullenbach.
I watched it then, I watched today..still get chills.
Michael Waltrip is 2nd but it’s going to be Dale Earnhardt Jr! Using lessons learned from his father to go from 6th to 1st and score the victory in the Pepsi 400!
Yes! Yes!
I am Speechless!!
Even after all these years this still gets to me. I went nuts that night! I loved Junior and that Bud car!
How did they not have 27 crashes in the last 6 laps. Oh yea. Actually had good drivers then.
They still have "good drivers"...the difference is the cars.
Gosh. November 4, 2023. Chills and tears like this was tonight. My God!
Hard to believe it's been 20 years ago that's when racing was worth watching
I think Wally just sort of knew to take a back seat to the both of Allen and Benny (or he just wanted to watch like all of us) so for me, him barely saying much still meant a lot. He was allowing those two to spotlight it while letting the pictures tell the story
I noticed that too. Always loved Wally on the call.
It was his first ever NASCAR weekend on television if I'm not mistaken, so he was still finding his rhythm.
@@gnnascarfan2410 It was, but he did have good analysis for the race. I think it was really good of him to just watch and let the two take it home to finish.
That night's win really helped. The most iconic win in NASCAR.
Benny was excellent
When Richard Petty takes the lead of the 1992 Pepsi 400 he shoots out in front from an in car camera in turn 1. Benny says " That's Magic Ned ".
Umm, hello, Wally Dullenbach was in the booth too. Don't forget about him.
This randomly showed up in my recommendations a few times now, so why not.
5:08 The Greatest Call in NASCAR and Motorsports history EVER!!!!
Junior had to fight off paint schemes of Velociraptors(Bobby Labonte), A winged horse(Jeremy Mayfield), A T-Rex(Tony Stewart) to get to the front in victory lane.
Waltrip was driving like Dale. He came from way back to get up to front.
You know, if Michael Waltrip had been able to make the pass for the win and got it done, he would've become NASCAR's public enemy #1. NASCAR usually calls their races down the middle, but this is one time I'm okay with them rigging the finish for Jr. (Which I think was honestly a lot more rare than a lot of people imply.)
No way Mikey was gonna make that pass for the win.
@@liquidninja04 I know that. Just saying.
How do you think they rigged it for JR?
@@lesscobrandon6803 A better question would be how do you think they didn't?
- Jr. was the only driver who was allowed to wear the open face shell helmet in that race.
- Jr. was able to pass cars by himself at a track where drafting was necessary to go faster. (My ex-girlfriend's dad went to the race in person, and he said it looked like the front guys literally slowed down.)
- It was the first race at Daytona since Dale Earnhardt died.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. is obviously Dale's son.
- Dale Jr. drove for his dad's team at the time.
- The race ended with a DEI 1-2 finish just like the Daytona 500 did in a season where Michael Waltrip otherwise struggled.
Now, I don't deny that Cinderella-like stories happen in NASCAR legitimately, and it's more coincidence when it happens than not, but there are definitely times where some things seem a little too perfect to suggest that it's just a coincidence. Dale Jr.'s 2001 Pepsi 400 win, and his 2010 Subway Jalapeño 250 win in his dad's Wrangler colors were two of those times. Rare times, but they happened nonetheless.
Michael Waltrip going from 12th to 3rd in 1 lap is super impressive
And it’s perfect that this was Dale Jr’s first win of 2001…at the place he lost his father just a few months earlier…
I remember it like it was yesterday! And I still cry. I loved Sr. Watched the race he passed in. This race here was such an emotional night. This was when Nascar was still great. Now they have stages and playoffs.
Stands absolutely PACKEDD
We miss you Benny
I love pontiac car wish pontiac was back in nascar today
Could not have written any better
I will never forget this race.
No doubt Dale Sr had something to do with this win.
WOW.....I still get emotional watching this after all these years.
That wasn’t Dale Jr driving it was Dale Sr one last time and telling us he’s ok
Crazy how there wasn’t a crash when Dave Blaney got sucked back in the middle of the pack
Eliiot Sadler is up to fifth place. Where did he come from? Benny Parsons- Beats me! 🤣 LMAO
Waltrip is probably in tears in the booth.... how could you call that moment... it's 2024 and I'm in tears still
god i miss those days and benny rip my man
I was there best race ever, crowd went crazy
What a race
Racing when it was racing
That 8 car was so fast no blocks were needed
Absolute Cinema.
Loved o Mayfield driven that 12
This is when nascar was the best!
Yeah Dale on his podcast basically admitted this raced was sort of fixed for him. I believe it was his engine he said something was special in it that NASCAR "overlooked." Im a dale fan but that kind of rubbed me wrong him saying that
That's why us old schoolers had a love affair with NASCAR.
The WWE race of Nascar
Wonder exactly how much bigger the holes in the 8 and 15 were than the rest of the field
Man... this is when NASCAR was the best. The big show was neve the same after Dale died. Today the sport is barely a shadow of its former glory.
This race though as good as it felt always felt a little to good to be true, but no one cared. Certainly no one said anything.
As awsome as it was and still is that Dale jr won. Just to show how good those DEI cars where it was over shadowed how far back Michael Waltrip was back in 14th and finished 2nd.
1:46 Idk if anyone else it but i saw a black car with a number 3 on it push Jr right passed Benson and i know Jr saw it too in his rear view mirror
As impressive as that was, I was more impressed with the first crewmember oi the car! How about that Chocolate!!!!
real nascar back when the teams could tweak that bodywork just right. thats what made it, uniqueness. now its just cookie cutter bodywork on every car
I sure miss Benny Parsons !
Gordon black flagged is kinda fitting in this part of the Earnhardt vs Gordon saga. Coincidence? Maybe..
We run wires for the security system.
Ice machine in the garrage. Dale.
There was no one else winning that race on that night. I'm not saying nascar is scripted which it is not but boy it felt like there was nothing Dale Jr could have done wrong he was still going to win that race on that night.
Back when Nascar was good. Look how full the stands are.
Stands are still full today.
And Wally Dallenbach
DEI was still strong at that point, and no doubt if Dale was still with us would of have remained; Teresa killed DEI.
NASCAR might as well be WWE.
Opinions are like an asshole, everybody got one. 🏁
You are a joke
WWE couldn’t even dream of writing an ending like this
3
Always will be a Jr fan but I would have liked to compared the plates
Back before stage racing so NASCAR had to be a little more creative about rigging races.
Jr still thinks he won..lmao 😂
Who won?
Most rigged race in motorsports history. Godhardt Jr was bragging about pulling away from the pack only using 7/8ths throttle. Benson and Blaney, both going for their first wins didn't even try to block the high side at the end. And then Mikey obviously playing roadblock on the last lap. Spencer was right to call him out, and the fact Godhardt Jr was butthurt about it shows this wasn't on the up-and-up.
Great drama but come on, this was was rigged from the start. All Dale Jr had to do was not crash and he was going to be gifted the win. All the other drivers were instructed to back off and let him take the lead. Then told never to pass him. This was more scripted than the WWE.
No race this weakend, The Pepsi 400 is july 4th. Jeff and Tony blacked flagged. 8-4-24.
Those were the good Olds in nascar. Now the drivers nascar none of it is exciting anymore. I personally have lost all interest in it.
The fix was in...and the announcers suck
One time where I don't mind Nascar letting Dale Jr and Mikey cheat
Might as well have been WWE.