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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 พ.ย. 2022
- Ernie Irvan is one of the biggest names of NASCAR in the 90s, despite not having the most wins or championships. Today we take a brief look throughout his NASCAR career, but especially two horrific crashes he had at Michigan International Speedway. We take a deeper dive into Ernie's rivalry with the track, his comeback, and his eventual retirement.
The Track That Almost Killed Ernie Irvan, Twice
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Creating all those replica trophies and photos was a class act.
I knew the rest of this story but didn’t know that. I actually cried listening to that part.
i have to admit, that was a tear jerker.
Wish they'd have done something like that for Jeter instead of making us sit through a whole season's worth.
Yeah I follow nascar, well at least I did at the time but I didn't know they did all that. That made me tear up a little bit. Not gonna lie.
Agree 💯
Ernie is the most underrated driver in NASCAR hands down. I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t end up in the Hall of Fame soon.
I'm shocked he isn't there already! I'm almost certain he has been eligible for a while now.
Couldn't agree with you anymore. I was born in 88 and have been watching racing since I was 5 years old. Me and a buddy always called him swerving irvan. The older I got and started to figure out what kind of driver was and quickly stopped calling him that
@@John-cg8hb b
You'd figure he would have been there already
beecause he only has 13 wins and no cups he arent gonna get in before champions or major win drivers @@John-cg8hb
Gosh, you got me tearing up there a few times. I did not know Ernie's full story, I knew about his comeback, but I didn't realize how much of a comeback it was. And the story about NASCAR creating replicas of all his trophies - that's incredible. So glad they were able to do that for him. Definitely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Thank you for telling his story.
I remember being at the race track when he made his comeback with Dale Jarrett being in the 28 Texaco Havoline car and Ernie being in the 88 Texaco havoline car.
Ernie is one of the best. I don't care who says what. Definitely a hall of famer to be. And a true inspiration to come back and win after facing what seemed to be certain death
Ernie always drove me crazy even when he was in my favorite car the 28 but he was a great driver. I truly don't think anyone can provide a true argument against it.
The best at wrecking himself and others
This man is invincible! He is one of very few people to EVER survive a basilar Skull Fracture! This is the same injury that killed so many drivers, including Dale Sr.
Ernie is definitely worthy of being a NASCAR hall of famer and a very underrated driver that doesn’t get talked about much. He had some great runs in the #4 car and ran up front a lot in that equipment.
That's an incredible thing Nascar did to replicate all the trophies he had lost. I knew about his forst crash at michigan,but never heard of the second one thatforced his retirement surprisingly
Such a class act for NASCAR to do that for him after he lost basically all his memory’s and proof of his success in the sport. I’m fairly certain we’d be hard pressed to hear a story like that today!
GREAT video. Ernie sure had what it takes to get it done. I was a Earnhardt fan, but always liked Ernie's style. Alot of people thought he was too aggressive. I don't. There is a old saying.." there's two kinds of moonshine, the best and all the rest." Ernie just wanted to be the best. GOD BLESS him. Glad he is with us today.
Ernie was my favorite driver as a kid. Always will be one of the best in my book.
🏳️🌈📺📼🏎️🧰🛠️🔧🪛🎙️🏆🏁💡🧢📻🎤📷📰📹📱 Same here I started fan of him since I was 10 3/4th years old during middle of 1998 season.
Ernie Irvan is who made me a fan of NASCAR. I miss the days of Irvan, Earnhardt, Martin, Wallace Jarret and the Labonte’s. It was in my opinion the golden age of NASCAR and it is really sad to see what it has become today….
Don’t forget Rudd, Bill Elliott, Waltrip, Marlin, Trickle
Ernie was my favorite driver growing up, his yellow #4 and that #28 car emblazoned into my memory for the rest of my life. I'll never forget his Sears Point win (I saw it on a field trip and embarrassingly started jumping up and down celebrating in front of everyone lol).
He's a huge inspiration and it's a shame he's forgotten by so many. Kudos to you for this awesome look back at his career :)
Ernie Irvan is definitely worthy of being in the NASCAR Hall of Fame
Without a doubt. I have no doubt that had he never got into that crash at Michigan, he would've battled Earnhardt for the championship to the very end in 1994!
I'm a diehard Earnhardt fan but even I can admit that Irvan would have been tough to beat had he not got injured in 94. He damn well should have won at least half the races he ran that season including all 4 plate races that Havoline car was sooo strong every week with him behind the wheel...
That Yates power was ALWAYS head of the field...not sure there WAS a better engine program at the time than Doug & Robert.
Was always an Earnie fan. I remember one of his wrecks they pronounced he was survived by..... He shocked them and survived though. Hope he's doing well these days.
I remember when Dale Earnhardt put a yellow rookie decals on his bumper. They used them the whole season. Ernie stated that it was a reminder of a conversation with Dale. He said that Dale told him that he is a excellent driver but needs to learn patience. In 1994 it was the Dale and Ernie show. It took a few races for the rest of the field to catch up. The next race after the accident he was still in the lead. He is the most underrated driver. He is my favourite driver.
That Texaco car of his was the one I remembered the most. I always think of him and that car when I see Texaco anywhere, even if it's just an old sign in someone's shop.
He may not hold a championship trophy, but he will always be a champion to me
Erin use to eat at a small restaurant in downtown mooresille all the time seen and talked to him a few times when I was a kid. This was after the wreck. Awesome dude.
Ernie gave it his "BEST" ! so happy to have pulled for you .
Ernie was an absolute beast back then. I remember the day he had his first crash at Michigan. I was thinking the 28 car was cursed and he was not gonna make it. Had he not been hurt so badly in this crash I have no doubt he would have won a championship or multiple. He and Mark Martin deserved to win a championship but is slipped out of their grasp.
My favorite driver in any racing venue. I loved this guy. For me, it was a sad day when he retired and NASCAR was never the same. Thanks for the video
Wow, what a baller move by NASCAR at the end.
He was such a talented driver . God I miss real Nascar racing .
What exactly is "real Nascar racing"?
Brilliant and very informative and oh yes very enjoyable,well done👍👍👍👍
That guy got me into NASCAR at young age. I remember the crash and thinking that poor team. I really hope he pulls through. Today it gets to the playoffs and I just loose all interest. I just doesn’t seam fair anymore. The last hard charger I follow was when 78# won the championship. These days it feels like a coin flip in the last races. 😔
Ernie was the first NASCAR driver I started following exclusively in the very early 90s. The triumphs and heartaches. Wow. I couldn't watch for a few years after 94. That was going to be a close year with Dale, but the safety at the time and the tire war that year, man we lost some talent. It's the great what if story. If you haven't read his book, its a great read. Go Swervin Irvan!
My favorite driver. The first race I watched with my dad was the 91 Daytona 500. I fell in love with that Kodak Chevy and was hooked.
Ross Chastain reminds me of Ernie.
Bittersweet. Man's a legend.
Cool video, I liked Ernie, and I watched that Michigan Race and hearing he had tears in his eyes when he cruised around the track for that win, sad he had to retire after that 2ND wreck because of the injuries, but cool on NASCAR's part to restore his stuff after his house burned down
I met Ernie Irvan a few years ago(it was probably 10-12 years ago) at the Kentucky Speedway. I was there to drive a cup car at a NASCAR experience and he was there filming a segment of a show for The Learning Channel(I think). After you talk to him, you can tell that those wrecks messed him up. When I went to shake his hand I realized that he couldn't shake hands without breaking eye contact. He had to look down at his hand to make sure he found my hand. But he's a super nice guy and seemed happy to chat with me for a few minutes. I even got a picture with him.
Dam, where did the days like that go. I loved watching Ernie drive.
Thats awesome that NASCAR did that for him!
I have always thought he would’ve won the 94 championship had he not gotten hurt.
Should do a top 10 most heart warming moments in Nascar history. This should make it because I've never heard this story about the house burning down. Life hasn't been kind to the number 28 car.
One of the best gestures NASCAR has ever made. Truly an amazing thing recreating all those trophies and photos.
"Swervin' Ervin" was a fun guy to watch race. He would race anyone hard and did a heck of a job driving some ill mannered cars. Thank God he came along back when drivers could still have their own personality.
Great work man, your videos are the best!
These uploads help share with us little things many never knew.
Gonna be on the same boat as the few who posted, very nice of NASCAR to make replicate trophies he lost in that fire.
The 90s were a good era for me growing up.
Irvan could’ve had a shot at Earnhardt if it wasn’t for that accident. I bet he would’ve gotten that championship too
Nice video. I decaled that Tru-Cur car at Barney Inge's shop in Chesterfield, VA. Back in the day. Tru-Cur pulled out and it never even happened. Got pics of the car and hauler in the shop. We did everything for Junie and others. Barney actually designed the window signature logo for Schrader. We did all of Schrader's stuff. And Dodson/Beverly with Phil Parsons. And every Late Model that ever ran at Southside Speedway. I got into the screen printing business and printed shirts for most of those folks. Hit me up if you want more info
Thank you for this. I've been such a huge fan of Ernie but don't know much about him
One of my favorite drivers and a great person !
My favorite driver! Thanks for the video!
The days of ernie ervin and dale sr and countless others risking losing it all to make to the top of a sport that could very well kill them at any moment are over the legends that built nascar have all retired
And are sadly beginning to pass away
Nice video!
Please do a video on Harry Gant! The best driver who isn't in The Hall Of Fame!! I feel he's close to getting in, any extra attention might help! Can you believe that man is on the outside looking in?! How can NASCAR have a HOF without him in it?! 33/7
Ole swerving irvan was a great driver this video was very positive and I enjoyed it I met him at a Walmart in concord NC he was very down to earth person
Fun fact: I was born on June 15th, 1997. Bless ya Ernie, I’ll help carry the burden onwards.
Still can’t believe I was able to drive at Michigan Speedway 1.5 Years, back such a great time! Thanks Xtreme Experience!!❤
This driver is the original candyman!
That was very good of NASCAR to have replicas of his trophies made for him. That’s when NASCAR was still cool. To bad things have changed so much.
I seen Ernie win at Michigan when he came back from his crash there. Great day.
The great Dr. Jerry Punch is who saved him. He also helped Rusty Wallace, people burned in a Richard Petty wreck, Don Marmor, multiple injured pit crew members in the 90s, and Vince Gills daughter lol. Most of this was while he was also covering the races lol!
I was definitely a fan of his. But like many others it goes to show Once you have a concussion the next one is always worse.
from recent memory of nascar ait of concussion like symptoms from any crashes have been seen from short tracks and the superspeedways. the question is, what will the future hold?
Ernie is a genuinely nice man. I have two old school Ernie T-shirts hanging in my closet. When I wear them they always get comments.
During Earnhardt's amazing 90's run irvan was out front with him in the lead pack it seemed every weekend and I can remember a few times my old man ticked off that swirvin irvan stole a few from Dale
Ernie could have been a Kyle Busch level talent if you look at how well he did in the 28 car after Davey Allison died. He won 2 races in 1993 in that 28 car. 1994 was going to be a season of the ages. It is shame he got hurt. Irvan and the 28 bunch started the 1994 season like gangbusters and were poised for a title chance.
I was in the infield of MIS watching that practice. We were standing on the roof of our bus between turn four and turn one. He essentially hit the wall head on at 170 mph. Incredibly frightening.
Turn 4 is a straight away from turn 1 ????????
So you were by start finish line? I was at this event as well in the infield by turn 3 .Crash happend by us in turn 3 I didn't see it just the aftermath
@Norton reals He came off turn 3 and was at the was at the bottom of the track. He was trying to drift back up when it appeared he didn't even try to steer. Went up the track, hit the wall and turned into the wall and slid.
I raced against Ernie at Concord. Yes he had really good equipment but that boy could flat out drive a race car sideways, tight, upside down, it didnt matter. I know he kind of got a reputation at one point in cup for being dirty but he wasnt, he was a racer but also a sportsman. He got dumped one night by, I think it was Bickle cant remember, racing for the win and rather than retaliate, walked up to Rich, said something like "good job that was fun" and then shook his hand. Times have changed.
I used to watch some of his early races in Stockton CA 99 speedway.
I gotta say Ernie Irvan is a survivor.
Nice , he was my favorite, wish he raced until he became a champion
13:58 OH MY GOD THATS SO BEAUTIFUL WOW!!! Cannot believe we don’t talk more about how ISC and Nascar did this, there’s a few miracles right there.
His son was trying to get into racing bur haven't heard much about him. Wonder if he is still trying to get started.
He's winning super late model races all over Florida
Good stuff.
But man it bothers me when ppl misuse the word whenever for when.
Just like Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki, you wonder what could have been if not for those crashes. I got a lot of ribbing for being a 'Swervin' Irvan' fan but I knew he was going to be great one day. Fate just didnt see it that way.
This was a beautyfull story
Yeah any Basilar Skull fracture is pretty much death
About 90 percent are. Larry Pollard, Mika Hakkinen, Ernie and Stanley Smith luckily survived it but it's very rare
And Mika and Ernie are the only ones who came back and had any real success afterward
@@KellieLeigh48 I've never heard of Mika Hakkinen suffering that injury. When did that occur?
@@Ultimate23Dragon Think it was Adelaide in 1995, when a tyre blew, sending him sideways into a tyre wall at 120mph. Had to be given a tracheotomy, and have his heart restarted twice trackside. He later said "The first person I saw when I woke up was Lisa Dennis, Ron's wife, there was also a bigger woman in the room, she was nice and sweet. I suddenly thought that I had been released by two little angels and that they had taken me to heaven, and when I looked a bit more to the left of the room I saw Ron Dennis standing there, then I knew I was not in heaven".
@@Ultimate23Dragon Just watch what happens to his head from the in car
th-cam.com/video/4j6aoeKGDd8/w-d-xo.html
I've always bee curious about the 1999 wreck on how it happened, was it a get loose and back it in with the LR-driver's side situation, or was it an overcorrection?
I almost feel like that Robert Yates Racing #28 was cursed. That was my favorite car for a longtime but if you look at what happened with Davey, Kenny Irwin Jr., and Ernie Irvan it just feels almost like a curse. I know what happened to Kenny didn't happen in the 28 but still.
14:05 - Ok. That is cool. I did not know about any of that, let alone that NASCAR did that for him. :')
Wouldn’t mind seeing a Adam Petty video
That's terrible this track almost killed Ernie Irvan two times and he was a great driver in Nascar and he is a underrated driver in Nascar
Ol' Swervin Ervin was pretty damn good, once King Richard & The Intimidator got him calmed down anyways. Love the old karting pic's, I raced with & against nearly every driver in those two pic's, even managed to beat some of them a time or two. If it sounds like I'm bragging, yeah kinda, cauz those driver's were the greatest karting wheelmen that ever planted their butt's in a 100mph Kart! 😉
That 28 car is cursed
my dad also missed his high school graduation to race at Riverside
Irvan always seemed like a nice guy. And he could drive. Unfortunately, he had a propensity to cause accidents, especially in his eye patch days. I'm still amazed he was allowed to race with a bad eye.
His "Swervin' Irvan" reputation came from his time at Morgan-McClure, long before he wore the eye patch.
Erine Was A Wheel Man He Could Drive
I was in the infield at Michigan in 94 when this crash happend thought it was turn 3?????
i loved that car as a kid
Saw one race in my life (nascar) . 1991 Daytona 500.
That 28 is cursed when it comes to championships
He was just never the same driver after he came back from the accident the first time
Swervin' Irvin!
(14:05) Goddamn this is why I loved NASCAR.
What a wonderful thing to do for a fella being kicked while he was down. Picked him up off the ground and asked, hey don't all these nice things belong to you? Pretty sure they do bud!
Actually Ernie was the one who made first contact with Yates.
I actually have the Ernie Ervin 56 Earnhardt sponsored 1:24 scale diecast
🏳️🌈📺📼🏎️🧰🛠️🔧🪛🎙️🏆🏁💡🧢📻🎤📷📰📹📱 This is very amazing story you did. I was just started fan of him since I was a kid. I remember Michigan Speedway in August 1999 for Ernie wreak again & see it on tv like oh no not Ernie again from same race track. I was completely concerned about him for checking he is ok. I was so lucky for being fan of him. Case you know folks I started fan of Ernie Irvan since middle of 1998 season on C-Band in the living room at my old house. I told my mom about who driving number 36 car? And then she told me it is Ernie Irvan because of Skittles sponsor I was fan of favorite snack. It was at Watkins Glen International I was talking about. Thankfully I started kept few of Ernie Irvan collection. But hey I was huge NASCAR diehard fan by this year for 25 years.
Didnt the winston 500 wreck injure him too. I recall him having to get cut out of the car there too
I worked for my dad at a large station/truck stop....ernies crew came by on the way to Sonoma in the 2 Kroger Pontiac...pulled by a Chevy Dualie and single car trailer... got to talking to crew I was already a fan because I knew Earnhardt had sponsored him and must've saw something in him...got invite to go get some clothes and go for the week...needless to say one of the biggest mistakes of my life...I didn't go...who knows what would've happened but you don't know if you don't go...
He was from California and has championships in Nascar local California tracks
I watched NASCAR religiously at that time, and after Tim Richmond's era, I thought Irvan was the best driver in the series.
Luved Ernie ....such a talented driver but if you look up hard luck in the dictionary you'll get his picture for a definition!!!
I have matchbox cup cars of his era the new R.P. racing @ Daytona the kodak car with Sterling Elliott Earnhardt etc about 15 of them been in a box since i got them no packaging loose bought but in store target
Is irvan the only racing driver to be a survivor of the Basilar skull fracture. Just curious not sure. I can think of 4 or 5 that died from that injury on impact or shortly after.
Whilst watching this I forgot what the actual video was susposed to be about now it’s just his career story
Ernie was a head hunter. He would have beat Earnhardt in 94. He was a great driver. He took chances that other drivers wouldn't. It was cool of NASCAR to replace his trophys.
What a badass