I started watching Nascar as a little girl, which is kind of unusual I guess because none of my family watched racing. I was absolutely fascinated with Dale Earnhardt from the start & remained a die hard fan until his death. I was fortunate enough to have been watching live during some of his finest moments. From the pass in the grass, to the time when he sat on his door frame, steering with his knee during caution laps cleaning his own windshield, to his first win in the Daytona 500 in 1998. Every Sunday I was right there, yelling & screaming at the top of my lungs, cheering for a win. When he passed, I cried for days. It felt like losing a long time friend. After his death I couldn't bring myself to continue watching and over the years most of my friends have followed suit. It's never been the same and they have officially ruined a sport that, at one time, had such a loyal following. These days it's not about who has the most talent, it's about who has the most money. The drivers of today are mostly young kids who come from money and they will never bring the excitement to the sport in the same way that the drivers of years past did. Back in those days most of the drivers came from poor backgrounds and had to really work hard to succeed in the sport.
@pamala good observation your right on with it. These young guys have no history of borrowing a couple tire to make a race. No money race to race you got it right girl.
After Waltrip cried on tv, "It's not fair, it's just not fair", I became an Earnhardt fan. Earnhardt's response: 'that's racing'. No truer words were ever spoken.
He never lost the joy of driving! Went out like a true warrior. We could all be so lucky to die doing what we love. Better than choking on a peanut or falling off a ladder.
I'm not the least bit ashamed to say I cried when this man died, and I only stuck with the Nascar scene for 1 more season. It was just empty without Earnhardt.
I did too...cried like a baby. And like you, I could only watch for another season or two. I try...I mean I really try to reignite my passion with NASCAR year after year....but it's just not the same.
He said back then "I could race for 5-6 maybe 10 years" he raced in the CUP SERIES for 27 YEARS! Even at the end of his career he was contending for championships.
What sucks is the way they just wreck each other on purpose. Sure dale did that occasionally on short tracks but on super speedway never deliberately how they do. He would rub and if needed nudge his way through like a man. No one wants to see the rightful winner dumbed into fence upsidedown on fire as some spoilt child claims victory as though they deserve the spoils of victory. Real men don't want to win this way.
On this day, 19 years ago we lost Dale. This piece is timeless and says all there needs to be about The Man. With Junior retired, the sport is near dead to me, which saddens me greatly because I love stock car racing. Long live The Intimidator.
That was Wrangler's slogan back then, one tough customer. I had the box set it was in it with a special feature on it. Damn good documentary.... Thanks for posting!
The Oppermans from Texas will always love and miss you Dale Earnhardt Sr, your fans forever. We cried many tears when Dale died. As Jerry and I watched the sky that night a shining star sailed from south to north. We both agreed it was Dale racing across the sky. Magical- even Sugar Bear watched. Our precious Dale Sr and Sugar Bear- one tough customer indeed. Our love for Dale Sr will never die. Bear and I will be with Jerry and Sugar Bear and Dale and my Mama and Neil Bonnett in Heaven
The only thing about history is you can't go back to experience those glorious days...but the great thing about history is that we can still bask in the afterglow of those moments that inspire us....
I helped Dale back in 93 while he was staying at a hotel I once worked at and didn't know at that time who he was. He never came off as some arrogant, "Look at Me" kind of person.
We all have a place in our heart for our hero’s. There’s a void in mine right next to my Gramps, my Gram, my Dad and my Mother. It’s where Dale resided.
Best driver ever!!! I loved the way he drove his car and his attitude was great he would mess with the other drivers for fun because he loved racing with them!! He was simply the best
What kills me is that if you get a driver like Dale today he would get slated on social media and in the press. Yet we look at him as a true legend for being the guy he was. Same goes for the likes of Ayrton Senna and James Hunt in Formula 1.
He was one of the few drivers who I truly believe,considered his fans his friends. Maybe even family. He drove as hard as he did for us. Washing my eyes while watching this.
I’m sure everyone knows that shop behind Martha Earnhardt’s house was Dale’s humble beginnings of Dale Earnhardt Inc. The shop that belonged to his dad Ralph.
When the man went away and all my favorites either quit or died. The great Alabama gang died or got hurt and couldn't race anymore. Neil Bonnet clifford Allison Davy Allison. Donnie Allison .then Bobby almost died at Nazareth. Rusty quit and what was left to really watch. God bless the boys who raced there toys on sunday afternoons.
NASCAR’s finest days and finest drivers. The Golden Era of the Good Ol Boys. Earnhardt Petty Yarborough Waltrip Allison’s Kullwicki Elliot Gant Bonnet Bodine Just to name a few of the greatest drivers of all time that were able to race head to head during the 80’s.
Problem is we don’t have drivers nowadays. They are just car pilots and robots basically. Don’t have to drive since the cars are all tech’d out. Definitely don’t have anything more than advertisers behind the wheel. They are so worried about rattling off their 6000 sponsors and afraid they might lose a dollar if they say something wrong. Back then the men were drivers, mechanics, and men...period. They were confident in their talent and new the money would come if they performed but they were more about loving the idea of competition more than living in a mansion. Which is also to be blamed on NASCAR for chasing car sponsors and undercutting teams as well as removing the “Stock” from the cars, owners for trying to gain every single edge they can in a wind tunnel and tech instead of investing in humans, and the sponsors in trying to please everyone instead of encouraging people to be people and make a mistake or have a bad day. Like most other sports, companies, and governments...money and power are the issues. Enough is never enough. Killing America in the process. Blue collar honest hard working people can’t afford to have family time nor can they afford a family outing. Sad.
Yellowhammer with a name like that, you must be from Alabama?! (I’m from Monroe County myself & WDE!) You know on the racing aspect, one of the main things that’s a problem is these “big markets” which just so happen to mostly include those lousy 1.5 mile cookie cutter tracks. Expense tickets, boring races, horrible experience. But Lil France is happy even if he is in rehab or whatever. Freaking moron. Give us less mainstream and more racing. 1 mile or smaller tracks are some of the best racing, because of the ability for adjustments, passes, strategies, and oh yea...I bet the cars cost less to build too! Sorry but we don’t need Indy even. That’s a great audience but that’s an open wheel track and as a kid that place was known to us but didn’t mean much. Not compared to Dega, Rockingham, Richmond, Daytona. Those were the tracks in my group’s minds that measured greatness.
Yellowhammer I grew up on the tracks in Mobile, Evergreen and a Flomaton. That one you mention in Birmingham was a great track last time I went to it, but it’s been years. I know where you’re talking about. My cousins went to and played football at Pratville. I’m from Excel if you’ve ever heard of it. About the only claim to fame for this town and easiest way to sort of identify it for people is by tell folks it’s the place my great Uncle is from, Leroy Jordan. But you’ve got to be a bit older to know of him. And trust me, it’s no great honor to know him. He’s never done a thing nor ever visits his hometown. People love to invoke his name back here like it matters, but I could tell you stories that would disgust you. Anyway, I’d imagine you’re one of “those” fans huh. My apologies. I’ll pray for brother. Might even get you some Orange and Blue clothes! 😜 (funny thing is, one of Leroy’s favorite nephews played for Auburn just in spite of him)
There will never be another driver like this ever. All these young glorified go cart drivers we have now will never hold a candle next to someone like Earnhardt. EVER!
I was 6 years old and got to sit in his car (#2 Wrangler) at Darlington. My dads family was from Hickory, NC so we used to be down there all the time even though we live in Michigan. I don’t remember a ton, but I remember sitting in that car for about 1 minute, lol
@Elite Soulfly it's not closed minded it's facts and it has nothing to do with abilities and everything to do with available knowledge. The driver today never experiences cars that don't handle and are difficult to drive but still doing speeds of today's cars. The best example of this in my opinion is Steve kinser and Sammy Swindle, who dominated younger competition, who should have surpassed them but simply couldn't due to not developing the skill set required to simply through advancements in technology. They found it easy to go fast in cars that handle as they went fast in cars didn't really handle. The skill gained is there set up can be close and they make up the deficiency where as the young drivers can close but need closer
I was never a big cup fan until I opened a Texaco Express Lube in the fall of 89. Texaco Havoline Racing was a big part of advertising and we used to get a dozen tickets a year to NHIS. After my first live Winston Cup race in 90 I was hooked and for sure the 28 car will always be special to me. But Dale Earnhardt and that Black #3 WAS Winston Cup Racing and a part of me died that day. I still love Cup racing, but no where near as much as when Dale, Rusty and the boys traded paint.
We miss you Dale so much along with your buddies Davey, Alan, Neil, Adam, Benny and now Steve Byrnes and so on. Hope God and Heaven are treating all of y'all very well and given y'all tons of fun, wins and championship. Down here ain't just the same without everyone of you.
My dad raced and I grew up around racing but this man was my hero and he will always be the best in my mind I followed him since 1994 I stopped watching nascar after he died rip 🏆 3#
Now it's all crap with gimmicks and slowyotas. In 5 more years, Nascar will be gone. It's almost there now. I refuse to watch a sport that gives a cup to a guy who was out 11 races and another who has to just make a "chase" to win the cup. Good riddance to it all.
Earnhardt even said w/out sponsor, and working w/ those sponsors his career would be different. Money, business was all part of it then too, just no social media gong 24/7.
Brian Dorn now since they messed up the points system at the beginning of the 2004 season they keep changing the formats and rules Brian France is making it a playoff sport like baseball and other sports is a joke it should go back to the old points system up to the 2003 and before like the old days
My buddy was around 10 years old and got his picture taken with Dale and the 2 car at Daytona. Fast forward to the late 90's, Dale came to town for a autograph session. My buddy took his 8x10 pic to have Dale sign it and Dale thought that was the coolest thing, he was showing everyone with him the pic and talked to my buddy for like 10 minutes. Class act. I quit watching after he was killed.
I’m happy to be a proud of an 87 Grand Prix powered by a Pontiac 428 bb bolted to a Muncie 4spd. I plan this summer to have it wrapped just like this wrangler car. I don’t race it and never will but it’s a car show cruiser.
He knew how good he was but never said he was thr best ever, he just did what it took to prove himself on the race track. 676 starts and racing at the top of his game until the very last lap.
Boy weren't they! The last of the true old school cars in my opinion, and some of the best looking ever. Faithful owner of a G-Body Buick made to commemorate those times.. the Buick Grand National. My baby 'til I die! Would love to recreate a G-Body Regal stock car of the time too. Maybe one day. Gotta dream first to have goals!
We attempted to make the season after Dale passed but the Oppermans could not do it. Dale Sr was our fave man. Even Jerry's service dog Sugar Bear watched Dale with her daddy Jerry. Our precious Dale was gone and it never was the same for us and after Dale's funeral was done we the Oppermans from Texas left Nascar forever. Jerry and Sugar Bear and Fred and Cliff are enjoying watching Dale race in Heaven and Bear and I will join them later. Blessings
I'm almost 50, and like my dad grew up playing all sports and watching major league BB, pro FB, BB, etc but never watched and knew absolutely nothing about NASCAR. My dad worked for a big company "Unilever", so he got tickets to plays and all kinds of events, and once he took me to the Budweiser 500, and around 1983 he gave me ticks for me and an older buddy of mine to go to the tractor pulls. Before that, some time I would guess either 1970 or 1980 my dad and I and a buddy of mine went to the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario CA to see some drag racing, and I remember watching both Shirley Muldowney and "Big Daddy" Don Garlitz, but as far as understanding or caring at all about racing....nada. Now I'm hooked on old documentaries of all the great drivers, and I realize that you really needed to be one tough mother to do well in this sport, especially from 1950-1990, or any time before that obviously. It's really a pretty cool and interesting world these guy's lived in, especially since most of our Great Country didn't know diddly about racing. That documentary 1979, "A Perfect Storm" was really a good one to watch!
cowboysfan782008 I saw Big Daddy Don Garlitz and Shirley Muldowney as well in 1988 @ The Craig Rd. Speed Way Drag Strip in Vegas. I was 8 years old. Great memory out there. I’ve watched a lot of cup too though. Kyle Busch is the man.
The racing in those days was real! I watched Jr. and was a huge fan of his but now I couldn’t care less about NASCAR!!! I don’t watch it and I just don’t care!!
Remember talking to ppl at the ole water hole in the `90s and would bring up that Dale had driven a car # 2 and it caused an uproar...naw man he's always driven a # 3 ... okay pal.
If Earnhardt hadn't have died, when he retired he should have been made the CEO of NASCAR. He would have kept the sport on the right track. He had all the money in the world in his career, but he still lived like a good ole' boy. You didn't see him kicking his feet up in a mansion in Beverly Hills or Hollywood.
That's probably what would've happened. What Dale said carried alot of weight, they would actually listen to him. Brian France still would've found a way to screw it up tho...
@@shaynecrimsontide82 It's so sad to see an entire field but 4 cars really unable to go for a race win in the final race of the season all because of a needlessly complicated format. The fact you have to sit there trying to explain it at pains to potential new fans only to hear them say "Cool, I should just watch the last race then.".. :\
Great video. From a newcomer with early success to Legend in twenty years. Who would've thought it in 1981? Well, maybe Dale himself knew the sky was the limit. And with Dale Jr crackin' up the crowd at the end, that video showed an early glimpse of the the reach the Earnhardt name would have almost 40 years later.
Wow, there's some pretty priceless stuff in there. Dale Jr. (at least I think that's him waterskiing, and not Kerry), and that little girl at 19:28 is hilarious. Thanks for the rare find! Almost seems like it was recorded from a beta tape, or something.
from no electricity, or heat for his baby to bouncing checks to stretch the money another day , like the rest of us that are blue color workers,he was determined to find another way and his dad gave him the know how and in his soul he knew he could make more money racing then in the mill ! and he never lost the love of the race, we will forever miss this man and relate to his dream ! He did it !!
The thing is ..Most of the kids coming in to the sport have come from money..So they have never had to struggle for equipment or opportunity as much as the older generation had to.
I have this same very video from the DVD collection set from the special Dale tribute movie CMT made around 2007. I so wish Nascar and the World in general was like this again. It turned into pure evil and BS overnight after Dale left and 9/11 in 2001.
It sure is great to see these guys 1981 was the second cup race I attended at Riverside seeing this cast of talent by councedence I'm about 5 miles from where the track used to be fortunate we were to have it as long as we did....peace
Whether you liked or hated him , he was very good for NASCAR. Now it's a former she'll of itself with fewer viewers and fans. This Series is dead and knows it.
Damm...so in short Dale was Never a rookie he was still incredible and this was allegedly an off year..the narrator sure was right. They we're looking at a dynasty. That's for sure.
Went to Talladega 5 years in a row 10 straight races went to Bristol about 6 time Atlanta a few times Charlotte 2 times for world 600 Saw him win a few meet him at a Chevy dealer when I lived in Denver in about 87. They were giving people small post cards with a picture of him an his car. I had a Busch 500 from Bristol with him on the cover of one of the races I went too. He looked up and said "about damn time" got to love old "ironhead
Back when rubbing was racing and them good Ole boys would give you the bumper to win the race. Now with these new drivers. I have become a fan of the race team, or whoever is in 2nd or 3rd with 10 laps to go. That's not afraid to push the leader out of the way to win the race. The fans really don't see this any more, and I think it's because of how the cars are now. I always wanted to tell Dale thanks for being the kind of man he was, but never got the chance to speak to him. I did get that look that all sons know from there father's for taking pics and shooting video of him up close and personal before my first cup race. He was one of the main reasons why I did what I did for NASCAR.
I started watching Nascar as a little girl, which is kind of unusual I guess because none of my family watched racing. I was absolutely fascinated with Dale Earnhardt from the start & remained a die hard fan until his death. I was fortunate enough to have been watching live during some of his finest moments. From the pass in the grass, to the time when he sat on his door frame, steering with his knee during caution laps cleaning his own windshield, to his first win in the Daytona 500 in 1998. Every Sunday I was right there, yelling & screaming at the top of my lungs, cheering for a win. When he passed, I cried for days. It felt like losing a long time friend. After his death I couldn't bring myself to continue watching and over the years most of my friends have followed suit. It's never been the same and they have officially ruined a sport that, at one time, had such a loyal following. These days it's not about who has the most talent, it's about who has the most money. The drivers of today are mostly young kids who come from money and they will never bring the excitement to the sport in the same way that the drivers of years past did. Back in those days most of the drivers came from poor backgrounds and had to really work hard to succeed in the sport.
GunsNGlitter69 Amen.
Couldn't have said it better.
@pamala good observation your right on with it. These young guys have no history of borrowing a couple tire to make a race. No money race to race you got it right girl.
🗽🗽🗽👍👍👍🔧🔧🔧
@Michael Swanson I'm sorry for the loss of your mother
After Waltrip cried on tv, "It's not fair, it's just not fair", I became an Earnhardt fan. Earnhardt's response: 'that's racing'. No truer words were ever spoken.
He never lost the joy of driving! Went out like a true warrior. We could all be so lucky to die doing what we love. Better than choking on a peanut or falling off a ladder.
I'm not the least bit ashamed to say I cried when this man died, and I only stuck with the Nascar scene for 1 more season. It was just empty without Earnhardt.
I did too...cried like a baby. And like you, I could only watch for another season or two. I try...I mean I really try to reignite my passion with NASCAR year after year....but it's just not the same.
..agreed...the day nascar Died!
You ain’t by yourself, I cried too. And for a long time afterwards.
Agree. Like you, I am not the slightest bit ashamed of it. I called my buddy and we got drunk on that Sunday and I took a sick day on Monday.
Me too. From Rockingham N.C. 2nd race of the season back then.
He said back then "I could race for 5-6 maybe 10 years" he raced in the CUP SERIES for 27 YEARS! Even at the end of his career he was contending for championships.
I always wonder how many years he would have raced if he never died.
Seeing interviews and video footage of Dale always makes me wish he was still here today and Nascar was like this today.
What sucks is the way they just wreck each other on purpose. Sure dale did that occasionally on short tracks but on super speedway never deliberately how they do. He would rub and if needed nudge his way through like a man. No one wants to see the rightful winner dumbed into fence upsidedown on fire as some spoilt child claims victory as though they deserve the spoils of victory. Real men don't want to win this way.
On this day, 19 years ago we lost Dale. This piece is timeless and says all there needs to be about The Man. With Junior retired, the sport is near dead to me, which saddens me greatly because I love stock car racing. Long live The Intimidator.
I'm 51 years old and this is the first time I've seen this. Thank you so much for posting it!!!
me too. I'm 49 and started being a fan when he drove the Bud Moore Ford
This is on one of the dvd's in the DALE 6-disc set. You should be able to buy the set on Ebay.
That was Wrangler's slogan back then, one tough customer. I had the box set it was in it with a special feature on it. Damn good documentary.... Thanks for posting!
I believe Paul Newman narrated this 6 disc set iirc
Me as well 43 here I never knew anyhting like this existed.
Love those long wheel base cars.
The Oppermans from Texas will always love and miss you Dale Earnhardt Sr, your fans forever. We cried many tears when Dale died. As Jerry and I watched the sky that night a shining star sailed from south to north. We both agreed it was Dale racing across the sky. Magical- even Sugar Bear watched. Our precious Dale Sr and Sugar Bear- one tough customer indeed. Our love for Dale Sr will never die. Bear and I will be with Jerry and Sugar Bear and Dale and my Mama and Neil Bonnett in Heaven
Retro Dale with the best stache in the biz
The only thing about history is you can't go back to experience those glorious days...but the great thing about history is that we can still bask in the afterglow of those moments that inspire us....
R.I.P. Dale....you are not forgotten. Thank you for all that you did in the sport of racing and your charity work.
Julie Wortham Amen
I started watching racing with my Daddy in 1984. I was 7 years old. We were *Earnhardt* Fans. I miss you Dale.
I’m Dale Earnhardt, I’m gonna park wherever I want. That cracked me up when he said “sounded like I got a big head there” 🤣
The security guy immediately said, "I'm sorry Dale. I didn't recognize you."
What a guy, he was probably like "OMG THAT WAS DALE!"
Really eerie that my dad looked a lot like dale during the early 80s....my dad wore his shaggy hair and mustache the same way
my dad still does! he reminds me so much of dale its crazy. And on top of it he was a dale sr. fan and a dale jr. fan after sr passed
"i think i have got the ability to stay in it for 5,6...18 years" haha dale what a legend :)
I helped Dale back in 93 while he was staying at a hotel I once worked at and didn't know at that time who he was. He never came off as some arrogant, "Look at Me" kind of person.
Lots of good memories with my family. We never missed a race Charlotte for the 600 . Dale and Dad are gone . We still have our memories.
We all have a place in our heart for our hero’s. There’s a void in mine right next to my Gramps, my Gram, my Dad and my Mother. It’s where Dale resided.
Best driver ever!!! I loved the way he drove his car and his attitude was great he would mess with the other drivers for fun because he loved racing with them!! He was simply the best
What kills me is that if you get a driver like Dale today he would get slated on social media and in the press. Yet we look at him as a true legend for being the guy he was. Same goes for the likes of Ayrton Senna and James Hunt in Formula 1.
One of the best to have ever strapped into a Racecar. R.I.P. Dale
Shaking off tears... Miss this guy.
That time of the month, eh?
One man, one mission: WIN
We lost a true warrior but he went out exactly the way he wanted. Never backed down. ♥️
He was one of the few drivers who I truly believe,considered his fans his friends. Maybe even family. He drove as hard as he did for us. Washing my eyes while watching this.
Dale jr, man that tore my butt up. Wow!
It's so hard to believe this was almost 40 years ago
I can't believe this is the 1st time I've seen this One Tough Customer Dale Earnhardt video. This was awesome, thanks for posting!
I’m sure everyone knows that shop behind Martha Earnhardt’s house was Dale’s humble beginnings of Dale Earnhardt Inc. The shop that belonged to his dad Ralph.
When the man went away and all my favorites either quit or died. The great Alabama gang died or got hurt and couldn't race anymore. Neil Bonnet clifford Allison Davy Allison. Donnie Allison .then Bobby almost died at Nazareth. Rusty quit and what was left to really watch. God bless the boys who raced there toys on sunday afternoons.
I thought Bobby retired after his wreck at Pocono?
NASCAR’s finest days and finest drivers.
The Golden Era of the Good Ol Boys.
Earnhardt
Petty
Yarborough
Waltrip
Allison’s
Kullwicki
Elliot
Gant
Bonnet
Bodine
Just to name a few of the greatest drivers of all time that were able to race head to head during the 80’s.
Problem is we don’t have drivers nowadays. They are just car pilots and robots basically. Don’t have to drive since the cars are all tech’d out. Definitely don’t have anything more than advertisers behind the wheel. They are so worried about rattling off their 6000 sponsors and afraid they might lose a dollar if they say something wrong. Back then the men were drivers, mechanics, and men...period. They were confident in their talent and new the money would come if they performed but they were more about loving the idea of competition more than living in a mansion. Which is also to be blamed on NASCAR for chasing car sponsors and undercutting teams as well as removing the “Stock” from the cars, owners for trying to gain every single edge they can in a wind tunnel and tech instead of investing in humans, and the sponsors in trying to please everyone instead of encouraging people to be people and make a mistake or have a bad day. Like most other sports, companies, and governments...money and power are the issues. Enough is never enough. Killing America in the process. Blue collar honest hard working people can’t afford to have family time nor can they afford a family outing. Sad.
Yellowhammer with a name like that, you must be from Alabama?! (I’m from Monroe County myself & WDE!) You know on the racing aspect, one of the main things that’s a problem is these “big markets” which just so happen to mostly include those lousy 1.5 mile cookie cutter tracks. Expense tickets, boring races, horrible experience. But Lil France is happy even if he is in rehab or whatever. Freaking moron. Give us less mainstream and more racing. 1 mile or smaller tracks are some of the best racing, because of the ability for adjustments, passes, strategies, and oh yea...I bet the cars cost less to build too! Sorry but we don’t need Indy even. That’s a great audience but that’s an open wheel track and as a kid that place was known to us but didn’t mean much. Not compared to Dega, Rockingham, Richmond, Daytona. Those were the tracks in my group’s minds that measured greatness.
Yellowhammer I grew up on the tracks in Mobile, Evergreen and a Flomaton. That one you mention in Birmingham was a great track last time I went to it, but it’s been years.
I know where you’re talking about. My cousins went to and played football at Pratville. I’m from Excel if you’ve ever heard of it. About the only claim to fame for this town and easiest way to sort of identify it for people is by tell folks it’s the place my great Uncle is from, Leroy Jordan. But you’ve got to be a bit older to know of him. And trust me, it’s no great honor to know him. He’s never done a thing nor ever visits his hometown. People love to invoke his name back here like it matters, but I could tell you stories that would disgust you. Anyway, I’d imagine you’re one of “those” fans huh. My apologies. I’ll pray for brother. Might even get you some Orange and Blue clothes! 😜 (funny thing is, one of Leroy’s favorite nephews played for Auburn just in spite of him)
Pearson
@Yellowhammer In the Good Ole Days Teachers worked summer Jobs too ..!!!!
There will never be another driver like this ever. All these young glorified go cart drivers we have now will never hold a candle next to someone like Earnhardt. EVER!
He was a cool dude
I was 6 years old and got to sit in his car (#2 Wrangler) at Darlington. My dads family was from Hickory, NC so we used to be down there all the time even though we live in Michigan. I don’t remember a ton, but I remember sitting in that car for about 1 minute, lol
@Elite Soulfly it's not closed minded it's facts and it has nothing to do with abilities and everything to do with available knowledge. The driver today never experiences cars that don't handle and are difficult to drive but still doing speeds of today's cars. The best example of this in my opinion is Steve kinser and Sammy Swindle, who dominated younger competition, who should have surpassed them but simply couldn't due to not developing the skill set required to simply through advancements in technology. They found it easy to go fast in cars that handle as they went fast in cars didn't really handle. The skill gained is there set up can be close and they make up the deficiency where as the young drivers can close but need closer
Yeah look how far Gordon got after retirement. I bet Jimmy won't let himself go like that.
Kyle Bush is the greatest
900 hundred miles in one weekend now that's a real race driver driving with no power steering that's some Michael Jordan type stuff legendary!!!
to bad those cars have power steering
and where are they both from..... NC and that speaks volumes
There will never be another
I was never a big cup fan until I opened a Texaco Express Lube in the fall of 89. Texaco Havoline Racing was a big part of advertising and we used to get a dozen tickets a year to NHIS.
After my first live Winston Cup race in 90 I was hooked and for sure the 28 car will always be special to me. But Dale Earnhardt and that Black #3 WAS Winston Cup Racing and a part of me died that day. I still love Cup racing, but no where near as much as when Dale, Rusty and the boys traded paint.
Great Quality for a oldie.Wish they all were this good.MISS 3!
We miss you Dale so much along with your buddies Davey, Alan, Neil, Adam, Benny and now Steve Byrnes and so on. Hope God and Heaven are treating all of y'all very well and given y'all tons of fun, wins and championship. Down here ain't just the same without everyone of you.
Ron Boushard and Marvin Panch
Ron Boushard and Marvin Panch
Ron Boushard and Marvin Panch
+Jessie Henry Benny Parsons, Buddy Baker and Now Barney Hall. Gosh I hate when the good people have to die.
+Dylan Watson Yea
My dad raced and I grew up around racing but this man was my hero and he will always be the best in my mind I followed him since 1994 I stopped watching nascar after he died rip 🏆 3#
Racing had more character in those days, now it's all business.
Amen
Now it's all crap with gimmicks and slowyotas. In 5 more years, Nascar will be gone. It's almost there now. I refuse to watch a sport that gives a cup to a guy who was out 11 races and another who has to just make a "chase" to win the cup. Good riddance to it all.
Earnhardt even said w/out sponsor, and working w/ those sponsors his career would be different. Money, business was all part of it then too, just no social media gong 24/7.
Brian Dorn all of sports has become a multi billion or trillion dollar business
Brian Dorn now since they messed up the points system at the beginning of the 2004 season they keep changing the formats and rules Brian France is making it a playoff sport like baseball and other sports is a joke it should go back to the old points system up to the 2003 and before like the old days
My buddy was around 10 years old and got his picture taken with Dale and the 2 car at Daytona. Fast forward to the late 90's, Dale came to town for a autograph session. My buddy took his 8x10 pic to have Dale sign it and Dale thought that was the coolest thing, he was showing everyone with him the pic and talked to my buddy for like 10 minutes. Class act. I quit watching after he was killed.
These guys were pillars of NASCAR amazing.
when racing was racing
Had to come back to this awesome little video after Jr. mentioned it on his podcast. Excellent time capsule back into early 80's NASCAR.
That's been my driver since the first race I watched with my dad back in 1989
I’m happy to be a proud of an 87 Grand Prix powered by a Pontiac 428 bb bolted to a Muncie 4spd. I plan this summer to have it wrapped just like this wrangler car. I don’t race it and never will but it’s a car show cruiser.
He knew how good he was but never said he was thr best ever, he just did what it took to prove himself on the race track. 676 starts and racing at the top of his game until the very last lap.
he will forever be the best the intimidator
Miss the rough drivers can't stand the new age pretty boy drivers.
Fighting that steering wheel with no gloves for 900 miles dang
He was My Favorite Race Car Driver And Bought A Gambler Bass Boat from My Dad Leonard Jones💕🙏😎🇱🇷
God them G-bodies were sexy race cars!!!
Boy weren't they! The last of the true old school cars in my opinion, and some of the best looking ever. Faithful owner of a G-Body Buick made to commemorate those times.. the Buick Grand National. My baby 'til I die! Would love to recreate a G-Body Regal stock car of the time too. Maybe one day. Gotta dream first to have goals!
NASCAR is Nothing without him.
NASCAR is nothing because of him!
@@patscally5390 why do you say that?
@@patscally5390,please elaborate how you think he totally ruined Nascar? We all want to know how you came to this conclusion.
Someone should show this to Frans Jr, make him remember how good the sport was before he took over.
You mean Brian France
Ticona2 m
Brian france
Ticona2 Hes in jail ain’t he!
Bill France Jr has been dead for 13 years moron.
Brian France hasn't been in charge for nearly 2 years.
Fool
"im Dale Earnhardt" waves him through like yup yup go on this is your track
What about little dale jr and them water skis lol....that tore my butt up! 😂😂😂
Everybody loves the underdog that made it to the top
The best race car driver ever period
Excellent video. Earnhardt is simply a legend.
Happy birthday, Dale. You are missed, still.
R.i.p The Intimidator!
Took one of my grandsons to his first race at Martinsville and I gotta admit I still admit I still look for that Black #3
We attempted to make the season after Dale passed but the Oppermans could not do it. Dale Sr was our fave man. Even Jerry's service dog Sugar Bear watched Dale with her daddy Jerry. Our precious Dale was gone and it never was the same for us and after Dale's funeral was done we the Oppermans from Texas left Nascar forever. Jerry and Sugar Bear and Fred and Cliff are enjoying watching Dale race in Heaven and Bear and I will join them later. Blessings
That was awesome thanks for sharing
I'm almost 50, and like my dad grew up playing all sports and watching major league BB, pro FB, BB, etc but never watched and knew absolutely nothing about NASCAR. My dad worked for a big company "Unilever", so he got tickets to plays and all kinds of events, and once he took me to the Budweiser 500, and around 1983 he gave me ticks for me and an older buddy of mine to go to the tractor pulls. Before that, some time I would guess either 1970 or 1980 my dad and I and a buddy of mine went to the Ontario Motor Speedway in Ontario CA to see some drag racing, and I remember watching both Shirley Muldowney and "Big Daddy" Don Garlitz, but as far as understanding or caring at all about racing....nada. Now I'm hooked on old documentaries of all the great drivers, and I realize that you really needed to be one tough mother to do well in this sport, especially from 1950-1990, or any time before that obviously. It's really a pretty cool and interesting world these guy's lived in, especially since most of our Great Country didn't know diddly about racing. That documentary 1979, "A Perfect Storm" was really a good one to watch!
cowboysfan782008 I saw Big Daddy Don Garlitz and Shirley Muldowney as well in 1988 @ The Craig Rd. Speed Way Drag Strip in Vegas. I was 8 years old. Great memory out there.
I’ve watched a lot of cup too though.
Kyle Busch is the man.
The racing in those days was real! I watched Jr. and was a huge fan of his but now I couldn’t care less about NASCAR!!! I don’t watch it and I just don’t care!!
Remember talking to ppl at the ole water hole in the `90s and would bring up that Dale had driven a car # 2 and it caused an uproar...naw man he's always driven a # 3 ... okay pal.
Dale had other numbers in nascar 8 30 77 15 96
@@jcearnhardt393 yeah he didn't get # 3 til he hooked up with Richard Childress ..
Sam Moss he even drove a ford number 15
A pink Ford, at that.
If Earnhardt hadn't have died, when he retired he should have been made the CEO of NASCAR. He would have kept the sport on the right track. He had all the money in the world in his career, but he still lived like a good ole' boy. You didn't see him kicking his feet up in a mansion in Beverly Hills or Hollywood.
Maybe we wouldn't have a championship where you can outscore every other driver and still finish 4th.
That's probably what would've happened. What Dale said carried alot of weight, they would actually listen to him. Brian France still would've found a way to screw it up tho...
@@shaynecrimsontide82 It's so sad to see an entire field but 4 cars really unable to go for a race win in the final race of the season all because of a needlessly complicated format. The fact you have to sit there trying to explain it at pains to potential new fans only to hear them say "Cool, I should just watch the last race then.".. :\
@@Christoffski My comment was to the op. I get where you're coming from, I'm with you 100%!
Great video. From a newcomer with early success to Legend in twenty years. Who would've thought it in 1981? Well, maybe Dale himself knew the sky was the limit. And with Dale Jr crackin' up the crowd at the end, that video showed an early glimpse of the the reach the Earnhardt name would have almost 40 years later.
Dang! Can't believe I'm just now finding this gem. I love these old documentaries.
Oh Dale, we're still missing you!
Wow, there's some pretty priceless stuff in there. Dale Jr. (at least I think that's him waterskiing, and not Kerry), and that little girl at 19:28 is hilarious.
Thanks for the rare find! Almost seems like it was recorded from a beta tape, or something.
kornnut43 6
from no electricity, or heat for his baby to bouncing checks to stretch the money another day , like the rest of us that are blue color workers,he was determined to find another way and his dad gave him the know how and in his soul he knew he could make more money racing then in the mill ! and he never lost the love of the race, we will forever miss this man and relate to his dream ! He did it !!
Jackie Oman
The thing is ..Most of the kids coming in to the sport have come from money..So they have never had to struggle for equipment or opportunity as much as the older generation had to.
Dale wasn't the only driver that was tough
Dale was definitely a champions champion miss him dearly
I have this same very video from the DVD collection set from the special Dale tribute movie CMT made around 2007. I so wish Nascar and the World in general was like this again. It turned into pure evil and BS overnight after Dale left and 9/11 in 2001.
He was never afraid to push one too the metal and the best. R.I.P.
He was the best driver ever
To think 20 years later he would loose his life doing what he loved!
What a classic gem this was.
R.I.P Dale. God would have bee great for him to see junior win daytona. His boy is doing good now.
He did see it, brother
Back in the Day!!!. Love the Earnharts
#9forever
The greatest of all time
It sure is great to see these guys 1981 was the second cup race I attended at Riverside seeing this cast of talent by councedence I'm about 5 miles from where the track used to be fortunate we were to have it as long as we did....peace
This is a gem. I'm not even a race fan, but I know we lost an American Icon 20 years ago.
Such an awesome video. Posted in 2012 and is now in my recommended lol Man am I glad it was!
College Station, Texas is mentioned at the end of this video.
That’s one mile south of my house. Well, that’s where it used to be. Crazy.
lol at 1:10-1:13 stay in for 5,6 8, maybe 10 years try 21 years all of which were remarkable in some way excluding 2001
that is tough Earnhardt right thare.
man i miss these day
I miss that America
Whether you liked or hated him , he was very good for NASCAR. Now it's a former she'll of itself with fewer viewers and fans. This Series is dead and knows it.
“It’s not that your out there running. It’s how long you can run and how well you’re running.”
Everyone has a hero Dale Earnhardt was mine 😎
Wow! What an outstanding old video! Man I miss that guy! RIP Dale.
Damm...so in short Dale was Never a rookie he was still incredible and this was allegedly an off year..the narrator sure was right. They we're looking at a dynasty. That's for sure.
Those were the days!
Went to Talladega 5 years in a row 10 straight races went to Bristol about 6 time Atlanta a few times Charlotte 2 times for world 600
Saw him win a few meet him at a Chevy dealer when I lived in Denver in about 87. They were giving people small post cards with a picture of him an his car.
I had a Busch 500 from Bristol with him on the cover of one of the races I went too. He looked up and said "about damn time" got to love old "ironhead
Back when rubbing was racing and them good Ole boys would give you the bumper to win the race. Now with these new drivers. I have become a fan of the race team, or whoever is in 2nd or 3rd with 10 laps to go. That's not afraid to push the leader out of the way to win the race. The fans really don't see this any more, and I think it's because of how the cars are now. I always wanted to tell Dale thanks for being the kind of man he was, but never got the chance to speak to him. I did get that look that all sons know from there father's for taking pics and shooting video of him up close and personal before my first cup race. He was one of the main reasons why I did what I did for NASCAR.
What do you mean we don't see it because of how the cars are now?
NASCAR was a man's sport back then and Dale Earnhardt towered over them all until the very end. He was the heart of NASCAR and it died with him.
5,8 10 Years he said !!! He was a Monster a Legend a Myth a HERO, he had many more years left when it was taken from him