NASCAR

[Clipper]

I would not fly in anything that would not glide. I was forced to ride in a chopper a couple of times while in the Navy. I boxed in "smokers" and they would fly us from one ship to another or to the carrier for a fights, and I did not feel comfortable in the damn things.

If it ain't got wings, I will drive instead, and stay closer to the ground.

[wcup102]

I was a die hard rusty fan from his #27 kodiak days. I was saddened to see him go but i think Dale's death got to him. He never seemed to race as hard after that. Now I am pulling for Denny Hamlin even though I am old school NASCAR and can't get used to Toyota being in there even though Denny is in one. When I first started going with him he was in a Chevy, just for the record!!!

[frankcor]

You're right about Dale's death taking the fight out of Rusty. Wasn't it Rusty who took the air off Dale's rear spoiler just before the crash? Dale would be the first to say "that's racing."

I was at Watkin's Glen when Francois Cevert was killed during practice for the Grand Prix of America in 1973. The next day, his teammate, Jackie Stewart took one practice lap, pulled back into the pits and stepped out of his car. The Flying Scot would never drive in another race again. He later spoke about reaching the point where the speed doesn't scare you any more. Other drivers realize that and they start getting out of your way and it becomes even easier to win.

Dale had reached that point long before he died and we all knew it.. Rusty had reached it too.

[countrygal]

I thought it was Ken Schrader that took the air off his spoiler. Could have been Rusty, but he usually wasn't that far up front at Daytona (haha). I can't remember exactly.

[wcup102]

Rusty was along side underneath him. It's possible he took the side draft air off him but I think it was the car behind Dale, although I don't recall who that was.

[frankcor]

Countrygal, that's why I was so excited in that last lap. Penske/Wallace never had a fast car for Talladega or Daytona but in that race, Rusty was challenging Earnhardt right up to the end.

wcup may be right. I'm heading for youtube to do some research.

[countrygal]

Yes, I think Rusty was underneath him. Ken Schrader was involved in the crash and was the one who fist got to Dale. He knew he was gone when he saw him. I think it probably was pretty horrible for him.

[frankcor]

Here's the clearest clip I can find: Earnhard 2001 Crash

Rusty is right behind Dale, but not enough to take any grip off his rear tires. It's pretty clear that Dale was attempting to block Sterling Marlin on the inside and wrecked himself. When I watched this longer clip of the final 10 laps, it reminded me that Dale wasn't even trying to win the race. He was totally focused on keeping Marlin--who had a faster car--away from his son.

Countrygal, your memory was pretty good, though. It was Schraeder on the outside whom Dale collected and who went into the wall with Dale.

[countrygal]

Man, the emotion watching that brings out. One minute he's here, then he's not. Just didn't look that bad compared to others he was in. Just his time to go I guess. Sigh.

[frankcor]

He went from 150+mph to 0 in under a second with relatively little damage to his car, as you note. That means his car didn't absorb the tremendous energy, his body did.

Remember that wild ride Rusty took at Talladega a year or two before that? His car was completely ripped apart and it took 15 seconds for it to tumble and tumble to a stop. Rusty walked away.

[countrygal]

Yes, that wreck scared the hell out of me. I think he did have to go to the hospital and Dale visited him because I think it was Dale that bumped him. They say Dale got out of his race car and went straight to the hospital. Ahhhh the good ol days.

[frankcor]

Yeppers, Dale bought Rusty's ticket for that ride.

[countrygal]

It helped to bring the invention of roof flaps. I see this year that have that funny little spoiler on the side of the cars in the back. It seems like it makes the cars easier to handle at faster speeds. A couple of those cars should have wrecked on Sunday and they didn't. I'm thinking it was that spoiler.