Post by underjohngrohs on Feb 18, 2021 2:48:58 GMT -5
Hi, I don't know if I should post this on here, but I'll give this a shot. It's been 20 years ago since we lost the GOAT Nascar Driver of all time, Dale Earnhardt. But I've often wondered, what if he was still alive in 2001 and what if he survived the wreck and what if he didn't get involved in it.
Daytona 500 (2/18/01)
In the closing moments of the final laps, This is an exciting moment in the life of Dale Earnhardt, although he is running third, he does not care about losing the race. All he cares is that one of his racecar drivers that he owns is going to win the Daytona 500. Earnhardt is running third with Ken Schrader in fourth and Sterling Marlin in fifth. His two racecar drivers Michael Waltrip and his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. are running first and second. Before the checkered flag, a wreck takes out Sterling Marlin, Ken Schrader and Rusty Wallace. Earnhardt makes it safe and stays in third and with the #15 NAPA Chevrolet Michael Waltrip races to victory for the first time, after. The #15, The #8 and the #3 all join in Victory Lane with Earnhardt at Waltrip's celebration saying "This is better than winning the Daytona 500 three years ago, I'm Happy that my Driver and my best friend Mikey won, he deserves this more than anything, I'm also glad that Wallace, Schrader and Sterling are okay. I'm lucky I avoided that wreck just like the other wreck that happened with Tony Stewart, but congratulations to Mikey, I worked hard to get him here and he made all of us proud here today"
Rockingham (2/25/01, 2/26/01)
The race is delayed due to rain but is rescheduled on Monday with Earnhardt running seventh, but is excited to see one of his other drivers Steve Park win the Rockingham Race. Earnhardt comes to victory lane to congratulate his other driver Steve. In another interview Earnhardt says "It's Deja Vu All over Again, first it was Mikey, now it's Steve, I'm very excited for my team. I sent Mikey to Daytona and I'm so Happy that I sent Steve to Rockingham with his victory. I wanna thank Nabisco, Nutter Butter, Coca-Cola for providing this win to Steve". Waltrip and Dale Jr are also there to celebrate with Steve. Jr does not suffer the Rockingham Accident as he stays in eighth place and Waltrip will go to Sixth Place.
Las Vegas (3/4/01)
Earnhardt earns the pole position for the first time since 1996 and leads the 30 laps of the race until he's taken out of the lead by Tony Stewart. Later on in the race, Earnhardt and Kurt Busch have the same confrontation similar to what happened at Daytona, this time it's Busch that flips Earnhardt off. However in the late of the race. But in the end, Jeff Gordon is able to get to Earnhardt and win the race. Earnhardt was closing in on his first win, but with three laps to go. Gordon fought back and got the win.
Atlanta (3/11/01)
Dale Earnhardt starts in the top ten in Atlanta, but with less than 10 laps to go. Earnhardt gains the lead and holds on to the lead by winning his first race in 2001 and retaining the Atlanta Championship. Finishing Second is his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. And finishing Third is his Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip. They both come in to celebrate with him. Earnhardt said on Victory Lane "Getting another win here in Atlanta is very special to me, I beat Bobby Labonte last year, but damn it was better to beat my drivers to win the Atlanta Race today.
Darlington (3/18/01)
Earnhardt goes into thirty-third place after qualifying, He gains the lead for a few minutes leading 29 laps, but does not win as he gets taken out of a wreck between him and you guessed it the guy that Earnhardt flipped off at Daytona, Kurt Busch. When asked in an interview. Earnhardt said "This Kid may be a Rookie, but he should use common sense about wrecking me". Eventually Dale's friend Michael Waltrip wins his second race and Earnhardt celebrates with him in Victory Lane.
Bristol (3/25/01)
It's Bristol. And Earnhardt will run in Thirteenth Place. He does gain the lead at some point by leading 15 laps, but the lead is taken away from him. Eventually, Dale Jarrett will win the race by leading Dale's son Dale Jr to win the race.
Texas (4/1/01)
Earnhardt is running second and unbelievably his son is in first. Earnhardt Jr and Earnhardt hold first and second for a few 45 laps, but it is both taken away from them. Earnhardt gets the lead in the middle of the race but Mark Martin snatches the lead away from him. Jeff Burton eventually wins the Texas Race by beating DEI Member Steve Park.
Martinsville (4/8/01)
Dale Earnhardt will run in Eighth Place and has a dominant run despite going down a few places, but in the end. Earnhardt fights back and wins his second 2001 race in Martinsville.
Talladega (4/22/01)
It's a place where Dale Earnhardt has visited, he is visiting again in Talladega, his racecar driver in the #15 car Michael Waltrip runs first while Earnhardt goes to 19th. Earnhardt shows off some of his Talladega Skills similar to the 2000 Fightback, but it is not enough since October of 2000 to win the race. But however, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Wins his first Talladega Race, Dale is happy for him to win it "Last Week, it was me, but today it's him, I'm so proud of my racecar drivers, We've taken Daytona and now We've taken Talladega, but this time it was my son. I may have won 10 races over there, but today my son took it"
Fontana (4/29/01)
On Earnhardt's 50th birthday, a Music Video is played in honor of his fiftieth birthday, before the race starts he does a speech saying "50 years, I'm glad to make it this far. I gotta tell you, I've had my Ups and Downs as a Driver". But I've been very fortunate, My drivers have dominated very well. And so Have I, We are hoping to get that eighth Championship once more, or else it could be one of my drivers that could win the Championship. Earnhardt qualifies in twenty-fourth place. And although he leads a few laps, he gets taken out in contention by Kyle Petty. But Earnhardt however fights back and in the end of the 4 laps he takes the lead away from Rusty Wallace and wins his third race on his 50th birthday.
Richmond (5/5/01)
Earnhardt will run the pole for the first time in Richmond. He makes it to a few laps but Earnhardt's lead is taken away by Kurt Busch. Busch and Earnhardt get into it again this time with Earnhardt wrecking Busch. The race is won by the 2000 Winston Cup Champion Bobby Labonte. Busch and Earnhardt have a few war of words before the end of the race but nothing is physical between the two.
The Winston (5/19/01)
Earnhardt competes in the Winston and runs 9th. But does not win the race as Jeff Gordon once again takes the Winston winning his third career All-Star Race Victory tying Dale Earnhardt. After, Earnhardt comes to Gordon's victory and congratulates him on tying Dale's All Star Record. Earnhardt says after Gordon's win "Jeff has become my frenemy, although we've had our ups and downs. I respect him as a best friend. If he was my racecar driver, he would've probably had the same success. But congratulations to him for tying my record, and hopefully 2002 I will get the Winston"
Charlotte (5/27/01)
Earnhardt will run seventh in Charlotte. He stays in there for 100 laps and still takes control of the lead, but a wreck by Elliott Sadler takes him out of contention taking Earnhardt's chances of winning Charlotte out of the game. Kurt Busch, Earnhardt's rival does wreck one of his racecar drivers and it's Michael Waltrip upsetting Earnhardt to the point where he screams in Michael Waltrip's ear "That son of a Bitch". But a big upset goes to the Dodge as Kyle Petty for the first time since 1995 wins the Charlotte Race, in Pit Lane, A Emotional Petty speaks saying "This one was what I waited for and what I wanted ever since Adam died, our goal was to have Adam ride this car. But tonight, I rode this car for him, I wish he and his great grandfather was here to celebrate this moment, but they are here in spirit. Adam, This one is for you". After Kyle Petty's victory. Earnhardt and Busch get into another confrontation, but this time it's physical with Busch pushing Earnhardt and Dale Jr coming to the defense of his father by shoving Busch back. Nascar Officials decide to fine DEI and Kurt Busch a million dollars.
Dover (6/3/01)
Earnhardt runs second place in Dover with the leader Rusty Wallace. Earnhardt will eventually take the lead from Wallace after the green flag begins and holds on to the lead for 15 laps, but his son Dale Jr. Will take the lead away from him. Earnhardt however finishes tenth, Rusty Wallace will take the victory and wins his first ever race.
Michigan (6/10/01)
Earnhardt will run in fourteenth place. He doesn't have the lead as he is taken out of a flat tire, the win goes to Bill Elliott.
Pocono (6/17/01)
Earnhardt will run the pole once again, his Third pole of this year, but at the end of the race, it's a father-son finish on Father's Day as Dale outbeats his son Dale Jr. In first and second place, In Victory Lane. Dale Jr congratulates with his father and says "If I can get beat by somebody, I'm just glad it's my Dad, Happy Father's Day Dad".
Sonoma (6/24/01)
Dale Earnhardt will continue his wave of momentum by running in tenth place. He takes the lead at some point, but gets taken out of the race after crashing into the grass by Mark Martin. The win is given to Earnhardt's rival Kurt Busch.
Pepsi 400 (7/7/01)
It will be a proud day for not only DEI, But for the Earnhardt Family. Earnhardt runs Fifth Place, while his son runs thirteenth place. Earnhardt despite being wrecked in the big one watches his son Dale Jr, take his first ever Daytona win. Dale comes in and congratulates with his son. Dale says in his son's victory "11 years ago, I took the Daytona win in 1990 for the first time, but tonight this time it's my son". I'm thankful that my team can finally celebrate this moment. And that we can go to the second half of the Nascar Season".
That ends Part 1 of the What if Dale Earnhardt is still alive.
Daytona 500 (2/18/01)
In the closing moments of the final laps, This is an exciting moment in the life of Dale Earnhardt, although he is running third, he does not care about losing the race. All he cares is that one of his racecar drivers that he owns is going to win the Daytona 500. Earnhardt is running third with Ken Schrader in fourth and Sterling Marlin in fifth. His two racecar drivers Michael Waltrip and his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. are running first and second. Before the checkered flag, a wreck takes out Sterling Marlin, Ken Schrader and Rusty Wallace. Earnhardt makes it safe and stays in third and with the #15 NAPA Chevrolet Michael Waltrip races to victory for the first time, after. The #15, The #8 and the #3 all join in Victory Lane with Earnhardt at Waltrip's celebration saying "This is better than winning the Daytona 500 three years ago, I'm Happy that my Driver and my best friend Mikey won, he deserves this more than anything, I'm also glad that Wallace, Schrader and Sterling are okay. I'm lucky I avoided that wreck just like the other wreck that happened with Tony Stewart, but congratulations to Mikey, I worked hard to get him here and he made all of us proud here today"
Rockingham (2/25/01, 2/26/01)
The race is delayed due to rain but is rescheduled on Monday with Earnhardt running seventh, but is excited to see one of his other drivers Steve Park win the Rockingham Race. Earnhardt comes to victory lane to congratulate his other driver Steve. In another interview Earnhardt says "It's Deja Vu All over Again, first it was Mikey, now it's Steve, I'm very excited for my team. I sent Mikey to Daytona and I'm so Happy that I sent Steve to Rockingham with his victory. I wanna thank Nabisco, Nutter Butter, Coca-Cola for providing this win to Steve". Waltrip and Dale Jr are also there to celebrate with Steve. Jr does not suffer the Rockingham Accident as he stays in eighth place and Waltrip will go to Sixth Place.
Las Vegas (3/4/01)
Earnhardt earns the pole position for the first time since 1996 and leads the 30 laps of the race until he's taken out of the lead by Tony Stewart. Later on in the race, Earnhardt and Kurt Busch have the same confrontation similar to what happened at Daytona, this time it's Busch that flips Earnhardt off. However in the late of the race. But in the end, Jeff Gordon is able to get to Earnhardt and win the race. Earnhardt was closing in on his first win, but with three laps to go. Gordon fought back and got the win.
Atlanta (3/11/01)
Dale Earnhardt starts in the top ten in Atlanta, but with less than 10 laps to go. Earnhardt gains the lead and holds on to the lead by winning his first race in 2001 and retaining the Atlanta Championship. Finishing Second is his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. And finishing Third is his Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip. They both come in to celebrate with him. Earnhardt said on Victory Lane "Getting another win here in Atlanta is very special to me, I beat Bobby Labonte last year, but damn it was better to beat my drivers to win the Atlanta Race today.
Darlington (3/18/01)
Earnhardt goes into thirty-third place after qualifying, He gains the lead for a few minutes leading 29 laps, but does not win as he gets taken out of a wreck between him and you guessed it the guy that Earnhardt flipped off at Daytona, Kurt Busch. When asked in an interview. Earnhardt said "This Kid may be a Rookie, but he should use common sense about wrecking me". Eventually Dale's friend Michael Waltrip wins his second race and Earnhardt celebrates with him in Victory Lane.
Bristol (3/25/01)
It's Bristol. And Earnhardt will run in Thirteenth Place. He does gain the lead at some point by leading 15 laps, but the lead is taken away from him. Eventually, Dale Jarrett will win the race by leading Dale's son Dale Jr to win the race.
Texas (4/1/01)
Earnhardt is running second and unbelievably his son is in first. Earnhardt Jr and Earnhardt hold first and second for a few 45 laps, but it is both taken away from them. Earnhardt gets the lead in the middle of the race but Mark Martin snatches the lead away from him. Jeff Burton eventually wins the Texas Race by beating DEI Member Steve Park.
Martinsville (4/8/01)
Dale Earnhardt will run in Eighth Place and has a dominant run despite going down a few places, but in the end. Earnhardt fights back and wins his second 2001 race in Martinsville.
Talladega (4/22/01)
It's a place where Dale Earnhardt has visited, he is visiting again in Talladega, his racecar driver in the #15 car Michael Waltrip runs first while Earnhardt goes to 19th. Earnhardt shows off some of his Talladega Skills similar to the 2000 Fightback, but it is not enough since October of 2000 to win the race. But however, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Wins his first Talladega Race, Dale is happy for him to win it "Last Week, it was me, but today it's him, I'm so proud of my racecar drivers, We've taken Daytona and now We've taken Talladega, but this time it was my son. I may have won 10 races over there, but today my son took it"
Fontana (4/29/01)
On Earnhardt's 50th birthday, a Music Video is played in honor of his fiftieth birthday, before the race starts he does a speech saying "50 years, I'm glad to make it this far. I gotta tell you, I've had my Ups and Downs as a Driver". But I've been very fortunate, My drivers have dominated very well. And so Have I, We are hoping to get that eighth Championship once more, or else it could be one of my drivers that could win the Championship. Earnhardt qualifies in twenty-fourth place. And although he leads a few laps, he gets taken out in contention by Kyle Petty. But Earnhardt however fights back and in the end of the 4 laps he takes the lead away from Rusty Wallace and wins his third race on his 50th birthday.
Richmond (5/5/01)
Earnhardt will run the pole for the first time in Richmond. He makes it to a few laps but Earnhardt's lead is taken away by Kurt Busch. Busch and Earnhardt get into it again this time with Earnhardt wrecking Busch. The race is won by the 2000 Winston Cup Champion Bobby Labonte. Busch and Earnhardt have a few war of words before the end of the race but nothing is physical between the two.
The Winston (5/19/01)
Earnhardt competes in the Winston and runs 9th. But does not win the race as Jeff Gordon once again takes the Winston winning his third career All-Star Race Victory tying Dale Earnhardt. After, Earnhardt comes to Gordon's victory and congratulates him on tying Dale's All Star Record. Earnhardt says after Gordon's win "Jeff has become my frenemy, although we've had our ups and downs. I respect him as a best friend. If he was my racecar driver, he would've probably had the same success. But congratulations to him for tying my record, and hopefully 2002 I will get the Winston"
Charlotte (5/27/01)
Earnhardt will run seventh in Charlotte. He stays in there for 100 laps and still takes control of the lead, but a wreck by Elliott Sadler takes him out of contention taking Earnhardt's chances of winning Charlotte out of the game. Kurt Busch, Earnhardt's rival does wreck one of his racecar drivers and it's Michael Waltrip upsetting Earnhardt to the point where he screams in Michael Waltrip's ear "That son of a Bitch". But a big upset goes to the Dodge as Kyle Petty for the first time since 1995 wins the Charlotte Race, in Pit Lane, A Emotional Petty speaks saying "This one was what I waited for and what I wanted ever since Adam died, our goal was to have Adam ride this car. But tonight, I rode this car for him, I wish he and his great grandfather was here to celebrate this moment, but they are here in spirit. Adam, This one is for you". After Kyle Petty's victory. Earnhardt and Busch get into another confrontation, but this time it's physical with Busch pushing Earnhardt and Dale Jr coming to the defense of his father by shoving Busch back. Nascar Officials decide to fine DEI and Kurt Busch a million dollars.
Dover (6/3/01)
Earnhardt runs second place in Dover with the leader Rusty Wallace. Earnhardt will eventually take the lead from Wallace after the green flag begins and holds on to the lead for 15 laps, but his son Dale Jr. Will take the lead away from him. Earnhardt however finishes tenth, Rusty Wallace will take the victory and wins his first ever race.
Michigan (6/10/01)
Earnhardt will run in fourteenth place. He doesn't have the lead as he is taken out of a flat tire, the win goes to Bill Elliott.
Pocono (6/17/01)
Earnhardt will run the pole once again, his Third pole of this year, but at the end of the race, it's a father-son finish on Father's Day as Dale outbeats his son Dale Jr. In first and second place, In Victory Lane. Dale Jr congratulates with his father and says "If I can get beat by somebody, I'm just glad it's my Dad, Happy Father's Day Dad".
Sonoma (6/24/01)
Dale Earnhardt will continue his wave of momentum by running in tenth place. He takes the lead at some point, but gets taken out of the race after crashing into the grass by Mark Martin. The win is given to Earnhardt's rival Kurt Busch.
Pepsi 400 (7/7/01)
It will be a proud day for not only DEI, But for the Earnhardt Family. Earnhardt runs Fifth Place, while his son runs thirteenth place. Earnhardt despite being wrecked in the big one watches his son Dale Jr, take his first ever Daytona win. Dale comes in and congratulates with his son. Dale says in his son's victory "11 years ago, I took the Daytona win in 1990 for the first time, but tonight this time it's my son". I'm thankful that my team can finally celebrate this moment. And that we can go to the second half of the Nascar Season".
That ends Part 1 of the What if Dale Earnhardt is still alive.