Daytona, 2-18-01, The Day Dale Died?

Question

Those who remember the day, Feb 18, 2001, when Dale Sr. died will understand this question.
After his death why did people blame Sterling Marlin for the wreck whe everyone who saw the race knows it was Ken Schrader (#36) who caused the accident that killed Dale?

Answer 1

I was watching that day, saw every bit of it, and it's something that will forever be stuck in my mind as if it were yesterday. And ACTUALLY, you are wrong, it was NOBODY's fault. Dale was swirving back and forth blocking that huge pack of cars because his son and his friend, both driving cars from his team, were in 1st and 2nd. He was fighting to let them get their spots, on the last lap. He was fighting hard, and it's Daytona, that kinda thing actually happens a lot. I can't remember what track it was or what year, but not too long after that happened, either Daytona or Talladega, an incident happened almost identical to that, b/c the first thing that came into my head when i was watching was Dale's crash, b/c it happened pretty much the same way. It was a racing accident that was nobody's fault. Ken Shrader was a very close and dear friend of Dale Sr, he loved him dearly, Ken Shrader put himself thru hell for a while after that b/c he felt so horrible that he just happened to be one of the one's involved, but it wasn't his fault, it's just one of those things that happens. And Sterlin just happened to be there too. I think it's a disgrace that ppl claim to be true NASCAR fans and were sending death threats to these 2 guys, it was bad enough they lost a friend, but to have to put up with that bullcrap too is ridiculous. A true NASCAR fan wouldn't have acted that way. Another thing people need to see about the Dale crash is this, it was just meant to be. We've seen crashes like that a million times, and they walked away unharmed. There is no explination, it was simply Dale's time to go, and God blessed him by letting it happen while he was doing what he loved most in the world, racing. He died doing what he loved, and that's the best way, I promise you he died happy. Sometimes things just happen, there is no explination or anyone to blaim.

May we remember him yet again this weekend at Talladega, a track he and his son are notorious at, as it falls on his birthday this year, it's been 6 years and his memory still remains fresh in our hearts. May he rest in peace.

Answer 2

Huge Dale fan. After that crash I jumped up searching for the #3, saw another black car and thought he had made it. I don't like people saying Marlin bumped Dale. Makes it sound like it was on purpose. Dale was blocking, as I think he should have been, Marlin and Dale touched causing Dale to get loose and spun. Dale hit the wall and Schrader had no where to go and hit Dale in the side. Putting cause on the accident it extremely difficult. Like most wrecks in Nascar it is a point of view. Circumstances, unfortunately, were ripe for this wreck and they followed through. One thing for sure it was not Ken Schrader who caused the wreck. Schrader was on the high side. People blamed Marlin because he was in the car when the two touched. They certainly weren't going to blame Dale. I know of no one, other than maybe yourself in some way blames Schrader. Your thinking Schrader is to blame is like placing blame on, forgive the less serious reference, on an outfielder when a homerun goes 3 rows into the stands over his head instead of the pitcher or the batter who had direct contact first. The outfielder was there, doesn't mean he could do anything about it nor was he the cause of it.

Answer 3

I was watching this race at my friends babyshower (yes she had it on all the screens at the place it was held). What i remember is that Sr. was doing some major blocking, He could have tried to pass the 1-2 cars, but they were his son and Waltrip whom he owned at the time. Dale was never a sit back and watch type of driver. It was one of the things that everyone loved or hated about him. He got loose because of Sterling Marlin being off his rear bumper. arnhardt’s car spun off the track's steep banking, onto the flat apron, and then turned sharply up the track, toward the outside retaining wall, and into the path of the #36 Pontiac driven by Ken Schrader. Schrader ran into Earnhardt's car just behind the passenger door, causing both cars to run nose-first into the wall.

I don't think many people remember that Schrader was trying to get the Medics to Sr.'s car asap after they slid off the track. I don't get why people blamed anyone for that wreck. Sr. passed away doing what he loved. You have to respect that.

Even from a non Sr. fan i miss seeing him on the track. He was everything that nascar needs. A gritty, tough, rebel, who respects the sport for what it is.

Peace Sr.

Answer 4

Both of those is wrong. Dale wasnt killed by sterling Marlin Or Ken Schrader. When racing he got loose and went up and down, then he got spun. When dale came and hit the wall his seat belt broke so he had know control of his body. So when he hit the wall his head snaped and hit the wheel of the #3 Goodwrench car.

Answer 5

It was just a racing thing, and a combination of events. You could talk yourself into blaming a number of different cars for the accident, but truth be told, the hit was not as hard as some of these guys hit the wall today. Senior died and made the sport much safer. I know for some of you thats not enough, and it should not be, but after his death they began a major push to make the cars, and drivers safer. I would say they accomplished their goal in making the sport safer. Its too bad that someone had to have their life taken before it happened. When it did happen I was just a senior in high school and was an average nascar fan. Over my years of college I have grown into a HUGE nascar fan, and it would be sweet to see the number 3 and the number 24 going at it again.

The fault of the drivers is really irreverent. This was 6 years ago, and nothing can bring him back. You just have to know that his death brought a new safer nascar for everyone, something that senior would be proud to give his life for.

RIP #3

Answer 6

Am I missing something or are you? This was somewhere around 6 years ago. One of the darkest days of my life. It could have been a couple different reasons why Dale was blocking. His newly formed race team was running 1 and 2 but they were so far ahead of the field I doubt if that was the case. He wanted to finish third behind his team which would have been a great finish for NASCAR pr.
One thing for sure only Dale will only ever know what the reason was but one thing for sure Marlin got into him weather it was his fault or not and after that the wall and Schrader tangled with him.

Answer 7

you gotta be kidding me did you watch the race sterling accidently clipped dale sending him in the wall not marlins fault because dale was blocking for JR and mikey, shrader just had no where to go and hit him during his slide off the wall ,it was a horrible day for the racing world but you cant blame anyone it was just a accident that happened while those guys were racing hard

Answer 8

Because Sterling was the driver behind Dale. Everyone thought Sterling tapped Dale, But unfortunately he took the air off his spoiler.

Answer 9

Your taking the blame from one and giving it to another driver and both are innocent. It was a racing incident. If trying to pass Dale to win is a sin, then every driver out there is at fault for Dales death. Now let us ALL have him rest in peace knowing he died doing what he did best- Race to win..

Answer 10

I don't remember the race but I do remember the day. They all got it wrong. if you watch the movie 3 at the scence where dale dies you'll see the 38 car just wiggle dale from behind, I don't get why people think it's sterling's fault either.