Who wrecked Earnhardt Sr....?

Question

A debate is on over who caused the wreck that killed Earhardt Sr. Was it Sterling Marlin or Elliot and what car were they driving? Thanks for any input? And I do realize I may have to wait til the race is over for very many responses.

Answer 1

As the final lap unfolded, Earnhardt was following his son and Waltrip. The first three cars were in a single line. But just behind Earnhardt, Sterling Marlin, Ken Schrader and Rusty Wallace were in a furious three-wide battle. Earnhardt moved from the center of the turn toward the bottom, either to block Marlin or to try to give himself a chance to pass his son. Going into the final turn during the last lap, Earnhardt's car seemed to be going faster than Sterling Marlin and Ken Schrader as a result of being pushed by Sterling Marlin. There appeared to be contact between the back bumper of Earnhardt's car and the nose of Marlin's. However, most observers in the press box concluded that there was no contact and that Earnhardt lost control because Marlin's car disrupted the air flow across Earnhardt's rear spoiler -- a common problem that drivers must overcome at Daytona.[3] Earnhardt’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. Earnhardt's #3 hit at a critical angle at nearly 150 miles per hour. The left-rear wheel assembly broke off the car on impact. The hood pins severed and the hood flapped open, slamming against the windshield as the car slid slowly down the track. To most observers, the crash looked minor, and certainly not as dramatic as his famous 1996 wreck at Talladega, when Earnhardt's car was pelted several times in the roof and windshield as it rolled across the track.

While Michael Waltrip raced toward the checkered flag to claim his first victory, with Junior close behind, the cars of Earnhardt and Schrader slid off the track's asphalt banking toward the infield grass just inside of turn four. After climbing from the wreck of his car, Schrader peered into Earnhardt's car, only to jump back and signal for EMTs. As medical crews converged upon the crash scene, a Fox reporter asked Schrader about Earnhardt's condition. "I'm not a doctor, but I got the heck out of the way as soon as I got there," Schrader said solemnly. Earnhardt was taken to a local hospital by ambulance after being removed from his car. Hours later, at a press conference, NASCAR President Mike Helton made the formal announcement to the world saying, "We've lost Dale Earnhardt"

Answer 2

In all reality Dale Earnhardt himself............ If he had been Racing instead of Blocking for Dale Jr. and Michael Waltrip the cars wouldn't have bunched up as much as they did. Sterling Marlin and the other Drivers were just doing what they were there to do. And that is Race. I mean no Disrespect, I was a Dale Sr. fan myself. But if he would have been Racing instead of Blocking perhaps the Accident would never have happened.

Answer 3

"Stirling Marvin was the one who bumped him. He no longer is in Nascar because of threats against him by fans. "

First off, it's Sterling MARLIN and he is still racing a full schedual, and has been since the accident.

Also, it was Ken Schrader in the #36 M&Ms car, not Elliott Sadler in the #38.

Sterling was behind Earnhardt, and Earnhardt was blocking him. Dale got loose, maybe because Sterling was under him, which caused him to slide up the race track. Ken Schrader was there with no where to go, and Ken Schrader hit Dale causing him to go into the wall.

Sterling's car never touched Dale's though, even though most people think that.

Answer 4

If you could go back and watch the tapes or read the offical nascar report, you would know that Dale was attemping to block Marlin to keep him from passing so that little E and Michael W could fight it out. Then when Marlin tapped him, Dales car swerved into the wall. Also, you would know that Dale had WAY too much slack in his seat belts and that allowed his body to jerk hard forward and back again, thus he had a complete separation of the spinal cord at the base of his neck killing him allmost at once. Hope this helps you understand. It was a racing accident.

Answer 5

I am a Dale Sr fan but Dale was a mad man that day. He was blocking faster cars, while watching his teams, Mickey who won and his son Jr lead, He got loose in turn three, Sterling Marlin, #40 Coors Dodger tapped him and he lost it, as his car shot up the hill in turn four he took another hard hit in the drivers door from Elliot Saddler in the #38 M@Ms ford. What killed him was the impact in the wall, his brain bounced off his skull.

Answer 6

Stirling Marvin was the one who bumped him. He no longer is in Nascar because of threats against him by fans. However, it was not his fault, after all, DE Sr was blocking him in order that Michael Waltrip and DE Jr could hold the 1/2 positions in the race. Michael had never won a race in his Cup career, so this was a very important thing for DE Sr, since he owned the car that MW was driving, as well as his sons car.

Answer 7

It was Sterling Marlin that tapped him in turn 4 of the 2001 Daytona 500 into the spin that killed him...That is why for a long time Sterling Marlin was receiving death threats...

Answer 8

Jeffey is right Earnhardt was blocking for Jr and M.Waltrip and wrecked himself

Answer 9

It really doesn't matter - Until the powers that be get away from promoting the "big-one" at the super-speedways, there will probably be others. But, if Dale had to choose how and where to go, don't ya think that the last lap of the Daytona 500 would be it?

Still love ya Dale!

Answer 10

Actually he caused the crash himself, he was trying to block two lanes of cars behind him, so his DEI cars could win the race. Sterlin Marlin was the one who bumped him but it was just a racing accident.

Keither1969-Sterling Marlin is still racing he drives the #14 Waste Management car