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Earnhardt Senior Passing...Do You Still Remember? What were you doing at the time?

Posted on 3/27/24 at 1:05 pm
Posted by Torbemsti80
Member since Oct 2023
60 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 1:05 pm
I still remember where I was and what I was doing at the time. I feel like Nascar officially died that day, and was never the same. I bring this up because my friend is a huge Earnhardt Jr fan and it made me think of senior. I was at a pool hall at the time and I distinctly remember someone yelling, "Oh snap he really hit that wall hard!" Just a few hours later I get the news he had passed away. Sometimes it unfortunately takes a death to help with safety being a number one priority. Fortunately some good came from Dale's passing. So, do you remember what you were doing at the time? Or where were you? What says you? I just know Nascar lost a legend that fateful day.
Posted by concrete_tiger
Member since May 2020
5965 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 1:13 pm to
I was driving down Alaskan Way in Seattle.
Called my brother, who had watched the wreck but hadn't heard the news yet.
Posted by KosmoCramer
Member since Dec 2007
76511 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 1:16 pm to
I was watching, I don't remember where.
Posted by GetCocky11
Calgary, AB
Member since Oct 2012
51251 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 1:16 pm to
I strangely do remember, and I wasn't even a nascar fan.
Posted by The Torch
DFW The Dub
Member since Aug 2014
19245 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 1:20 pm to
YEP

A buddy had flown in to DFW from Colorado to go fishing.

We were heading to take him back to the airport but were two hours early so we stopped by a local watering hole in Addison Texas "Vernon's".

The race was on and we sat there gap mouthed as the wreck took place.
Posted by jmcwhrter
Member since Nov 2012
6556 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 1:21 pm to
My parents were on some AOL Nascar message board and they knew hours before the media had it

It was like my grandpa died
Posted by AwesomeSauce
Das Boot
Member since May 2015
7463 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 1:27 pm to
I was at my grandparent's house watched the end of the race upset he nor Jr got the win. Heard the news as we were getting ready to got to Sunday Night service and bawled like a baby on the way out the door.
Posted by nvasil1
Hellinois
Member since Oct 2009
15879 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 2:05 pm to
That was back when the race started around noon, so I remember still being in my church clothes on the couch at my parents' house.

I vividly recall DW saying, "I hope Dale's okay" in the midst of his excitement for Michael winning, and thinking to myself, "pfft he's fine". It was a hard hit into the wall, but nothing remarkable to me at the time. I got up, and went about my day.

It wasn't until a few hours later when I turned on Sportscenter that I learned he had actually died. It was surreal. I was glued to the TV the rest of the night.
Posted by wutangfinancial
Treasure Valley
Member since Sep 2015
11079 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 2:07 pm to
I saw it drinking a beer in a ski lodge outside of Boise. Didn't think much of it at the time he wrecked until they announced him dead a few hours after.
Posted by Cliff Booth
Member since Feb 2021
2533 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 2:08 pm to
I was in a restaurant that evening and Sportscenter was on with no sound. They were showing what looked like career highlights and I remember thinking that was strange. Didn't realize what was going on until the end of the segment.
Posted by Jcorye1
Tom Brady = GoAT
Member since Dec 2007
71347 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 2:09 pm to
First time I ever saw my dad cry. Second was when Ronald Reagan died.
Posted by Guzzlingil
Baton Rouge
Member since Dec 2003
2006 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 2:13 pm to
yes, believe it or not, it was the FIRST NASCAR race I ever watched. Dale was going to be my driver going forward...never really paid much attention to the sport afterwards.
Posted by Master of Sinanju
Member since Feb 2012
11309 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 2:24 pm to
I was in the parking lot after a Birminham Bolts (XFL) game. Complete strangers were going to each other asking if they heard the news. It was a surreal day.
Posted by tigerpimpbot
Chairman of the Pool Board
Member since Nov 2011
66892 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 2:49 pm to
I was at the Bulldog on Magazine St working on finishing all the beers on tap.
Posted by 91TIGER
Lafayette
Member since Aug 2006
17692 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 2:57 pm to
Was watching it when it happened. Loved NASCAR back then as I had a family member that drove on the Winston Cup Series.
Posted by AUFANATL
Member since Dec 2007
3855 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 3:05 pm to

Sitting on the same couch watching the same TV in the same apartment as I was when 9/11 happened.

Posted by Miglez
Member since Jan 2018
283 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 3:06 pm to
Remember it well. Just so numbing. NASCAR has never recovered from it.
Posted by jfan244888
Soda City, SC
Member since Jul 2021
834 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 3:40 pm to
I was bad in middle school that week so i couldn't watch the race. My parents told me.

I hated his guts as I was a Gordon fan ( me and Big E ate also born on the same day) but I do remember being sad learning it.
Posted by KCRoyalBlue
Member since Nov 2020
980 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 3:40 pm to
Interesting. Who was the driver in your family?

To OP.....I was pulling overtime at work that day. A close friend of mine (and coworker) at the time was, and still is, as big of a Dale Sr fan as you can ever imagine. He had SOOOOO many collectibles, clothing, race-used stuff of #3 that it kinda boggled the mind. It covered virtually everything in his apartment. All rooms.

Anyway, he and I were both at work that day. So, what happens? One total prick of a guy took a huge cardboard box and wrote "3" in huge Sharpie. He then yelled, "Hey, Erik!"......then proceeded to run while pushing the cardboard box #3 across the factory floor as fast as he could and completely caved it to a stack of pallets.

My friend openly wept. Probably one of the most callous things I've ever seen in person.
Posted by AlonsoWDC
Memphis, where it ain't Ten-a-Key
Member since Aug 2014
8760 posts
Posted on 3/27/24 at 4:05 pm to
I was in seventh grade and I watched the whole race.

It was a GREAT race. New aero package delivered.

I hated Dale but I was pretty sad that evening. Horrible loss.
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