Some scars never really go away. That’s how Dale Earnhardt Jr. describes the pain of losing his father, the legendary Dale Earnhardt Sr., in one of the most heartbreaking moments in NASCAR history.
And more than 20 years later, Earnhardt is again opening up the moment he found the strength to move forward. And honestly, it’s one of the most real, gut-hitting stories you’ll hear in racing.
The Final Lap That Changed Everything for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Earnhardt’s father wasn’t just a seven-time Cup champ. The Intimidator was a legend in the black No. 3 car who drove like his life depended on it. And to Earnhardt, his dad was his hero.
Their relationship was complicated. Earnhardt said it himself—he acted out a lot, mainly just trying to get his old man’s attention; however, racing brought them closer. Senior Earnhardt watched his son rise through the Xfinity ranks and win races. They were finally connecting, like father and son should.
And then came February 18, 2001. Final lap of the Daytona 500.
Earnhardt’s father was running third, behind Michael Waltrip, who was about to finish up front. But as Waltrip crossed the line for his first career win, senior Earnhardt hit the wall hard. It looked like a normal crash at first, but later as we all know that wasn’t the case. And just like that, NASCAR lost a legend, and Earnhardt lost his hero.
ON THIS DAY: In 2001, auto racing star Dale Earnhardt Sr. died in a crash at the Daytona 500. He was 49. https://t.co/3hFy737YGD pic.twitter.com/CAAdqFQnLw
— ABC News (@ABC)
The Thoughts That Helped Dale Earnhardt Jr. Start Again
“I knew this was all gonna happen. I didn’t know when I was going to lose my dad, but I knew it was gonna happen,” he said on the ‘Rubbin is Racing’ podcast. “I don’t get to choose whether you experience it or no. I learned that the day after my dad died, you get up the next morning…, The world is still going.”
“And You can sit on the side lines as long as you want, but eventually, you’ve got to get back in the groove, and get back in the rotation, and make something happen, do something right,” he admitted.
Just a few months later, Earnhardt returned to Daytona for the 2001 Pepsi 400. There was so much pressure—emotion boiling over, everyone watching. But that night, something clicked, and he led most of the race and took the chequered flag first. It wasn’t just a win; it was a gift to his late father. The crowd went wild, tears flowed, and it felt like his dad was there watching.
That race helped Earnhardt take the first step out of the shadow. And over time, he made his own mark on the track, in the booth, and now as one of NASCAR’s most loved voices. The scars are still there, but he’s found peace in the ride.
Because at the end of the day, moving forward doesn’t mean forgetting. It just means honouring the past by continuing the ride.