• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Resurfaced footage shows harrowing final words of Nascar driver before fatal crash

Home> News> Sport

Published 14:58 29 Apr 2025 GMT+1

Resurfaced footage shows harrowing final words of Nascar driver before fatal crash

Professional racer Dale Earnhardt was widely regarded as one of the greatest Nascar drivers in history

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

In his last ever interview, Nascar legend Dale Earnhardt was chillingly prophetic about his chances at Daytona 500 in 2001.

At 49, the American stock car racer was at the backend of his career, which began in 1975 during the former NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

Speaking to FOX before the race, however, the 7-time Cup Series champion, known as 'the Intimidator', opened up about his concerns.

Advert

2001 Daytona 500 turned out to be one of the darkest days in Nascar history when the veteran was involved in a fatal collision during the final lap.

While in third place, Earnhardt collided with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin, which caused his car to veer into the outside retaining wall at high speed.

Dale Earnhardt tragically lost his life at the Daytona 500 in 2001 (Fox)
Dale Earnhardt tragically lost his life at the Daytona 500 in 2001 (Fox)

The impact resulted in a fatal basilar skull fracture, and Earnhardt was pronounced dead at Halifax Medical Center shortly after the crash.

His interview with FOX has resurfaced online and it appears that Earnhardt flagged some issues at the time.

Advert

"Well, we got a good shot. Got a good race car," he began.

"Wasn't really excited about the car yesterday afternoon in the last practice, but the car is coming around. I think it's gonna be okay. We got a good engine in it.

"Little wind today. Little exciting, I think. It's going to be some exciting racing. You're gonna see something you probably have never seen on FOX."

The Daytona 500 happened to be the first NASCAR points race ever telecast by Fox.

Commenting on the resurfaced clip, one fan said: "I remember that race like it was yesterday. I watched Earnhardt wreck and it didnt seem that bad at the time, so I went about my day.

Advert

"Later, when I go home, I turned on ESPN to hear the news and I was shocked. Dale was arguably the best driver to ever race and it was a huge loss for the sport."

The crash sent shockwaves through the Nascar community (FOX)
The crash sent shockwaves through the Nascar community (FOX)

Another added: "I remember when this happened my hubby was a huge Earnhardt fan I was not, he crashed & we thought nothing of it it had happened before & found out he died it changed everything."

As someone else pointed out: "Those unfamiliar with Nascar don't realise that losing him is the equivalent of losing a Tom Brady or Michael Jordan."

A month prior to his death, Marlin said that Earnhardt had discussed the possibility of dying in a race car.

Advert

"Dale said, ‘If I ever get killed in a race car…I don’t want nobody crying and moaning and groaning. It’s what I love to do, and don’t worry about it'," Marlin said.

"That’s the way Earnhardt was, and when he buckled that seatbelt Sunday, he knew anything could happen."

Featured Image Credit: FOX

Topics: Formula 1, Cars, History

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

X

@Anish_Vij

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
8 hours ago
  • Instagram/oceaniclounge
    7 hours ago

    Footage shows terrifying moment yacht is sunk by a pod of orcas

    The killer whales could be seen ramming the sailboat in Portugal multiple times

    News
  • YouTube/drsethi
    7 hours ago

    Doctor explains reality of what happens if you eat common superfood found in every supermarket

    That's going straight in my basket

    News
  • Noam Galai/Getty Images for Hearst Magazines
    8 hours ago

    Chrissy Teigen explained 'almost torturous' experience she had taking Ozempic

    It's the first time the model has spoken out about using Ozempic

    News
  • X/@NarodniArchivCZ
    8 hours ago

    Mysterious time capsule envelope set to be unsealed tomorrow could contain major world predictions

    An envelope which has been passed around for decades and contains a world leader's last words will finally be opened

    News
  • Princess Diana’s final words revealed by firefighter at scene of fatal crash
  • Harrowing footage shows new view of tragic American Airlines crash that saw all onboard killed
  • CCTV shows final moments of missing air hostess before she vanished from boyfriend’s yacht
  • Harrowing final words of 'Grizzly Man' before he and girlfriend were eaten alive by bear