|| *Comments on the 1995 NAPA 500:* View the most recent comment <#121> | Post a comment <#post> Tweet 1. same as yours posted: 01.26.2005 - 8:25 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Jeff Gordon's first championship 2. je24go posted: 05.11.2005 - 1:30 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) If Gordon would have finished 42nd and Earnhardt won, Earnhardt would have nipped Gordon by ONE point. That would have been interesting. 3. MASH_guy posted: 06.08.2005 - 2:05 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Gordon clinched the title by leading a lap during a round of green flag pit stops. Earnhardt came in needing to win and lead the most laps to reman mathematically alive - which he did, but Gordon did just enough. 4. Djrfan posted: 09.08.2005 - 2:40 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dale Earnhardt's 68th career win. 5. Darrell posted: 11.18.2005 - 5:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Darrell Waltrip's last pole position. 6. Steve posted: 05.04.2006 - 8:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Bobby Hillin Jr's last Top 10. He would never finish better than 12th. The car owner, former driver D.K. Ulrich, sold the #77 team to Doug Bawel after the 1995 season. Junior Johnson fielded a car for the final time in this race. Driver Brett Bodine became the owner of the #11 Ford, and the #27 team was bought by David Blair. Owners Alan Dillard Jr (#31 Gary Bradberry) and Dean Myers (#32 Greg Sacks) had an entry in a Winston Cup race for the last time. 7. Matt posted: 06.02.2006 - 8:34 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Rick Hendrick made sure that Jeff Gordon would win the title by fielding Jeff Purvis in the #58 who would've parked had there been problems for Gordon. 8. Brock posted: 01.18.2007 - 6:20 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Last race for Michael Waltrip's beautiful #30 Pennzoil Pontiac before they started screwing with it in 1996 by getting rid of those yellow wheels. Kyle Petty's Coors Light car was real sweet then, too. Changing the Pontiac models didn't help, I guess. 9. myself posted: 02.19.2007 - 3:24 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Jeff Gordon received the only Silver Winston Cup trophy in history following this race. All others were gold. The reason it was Silver was to commemorate Winston's 25th season as the series sponsor. 10. Mike posted: 02.20.2007 - 12:37 am Rate this comment: (0) (4) Had the Chase started in '95, Earnhardt would have just become an 8-time champion. He'd have come into Atlanta needing 19th(old chase)/21st(new chase) or better to clinch the title. 11. James W. McLaughlin posted: 04.23.2007 - 1:51 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Kenny Bernstein's last NASCAR race as an owner. Goodbye to the green #26 Quaker State car. 12. Anonymous posted: 06.21.2007 - 3:27 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yep, Bernstein said he just got tired of it and wanted to spend more time with his family. Ricky Rudd bought most of his equipment during the 95/96 off season. 13. Bill posted: 08.04.2007 - 3:50 am Rate this comment: (0) (6) Had the Chase been around, Earnhardt wouldn't have won 7 Championships 14. RaceFanX posted: 12.23.2007 - 8:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The Hendrick #58 car was qualified and originally to be driven by Jimmy Horton. Horton however was injured in a violent airborne crash in the ARCA race the day before and Purvis had to take over for the race. 15. Haywood posted: 03.30.2008 - 2:30 am Rate this comment: (0) (5) Final Standings using 2007 chase format Earnhardt 6,719 Wallace 6,613 T. Labonte 6,512 Gordon 6,459 Martin 6,420 Marlin 6,353 Rudd 6,341 Elliott 6,186 B. Labonte 6,176 Musgrave 6,104 Shepherd 6,066 M. Waltrip 6,012 16. Ryan posted: 07.28.2008 - 12:34 am Rate this comment: (2) (3) Dale would have won at least 8 titles with the chase... There was other years he could have won besides the years he actually did win the cup... 17. Anonymous posted: 09.04.2008 - 12:52 am Rate this comment: (0) (4) Nope. Earnhardt would've won it in 1995, but he wouldn't have in 1980 (Cale Yarborough would've), 1991 (Harry Gant), or 1993 (Rusty Wallace), so he'd be a 5-time champ. 18. Spen posted: 09.27.2008 - 5:38 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Six-time champ, actually. He would have picked up '89. 19. Matt posted: 10.26.2008 - 5:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Back to 5 Rusty would have won in 89 20. DaleSrFanForever posted: 10.31.2008 - 3:04 pm Rate this comment: (8) (1) Do you really think that if the Chase format existed back then, that Dale and his team wouldn't have stepped it up? Seriously, if you told them they only need to win the last ten races on points, they would have saved their tests and not been conservative on horsepower. 21. RaceFanX posted: 12.11.2008 - 11:07 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Morgan Shepherd's last race for the Wood Brothers. The Citgo #21 had a special paint job in this race to promote the release of the James Bond film GoldenEye. 22. Ryan posted: 01.08.2009 - 7:48 pm Rate this comment: (7) (0) Yeah really Dale Sr. fan, talking about the Chase is ridiculous... Dale definitely would have stepped it up. That's like saying, well... If the chase would have started in 1995, he would have 8 titles... We can twist it and spin it any way we want to. I mean, do you think they were talking about a Chase in 1980? c'mon... Lets get serious here... It is what it is... I say he should have nine titles, he could have won in other years as well if he wanted too... I mean, Dale wasn't even around when the Chase started... He would probably dislike the idea I'm sure 23. Bobby posted: 01.28.2009 - 2:10 pm Rate this comment: (6) (0) This whole argument about the Chase is totally wrong anyways. Had there been a Chase, the drivers would have driven the season in a totally different manner, especially the late July through early September races. So a driver that finished 10th in an August race probably would have raced differently if they were heading towards the chase, as opposed to keeping those points until the end of the year. Its the same for the current format. You can't take one of Jimmie's championships and say "Oh, well if there wasn't a Chase..." because Jimmie would have raced the season differently than he had with the Chase. Its like talking about an NBA game in 1965 and saying "Well if there was a 3 point line, X team would have won instead of Y." If there was a 3 point line, I'd be willing to bet both teams would have approached the game a little differently. Its fun to look back and say "What if...", but when you start trying to argue facts around speculation, it just doesn't work that way. 24. Ambrose_fan posted: 04.13.2009 - 2:10 am Rate this comment: (2) (0) Interesting little bit of info here: Dale Earnhardt led the first and last laps of the 1995 season. 25. Anonymous posted: 07.01.2009 - 12:21 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Few people remember Earnhardt's charge the last 10 races of the season. He was 4th in points, 314 behind Gordon. To get by two strong competitors and still only come up 34 points short is remarkable. The two races at Michigan killed his season. 26. myself posted: 08.17.2009 - 1:16 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ahh........a season finale @ Atlanta--the way it should be! 27. SoxFan24 posted: 10.24.2009 - 11:27 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Ole Dale did all he could to win his 8th championship but came just a little bit short. The man won his first of 4 titles on this day!! On to the milestones Last top 10 for Bobby Hillin Jr in the Cup Series Last race for Exide Batteries sponsoring Geoffrey Bodine. They go on to sponsor the 99 car and Jeff Burton from 1996-2000 and won many races over that stretch Last race for Michael Waltrip driving for Chuck Rider and the 30 Car. Michael came close to winning a few races in this car that he drove from the late 80's till 95. Never had that break or the quality equipment needed to win. Michael was very conflicted on leaving for the Wood Brothers he said in an interview but felt like it was a chance for him to win. Ultimately he did not in that car and wouldn't till 2001 Last race for Junior Johnson as a car owner. He sold his team to Brett Bodine during the off-season Last race for the Skoal Sponsorship for Richard Jackson Racing. Skoal had been on this car since 1990 Last race for Morgan Shepherd driving for the Wood Brothers. He won a race for them and finished in the top 5 points in 1993. Drove for that team from 1992-1995 Last race for Dick Trickle in the 15 car and the last time he drove a full Cup season without missing a race Last race Dale Jarrett drove the "28' Car for Yates. He would take over the 88 car the next season Last race Todd Bodine drove for Butch Mock racing and Factory Stores as a primary sponsor. They were together from 1993-1995 Last races for King Racing (car 26) Myers Racing(32) Dillard Racing (31) Dick Brooks Racing (40) respectively 28. Madison posted: 01.10.2010 - 7:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Of the drivers who ran/attempted this race, the only active ones are: (name, current #) Sterling Marlin, 09 Bill Elliott, 21 Bobby Labonte, 96/71 Geoffrey Bodine, 64 Michael Waltrip, 55 Terry Labonte, 08 Joe Nemecheck, 87 John Andretti, 34 Mark Martin, 5 Jeremy Mayfield, 41 Jeff Gordon, 24 Derrike Cope, 64/75 Jeff Burton, 31 Todd Bodine, 64 Mike Wallace, 64 Jeff Gordon and Joe Nemechek are the only drivers to be at the same team 29. Madison posted: 01.10.2010 - 7:56 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Let it also be noted, once Jeff had clinched the title, Ray Evernham and many builders and fabricators of Jeff's team pitted his car. I think the stop lasted around over a minute. 30. RaceFanX posted: 04.03.2010 - 12:55 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Technically Waltrip won the Winston in the Woods #21 but it was still a non-points race. Johnson also owned the Elton Sawyer #27 Hooters Ford, the team was sold to David Blair in the 1995-96 offseason but sponsor woes would plague the team throughout the rest of its duration after Hooters left to sponsor Rick Mast for 1996. 31. potatosalad48 posted: 04.08.2010 - 3:59 pm Rate this comment: (4) (0) The race was won by #3 and lasted 3 hours, 3 minutes and 3 seconds. 32. reffy posted: 09.18.2010 - 5:21 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) If NASCAR gave only points to those who finished first and second, (win = 2, second = 1) than this would be the top 8 for 1995. Gordon - 18 Earnhardt - 16 Terry Labonte - 10 Martin - 9 Bobby Labonte - 9 Wallace - 8 Marlin - 8 Jarrett - 3 33. Ryan posted: 11.21.2010 - 12:45 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yep, Dale set a blistering pace this day. The first Talladega race really cost Earnhardt too when Shephard hit him and went from 3rd to 21st on the last lap. 34. RaceFanX posted: 11.27.2011 - 5:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor: #21 Morgan Shepherd- Citgo / GoldenEye 35. Anonymous posted: 12.31.2011 - 6:41 am Rate this comment: (1) (2) Had the Chase been around? Good grief, every time I visit this place you fools get more idiotic. The Chase is the worst thing to EVER happen to NA$CRAP 36. Evan posted: 02.05.2012 - 7:50 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) Thank goodness the Chase was not around then, I always liked it when drivers raced hard all year and your performance was determined over 36 races. France and the powers that be need to understand you can't manufacture a great points battle it just happens, its a once in a lifetime thing. What Stewart did in the Chase this year was improbable and the 1992 finale under the original points system were not manufactured, they came in the right moment and at the right time, basically what I'm saying is in the Winston Cup Championship is a bigger achievement than the Sprint Cup title we have now. Calling the past champions of this sport Sprint Cup Champions is an insult to their names, they are Winston Cup Champions(that is anyone winning title in a the Winston era 1975-2003) 37. jC... posted: 03.13.2012 - 12:30 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) "29. Madison posted: 01.10.10 - 7:56 pm Let it also be noted, once Jeff had clinched the title, Ray Evernham and many builders and fabricators of Jeff's team pitted his car. I think the stop lasted around over a minute. " I think Rick Hendrick was the front tire changer on that stop. Funny stuff. 38. Dave posted: 06.03.2012 - 7:51 am Rate this comment: (0) (1) I've spent a great deal of time checking these boards out from the 80's & 90's and I'd really just like to say......anonymous > myself Lol 39. jr88fan posted: 09.08.2012 - 10:46 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I believe that this was the last time that Dale Earnhardt led over 100 laps. 40. 18fan posted: 11.03.2012 - 8:04 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The last time Earnhardt lead over 100 laps was the 1998 Daytona 500. This was the last time Dale led over 200 laps in a race. 41. b4il3y posted: 12.04.2012 - 8:47 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Good thing the chase didn't exist for Gordon..he ran terrible the last part of 1995. 42. 83andJoe posted: 02.20.2013 - 7:44 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) To the rear: #58 Jeff Purvis (driver change) 43. myself posted: 05.28.2013 - 2:59 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Opinions vary, Dave. 44. Ryan W posted: 07.25.2013 - 1:13 am Rate this comment: (1) (2) The Chase is GAY. Thanks Brian France 45. Ty (fourturns.blogspot.com) posted: 09.12.2013 - 2:26 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ya know, this is funny. Because Gordon and Hendrick have complained all about Bowyer and Logano for this year's Chase and their manipulation when those two did the exact same thing in this race by having one of thier cars finish last to insure Gordon the title. So honestly, they have no reason to complain. 46. ericthenau posted: 10.25.2013 - 7:49 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Well, Ty, of http://www.fourturns.blogspot.com/, it's not like Hendrick Motorsports intentionally made Ken Schrader's engine expire after the #25 of Schrader finished its 92nd and last lap of the race... to get its last (42nd) place finish that did exactly what was expected of this race: Jeff Gordon getting the 1995 NASCAR Winston Cup Series championship. 47. Nascarman posted: 07.30.2014 - 1:31 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Jimmy Horton qualified the #58 car but was injured in the ARCA race the day before. Jeff Purvis DNQ'd the #44 car in the 44th position. 48. Brandon posted: 08.12.2014 - 10:31 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Phil Hammer was the crew chief for the #58 according to the race broadcast. 49. wrank fakefield posted: 12.29.2014 - 5:20 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) This was effectively the end of a decade of dominance for Dale Earnhardt: 54 wins, 158 top 5s, 213 top 10s, 6 championships and only one championship finish outside the top 3 in the seasons 1986-1995. 50. myself posted: 04.15.2015 - 11:04 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) I wonder if Gordon's performance in this race is the worst a champion has ever finished to clinch a championship? 51. Hinch5 posted: 04.15.2015 - 12:38 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "I wonder if Gordon's performance in this race is the worst a champion has ever finished to clinch a championship? " Remember Matt Kenseth's start-and-park in 2003 to finish last at Homestead? Or how about a lesser known one: Tim Flock's BARREL ROLL in 1952? 52. joey2448 posted: 04.15.2015 - 1:48 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm assuming you're calling Kenseth's 2003 season finale a start-and-park because he blew the motor and finished last, leading you to believe that was just an "experimental" engine since the title was clinched anyway? 53. Hinch5 posted: 04.15.2015 - 5:51 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) ^I'm not convinced he even blew the engine. I think they just quit to protect the car because it was a special scheme for Winston's last race as title sponsor. 54. RaceFanX posted: 04.15.2015 - 8:19 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) ^I don't think Kenseth's Winston Cup "Victory Lap" commemorative paint scheme was raced. I think he just ran his normal paint job at the last race. They did make diecasts and all the active prior champions did run them at some point near the end of the season. The worst run by a driver clinching a title was probably Benny Parsons in 1973 because he crashed and ripped the whole right side of his car off. His end position was a little higher, 28th, but his team had to work like heck to get him back in the race just to get the points for the title. 55. Big Mac Fan posted: 09.17.2015 - 5:09 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Gordon's first title. And the "If the chase was in place in x year" scenarios aren't really necessary. That was Winston Cup. This is now Sprint Cup and its pointless to compare point systems because we don't know how it would have actually turned out. 56. Gordon7timechamp posted: 01.26.2016 - 7:10 am Rate this comment: (0) (4) Gordon would've won the race if his "pitcrews" weren't screwing around 57. Gordon7timechamp posted: 01.30.2016 - 8:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) Rick Hendrick and Ray Evernham serviced Jeff's car in the race. The pitstop took about a minute long. Had the 24 team been more serious about the race the championship winning margin wouldve been a lot larger. The 24 team was just too conservative. 58. RaceFanX posted: 01.31.2016 - 11:31 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Sponsor: #27 Elton Sawyer- Hooteraid Junior Johnson's #27 team ran a slightly modified paint job for this race, the team's last before Johnson sold it to David Blair and Hooters left to move over to Richard Jackson's #1 effort, to promote Hooters' ultimately short-lived sports drink Hooteraid. The team changed from blue side numbers to green ones but retained the T-Bird's usual orange-and-white look for the most part. 59. RaceFanX posted: 06.14.2016 - 10:06 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Dave Marcis' 1995 season ends with the #71 Chevy heading for the sidelines early with a blown engine. This was his last race with Italian restaurant Olive Garden as his sponsor as early internet provider Prodigy increased to a full season effort in 1996. This was Olive Garden's last race as a NASCAR sponsor but the eatery would come back to sponsor entries on the American Le Mans Series a few years later. 60. Xxplode posted: 09.14.2016 - 4:06 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @27, Morgan Shepherd did not finish in the Top 5 in 1993. He finished in 7th. 61. nascarman posted: 09.29.2016 - 9:10 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Driver Change: 58 / Jimmy Horton / Leukemia Society / Rick Hendrick /Chevy 62. BradTeagueFan~ posted: 10.02.2017 - 12:29 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) DeWitt was not the owner of the Standridge car~ The owner was Berendt Johnson~ The same goes for all of his 1995 starts~ He never drove for Ray DeWitt~ 63. nascar_vd / racing-reference.info posted: 10.02.2017 - 4:59 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yes, 4 DNQ in 1995 with the #66 of DeWitt for Standridge. Only in race where the #47 was not. He drove the others races (and DNQ) with the #47 of B. Johnson. 64. nascar_vd / racing-reference.info posted: 10.02.2017 - 5:10 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) And if you want, I send you picture of the car #66 of Standridge and picture of Standridge in Phillips66 firesuit. Note: for example, good pictures available pages 118 and 119 of the 1995 Brickyard 400 yearbook. 65. esayem posted: 10.03.2017 - 8:35 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Johnson Standridge Racing landed the Phillips "66"/ Trop Artic sponsorship midway through the season and changed numbers. http://aumannauctions.com/index.php?ap=1&pid=20787 The car is up for auction and clearly says "Johnson Standridge Racing". Also, Billy's daughter confirmed he never drove for DeWitt. 66. kup posted: 11.16.2017 - 1:15 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) UPS: universal points system. Driver's UPoints = Miles / Aver.Finish 1995 UPS _ Driver = Miles / AF 1273 _ Dale Earnhardt 11715 / 9.2 1222 _ Jeff Gordon 11609 / 9.5 1218 _ Sterling Marlin 11937 / 9.8 1068 _ Mark Martin 11428 / 10.7 980 _ Rusty Wallace 11564 / 11.8 932 _ Terry Labonte 11376 / 12.2 896 _ Ted Musgrave 11823 / 13.2 757 _ Bill Elliott 11434 / 15.1 700 _ Morgan Shepherd 11548 / 16.5 688 _ Bobby Hamilton 11556 / 16.8 677 _ Ricky Rudd 10834 / 16.0 673 _ Bobby Labonte 10975 / 16.3 687 _ Michael Waltrip 11400 / 16.6 599 _ Dale Jarrett 10418 / 17.4 & TOTAL: UPS! 47 years 1949-1995: Dale Earnhardt 8 in: '80, '86, '87, '89, '91, '93, '94, '95. Richard Petty 7 in: '63, '64, '67, '71, '72, '75, '79. Lee Petty 5 in: '50, '52, '54, '58, '59. David Pearson 4 in: '66, '68, '69, '76. Cale Yarborough 3 in: '74, '77, '78. Bobby Allison 3 in: '81, '82, '83. Buck Baker 2 in: '56, '57. Rex White 2 in: '60, '61. Bill Blair 1 in: '49. Fonty Flock 1 in: '51. Herb Thomas 1 in: '53. Tim Flock 1 in: '55. Joe Weatherly 1 in: '62. Ned Jarrett 1 in: '65. Bobby Isaac 1 in: '70. Benny Parsons 1 in: '73. Terry Labonte 1 in: '84. Darrell Waltrip 1 in: '85. Bill Elliott 1 in: '88. Mark Martin 1 in: '90. Alan Kulwicki 1 in: '92. 67. Tim posted: 11.21.2017 - 11:11 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) If you look closely at the YouTube version of this race, in a screen shot at 5:37, the 27 Elton Sawyer car is advertising "Hooterade" (-ade instead of -aid), with the slogan "Just Grab One!) barely visible underneath it. 68. HD11 posted: 01.20.2018 - 10:08 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Jeff Gordon's car ran awful in this race even though they won the championship. According to Gordon as he inducted Ray Evernham into the Hall of Fame last night, instead of enjoying the title, Ray spent the very next day trying to find the problem and he did. Like him or not, Evernham was dedicated and he was damn good. 69. Gabriel posted: 05.13.2018 - 11:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) All these Earnhardt fans crying that Gordon "ran badly in the last 10 races." Well maybe if Earnhardt had run better in the FIRST 26 RACES he would've won the title you idiots. 70. Ryan posted: 05.14.2018 - 12:22 am Rate this comment: (1) (1) @69 Both Michigan races and getting taken out at the first Talladega race on the last lap ruined Dale's chances. @39 and @40 Dale led 136 laps at the Spring Atlanta race in 1996 and won the race. 71. Josh posted: 06.07.2018 - 1:01 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Jeff Gordon didn't run badly in the last ten races, hardly that. He ran poorly in three out of the last four when he had a huge points lead. Earnhardt fans crying about this and that taking Earnhardt out of the points deal, let's just forget about Gordon getting into the restart mess at Darlington when he had the best car, or the fuel pump at Richmond, or the pit road mishap in the Daytona 500 that gave him damage and left him to fend for a mid-pack finish. It's not like Earnhardt is the only driver in history to have to battle adversity. 72. Anonymous posted: 06.07.2018 - 1:29 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) 71, crying about this and that is all diehard Earnhardt fans know how to do. No one was supposed to race Earnhardt the same way he raced them, everyone was supposed to let him pass them without putting up a fight, everyone was supposed to push him to the lead in restrictor plate races, no one but Earnhardt ever had bad luck, the only reason anyone ever beat him was by cheating, the only way another driver could even stay close to him was because they had far better equipment, on and on. The blind hero worship is utterly pathetic. 73. Ryan posted: 06.07.2018 - 6:33 pm Rate this comment: (1) (4) @72 You couldn't have said it better. He didn't have a lot of help on restrictor plates races until unbelievably Mike Skinner, Earnhardt is notorious for having bad luck in the Daytona 500, there were plenty of times where I felt teams had cars that were illegal that beat him (most particular at the Daytona 500 in 1995 when Sterling Marlin had an engine that sounded like an Indy Car that was built by their engine builder Runt Pittman), and there were plenty of times he got beat by better equipment. He never had the engines that Robert Yates, Ernie Elliott, and Rick Hendrick had. I'll always believe had Earnhardt raced for Rick Hendrick from the mid-80's through 2000 that he would have easily won over a 100 races. As for racing hard with others such as Richmond, Waltrip, R. Wallace, Elliott, etc. I never had a problem with it if they gave it back to him. Unless your Ricky Rudd dive bombing him at North Wilkesboro in 1989 ruining his championship hopes. Here is anti-Earnhardt/Earnhardt haters' logic: "Dale Earnhardt won 700% of his 76 races by wrecking everyone, he won all of his championships by taking the whole field out and everyone that got second in the standings would have won the championship if he wouldn't have wrecked them. On a few occasions, Earnhardt wrecked the whole field and was the only one to finish. Tim Richmond and Davey Allison would have won championships over Earnhardt if they wouldn't have died (they both had chances to beat him and didn't, Allison was down 300+ points to Dale in 1993 when he died, that being said I think Davey and Gordon would have had a good rivalry). Yep 74. Anonymous posted: 06.07.2018 - 10:13 pm Rate this comment: (2) (0) Dale Earnhardt was such a badass he once won at Talladega with Willie Nelson eating Doritos riding shotgun. 75. Wil posted: 06.07.2018 - 10:13 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) @73 You refer to Earnhardt haters which is fine, but by the same token you must admit that you are an Earnhardt fanatic, and thus are biased wildly in his favor and on the other side of that same spectrum. 76. M posted: 06.08.2018 - 1:49 pm Rate this comment: (3) (7) You could play the "what if?" game for every single driver ever, something delusional Earnhardt fans don't think applies to their favorite driver. 1980 - Dale Earnhardt BARELY beats Cale Yarborough for the title. If things go Cale's way and he has better luck, he beats Earnhardt and wins 4 titles in 5 years during his reign in the sport. 1986 - It took Tim Richmond and Harry Hyde roughly the first half of the season to gel and get their chemistry together. Once the summer hit, Tim Richmond was the best driver of the season, and you could put Darrell Waltrip up there too. If Tim Richmond and Harry Hyde had a full year of experience under their belt BEFORE 1986, Earnhardt would've have gotten his doors blown off. Same applies to Waltrip if he had things go his way with luck and Earnhardt didn't. 1987 - Tim Richmond was sick/dying from AIDS. Once again, after the 1986 season he had, if he had a full 1987 season with 100% health, Dale Earnhardt doesn't win the title. Bill Elliott would have been a factor as well if he had some lucky breaks go in his favor. 1990 - Mark Martin was the best driver all season. He lost the title because of a bullshit penalty that only occurred because, surprise!, Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt bitched and complained about an "illegal" part on Martin's car, a part that in no way whatsoever enhanced the performance of the car or gave him an unfair advantage. Adding insult to injury, Earnhardt made fun of Martin's alcoholism during the season. Earnhardt always was an asshole like that. Martin ends up losing the title because of the severity of the point penalty as a result. 1991 - His primary competition was Ricky Rudd and Davey Allison. Hendrick Motorsports was not the powerhouse that Jeff Gordon turned it into just yet, and Ricky Rudd wasn't a consistent enough driver to get the job done. Davey Allison was just coming into the prime of his career, and like Rudd, wasn't consistent enough. If I HAD to give Dale Earnhardt a bone, this year would be it. He was the best car. 1993 - Defending Winston Cup Champion Alan Kulwicki was killed in a plane crash only 5 races into the season. Davey Allison, who really showed the strongest muscle in 1992 and very well could have been the 1992 champion, was killed in a helicopter accident in the summer. Had Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison not been killed, Dale Earnhardt doesn't win the title. Not to mention the fact that Rusty Wallace, who was the best driver of the 1993 season (he only added a further exclamation point to that by the fact that he won 10 races), was only inconsistent enough to win the win title due to DNFs as a result of crashes, some of which Dale Earnhardt DIRECTLY caused, such as the last lap melee at Talladega. Without bad luck, Rusty Wallace handily wins the 1993 title. We can also include Jeff Gordon, whose team was a brand new startup and not the dynasty that it would become. In many races of the 1993 season, Gordon was Earnhardt's challenger, and he would have won a few races if not for rookie mistakes and inexperience. Surely that would have affected Earnhardt's championship. 1994 - Ernie Irvan, the season's best driver for the majority of the schedule, had his season (and career, for some time) derailed by a practice crash at Michigan. Robert Yates Racing finally seemed to turn the corner after near misses with Davey Allison, and were primed for the title. His crash and subsequent recovery took him out of the hunt for not only this year, but prevented him from competing for the title in subsequent years until he retired. Rusty Wallace was also as strong as he was in 1993, but again, inconsistency due bad crashes and mechanical failures only helped Earnhardt further. Finally, Jeff Gordon. Same as 1993. He bettered his numbers in every category from 1993, but was still on year away from winning a title. If he is more consistent in 1994, along Rusty and Ernie, Dale doesn't win the 1994 title. Now we'll take a look at the would shoulda coulda years that Earnhardt fans claim would have been his: 2000 - Jeff Gordon lost the only crew chief he had ever known, along with arguably the best pit crew NASCAR has ever seen, the Rainbow Warriors, at the end of the 1999 season. Jeff had a "down year," in which he won 3 races and finished 9th in the point standings. If Jeff Gordon still has Ray Evernham and his pit crew, it's arguable he would have won the title. He certaianly would have finished better than Earnhardt (Gordon was a strong as he was in 1998 during 1999, but he suffered too many DNFs as he had wins, coupled with Evernham wanting a change, and that led to Jeff finishing 6th, which was STILL a better year than Earnhardt had). 2000 was also the year it seemed like nobody wanted to win the title, much like 1992. Tony Stewart won the most races, Rusty was as strong as he had been since the early-1990s, but both, like Jeff Gordon, were inconsistent due to DNFs. Bobby Labonte wasn't dominating by any means, but like his brother Terry, was smooth and strong enough to win the title. Earnhardt's 2nd place here (which Earnhardt fans will shout from the rooftops that he should have won) was more or less a result of other drivers (Jarrett, Martin, Burton, Wallace, Gordon, Stewart, etc.) not being at the top of their games than it was Earnhardt being good. 2001 - Earnhardt had surgery to repair his neck after 1999, and he finished 2nd in the points in 2000 which, according to Earnhardt fans, means he would have won the title in 2001 had he not died. Just one problem there. Jeff Gordon. After his "off year" in 2000, Jeff Gordon was back to top form, and the chemistry with Robbie Loomis and his pit crew was better than ever. Jeff Gordon won the most races, led 2000+ laps, and was constantly running up front in he races he did not win, challenging for the win. He showed up every weekend faster than a bullet. Dale Earnhardt couldn't beat Jeff Gordon in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999, so why would he beat Jeff Gordon in 2001 when Gordon was back to top form? I don't see it happening. After winning the Daytona 500 in 1998, Earnhardt was content with his career and more focused on helping his team, DEI, get off the ground and become contenders. Don't think so? In the 2001 Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt was more concerned about letting his son or his employee, Michael Waltrip, win the Daytona 500. In Dale Earnhardt's entire career, ESPECIALLY at Daytona, when have you EVER seen him drive conservatively or defensively? NEVER. And guess what? He ultimately paid the price for it, as he ended up killing himself by deciding to block 3-4 lanes of traffic on the last lap of the biggest race of the season,which every car behind him was trying to win. Sorry, but that doesn't seem to me like someone who was ready to compete and challenge for the 2001 championship, let alone against Jeff Gordon. Can you imagine Richard Petty blocking traffic and purposely losing a race just so his son, Kyle, could win a race? HELL NO. And then Earnhardt fans had the gall and the nerve to send death threats to Sterling Marlin, whose only crime was making slight contact with Earnhardt while trying to win the Daytona 500, while Earnhardt decided to become a blocked and a wrecker. Contrary to what everybody on this website will tell you, you CAN be a fan of NASCAR and NOT be a fan of Dale Earnhardt. As a matter of fact, before 2001, a big chunk of NASCAR fans hated Dale Earnhardt with a passion. I'm sure I'll get 100 thumbs down for this though, because after February 2001, the NASCAR media, announcers, reporters, fans, and other drivers told everybody that they needed to worship Dale Earnhardt as a God, and anybody with any slightly unfavorable opinion of him deserved scorn and ridicule. They've been worshiping him ever since, for 17 years. 77. George posted: 06.08.2018 - 2:00 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) I was never much of an Earnhardt fan, Sr. or Jr., though not an impotent foaming-at-the-mouth hater like this bozo either. So "everybody" worships Dale Sr., the "NASCAR media" is in on the conspiracy and has been for 17 years, and "anybody" who "slightly" disagrees is annihilated, eh? What color is the sky in your delusional little world? 78. Anonymous posted: 06.08.2018 - 5:23 pm Rate this comment: (1) (3) @76, Earnhardt definitely didn't deserve to win the title in 2000, realistically he wasn't even second best. He didn't have the speed of several drivers who finished behind him in points. Another thing he didn't have that year was bad luck, only one finish worse than 30th, two in the mid 20's. At Rockingham he had a chance to make up a lot of ground after Bobby Labonte had a little misfortune which dropped him off the lead lap, but instead Earnhardt and the #3 choked and finished seventeenth, only gaining a few points. Then he went to Homestead, choked again, went several laps down, got mad, and caused a near wreck among the leaders that ruined at least one other drivers chance to race Stewart for the win. He didn't deserve better that year, he deserved worse. 79. Anonymous posted: 06.08.2018 - 5:23 pm Rate this comment: (0) (3) 77, the sky is black, just like the number three car that was driven Dale Practically God Himself Earnhardt. 80. JSPorts posted: 06.08.2018 - 5:45 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I don't have a strong opinion on Earnhardt, but it appears that this little discussion has brought out the absolute extremes of both sides. 76 just sounds a little bitter that things didn't go his drivers' way. There will always be "what could have happened?" questions for every single champion. We could go through every year in NASCAR history and list what might have happened. But it didn't happen, so to make all these bogus claims about who would or wouldn't have won the championship is ridiculous. I agree, there was a double standard with Earnhardt, and he was at times a dirty driver. But he was also a great driver, one of the best there's ever been. He's much like Kyle Busch in that respect, though he had a better personality. 81. Anonymous posted: 06.08.2018 - 6:21 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) It's not even Earnhardt I dislike at this point, it's his brain dead cult level fans. 82. Tin Foil posted: 06.08.2018 - 7:13 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) Comment section further proving why I hate drivers with mob mentality fanbases. 83. Ryan posted: 06.08.2018 - 11:18 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) @75 Yes, Dale was my favorite driver, but people on here didn't even watch and they act like every single race he wrecked someone purposely. They act like they know the sport from hearing other people talk. It's what I gather. I've watched a lot of NASCAR since the 80's and yes he was an aggressive driver and liked to race hard like every lap was his last for a long time, but this non-sense and picture painting him as an evil person is ridiculous. People say, "well he got mad if people gave it back to him and took him out." He got mad when people did stupid stuff to ruin his championship hopes, yes. The perfect example of him not getting mad was Jeremy Mayfield's bump and run on him at Pocono in 2000. Yes he did give him the finger (who wouldn't?), but after the race he said it was a nice day for him in the points where he gained on Bobby Labonte. He moved on from it, like he did from his misfortune in the Daytona 500 in 1990 by winning the championship. He put the flat tire he got from the last lap of that race on the race shop wall and used it as motivation for him and the team. Him and his team could overcome things. It's why he is considered the best and the best driver where most of the time he didn't have the best equipment. He wasn't a soft race car driver, that's for sure. @76 case in point from my @73 post @78 I was proud of Earnhardt's efforts in 2000. He won two exciting races. He showed he was back (actually he showed that in 1999). It's a shame he didn't get to compete for the championship in 2001. @80 I agree that he has a better personality than Ky. Busch. I think Kyle has the same personality as Rusty. @81 & @82 Some cheese with that wine? 84. JSPorts posted: 06.08.2018 - 11:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) I'm not saying he wrecked people in every race, but he was a more aggressive driver who was more prone to cause accidents, and a lot of people don't like that. But he also wasn't the guy to whine all the time like Kyle. 85. Jolly Mean Giant posted: 06.09.2018 - 12:13 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) I'm glad I'm not the only one seeing similarities between KB and Rusty Wallace. They even seem to excel at exactly the same sort of tracks (both having won multiple times in particular at the short tracks and road courses), and both won a championship not long after a serious accident that could've derailed their careers (Rusty won the title in '89 the year after he had a bad crash in practice at Bristol where Dr. Jerry Punch had to revive him, KB winning the '15 title after breaking his leg at Daytona in the Xfinity race, although there will be a never-ending debate until the end of days on whether or not he actually deserved that title). It's probably *not* a coincidence that both have been my mother's favorite drivers... You know, I've always flip-flopped back and forth on Earnhardt, and he may not have been the nicest guy around, but to say he should've won just 1 or even NO titles whatsoever is beyond asinine. We can go through the coula/woulda/shoulda/iffas (will never forget Larry Mac saying that) all day long. It reminds me of the people saying Jeff should have 7-10-however many titles without the Chase. There's disliking a guy and then there's hating a guy so much I could swear you're actually happy that he's dead and would love to dance on his grave. Geez, man. Even I've never been that harsh in assessing someone. It isn't healthy to despise somebody to *THAT* high a level. Grudges are not a good thing to keep. One thing I will agree with him on is that sadly, yes, Dale does to this day still have some fanboys who practically deify him and everything about him, but so does virtually *every* driver with a great amount of success in the sport's history (and even some who did not-not naming names specifically here because that'll open up an even bigger and nastier can of worms but I'm sure you can guess). IMO it *is* not healthy to fanboy a driver, or fanboy *anything* for that matter. When you're at that point you can't see the flaws in someone or something, you can only see pure perfection, and that's not really healthy because everyone is only human and thus we are all flawed, and so is everything we create. But really, when you think about it, the difference between extreme fanboys and extreme haters, like this, isn't actually very much at all other than having the *polar* opposite viewpoint on what it is they're fixating on... Only other thing I will agree with him is that I personally don't think Dale would've won the 2001 title if he lived. I'm sure I'm gonna get some hate for that, but it's hard not to notice how much of a resurgence Gordon had that year compared to the year before, and it's very hard for me to imagine Dale equaling him or surpassing Jeff that year. I think Dale would've gotten a solid top 5 points finish but I don't see him personally claiming the '01 crown. He only would have 3-4 more years tops anyways so the window would've definitely been closing in on him fast. I think he would've gotten to 80, maybe 85 wins but no 8th title. 86. Ryan posted: 06.09.2018 - 12:36 am Rate this comment: (1) (1) @85 I think he would have won or would have been a great battle between him and Jeff coming up short. You're right. I actually know people that loved it that he died. One guy I know pissed in the snow the next day that said, "Goodbye Dale" Sickening. Needless to say I never talked to him again. Earnhardt did a lot for the sport as the sport did a lot for him. He brought a lot of publicity to NASCAR whether it was good or controversial. It's why he is considered the "greatest" driver because of where he took the sport. He did take it to another level. There's no denying that. And since he left us it hasn't seen that level. It's true when people say it hasn't been the same since he died. A lot of people quit watching because he wasn't there for them to cheer anymore, and a lot of people quit watching because he wasn't there to cheer against anymore. Either way a lot of people missed him for one reason or the other. 87. Alex posted: 06.09.2018 - 6:04 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) I hate that Big E died. I hate the fact that so many fools, like Ryan above, actually bought into that phony persona he had. His persona was as real as a WWE wrestlers; it was a big act as shown by the conflicts between his real personality and his NASCAR personality. He said and did controversial things for the sake of being controversial. And sadly he's not the only driver to be that way. 88. Ryan posted: 06.09.2018 - 6:41 pm Rate this comment: (1) (2) Alex is a tool who thinks he knows racing and people. Another entitled millennial softy who has never worked a day in his life. I've already posted several things he did for drivers and people during his life on his RR driver page. There's not enough time to mention it all to be honest. To think that someone actually believes that Earnhardt "acted" or had a soap opera character like WWE wrestlers is ridiculous and beyond comprehension. If you think NASCAR or racing is fake then RR is not the place for you bubby. It's obvious you've never had a job before. Everyone who works usually have work and home personas you have to traverse between. Work and home lives offer different expectations and challenges. It's normal to be a little different. In some ways however, Dale was a cowboy off and on the track. He worked on his farm and raised horses and took a no prisoners attitude on the track. The traits of a true cowboy like Kyle Petty said when he died. 89. Alex posted: 06.10.2018 - 8:03 am Rate this comment: (4) (2) Wow... so I am apparently a jobless entitled millennial because I don't worship at the altar of Earnhardt? That's ridiculous and beyond comprehension to see you denouncing people because they don't idolize your hero. Reality is that I actually understand both the entire picture of NASCAR history beyond an obsession with a single driver. Anyone who is not autistic or a blind Earnhardt fan boy can see the inconsistencies in his person. If that's who Earnhardt really was, then we can at least say for certain that he was a horrible, horrible human being, based on his attitude at the track and the devastation he left behind in his families throughout the 70s. Perhaps we should see the full picture and see that he was a man with a persona, a persona at the track and the persona of a man who matured by learning from his mistakes off the track and went from a womanizer to an admirable father. It's amazing when you actually understand people. 90. Ryan posted: 06.10.2018 - 10:12 am Rate this comment: (1) (2) I said nothing about you or anyone else worshipping Earnhardt, toolbag. I said you must not know that in most cases your occupation and home life are different. So you probably don't work or at least haven't worked in the public because YOU brought up in @87 that he had a phony persona like WWE wrestlers, which is an absolute joke for anyone to believe that. And saying it was a big act and he was controversial for the sake of being controversial is bs. You're getting away from the point (many millennials do) that this isn't about me liking Dale as a favorite driver, but you being a DA about his life and career. I was a fan of the man yes as much as you are a hater, yes. And the way you discuss things, you didn't watch much racing during the 80's and 90's during Dale's hay day. You missed a lot of the behind the scenes and on scene coverage. You're probably one of those people that just hear haters talk about him during that time period. I've already proved you wrong on other pages with facts and comments from other people that knew or raced with Dale, so just stop and take some constructive criticism for at least a moment. Something millennials struggle with. "If that's who Earnhardt really was, then we can at least say for certain that he was a horrible, horrible human being, based on his attitude at the track and the devastation he left behind in his families throughout the 70s." LOL. You act like he left his family struggling or something when he died. This is something that is more normal than not "Mr. Perfect entitled rich boy wanna be" especially in one's youth. Considering he was told he was going to be a daddy at 17 years old, daddy again at 20 years old and again at 22-23 with hardly no job and a racing career that was in question at the time I'd say things worked out well. He had a goal and it worked out for him and his family. People make mistakes all the time in their youth (it's normal) whether it's being immature about sex, quitting high school or college early, drug usage, getting in trouble with the law, etc. It's called growing up. Now your family is just waiting on you to do the same, Alex. I can promise you that all the Earnhardt's live a life of luxury right now. And it's because of the "horrible, horrible human being and devastation" (LOL!) left behind from one man. 91. Pollinracingpodcast posted: 06.10.2018 - 11:09 am Rate this comment: (1) (2) @89,what you have just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. 92. Alex posted: 06.12.2018 - 12:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) #90 and #91 are perfect examples of why, if this site is to be a success, the comments section must be removed. The only thing you proved is that you know how to take facts and quotes out of context. Your post is full of libelous statements. I suppose you must be one of those folks who tries to murder people at sports events or throws hard objects at little kids for wearing an opposing competitor's gear? Because that's all you're doing. 93. RaceFanX posted: 06.12.2018 - 12:53 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) "#90 and #91 are perfect examples of why, if this site is to be a success, the comments section must be removed." I don't know if removed is the right word. I like seeing the comments used to provide information about a driver, track, or race that just the stats don't show; here we've got lots of cool information about Jeff Gordon's weird pit stop, his silver trophy, departing owners, drivers about to change teams, and Jeff Purvis' last minute entry amongst this race's storylines. Admittedly the last 20 posts have been "Earnhardt This" and "Earnhardt That" but you take the good with the bad. 94. Wil posted: 06.12.2018 - 12:59 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) #90 is the kind of comment that's just so poor that it diminishes the quality of the site. Hopefully that dude takes his talents (namely, calling everybody that he disagrees with a "millennial softy") elsewhere. 95. RaceFanX posted: 06.12.2018 - 1:02 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Morgan Shepherd's GoldenEye Citgo T-Bird in this race is still I think the only time one of the James Bond movies has been promoted with a special paint scheme in NASCAR. Shepherd's last ride in the #21 saw the Citgo special trade in its normal white, red, and orange scheme for white, black, and yellow. The GoldenEye movie logo and the famous 007 logo were both placed on the quarter panel. Morgan's name was even replaced above the door with the 007 logo. 96. George posted: 06.12.2018 - 1:07 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Yeah, he never should have said that. Instead he should have demanded that anyone who disagrees with him seek psychiatric help. That would've been a much better approach: "It's kind of interesting how most fans of certain drivers display all the same psychiatric flaws that the driver displays, especially when the driver has severe flaws that hamper their ability to do their job and/or operate normally in society." "You're blind to the reality of Earnhardt's extremely suspicious career. This hearkens to my post about fans of certain drivers having extraordinary psychological issues." "I do believe that many posters on this site ARE mentally unbalanced." "Ah, Mannoroth and his opinions that are logically and factually wrong. Have you seen a psychiatrist yet?" Actually, that last one wasn't entirely inappropriate. Something about dishing out insults while not being able to take them and melting when they boomerang comes to mind here. 97. Alex posted: 06.12.2018 - 1:16 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) George, if you notice, my comments are consistently about just two posters here: namely Ryan and Mannoroth, who consistently display the symptoms of mental illness. High school psychology will tell you that; facts aren't insults no matter how harsh they might seem. 98. Pollinracingpodcast posted: 06.12.2018 - 4:30 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) @92 I normally don't chime in about the high school drama on here, but the statement, "Perhaps we should see the full picture and see that he was a man with a persona, a persona at the track and the persona of a man who matured by learning from his mistakes off the track and went from a womanizer to an admirable father." is both factually inaccurate and a lightning storm for controversy on here. Whether Ryan (or any other troller) is right or wrong, there's no sense arguing with them then saying that's why they need to shut off the comments. I much like alot of users of this site, like to read about the race, not a pissing contest between fans. 99. Ryan posted: 06.12.2018 - 6:44 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) I'm not going to sit here and take bad mouthing me or making personal insults at me because I backed or liked a driver OR even saying something about someone that is obviously not true. Dale Earnhardt helped several people during his career, because he got help here and there as well to have a career. I made a comment on another race page that said "Earnhardt was the last true cowboy" when he died. There were several drivers that felt the same way, most notably Kyle Petty who was very vocal about it. Petty was referring to Earnhardt as a cowboy where he came from nothing and made it by hard work and determination. Much like his personal life AND occupation. Of course Alex took it out of context and said Earnhardt's persona was phony and "occupational persona" made up like a WWE wrestler, which is down right ridiculous. Trust me, Dale Earnhardt was real as it get when it came to racing and watching his emotional highs (winning a 7th championship, winning the Daytona 500 in 1998, and being in victory lane for his son's first win) and emotional lows (losing Daytona 500 year after year, losing friends Alan Kulwicki, Davey Allison and best friend Neil Bonnett). You could feel the joy in his wins and watching his son win his first race. You could also feel his race losses (the interview with David Hobbs after the flat tire in the 1990 Daytona 500 was one of the most courageous sports interviews I've ever seen in my life) and personal losses (how he raced on without his best friend Neil Bonnett). Alex let his emotions get in the way because someone disagreed with him and started making insults. I backed up facts with his opinions by posting sites that prove his theories inaccurate. For someone to look down on another person for making mistakes during their youth obviously points out that that person has a lot of insecurities about their person or self and has some narcissistic qualities (as @91 and @98 related to). Which is a true sign of "mental illness or psychology" issues. How about you practice what you preach??? I believe that disagreeing with someone is fine (like Tyler and I did about the end of the 1999 Goody's 500), but to make insults at people for their opinion isn't right. "#90 is the kind of comment that's just so poor that it diminishes the quality of the site. Hopefully that dude takes his talents (namely, calling everybody that he disagrees with a "millennial softy") elsewhere." Says the guy who said Earnhardt was an evil person, a-hole, and asked me on another page if Earnhardt cured cancer or walked on water." Smh. You got a lot of nerve to be saying something about diminishing the quality of the site. I've watched the sport for years. I was fan of Dale Earnhardt and Kevin Harvick became my favorite whenever Dale died because he went into his car and I liked him during his Busch days in 2000 when he finished 5th in his first Busch race at Daytona. Perhaps I shouldn't give back insults when they are directed towards me about my opinion, but it's hard not to, especially where I watch(ed) and know a lot of history about the sport. That and I've went to several races over the years. The best thing to do is to ignore it. 100. JSPorts posted: 06.12.2018 - 6:54 pm Rate this comment: (0) (1) Who your favorite driver is is your preference, but I think sometimes we all let our favorites cloud our vision a little. Maybe we should work harder to change that. 101. Ryan posted: 06.12.2018 - 7:33 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) I believe that Kevin Harvick is the best racer out there right now right there with Kyle Busch and MTJ. It took Happy a while to get that distinction, but I knew he could do it when he got on a team with good equipment and I stated that time after time back in 2013 (and even before that) in his last year with RCR. Most of the RR "experts" on here stated he would struggle and that it would be a big mistake him going to Stewart-Haas. How many lame ducks (drivers switching teams) have won four races? He's proved a lot of people wrong, most notably poster DaleSrForeverFan who would bash Kevin on here a lot. Kevin pretty much ran him off the board with all his success in the last five years referring to him as "the Vulture" instead of "the Closer". When it comes to Dale Earnhardt... I'm sorry guys, but he had instant success on an upstart team when he came into the series. He's the only driver to win rookie of the year and a championship in back to back seasons. He beat juggernaut Junior Johnson and recent 3-time champion Cale Yarborough for his first title. He won many races in lesser equipment compared to other drivers as well as several top-5 finishes when his car was nearly a 15th place car. At no time during his career was his team labeled as to have "the best horsepower" and yet he still won seven championships and lead the series in wins twice. He won championships in three different versions of cars. So he had success in about anything. He also finished in the top-10 in 20 out of 22 years. Even during his "down or washed up" years he was still competitive. More than likely he would have won over a 100 races if he were to be on Rick Hendrick or Robert Yates' teams. Most of the time he put Hall of Fame drivers Richard Petty, Cale Yarborough, Bobby Allison, Darrell Waltrip, Rusty Wallace, Bill Elliott, Mark Martin, Davey Allison and Terry Labonte into submission year after year (as well as Tim Richmond). It's a shame he didn't have 36 races a year on his schedule during his prime. Besides that, he was also a philantropist and very charitable on and off the track and was a true family man. He was really good to give back to the racing community and give others chances to get started (Ernie Irvan, Steve Park, Dale, Jr.) and give the older guys funds and chances to rejuvenate their career (Marcis and M. Waltrip). In my opinion, he's NASCAR's greatest and best driver to ever live. A lot of other people believe that, too. You don't have to agree with it, it's cool. 102. Sector posted: 06.12.2018 - 9:18 pm Rate this comment: (1) (0) "#90 and #91 are perfect examples of why, if this site is to be a success, the comments section must be removed." I've always thought they should be specifically about the race (or on a driver's/owner's/track's page) themselves and not go off topic. Regardless, they do need to be better moderated or promote some to do so. All the posts attacking one another for immature reasons need to go for sure. Go argue on Facebook or something. "I don't know if removed is the right word. I like seeing the comments used to provide information about a driver, track, or race that just the stats don't show" THIS 100,000x thumbs up! 103. Wil posted: 06.12.2018 - 9:41 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) @101 Last comment in regards to anything but racing from me... 1. Ryan nobody asked for a summary of Dale Earnhardt's career. That has nothing to do with what anybody is talking about. I think everybody understands that he is maybe the best race car driver to ever live (I personally think he is the best, but admittedly only know a lot about Nascar and not other forms of auto racing. But whatever.) 2. I don't hate Earnhardt. I never have said that. On the contrary, I'm neutral on him, but lean towards being a fan if I had to choose. Just because I called out a revolting act that he did (that nobody knew about, I simply felt it was worthy of sharing) does not mean I hate him. You are so madly, out of this world in love with him that you assume that anyone who doesn't bow at the alter "hates" him. This is why people are accusing you of mental illness--your obsession over Dale Earnhardt is both disturbing and creepy, and honestly it makes me uncomfortable reading your comments. That is the last I'll comment on the 1995 NAPA 500 page, as I have no strong feelings about the race and would like to keep the commentary to racing from here on out--I'm as fatigued as everyone else about this nonsense. 104. Ryan posted: 06.12.2018 - 10:27 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) btw, the only one that said anything about "mental illness" was Alex and that of course obviously isn't credible at all. In short, the reason I gave the "summary" is I wanted to show that that's what it comes down to. You don't have to agree with it. I'm cool with it. It is essentially what everything is about. Message boards on RR are used for fan interaction and their opinions on races and their career. That's what I've always done on this board. If I agree with something I generally give a thumbs up and may comment, if not then down and may comment. And if I'm neutral or if I don't care then I don't do anything. I don't chastise anyone. I may disagree, but I generally put down facts or possible scenarios more so than anything else that back up what I say or how I feel. People getting into psychology of fans and referring drivers as womanizers and evil is way more of a social problem than anything I've done on here. There's no place for it. 105. Ryan posted: 06.12.2018 - 10:27 pm Rate this comment: (2) (1) "You are so madly, out of this world in love with him that you assume that anyone who doesn't bow at the alter "hates" him. This is why people are accusing you of mental illness--your obsession over Dale Earnhardt is both disturbing and creepy, and honestly it makes me uncomfortable reading your comments." See there is no place for these comments. This is what I'm talking about. it's distasteful and has no substance. Sure I liked Earnhardt, but there are people that couldn't stand him and their fans as well. You can down play it all you want, but it's obvious how you feel. You hate Earnhardt more than I liked him, referring to him as "evil". It's easy to see that there is an obsession of hate for Earnhardt as well. Will proves it here. That's what is creepy. If I back a driver or give an opinion about Earnhardt, then people have to try and "outdo" my opinion and throw slurs, accuse one of mental illness, or even get personal. Believe me a lot of people that don't get on RR feel the same way I do if not more. Most of the fans quit watching when he died, and some that disliked him quit watching because they didn't have anyone to cheer against. In @101 I said my peace and gave my opinion. I don't get mad if people "don't bow down to him at the alter" as you call it. I disagreed about the end of the 1999 Goody's 500 at Bristol with someone else and all of a sudden I'm wrong to believe that? Dude, there's no place continuing to use "alter, walking on water, and healing (curing cancer)". You don't have to agree with it, or the best thing you could do is not say anything at all if you can't disagree in a reasonable manner. You even used blasphemy. All that is what is uncomfortable. I'm fine discussing racing which I enjoy, but just because I might be in the minority on here about an incident involving Earnhardt doesn't mean I'm insane or need help, smh. Don't throw slurs at people about one thing, and then you do the same exact thing. Practice what you preach. 106. JSPorts posted: 06.12.2018 - 10:48 pm Rate this comment: (1) (1) It seems like the haters and the extreme fans of Earnhardt are both here, and the truth definitely lies somewhere in the middle. 107. RaceFanX posted: 06.13.2018 - 8:47 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) Finishing three laps down in 17th this race marked the final time Mark Martin and Roush Racing fielded the #6 Valvoline Ford with its original iconic white, red, light blue, and dark blue paint scheme they had been using since the sponsorship began in 1992. As teased at the Brickyard 400 earlier in the season the #6 would have a new white-and-dark blue paint scheme for 1996. Of course Martin and the team later brought out a modified version of this paint scheme as a throwback for the 2005 All-Star Race during what was planned to be Martin's farewell tour. Martin gave the paint scheme a more proper send off by winning that race. 108. Josh Drake posted: 08.22.2018 - 11:22 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) @103 It's a close-run thing but I believe Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher may have the edge. Since no one seems to be pointing this out, good outing for Ward Burton in 5th place! 109. Jimnsimforever posted: 03.14.2019 - 6:05 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) What they did with the Purvis car because they only needed 1 car to drop out for Jeff to clinch is pulled him down pit road right as soon as the race started. The pit reporter said Purvis was reporting a miss, they lifted the hood, gave it the obligatory lookover and closed it back up. He then sat in the pit stall with the engine fired while the field completed at least 2 or 3 laps. Then I assume they went out and ran it as hard as they could, just a couple laps down to the field so in case Jeff blew up right away, they could have time to get Purvis behind the wall immediately and Jeff would still win the title by 1 point. Ken Schrader finishing dead last was just coincidental that his engine blew and happened to be the one that clinched it for them. Ken had terrible luck all year in 1995 and signing that 1 year extension with Hendrick for 96 halfway through the season because the Hendrick stable wanted to squash the rumors that he was gone after the year seemed to only make the luck even worse rather than relieve pressure and improve performance like they hoped it would do. 110. Jimnsimforever posted: 03.14.2019 - 6:37 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Sorry if any of this was posted. I read down through the messages but there is a lot here. Rusty didn't run the Miller Genuine Draft car in this race. His sponsorship was changing to just Miller, without the GD at the end and he previewed what his 96 car would look like in this race. And 96 is the one and only year that car scheme was around for. Dale Earnhardt obviously had to dominate this race and they set up a very aggressive engine package and did just that as nobody could touch him and the engine held up for the win. In victory lane at the end he said he really wanted to congratulate Rick Hendrick, that he'd been around for a while and was due for a title and he was happy for him, then talked about when Hendrick first came in as a car owner apparently Dale used to test for him. Jeff Gordon went with the least aggressive engine package they had all season to say the least, only needing to finish 41st and wanting to take no chance that it wouldn't fire or would blow up on the warm up laps or as soon as the green dropped. To say the least, the car was terribly slow, pretty much field filler slow. He celebrated by burning a 180 and then lighting it up for a 180 the other way. That brought out the funniest line of the broadcast by Benny Parsons as he said, "I'm surprised that car had the power to do that". 111. RaceFanX posted: 03.14.2019 - 9:09 am Rate this comment: (1) (0) Adding on to Rusty's new look... Miller wanted to change it up because they found in NASCAR the Miller logo was a bit smaller than they would have liked on the rear quarter panels. Changing to just a Miller-themed scheme fixed that although it ultimately proved to be a stop gap before its racing sponsorships flipped over to blue-and-white Miller Lite schemes in 1997...birthing the famous "Blue Deuce" in the process. 112. SweetRich posted: 02.15.2020 - 7:46 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) The Commentators For The Race Were Bob Jenkins, Ned Jarrett And Benny Parsons. The Pit Road Reporters Were Jerry Punch, Bill Weber And John Kernan. 113. RaceFanX posted: 02.22.2020 - 10:41 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) NASCAR ban tinted windshields starting with this race, confiscating any that teams had in the pits before this one. The move to mandate clear windshields was to make it easier for drivers to see through cars ahead of them and see if a driver in front was signaling them for any reason. 114. RaceFanX posted: 05.22.2020 - 9:11 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The 1990s were a time when "extreme sports" were the cool ones. Busch Beer used footage from this race in a commerical that aired the following year declaring that "NASCAR is extreme and always has been." 115. SweetRich posted: 07.09.2020 - 9:47 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The final career race for owner Alan Dillard Jr., the owner of A.G. Dillard Motorsports. 116. SweetRich posted: 07.09.2020 - 9:49 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The final career race for long time veteran owner D.K. Ulrich. 117. SweetRich posted: 07.09.2020 - 9:52 am Rate this comment: (0) (0) The final races for Bobby Hillin in the #77, Michael Waltrip in the #30, Morgan Shepherd in the #21, Dick Trickle in the #15, Dale Jarrett in the #28, Jeff Burton in the #8, Hut Stricklin in the #26 and Todd Bodine in the #75. 118. SweetRich posted: 07.18.2020 - 6:32 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) What exactly was Hooterade? Was it the same as Gatorade? Was it an energy drink? Sounded like an interesting drink of choice. 119. possum posted: 07.18.2020 - 7:22 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) @118 - Hooterade has been several different things. Back then it was a sports drink, like orange Gatorade. More recently it's been various different alcoholic drinks associated with various liquor promotions. 120. nascarman posted: 07.18.2020 - 7:24 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Hooterade was a sports drink like Gatorade. It was orange punch flavored, sold only at the restaurants. It was around for about 2 years but it was mainly a charity thing. Sales of Hooterade benefited the Hooters Community Endowment Fund 121. SweetRich posted: 07.18.2020 - 7:33 pm Rate this comment: (0) (0) Ahh. A true blast from the past thing today if it ever came back. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Post a comment:* Your comment may not appear immediately - all comments must be approved by the moderator. Name: Comment: