Lessons Learned from the Lives Lost During NASCAR's Darkest Decade | The Dale Jr Download
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- čas přidán 9. 09. 2024
- Dale Jr. sits down with Gary Nelson to discuss the crucial changes in NASCAR’s safety protocols following the tragic loss of several drivers, including his own father. Gary Nelson shares the significant efforts made by NASCAR, the introduction of new safety measures, and his relentless pursuit to make the sport safer. This is a must-watch for every NASCAR fan who values the history and evolution of safety in the sport.
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You can tell the passion in his voice. Deserves a lot of credit.
Dale does a great job at asking an open ended question and staying respectfully quiet while his guest responds completely. Thank you for sharing this with us.
He's gotten alot better with it,he gets excited sometimes and I don't believe he realizes it!! #8 #3 forever
That hit me hard when Nelson said to dale Jr. that his dad was worried more about him then himself. I know it made Jr. reflect on how much his Dad loved him and how much he misses his Dad.
Man that's some heavy scars to carry.
Gary Nelson’s one of the really underappreciated people of NASCAR.
Man, listening to Gary list the names and then say that happened on my watch hit like a sledgehammer. That's a lot of weight to carry for someone trying to do their best under the circumstances.
This was one of the best Jr interviews ever. What a great guest
I always respected Gary Nelson for trying to be aggressive in stopping “creativity in engineering” (cheating) in the NASCAR garage. Very little was shared by NASCAR to the fans about this very serious and well thought out safety engineering progression. As someone who follows all 3 major touring NASCAR series, and has for more than 25 years, I am glad to learn about this work that was done more than 20 years ago. Thank you to all of those whose work has saved the lives of drivers in the years since.
Glad Gary talked to Dale.Jr. We all miss senior and all the driver's mentioned.
U guys KILL it with the guests you have. Amazing to listen to Gary Talk and knowing those deaths weighed on him.
I dunno who chooses the guests you have on but they deserve a raise.
Powerful interview, you can see how much each loss affected Gary.
As a racer and and fan this was an obvious difficult and in a way emotional yet extremely informative conversation that I'm grateful to have been able to listen too...Jr faces these discussions so respectfully and sincere with so much sincerity that I believe he's help heal a lot of wounds and given closure for tonight guys who unnecessarily have felt guilt for the loss of their friends..I even hung out with Jr at a race when we were both kids at Darlington my dad was crewing on HB Baileys Car and I got to tag along. Mr Baileys son worked for RCR at the time and stupid a highly respected person in the NASCAR community.. So we got to ride with Chocolate in the van and Jr was shy but even as someone his same age he was so respectful and polite... The funny part I wasn't a huge fan because ironically I like he was a fan of the under dog. But after his driving career and seeing what a great dad and husband and car owner he was/is if you don't at minimum respect him then something is wrong with you...Dale Jr is about as humble and honest as a human can be. He gives back to The racing community far more then he ever took. You can see that he really really listens and respects each and every guest but especially the ones he looked up to as a kid. It was like Mr. Nelson almost felt responsible for the losses as if he failed but as racers we know that in the back of our mind that any time we pull down them belts one last time before the green.... It could be the last time.... Yet we choose to do it....because its what we do.
Respect for Jr and Mr Nelson oddly emotional and now one of my favorite episodes. Thanks Dirty Mo
There is a huge auto correct error and the word stupid was not every purposely written but yt won't allow my device to edit.
Gary is a living legend!!!!
You can hear the emotion in his voice.. he feels the 10 deaths in that 10 year period deep inside..
They saved a ton of lives.
I remember the prototypes of the HANS device in roar racing well before they were adopted by sanctioning bodies. I thought it was a good idea was a revolution in racing. I am so glad these were adopted. It makes me sad that this was dropped in your lap and you had to deal with this. I am so happy that you were instrumental in making cars safer!
Fantastic insight into where NASCAR was and where it is today and why it is what it is...thanks.
There is a certain amount of PTSD that came along with this man’s job. I’m sure he carry quite the burden through life, sadly.
Can’t imagine the things/images in his mind when he closes his eyes at night.
You can tell not a day goes by that he doesn't list those names off in his head
In that same period of Time We Lost Alan kulwicki and Davey Allison to Aviation accidents. It's such a shame this man had to go through so much trauma
Grant was killed in 89 but Gary Nelson made an excellent point and has done more for Nascar safety than most
Blaise Alexander's name should have been mentioned, Even though it was in the ARCA REMAX SERIES.
That safety has trickled down throughout Motorsports thanks to the work done here!!!🏁
Maybe not the most purely entertaining interview but important if you are a nascar fan, and the people in the sport. Well done, Dirty Mo Media and Dale Jr.
Great work by Gary and his people over the years, Tragic that lessons had to learned from those terrible situations but the safety elements are so much better these days and thanks to Gary and people like him, many many life's have been saved especially since we lost Dale 2001.
Fascinating conversation. It's good that so much was learned from these accidents and that lives have been saved because of it.
I remember several drivers had expressed concern in 2000 when seeing Dale's seat and seatbelt set up.
Just a incredible interview on so many levels and topics. WOW!
And don’t forget Blaise Alexander 😢
Indeed. Although I think Gary didn't because Nascar didn't own ARCA at the time, so it wouldn't have been under his sanction.
ARCA lost at least 5 (gehrke, baker, johnson, alexander, coleman) in the same time frame(and martin in 02). But even they've gone a couple decades without an on track fatality.
Great segment
Awesome video. I learned something from your video
Best show on the interwebs
It’s so obvious that Mr. Nelson carries a burden of guilt over the deaths of those drivers. I think that is totally unnecessary. Drivers know the risks when they get in the race car. But I can certainly understand Gary’s perspective. More than anything, though, I think his proactive stance has saved more drivers than those lost. Extreme props to Dale for having guests that witnessed and were active during the time of his father’s death. I’ve watched his interview with Sterling Marlin several times with tears in my eyes. God Bless you, Dale and the work you now do.
Another great video. Gary Nelson did such a remarkable job keeping it together because to me he could’ve cried rightfully so. We lost a lot of great drivers, but you live and learn through mistakes and things that you see. And NASCAR has done such an incredible job over the last 20 -23 years.
How interesting to listen to him describe the process they went through.
I remember the announcement of him taking over back then as NASCAR's top cop, those first few years he caught a lot of people with questionable things on their cars that they may or may not have known were illegal.
We lost 9 drivers and when we loss Dale Sr. NASCAR got off their asses and said we got to do something. If Dale Sr. wasn’t killed NASCAR would probably sitting on their asses.
Great interview!
Wonderful clip.
God bless y'all...!
Many drivers died and NASCAR had chances to make those safety improvements. But they waited until they lost their greatest driver. Biggest consequence ever out of that time
Agree. I’m really surprised after Adam Petty’s death, they didn’t at least mandate the HANS device.
If you want the honest answer to this. Look at Motocross right now dealing with some of the new safety gear on the market and what people are saying. When all these new Safety features were being debuted people and drivers hated them. No different than the F1 halo or Indycar windscreen. At first huge backlash outside of the sport as well as within. Then after one crazy wreck where it more than likely saved them everyone is instantly onboard and say they advocated for that device the whole time. lol. It's quite fun to watch.
If I remember correctly, some drivers were already wearing the HANS device. Dale sr was one of the drivers not supporting it. Just look at the seatbelt thing. Dale has saved many lives since but not his own. It took a hit like him to change a lot of opinions and get the changes done.
Amazing how outsiders can help the ones that think they know, really know how to make everything safer,over the years I've saw bad crashes,and we still do, but now it's seems to be lesser on the driver and more on the walls and cars,now if we can help the everyday driver in the same way, by not letting the ones who think they know make all the decisions on safety,outside help and regulations might help make us safer going down the highways,and byways of our everyday Driving lives!BE SAFE OUT THERE!👌😁
This may sound messed up BUT in all honesty & don't get me wrong cause I was a diehard fan of Dale Sr to the day he died & still am today BUT the wreck at Talladega in 1996 shoulda been it. That crash looked a lot more violent than the one at Daytona that finally got him, like seeing that when it happened I thought he was a goner. Gary talked about how he liked to have the belts loose a little, add that to the fact that he always sat pretty low in the car as compared to other drivers & it was a recipe for disaster. He was also not a fan of full faced helmets, if I remember the pics from his wreck, the steering wheel was bent with blood on it indicating that his face may have hit it. In any case though, Gary did a good job & we haven't had another fatality since...
Nice job Gary
This man and his team are responsible for so many saved lives. I can think of numerous crashes of the top of my head that could have been very serious not fatal if we hadn’t of changed so much in the name of safety.
Very interesting and informative interview. Thank you.
Please get Patti Dobler, Tommy Propst, and Jason Brown on here for an interview I'd be interested in what they have to say
I don't know why but my opinion of Gary Nelson wasn't very good. I am 100% wrong. He is dedicated, passionate and very smart. You could hear the emotions in his voice and how he takes responsibility for the deaths of the driver's.
I lived in Loudon. And was at the track when Adam Petty died. I was right there when it happened. Got his with som shrapnel as well (i was un injured) as a kid. Somewhere between 7 and 8 i forget exactly. But that particular crash will stay with me forever.
Unfun post script. My friends parents were hired to repaint the walls at NHIS. aftert the events of the weekend they declined.
Heavy bro. Wonderful insight.
no blaise alexander mention as usual :/ sad as always but informative clip !
He was citing NASCAR top 3 levels...I believe Alexander was an ARCA event...sad nonetheless.
@@wrldchamps04 good to know! i dont know why i thought adam petty also died in arca, must have been in top 3 by then. thanks :)
@@ChemicalVelocityAdam died in a Busch Series race.
@@markbrubaker466practice, not a race.
Yes and thank you Gary
Thanks.
Incredible info. Idk all these drivers, whose names are familiar w todays drivers, the family history💔
I remember Nelson
Lives lost while others of numismatic industry deny what I found. A meeting to view my findings currents and let there be light and profit enough to buy lighter weight than the next guy. 😂
MRap Cadillac for Best In The Desert/Dakar races.
Yeah thank you for doing what you do Dale
Lost Blaise Alexander, as well, in close to time frame mentioned. After we lost several Modified drivers, too. Its the toughest part of our sport, for sure. Truth be, we lost so many heroes of the sport to old age, too. Gosh, it just stinks... But we know it as a reality of motorsports.
Tech keeps progressing overall speeds the same as 1990. Where viewers and Nascar began searching
as a veteran .. this guy most likely has more ptsd than most vets that collect a decent check ..
So NASCAR has not lost a driver since your dad’s accident? DYT your dad’s accident, because of who he was, pushed NASCAR? Did he say that they were almost there w restraints & Hans devices in 2001?
TY for doing this. It’s got to be hard listening to it but imho you’ve always been one of the drivers pushing for more.
The HANS & Hutchens devices were both widely available (bit not widely used) by 2001. First HANS device was 1986 & of course, Bobby Hutchens worked at RCR, so this device was well known by 2000.
IN a way I feel very grateful,,2 days before adam petty passed I was living in Kannapolis NC and spent the entire day at CMS watching the morning BGN teams practice,,IN the afternoon the WCS teams practiced. Adam P was doing laps in a Monte Carlo and a Pontiac Grand Prix. He would run a couple laps in the Chevy,,and then come back out in the Pontiac. Both had the full on Sprint sponsorship logos on the body panels.I was thinking maybe the team was trying to get a clearer understanding on the car/body configuration that were going to run with in Coke 600 in May. Sadly 2 Days later I heard on the local radio in Charlotte that we lost #45 in Loudon NH..I just feel blessed to of seen his final test/practice day at CMS,,,,,,MY TRUE HEROES #3,,#7,,#28,,#45. RIP ALL....
I wish NASCAR hadn't taken so long to mandate HANS, carbon fiber seats, and fully enclosed racing helmets.
At the time, the attitude was that they were independent contractors, and teams very much liked it that way. Rules are never liked & Tony Stewart carried this one all the way out to the bitter end.
I remember NASCAR stating that the cause of DE death was the torn seatbelt. That led to a backlash against Simpson. But I also remember the reports months later at the seatbelt did not tear but were cut by responders.
It was torn and frayed. You could see it onnthe earnhardt report. Was all avaliable online at one point.
@@jn262006 I know. But I also remember several news agencies reporting both ways - torn by some/cut by some.
After the Daytona deaths that got blamed on Hoosier tires, never quite trusted the powers that be that handled the investigations.
Dale had his belts improperly installed which is how it led to one of em breaking and tearing
Grant Adcox was 1989. Should include Joe Booher and those lost in the Sportsman Series. Great interview though!
Wonder if the kiwi he mentioned when building the Sacks car was the infamous Tony Price...
"NASCAR developed the SAFER wall"
No, that was Indianapolis and IndyCar, who then pressured Gary into testing it for NASCAR before NASCAR caved in and made it mandatory
With that said, NASCAR developed how a stock car hits them safely, so he's not entirely inaccurate
It is so evident how heavy of a load that weighs on his soul for the lives that were lost "on his watch".
He knows that he isn't responsible for how the drivers drive. That doesn't change that he feels responsible for every single driver, much as a grandfather looks over his family.
@dale jr. The square body your dad had, do you remember what it looked like and what color it was? I don't recall you mentioning a color.
Thanks
So the last person to see Dale Earnhardt Sr car was Dale jr and a group 😢
I thought I remember the crash data said Ernie's impact at Michigan was rated higher than Adam's?
Ernie was drowning in his own blood from the same type of injury - If not for that doctor there who cut an incision on his throat to help him breath, he likely wouldn't have survived
They were allowing teams to do things no other series was allowing because it was not safe. They still did some of it when they built this new car. Chassis stiffness and the way it transfers energy has always been something NASCAR doesn't seem to understand. It baffles why other series have known most of this stuff for decades and NASCAR still doesn't.
What other series?
Crash testing bus welding
They forgot Blaise Alexander
Never understood how Adam Petty and Kenny Irwins crashes were so bad on an short 1 mile oval
a stuck throttle is a stuck throttle, even at a mile track. pretty sure it hung as soon as they got out of two and it was all she wrote.
Look up Dennis Setzer's crash from Loudon that same year he also had a Stuck Throttle - That's how those crashes looked but worse
Scientific race objectives for EV progression
Blaise Alexander also died in 2001
In ARCA though
And it was 2000
Why on earth did they not have a big budget?!?! That’s absurd on nascars part
Grant Adcox And Jd Mcduffie Crash At Atlanta Motor Speedway In 1989 And 1993 Both Untimely Death During Generation 3 NASCAR Winston Cup Series In My Opinion Safety For Auto Racing Pop Culture Thanks For Uploading
JD McDuffie died at Watkins Glen
Is anyone going to talk about how Godhardt himself was responsible for a lot of these issues? From calling the HANS a "noose" to calling his peers "candy asses" while they were wondering why their fellow peers were dying. Then he mounts his seatbelts wrong and gets himself killed blocking in a wicked conflict of interest, and Bill Simpson, a true racing hero, was set up to take the fall to where he had to leave the company he created.
unfortunately you are correct. NASCAR didn't want to embarrass Sr. they failed to provide accurate info and threw Simpson under the bus. here Nelson provides an honest assessment of the arrogance in NASCAR and in some ways the guys building the cars .. they did everything in house no outside input believing no one could do it better or provide assistance until they relented and safety improvements moved forward . HOWEVER even the car of today has issues that they need to revisit. racing can never be made completely safe ..loose belts improperly installed and then driving contrary to the way he did his entire career. a strange set of circumstances for sure..
Nobody ever says it, but dale died because of his stubbornness and ignorance to safety...
Somebody there on the powder?
W.E.F. welding engineering fabrication
Someone invite Elon Musk out to Bonneville salt flats runs races drag strip. Heckle him 15km@770mph is before 1986
I call bullshit on this guy. He knows it too
If I was Junior I'd find it hard to sit across the table from this guy. Names all those names, and you mean to tell me that NASCAR couldn't figure it out before more had to die? He even says "the outcry after your dad's accident," which really makes it seem like all those lives were expendable and only because of bad publicity got their act together. NASCAR has always had money. Gary said it himself: they didn't look outside. They had offers and talks. They never took advantage until they were forced to.
The attitude on both sides of the fence was that these teams/racers were independent contractors that could make decisions that were best for them. And teams liked it that way, because in general, racers hate any rule. The HANS & Hutchens were both well known & raced in the 2001 D500. Tony Stewart fought vehemently against NASCAR on mandating anything & it was well known that most drivers agreed 100% with him, but just wouldn't speak out.
When he talks about restraint systems (since it carried such a high percentage) ... I wonder if he is including the HANS/head and neck restraints in that percentage?