Tuesday, February 18th 'What If' Question

It’s been 13 years since NASCAR’s darkest day.

When Dale Earnhardt died in February of 2001 in the last corner of the last lap in the Daytona 500, it resonated throughout an entire sport and its fan base. Earnhardt has been considered one the sports greatest drivers and his sudden death briefly crippled not only NASCAR, but also his fans and the organization he left behind, Richard Childress Racing.

In 676 starts Earnhardt won 76 times and captured seven championships. He dominated at Daytona and Talladega, rattled cages at Bristol and drove broken at Watkins Glen. He was the Intimidator; there was one Dale Earnhardt.

He and Richard Petty are the only men who have seven championships, both sit atop the NASCAR mountain that most drivers aim to join. They’re the men that fans place above all. In 2001 Earnhardt and RCR were locked and loaded to chase another championship, coming off a 2000 season in which he finished second in points.

Feeling better than ever, with everything in his personal life in order, Earnhardt looked prime to return to glory. Then, he was gone.

Sunday the #3 will return. Austin Dillon and Richard Childress ready to continue a legacy that was built by the man in black. Earnhardt will continue to be remembered, maybe more so now than ever. Not only when seeing the 3 on the track, but as Jimmie Johnson attempts to race into history alongside him.

But …

What if Dale Earnhardt Sr. had raced past the 2001 season, would he have ever captured that eighth championship?

@TheblondeTweets Yes!

@jackrlewis I always said that he would’ve won it in 2001. They seemed so prepared

@nascar_creation absolutely, after a few off years his 2000 campaign was sweet. He woulsve retired with TEN…..

@poptart_31 we would never be running a COT car because he would of never drove it

@MarshallGabell Possibly. However, he was out of his prime.

@JBJB68 odds were waning yet entirely possible.

@ARosser14 His intent was to retire in ’02 so it would have depended on if he could have run with Gordon in ’01 probably. So maybe.

@66MWRfan15 Yes I do believe so. I was not a fan, but he was just that good!

@kaylamotte Had more momentum going in 2001 than in a long time, was very hopeful

@MontysAmendment Without a doubt but his death changed the sport for better in terms of safety. Would have lost more drivers as well.

Tuesday, April 5th 'What If' Question

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was three laps away from winning his first Sprint Cup Series race in nearly three years last Sunday at the Martinsville Speedway. After taking the lead from Kyle Busch with less than 20 laps to go it was all about counting down the laps for the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard Chevrolet, until Kevin Harvick showed up on the scene.

Harvick took the lead and the win with three laps to go and Earnhardt Jr. held off Busch for the second spot. Afterward the talk of whether or not Earnhardt Jr. was back and could contend for the title became the headline early in the week. For Junior Nation it was a close but no cigar moment yet they were proud of how their driver had performed and are anxious for the weeks to come. No more than ever do they feel a win may be around the corner.

For some though it is not enough as attention has turned to how Earnhardt Jr. should have won on Sunday. During a discussion on NASCAR Now on Tuesday it was stated Earnhardt Jr. let Kevin Harvick pass him for the win. Comparisons of his father have always followed Little E, but by not winning on Sunday many feel as though he let his old man down. He should have wrecked Harvick or roughed him up they say.

Yet, for those who really know Earnhardt Jr. and as he stated on Sunday, he doesn't want to be the bad guy. Never one to be overly aggressive and just take someone out, Earnhardt Jr. opted to race Harvick the same way that Harvick raced him, clean. A complete failure he's been called because he is not his father and never will be. In settling for a second place finish it was as if some thought Earnhardt Jr. just let Harvick have it and moved over.

In his post race comments that was far from the truth as Earnhardt Jr. said,"I was thinking at the end that I was meant to win that damn race. Hell, I'm not sitting there leading that thing by seven car lengths thinking I'm about to lose."

But ...

What if Dale Jr. had moved and/or wrecked Harvick for the win, would you have thought any less or more of the win? #NASCAR

@mwoodruff8829: Since being there I would had not thought less if Jr had moved him I like seeing competitive racing between my two favorites!

@MCs_nascargang: I wouldn't have minded if Jr had moved Harvick for the win, not wreck him, but put his nose in there and take the win

@leesdog1966: I would have loved it, its racing like harvick said I am in it to win it, Go dale jr

@kartracer3886: id be happy anyway he won. But I'm fine with the way he raced.

@weizdawg: if jr would have wrecked him that would of been his move to win not on purpose but to win anyone else would have done it to.

@RoushGirl17: Not in the least, Harvick would have moved him, and others would have. He stuck to his way though, got to give it to him for integrity. #NASCAR

@ladybug388: Probably felt the same regardless, personally. Though it'd create excitement in seeing what Kevin would do

@4xLeft: When he had a chance to move Kevin, there were too many laps back. 29 woulda moved him back. He was 2 fast to get away from.

@TominBristol: If the 29 didn't have a wrecked rear, Jr's nudge might have been enuff!

@jester_3: Harvick was positioned so he would have come across and destroyed Jrs front, but had he done it... Just Martinsville

@cruetten: I would've been fine with it, but I'm a Jr fan.Any other driver, and I wouldn't have been fine with it. Yes, I admit my bias!

John Gazarkiewicz (via Facebook) More, he needs to be more aggressive, Harvick is...

Stephen Taylor (via Facebook) no I would have applauded!

Thursday, December 30th 'What If' Question

Nothing can grab attention and headlines faster than a driver saying they want to race the No. 3.

SInce the death of Dale Earnhardt Sr. in the 2001 Daytona 500 the number hasn't seen the track in full-time competition. It's been raced by his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., on a few occasions and most of the time it won. But heading into the 2010 season it was announced that the number was going to be back full-time in the Camping World Truck Series.

The grandson of Richard Childress, who was the team owner of Earnhardt Sr. and the No. 3, was giving Austin Dillon a shot in the truck series. Dillon was going to not only race the No. 3 but it was going to be on a black truck with sponsor Bass Pro Shop. A black truck and a white No. 3, much like what Earnhardt Sr. used to race.

Attention getter.

Dillon went out and completed a more than successful season for a rookie. He won two races, captured seven poles and in 25 races had 16 top 10s and seven top fives. After finishing fifth in points it's safe to say that he's one to watch from this point on as as a serious championship contender.

Fans have flocked to the 20-year-old and he's been welcomed into the sport with open arms. His success makes him easier to cheer for. Everything is going right for the driver/college student, who wouldn't want to be him?

But ...

What if Austin Dillon was not driving a black truck with a white No. 3 on the side, would he still get as much attention as he does? #NASCAR

@NancyatStudioN Yes

@crutten yes. while i enjoy seeing the #3 on the track again, i don't think dillion gets attention because of it. i think he gets attention because he is a growing talent AND RC's grandson

@ronsracing88 Yes, because he is Richard Childress' grandson and he did a lot of winning. #NASCAR

@morganhargrove Yes, he is a 20 year old who won ROTY, finished 5th in points, won 2 races, and got 7 poles, that's pretty newsworthy.

@RoushGirl17 Yes, I think he would. He's shown that he has the right stuff, winning, ROTY, and finishing in the top 5, all big things

@StrokerAce90 Funny that you asked that for a #NASCAR #WhatIf question cause I often joke about how much they say his name. I would say No.

Wednesday, December 22nd 'What If' Question

Everyone has a moment in their life that they would love to get back or moments we would love to have been able to enjoy more.

In NASCAR there have been so many great races in its 62 year history that fans are left wondering what it would have been like to able to see those races. They may live on in history through highlight reels or even old video tapes, but some moments are just those you need to be there for.

Seeing your favorite driver win his first race. Or just seeing them win any race. Seeing a champion crowned in Homestead-Miami or attending the Daytona 500, the biggest race of the year.

Or there are times when a race fan had the chance to attend an event but decided not to. When that race is one of the most memorable in NASCAR history as well as one of the most emotional, that guilt will live with them forever. That's what happened to my father and his friend.

Back in 2001 after the death of Dale Earnhardt they talked for months and months about how they should go to the Pepsi 400 that July, the return trip to the Daytona International Speedway. They never went and watched from home as Dale Earnhardt Jr. pulled off an emotional victory at the track that took his father's life.

While they regret not attending, it turned out well for me. Watching the race on TV left me to watch as well, it was my first ever NASCAR race and I was hooked from just that one. The rest I guess you could say is history.




For some fans their chance to attend a race they always wanted to is just that, history. They won't get that back and will have to wait until they purchase their next set of tickets and hope that event will be another memorable moment in NASCAR's biography.

But ...

What if you could go back in time and attend a race of your choosing. Which race would you choose and why?

@Talon64 #NASCAR, the 2003 Busch/Craven Darlington race. Racing in general, any Monaco #F1 race.

@hillbillyDem 1992 Atlanta Journal 500, Kulwickis championship, the Kings last race, Jeff Gordons first race, 6 guys going for championship

@Jrocket10 2001 Daytona 500 and change the last lap result!!! RIP Dale Sr.!!!!

@ARosser14 2006 Bass Pro Shops 500. I was going to be there until the Thursday before the race, and Tony dominated and won.

@Crutten I would go back to see Dale Sr win the 1998 Daytona 500. Dale Sr was the reason I started watching nascar in the early 90s, and to see him capture that historic win would've topped any race I've ever attended.

@Shaggy_5150 '98 Daytona 500...Grrew up an Earnhardt fan...no further explanation needed :)

@amarquis32 NASCAR -- 2003 Kroger 200 at Indianapolis Raceway Park, an instant classic! Any race -- 2006 ARCA outlaw late model Glass City 200 at Toledo Speedway.

@ronsracing88 98 Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt win.

@robwright11 l I would want to be in the grandstands in Darlington when Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch had their photo finish. Just the way the last few laps played out, and how Ricky Craven was my favorite driver.