Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kurt Busch and Dale Earnhardt. Credit: Imagn Images.
Dale Earnhardt Jr, Kurt Busch and Dale Earnhardt. Credit: Imagn Images.
In October 2000, Dale Earnhardt Jr. was racing in his rookie season at Rockingham and running well. However, in the closing laps, Jr. got tagged by Kurt Busch and ended up on the wall. As a result, he came home in 38th place, a scenario that cost him the Rookie of the Year title. Seeing how his son was denied the title, Sr. was far from happy with Busch, something he recalled after 25 years.
Busch, the former NASCAR Cup Series driver, recently appeared on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, where he explained that Dale Sr. was unhappy with the entire incident. “I wrecked Dale Jr.’s rookie campaign in 2000 at Rockingham by accident. The closing rate, I had fresh tires, guys had older tires," Busch said about the incident.
"There was footage of him for like 30 laps at Homestead the next week,” Busch said. And Sr. had one driving sentiment in that race, per him, ” He just wrecked my son. He’s running for Rookie of the Year," the former NASCAR driver further added.
Notably, Dale Jr. was running for the Rookie of the Year title, alongside Matt Kenseth and others. Before Rockingham, Jr. was the favorite to win it, given he was 14 points clear of Kenseth, had more wins, and more poles.
However, things changed drastically as Kenseth won the Rockingham race that day, closed the gap, and went on to pick the Rookie of the Year that season.
As a consequence, he summed up his regret, “Sr. wanted me to calm down. I honestly believe that, and I wish I could have talked it over with Sr.”
AVONDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 12: Monster Energy NASCAR Motorsport USA Cup Series drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. (left) and Kurt Busch (right) during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 12, 2017 in Avondale, AZ. (Photo by Carlos Herrera/Icon Sportswire) AUTO: NOV 12 NASCAR Playoff - Can-Am 500 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon1711120469500
AVONDALE, AZ - NOVEMBER 12: Monster Energy NASCAR Motorsport USA Cup Series drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr. (left) and Kurt Busch (right) during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Can-Am 500 at Phoenix International Raceway on November 12, 2017 in Avondale, AZ. (Photo by Carlos Herrera/Icon Sportswire) AUTO: NOV 12 NASCAR Playoff - Can-Am 500 PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxRUSxSWExNORxDENxONLY Icon1711120469500
Kurt Busch, who raced with Dale Sr. and his son, over the years, experienced several turning points in NASCAR. But the most important and tragic one was his last race with Dale Sr., which was also the latter's final one.
Kurt Busch and Dale Sr. made contact in The Intimidator's final 2001 Daytona 500
Just laps before Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s tragic death in the 2001 Daytona 500, he made contact with Kurt Busch and wrecked him. Recalling the incident earlier this year, Busch said:
"It was amazing that I had the chance to race against him for a few races, and I already got him p***** off at me at Daytona. I got the last middle finger from Dale Sr., and that was, that was life."
In the final lap of the race, Dale Sr. suffered a basilar skull fracture after colliding with Sterling Marlin. He was then hit by an oncoming Ken Schrader. Sr. was declared dead when taken to the hospital, passing away at the age of 49.
You can read more on the Daytona Racing Digest!
Written by
Sabyasachi Biswas
Edited by
Suyashdeep Sason