The Controversial Tragedy of Blaise Alexander

Of course, all tragedies are controversial to some extent- Who or what was to blame, what safety features were not in place, and so on. But this was especially controversial because it took place after Dale Earnhardt’s death - a tragedy heard around the world. It was quite frustrating because parallels between the wrecks were instantly drawn. ARCA, or NASCAR, did not do enough in the wake of Earnhardt’s death to protect their drivers. The fallout of Alexander’s tragic fate would lead to more controversies that are quite unique to this story and that you probably haven’t heard. This is my tribute to Blaise Alexander, and an explanation of the controversial fallout left behind.
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[@BUSCUIT28]

My dad worked for Rescue, the oil company that sponsored Blaise for several Arca races and his Busch car. The results were disheartening, but the car was mediocre at best. For what it's worth, while the results shown were not indicative of how good he was. An example was where he started 5th at Bristol, was running well when he got wrecked twice. My father has many stories about meeting Blaise and what a genuinely nice guy he was. It was thanks to Blaise I got to sneak my way into the pits despite being WAY too young. I was eventually kicked out, but they set me up in a luxury sweet, so that was cool. I wasn't a NASCAR fan prior to my father taking that job, but I directly associate Blaise with my love of the sport to this day. Even after the company stopped sponsoring him, I still always rooted for him. He had some solid runs with Sabco, but the cars were too inconsistent. I was gutted when I heard he was killed. It was almost like losing a family member. I still have tons of merch from those days, including an autographed tire from Talladega. I'll never get rid of any of it and I'll never forget Blaise.

[@TR-vr5pz]

its not SWEET its a SUITE

[@cyrusthevrus]

🙏🏻

[@mrj3217]

I am 43 years old and I remember Blaise Alexander. Back then Arca was a lot more competitive. NASCAR was growing so much back then.

[@bigmancan1]

It’s also sad that others like Adam Petty passed before Earnhardt and it seems like it may have been passed off as just part of the sport until Earnhardt was lost.

[@chuckufarly65]

Adam had what it took. Really stinks his life was cut short.

[@Stahodad]

I remember Kenny Irwin Jr as well, a few weeks later at the same track. Very sad.

[@Bitterman5868]

it was the Senna Effect, though in his case EVERYONE warned that the Tamburello and the F1 Car specs at the time would kill a driver if changes weren't made to reduce the speed and increase safety on the curve, Ratzenberger died a day before live on TV, Rubens had a near death experience on the same area, and He and the Michael warned that someone would die if nothing was changed, and unfortunately it was Ayrton, and fact, it was one of the curbs preceeding it who broke his rear suspension a lap before, the second time he hit it snapped and sent him to the wall. Also FIA wasn't giving a crap about changing the tracks or increase the safety of the cars until Mika Hakkinen's near Death experience.

[@misseselise3864]

it didn’t just seem like it was seen as part of the sport, it WAS seen as part of the sport. this is especially true for the fatal crashes from the 50s-70s.

[@mattnichols2087]

It's sad in all of the deaths but give full credit to the mandate to Earnhardt is shameful. 😢

[@AndriaFisher-jj3mu]

Thank you for this. After my uncle had passed in 2005, I learned that he had been a crew chief for a short while for Blaise during his rookie ARCA season and then I learned Blaise had been killed 4 years prior and it was like going through it all over again since it was a connection to my uncle. In many videos, I see people have forgotten about him and it makes me sad.

[@deaf2819]

Such is life, it’s not fair. One day it’ll be me, one day you even. All I can say is do what you enjoy!

[@XFIGHTINGDREAMERX245]

Thanks for the video, NFJJ. I never knew the story about Jimmie Johnson running a Blaise Alexander decal on his car, for his entire Cup Series career. Symbolically speaking, that makes Blaise Alexander a 7-time Cup Series Champion.

[@mattnichols2087]

Neither did I

[@brettboggs8800]

Excellent video! The Hans Device has saved many lives. It’s a shame it took NASCAR so long to mandate its use.

[@bryonkidder6199]

Jim Downey, the SCCA/IMSA driver and owner of the Mazda RX-7 multiple time winner of the Rolex 24 Hrs of Daytona, invented and wore the HANS Device way back in the early 80's...btw

[@paulholstein2159]

You are 100% spot on. Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, Indy, Cart, Supercars, and other series MANDATED a Head and Neck Restraint System almost 2 decades before Napcar finally did and 4 people had to die within 1.5 years before Napcar would get off their hands and do something. Had they mandated it's use....Adam Petty, Tony Roper, Dale Sr, Kenny Irwin and Blaise would probably still be with us. No one is to blame but Napcar, not Kerry, Sterling or anyone else.

[@MalazanTiborio]

@@paulholstein2159 This is not true. Nascar mandated HANS in 2001, Formula One in 2003.

[@redred222]

@@paulholstein2159 sr wouldnt have worn won he didnt even wear a full face helmet dude was old school and went out the way all race drivers want to racing to the checkered flag

[@r.u.s.e3586]

@@redred222 I think many racing drivers would contest this statement. At very least those with loving families who very much miss those who are gone.

[@johnvandeventer8668]

I feel really bad for Earnhardt, who had to go through a bunch of backlash and possible death threats after that crash. It was a racing incident

[@TheHighRoad1748]

*Marlin

[@willyhearrell9060]

@@TheHighRoad1748 No, Kerry Earnhardt. Not the Dale and Sterling 2001 event.

[@saragrant9749]

Indeed. It seems like when a driver is killed following contact with someone else, that other individual gets put through hell by callous fans with nothing better to do than be childish.

[@deaf2819]

Just got an alert a college football player & his family is getting death threats after an illegal hit on field. Granted I haven’t seen this hit but fans and anonymity are dangerous combinations.

[@willyhearrell9060]

@@deaf2819 100% this. Hell, even sometimes being anonymous doesn't help. I've seen some dads do crazy things at little league games over a kid getting tripped. I don't know if it's "little man syndrome" or just anger issues, but people like that never change and it sucks to see a major accident that everybody feels bad about turn into a hostile environment. It just makes things worse and nobody ever heals. Just lots of hushed talking in corners. I kinda went off track, this stuff just sucks and always happens.

[@officialAtticusDuty]

I didn't know that it was mandated after Alexander's death. I had always believed that was after Earnhardt's death.

[@officialAtticusDuty]

Apparently I was wrong. Thank you. 😁

[@waynestell2808]

I always knew that NASCAR mandated the HANS device after Blaise Alexander died, not after Dale died. Think it was made mandatory the week after Blaise's death.

[@flacko_jody2130]

​@@waynestell2808O

[@TheMouseAvenger]

Yeah, you would think that that would have been the case.

[@crcracing7409]

I was there that night. He was super fast leading up to the accident. It was a gut wrenching moment to see him in that state. He deserves to be honored. Good job on the video

[@chrisdavis743]

Another damn good video. I agree 100% that many have not even heard of Blaise Alexander. Such a difficult time for many. Thanks for sharing your amazing work!

[@crystaljon]

There's a surprising amount of similarities to Alexander's crash, and Eric Martin's crash the next year. Both wrecks were at Charlotte, both wrecks were on the front stretch, both were two-car accidents, and the car numbers both times were #2 and #75.

[@PaperBanjo64]

Isn't Eric Martin the driver who was actually OK after the wreck but was taking his safety equipment off and Deborah Renshaw crashed into him and killed him while sitting in his car?

[@johnnylightning1491]

@@PaperBanjo64I don't know if Eric was taking off his safety equipment, he shouldn't have been, but yes it was Deborah Renshaw that hit him. I don't blame her. She was going 185 mph and all of a sudden there's a car parked on the track. That incident led to ARCA mandating that all of the spotters be on the spotter's stand during practice. Prior to that, you could spot from the top of haulers in the infield and everyone did. If I'm not mistaken the place where Eric's car was after the wreck could not be seen from the ARCA garage area if you were on top of a hauler. BTW Eric was a friend. He had been the crew chief for Chuck Weber for a few races when I worked for Chuck. It was a very sad day. I was not at the track that weekend.

[@LaughOutLiberty]

I had no idea it was Blaise's father and Humpy behind the push to mandate the head and neck restraint systems until now. Thanks for this video.

[@stupidasso9739]

Just like the accident that killed the Centerfold modelJayne Mansfield and her husband back in the sixty's. They rear ended a semi trailer and went underneath almost decapitating her,her husband and her manager killing them instantly . That's why all semi trailers have that bar on the back so this never happens again and it's called the Mansfield bar. Her kids were asleep on the floorboard and survived. The baby grew up to be the lead detective on Law and Order SVU Mariska Hargitay

[@jadonherr6469]

YES! Thank you NFJJ for making a video on Blaise Alexander. I've been waiting for a video like this since Three Before February.

[@TravisMackie12ft4]

I had heard of Blaise, and knew the story of Johnson's decal tribute for him, but for some reason I was always under the impression it was some sort of practice crash. I had no idea Kerry was involved, and for it to be so shortly after Sr's passing must have been horrible. Very saddened that a grieving individual got the Sterling Marlin treatment (whom also did not deserve it), but all around very saddening for all involved.

[@FormerlyYBMT]

I never met Blaise Jr, but I’ve met Blaise Sr a few times and he’s always been very kind. Very sad that Blaise Jr lost his life to something everyone walks away from the next year.

[@mikea3273]

The low-key story springing from this is that Jimmie Johnson started his very first race in the cup series that weekend. Almost like his superhero 'origin story'.

[@GregBrownsWorldORacing]

I was there for the Cup Race...Two Lowes cars ?, was the beginning of the end for Mike Skinner & that RCR story.

[@deaf2819]

Except when JJ started he was absolutely HOT GARBAGE. People forget this but that 84 he ran iirc … always in the wall. That’s why you can’t just give up on people without somewhat of a decent sized body of work.

[@johnscustomsaws]

I know it's been said a million times but it's insane how much safer NASCAR is after the changes following these accidents... sadly these guys paid the ultimate price but think of the crazy wrecks after the safety changes that drivers have walked away from for the most part.. lives lost to save future lives is the ultimate sacrifice in my eyes these... another awesome video!!! Its important that people know these drivers 💯

[@beatledan858]

I vividly remember when all of this happened and I was still under the impression that it was Dale Sr’s death that sparked the changes. Excellent work!

[@iankhan4614]

If I'm Blaise Sr, I would have been livid about this. He was not the last driver in a stock car to lose his life.

[@melo83ish]

Great video, I had no idea about the Blaise SR. and Humpy Wheeler story harassing NASCAR to make HANS mandatory. A story that must be made known to honour their efforts and the memory of Blaise Jr.

[@itsmebatman]

Holy shit, what a sad story. Decades later I am still baffled as to why the drivers back then didn't heed the suggestion to wear a HANS devise. Blaise died because he didn't wear one, and Earnhard crawled out of his car without wearing one either. What were they thinking, especially after Dale and Senna died.

[@MegaBrokenstar]

Anything that reduces visibility and range of motion will always be resisted by competitors unless it’s mandatory. The dangerous way becomes a competitive advantage.

[@seanberry1]

Thank you for clearing up the misconception around the introduction of the HANS device, and thank you to Mr Alexander and Mr Wheeler for the work they did to improve the safety of stock car drivers.

[@cliffpolston]

Thank you for informing me with this video. I had no idea that was really Blaise’s death and the determination of his father and Humpy. That truly lead to changes in NASCAR.

[@rosumin38]

To add to the frustration is Blaise was the 5th driver we lost before NASCAR and ARCA made the HANS mandatory.

[@DarkwingMcQuack]

5th driver.

[@r.u.s.e3586]

Wow. I only knew of the HANS because of a NASCAR book I've had since I was a kid, and even that book gives credit for it's use in the series to Earnhardt's death. There was no mention of Alexander or any other drivers death in the same year.

[@davidthurman8772]

Wow! is all I can say. I have followed Nascar for many years and have never heard this story. It is a shame that Blaise did not get any recognition for the safety improvements. Thanks for this information, I will forever remember this and spread the word of his contribution to Motorsports 🏁

[@M1lesJames]

Denny Hamlins wreck at the Coke 600 this year when Chase Elliott tuned him is near identical to Blaise's wreck. HANS device and safer barriers are life savers

[@noahcoleman5556]

This is exactly why it infuriates me when I see people trying to justify or even celebrate Elliott's actions there. I don't care who you are, that was just wrong.

[@KDcharger71]

Rest in peace. I worked for his father at a chevy dealership a couple years ago.. He won't sponsor racing of any kind to this day.

[@sammiebell5996]

He sponsored the Yoders in the last 10 years.

[@user-ry1dw5tk6l]

I can see why Alexander will not sponsor racing. Tho he could use it to promote safety in racing at any level. I race dirt tracks and feel sometimes that some tracks "only require" safety equipment list needs more. Only reason they don't, is because the really good safety equipment can be very costly. Some drivers can't afford it and would have to stop racing. Tracks won't change their rules because car counts would drop 25%. Now if we could get a sponsor that promoted safety and sponsored these low dollar teams by buying their safety equipment, I think that would say a lot about businesses that did this.

[@aztecwrrior1997]

I don't blame him at all knowing racing ripped away his son

[@kyle18buschjd]

So the BodyShop for Blaise Alexander in Muncy, PA has a bunch of pics of Blaise's car around the shop. Blaise Sr will not step foot in that shop I guess cause Blaise Jr used to spend most of his time there.

[@benwalter4842]

Sad how one simple misjudgement could end a driver’s life back then. If Blaise had realised that he was not fully clear of Kerry yet, he would have stayed next to him to try and complete the pass in the next corner, instead of moving up too soon like he did. In that case Blaise would not have died, and would have possibly even won the race in the end. (RIP Blaise Alexander)

[@Greyson.Kyler429]

Blaise Alexander has a car dealerships all over where I live. The closest one is in Philipsburg, PA ,almost half an hour from my home. I never heard of Blaise's story until now.

[@JohnYenchick]

I was always wondering about that, being from PA my whole life, Blaise Alexander has dealers all over. I’ve seen the guy on commercials often, never knew this was a man who lost his son. EDIT=and I had no idea how much he had to do with assisting in safety today as we know it.

[@davidtoups4684]

There was a Blaise Alexander Chrysler/Dodge dealership near me in Jefferson, PA. but it was closed in the 2009 Chrysler dealership purge.

[@gdvibes1]

So Glad to see this video. I live in his home town. What a Great kid he was . Racing was everything to him .And he made the whole town come to life when he signed autographs at our fall festival, the whole town would stop by to root for him . What could have been.

[@Loner2012AT]

Thumbs up for a respectful job on this video about a difficult subject. You had lots of info I didn't know about, the whole Jimmy Spencer connection for example. I was at this race that night. Some things I remember was Kerry being very concerned about Blaise after the wreck. Also, a piece of sheet metal the size of a fender or deck lid flew over the catch fence and went into the stands - to be quickly recovered by an official on a golf cart. The ambulance carrying Blaise driving right past me is something I'll never forget - I did not know he had passed.

[@h8GW]

I'm not sure the pun at the end was intentional or not...

[@Loner2012AT]

@@h8GW Unintentional.

[@psychlops924]

I didn't even know about this until I saw "Three Before February" by Brock Beard. Terrific documentary, highly recommended, but there's just so much tragedy that could have been avoided had NASCAR chosen to take action.

[@jeffkimble8857]

I was in the grandstand right where Blaise hit that night. I’ve been at Charlotte races since 1974 and been there for a lot of bad wrecks. But when Blaise hit, I knew it was bad. Not many wrecks shake the grandstands.

[@wuztron]

I remember this like it was yesterday. The Alexanders still live around here and operate a number of car dealerships in the area.

[@jrd0414]

I just wanted to let you know I really appreciate your vids. You do a great job and wish you were able to put out even more content. Thanks from Mooresville, NC.

[@RVAMotorsports]

I never realized how great Blaise was. He would have been a force to be reckoned with! Kerry, hold your head up, you did nothing wrong. You guys were just racing.

[@brianrigsby7900]

I’ve seen a video of this crash with commentary. I hope it was quick and that these cars are safer now

[@brianrigsby7900]

11:50 I’d be pissed too. If changes happened after my kid was killed and the media said it was because of a bigger driver…oh boy😂

[@PaperBanjo64]

Dale's crash scared a lot of drivers into wearing a head and neck restraint of some sort, but NASCAR didn't mandate it until Blaise Alexander was killed...typical NASCAR...they should have done something when Adam Petty got killed so Kenny Irwin and Tony Roper don't die before Dale Earnhardt leading to Dale not dying and Blaise not dying.

[@Eswald]

Very interesting story. I knew of the wreck, but never knew the impact it had on both mandating the HANS-device and the mental wellbeing of Kerry Earnhardt. Thanks for telling it! Does anyone know if Johnson returned to using the decal in his IndyCar and part-time NASCAR outings?

[@rvegasguy_5216]

That's a monster hit. Poor guy never had a chance. Safety is an evolution rarely is it proactive because the industry continues to learn and adapt.

[@TomLehockySVK]

Whenever Nascar through their official channels say something in the sence of "After Earnhardt's death, things put in place immediately to make driver safe" ... i know it is a lie because of Alexander. May he rest in peace. As well as every driver who died from a basilar skull fracture since 1991 starting with J.D. McDuffiy, they had over a DECADE of time to do something with driver safety bud decided NOT TO DO ANYTHING. Shameful, absolute shame on them.

[@HeyItsEmilyLove]

At the start of this video, I was thinking about how Dale’s crash made racing safer. Now I realize the truth. I think I’m going to put a tribute to Blaise on my iRacing oval cars. Thank you for this video. Rest in peace to all those lost while trying to entertain us

[@ryanclark5254]

I (13yo) was at the race, Blaise was my driver that night. We were seated in the first dog leg towards T4 and it seemed that Kerry had the worst of it but saw him run across the track. Even when the race was abandoned… it wasn’t obvious to me that it was because Blaise was hurt. I believe i thought it was because the wall was damaged. Ironically I believe Jimmy Spencer took pole the same night for the Cup race that weekend, and was also his best friend, Jimmie Johnson’s, first Cup race weekend. It wasn’t until the 11 o’clock news that night that we got word of his death. It seemed that this was the death that pushed the remaining naysayers to use a neck restraint.

[@Endlife7]

I work for Blaise Alexander in PA. Blaise is a great man that does so much still for our communities.

[@ericjrose2012]

As someone who was there that night it was total racing incident, it was the hardest hit I’ve ever personally seen, the cars came to a sliding stop straight below us and to this day I remember the rescue teams response when they got to the car. They knew I’d say right away he was gone just way reacted. I’ve never heard a racetrack go so quiet so fast in my life, people leaving stands usually hooting hollering celebrating what have you, I swear all you heard was footsteps and a lot of omg’s

[@Warriorcats24]

i recently started to learn about nascar after being a fan my entire childhood. thanks for this greatly informative video, i had no idea about blaise and always attributed the use of hans to DE.

[@WCFRFyrfytr]

I agree with you. Blaise and Earnhardt were battleing hard for that win. Earnhardt left him room, andcto be honest, as much backlash and flaming I'll get over this, you can see Blaise moving up on him until they connected. Could Kerry have let up? Yes. Should he have? Hell no. They were batting for a win.

[@ianrs6310]

“The two came together” Translation: Pitted by Kerry Earnhardt

[@MidgetRacer8192]

Nice video. I am from Williamsport/Montoursville, where the Alexanders are from, and have a lot of mutual friends. We also raced one of his old micro-sprints when we started. Still a sad topic when we talk about it here.

[@BrentHolt-oy3eg]

Great video and it’s sad it took a tragedy like this for NASCAR to move R I P to all who lost their lives doing what they loved

[@dutchcummings502]

He was a great kid. I covered races for a TV station that I worked for and had a show called speedway weekly. The first person I ever interviewed was Blaise Alexander. He had no sponsor Drive in the number 20 and his press secretary got us over to do an interview. Later every time we would attend Atlanta motor speedway, he welcome us over and enjoy our company. The day he died, was about when I gave up on watching NASCAR.

[@user-ry1dw5tk6l]

Anyone that blames another driver for injury or death in an incident that is clearly an accident, isn't a true race fan. Drivers get in these machines knowing what may happen. In Dales and Blaise cases, those were tragic accidents and no one is at fault. Dale was blocking which is what NASCAR drivers do. Blaise was hoping Kerry would give and back down or move up so he could keep the lead easier. Kerry didn't and neither would any of the other drivers in that same position.

[@rextransformation7418]

Thanks for telling the truth of what happens. It's disgusting that this story hasn't been told from the beginning.

[@mrj3217]

Today when I see any professional motorsports-sanctioned body allowing money and ignorance let unsafe barriers and any other possible driver safety concerns slide.

[@tobi3799]

Many drivers have been saved by the HANS device and the SAFER barriers, since Blaise's death. Ryan Blaney's recent Daytona crash comes to mind as one which would 100% have been fatal 23 years ago.

[@nascarman38n88]

Ernie irvan didn't use a hans device. Had a basilar skull fracture and lived to win 3 races after.

[@PaperBanjo64]

​@@nascarman38n88but he's a rarity, and he wasn't expected to live through the night of his crash.

[@nascarman38n88]

Amazing he came back and won 3 races @@PaperBanjo64

[@michaelsullivan1262]

I’m ashamed that I’d forgotten him after Adam, Kenny, and Sr.

[@Adubyaz2]

Great video man. I rarely comment on videos, but enjoyed this history lesson

[@nascarfan4888JJ]

Appreciate it!

[@SuperNASCARrocks]

Great video about Blaise

[@jonathansnow8222]

I was talking to a cascar driver (canadian Nascar, like the CFL of racing) a couple weeks ago at a fortinos, who is the sponsor of his car. I asked him about the hans device and he showed me how it worked. I asked him about Earnhardt and he said the way he hit the wall would have been fatal even if he had the hans on.

[@toolman55]

Don't forget that there was some backlash from driver's back then on making the Hans device mandatory. My best guess is that NASCAR was planning to institute the rule for the following season after Earnhardt died, but Alexander's death forced them to implement it sooner.

[@Shawn-Leider]

No there wasn’t. Actually a portion of the field used it before it became mandatory. This is a urban legend. Only one man didn’t want to use it. We all know who

[@bradleynelson5915]

​@@Shawn-Leider, so when you say portion, you mean 99% were using it, and only one man didn't use it? Who are you referring to? I'm confused. Neither Blaise or Kerry were wearing it apparently.

[@PaperBanjo64]

Most drivers even at Rockingham 2001 weren't wearing one, Mark Martin initially was against it, Jeff Burton was the only driver in that 2001 Daytona 500 wearing one.

[@snuffynt]

6:37 I have the diecast of that car! Great video once again. RIP Blaise Alexander

[@KellieLeigh48]

I'm gonna be quick to say this. I've seen many people try to blame Kerry for this. If u notice however, they ran up on a slower car. It's no one's fault just a bad deal. RIP Blaise Alexander

[@bobbymartin4446]

Same as it was with Earnhardt !! You had all these damn idiots sending death threats to Marlin & his family !! Marlin was holding his line right on the bottom of the track & Earnhardt came down on him !! Had the idiot been up there trying to win the race instead of doing all that blocking to keep the others from catching Michael & Jr he would probably still be alive today !! Furthermore they know that's the risk they take everytime they strap themselves !! All this blocking bullshit that goes on I'm surprised they haven't buried a lot more since Dale !!

[@Shawn-Leider]

Kerry was the slower car. He was lapped traffic

[@KellieLeigh48]

​@Shawn-Leider no he was the one battling Blaise for the win

[@qstan1999]

@@Shawn-Leiderno he was not

[@brianrigsby7900]

12:52 is that decal still in use? It’s so sweet

[@davidmcgahan5328]

Thanks for the video I never seen any of this. So sorry for the loss of a awesome young man.

[@jsca0420]

As someone who grew up in Central PA Blaise and his family were a huge part of the community and it was absolutely devastating when young Blaise passed away

[@jesuschristislord6790]

I remember, I think it was Larry Mcreynolds said it. "No one in the top three series have died since Dale's crash and the safety improvements that followed" He went out of his way to say it in a way that excluded Blaise. Very unfortunate.

[@bobwhitebread1887]

I don't blame Kerry for this . If you look at the video Kerry was holding his line and Blaise came up on him. Blaise must not have had a very good spotter.

[@Shawn-Leider]

You better look again. It was in a corner so it looks like everyone comes up. Kerry was lapped and Blaise did come in hot. Kerry is def to blame. As a lapped car u let them go. If u watch kerry came back and tried to pass Blaise underneath. Well he succeeded actually. I’m not trying to blame Kerry. He was under a lot of pressure. If kerry a lapped car had let him go it doesn’t happen sadly. Lapped cars usually don’t get close. But obviously it happens, I mean watch. Kerry clearly went from high lane to middle lane in that.

[@johnnylightning1491]

@@Shawn-LeiderKerry was the leader of the race when this happened he was not lapped traffic. He would up winning the race if you watched the video.

[@jacekatalakis8316]

I'd be angry and hurt too if, in the middle of greiving, the media took my kid's death and said oh a more famous driver or arguably bigger in terms of national exposure, tragedy several months ago was the reason for changes. To me it was a racing incient that went wrong, I thought the race was on YT a while ago, I don't remember if it was this or the 1999 IRL race but I do remember a longer than usual commercial break. It semed at aroun that time you had a fair few flips on 1.5 mile tracks. You had this one, you had Mikey in the busch Series in 2002 at Texas (which probably eserves a vid all on its own for how wild that race was), and you had several hard hits. Looking back on it I'm just amazed the dog leg was signed off on for the front stretch and it hasn't been changed in terms of safety at 1.5 mile tracks though.

[@hazy33]

I had never heard of Blaise before. Thankyou for the education in a unsensationalised tribute.

[@N9IBZED]

Wow I had forgotten about this guy and didn't know he was killed in a racing crash I was living in Nebraska that year when Sr. Was killed and had no way to even follow cup as I was depending on a radio and conditions that were just right to allow me to hear the race on a station that barely came in when conditions allowed it and never did hear anything on any race that I was able to hear about the death so I thank you for reminding me about this promising driver and informing me of his death nearly 20 years later

[@Peasmouldia]

F1 mandated the Hans device as a result of Mika Hakkinnen's Adelaide shunt. Dale E was very anti Hans, it was just a fad among those F1 glory boys in his opinion and he said so frequently. That maybe a factor in Nascar's reticence in adopting the Hans. I didn't know this story, thanks and blessings.

[@mattdughi9761]

It’s crazy that he was teammates with Irwin Jr. who also passed away in the sport. I’m at a loss for words. But this video really brings light and education to the matter of safety and their progress in such.

[@RRaquello]

Back in the day when ESPN really covered racing, they'd do a whole two weeks of coverage of Daytona--ARCA, the Busch Series and Cup, and Blaise was one of the go-to guys for interviews when they were showing ARCA practice and qualifying. ARCA was a cool series then before it became the joke it is now. Benny Parsons & Blaise had a great rapport and were always joking with each other. He was just a kid then and it was like you really got to know him. So sad it ended the way it did. Don't know if he would have ever made it in cup, but he could have had a great career in ARCA like some guys had in those days (like Frank Kimmel).

[@wayne6612]

Just watched the Gary Nelson interview on Dale Jr download. I was surprised Gary didn’t mention Blaise’s fatal accident.

[@chadmorin6544]

I forgot all about this accident I've always questioned what happened to Kerry and the drive he had. How come someone with that natural talent as well wasn't able to capitalize on it.

[@The52car]

I remember this and its sad to see Earnhardt Sr cited as the reason for the HANS when it was Blaise that was lost... I felt horrible for Kerry too. And why was he called BR?

[@PaperBanjo64]

His middle name was Robert.

[@rodneydaniels5635]

I was at the track that night to watch Cup qualifying and I took a co-worker who had never been to a Nascar event before. When the wreck happened most fans were watching Earnhardt's car because it had caught on fire but to see the impact of Alexander hitting the wall it made me realize two things. TV does not do those type of wrecks justice and seeing it happen right in front of me made me realize how bad Dale Sr's fatal crash was as well. When I got home I turned the TV on ESPN and watching the replay of the accident definitely did not do the impact justice.

[@bearmarsh6579]

Gone to soon...RIP Blaise.

[@supersevenn]

The HANS was invented in the early 80s after a French racing driver lost his life in a trsting accident driving an IMSA R5 Turbo, coincidentally one that my dad was working a deal to race for 1982. After the death the Renault program ended soon after. I also remember the first HANS, it was huge! And im talking mid 80s, that's how early ot existed. To be having to wait till all these deaths for it to be mandatory is shamefull !

[@chrisatkins7959]

Just because something is not mandatory does not mean you can’t implement it on your own. Ultimately, you are responsible for your own safety.

[@darkhelmet4248]

Thanks for the video. I remember watching this live. Always knew that it was due to his death that a head and neck restraint was mandated.

[@edwardhodgkinson8268]

Thank you for posting this video. I watched many arca race s at pokono. Blase Alexander I had noticed. Him and became a fan of his. I was on hand for caries win at pokono. I am also a fan of caries. Such a talented driver taken way too soon. No fault of caries for the crash

[@masoneveridge4078]

I seriously hate how people believe Earnhardt’s death lead to the HANS device I was one of them before I heard someone mention Blaise’s death which I dug into

[@Killer10114]

So, I used to work for Blaise Sr at his main Chevy dealership, and I actually got to talk with him about his son. He is a very kind man, but you can tell he carries a lot of sadness with him to this day.

[@seanwilson9117]

Kerry being declared the winner really rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe I'm wrong for feeling that way, but it seems like he turned Blaise out of frustration where he got passed due to being held up by lapped traffic.

[@NickSamon]

They could've called the race AND don't declare the winner.

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

I don't think he wanted him to die though.

[@seanwilson9117]

@@runrafarunthebestintheworld Oh surely not, but that was the result anyway and you would think that sort of potential consequence would be fresh in the mind of someone who had been through what Kerry had been through.

[@seanwilson9117]

@@NickSamon Exactly, or even symbolically give it to Blaise since he was ahead before the incident.

[@NickSamon]

@@seanwilson9117 Much like the Indy Charlotte Race in 1999 where fans got killed and the race was cancelled and noone was the winner.

[@fitzwateraustralia59aus16]

Still stings me deep in my heart. With the 22 year anniversary coming up this upcoming week losing a close friend still hurts me 😢

[@fitzwateraustralia59aus16]

I also defended Kerry as well that it was a racing deal as well thanks to the lap traffic. I still feel bad for Kerry to this day. Feel bad for parties. But how anyone views it it's still tragic in the mind of parties especially for me myself

[@Limecooler61]

wow , i never knew about this. Thank you for this video! Great Work @NFJJ RIP Blaise Alexander , So many people think the HANS was mandated because of Dale Sr. , i was one of those people before this video.

[@JustGenius2001]

Man, 2001 was a bad year for NASCAR. So, the HANS device became mandatory cuz of Alexander, not Earnhardt? Well, I think that NASCAR should update their Wikipedia page cuz I also think it's insulting that Earnhardt's tragedy made NASCAR care more about safety, not Alexander's. Wheeler and Alexander's father made NASCAR care more about safety, not Earnhardt's death.

[@danielfoster3642]

RIP Blaise Alexander. A driver who left us too soon.

[@Mymusickb]

Had no idea about the HANS thing. Like everyone probably thought it was the Earnhardt wreck. Blaise could have been saved. NASCAR puzzles me with their stubborn attitude. To this day I feel they've been unwilling, or slow to listen to those involved in the sport. I for one won't watch NASCAR anymore.

[@LucasTA26]

That is great information!!

[@henrymorgan3982]

Like all motorsports, racers die and that is just a fact. Prayers to all racers that have past. We will always remember.

[@user-hl4eq5qr8c]

I remember that race. Me and my wife were going to name our unborn son blasie. We were a big fan of his. So sad that happened. RIP Blaise.

[@joshaguirre1415]

All these people saying it wasn't Kerry's fault. That same move today would get you suspended

[@gdvibes1]

I agree. Kerry flat out hooked him .

[@Jakeoff17]

Happy to know it was a misleading fact about Blaise i always thought it was a freak accident involving faults from the HANS not that the mandate happened after

[@mlt3258]

Thank you for this true historical piece of information.

[@chriswilgus4752]

I didn't know this story... explains a lot. Wow.

[@bryonkidder6199]

You're 100% right about the use of the HANS Device being mandated after Alexander's death, not Earnhardt's death! I was arguing with someone a couple weeks ago about the same subject...btw This person was trying to say half the field was wearing a HANS Device during the 2001 Daytona 500...wtf?

[@user-ue3kx2tl9h]

Both Dale and Blaise were responsible for their own deaths. Both were offered, and both rejected, use of a hans device. Not NASCAR's fault.