There will NEVER EVER be another driver like Dale Earnhardt [British Reaction]

[@carlreeves8976]

Dale ain't dead he is just a lap ahead

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I like that! Thank you Carl

[@carlreeves8976]

Your welcome

[@anareel4562]

Adam Petty and Alan Kulwicki as well

[@LoganC15]

Rather be behind dale than in front lol the intimidator

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@LoganC15 a fair few would agree with you there 😂

[@HF_444]

Thinking of Dale's final sight being his son and best friend racing to win a race that ran from him for 20 years make me tear up as a father. I can't imagine Dale Jr's pain after.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Jr. was DEFINITELY destroyed, but knowing Sr. was watching them win, as tragedy struck, I don't think he was scared or sad

[@Michaelation08]

@@ExploringTheSmoke we call that a "bitter-sweet" taste of reality

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@Michaelation08 you're not wrong there

[@that-weirdogirl]

I will always cry during this documentary, but I just love watching Dale Earnhardt be appreciated by new fans, those outside the NASCAR circuit, and just ordinary people reacting to this day and keeping the legacy of The Intimidator alive. Raise hell, praise Dale #3 👌🏻

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Dale's not dead, he's just a lap ahead 💪🏻

[@xXobama0Xx]

Dale Sr. was the most recent fatality in the top 3 series of NASCAR (Cup, Xfinity, Truck), though in 2009, Carlos Pardo died in a race for the NASCAR Mexico Corona Series.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Thank you for the knowledge Obama, glad you enjoyed

[@_gr1nchh]

His crash was ridiculous, too. No amount of safety measures could have saved him unfortunately.

[@stuffingtonjfluffypantsiii]

I wasn't a Dale Earnhardt fan, but I remember watching that crash and breaking down in tears when it was announced he passed.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

A sad day for sure

[@vincenthelm6362]

Tough race to watch as a kid. I was 10 and that plus 9/11 marked significant moments of my childhood. I watched some races when I was younger, but that day made me glued to Nascar, until Gordon retired. Anytime I make it to race, I still hold up 3 fingers on lap 3 of the race, in respect for Dale.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

You're lucky you at least got to see him race which was a plus 💪🏻

[@vincenthelm6362]

I saw his last win live at Talladega. It was surreal to watch those last 5 laps. I wasn't even his fan but wow. He never declined in talent. He died in his late prime.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@vincenthelm6362 and his death at least helped keep so many drivers since him safe

[@ryansheehan9462]

I was 9. I always say there have been two moments in my life where I can remember exactly where I was, and both of them were in 2001.

[@SethEggert91]

To answer your question, Dale Earnhardt is the last fatality in NASCAR's 3 National Touring Series (not including Blaise Alexander in ARCA later in 2001 as it was not owned by NASCAR at the time). There, unfortunately, have been fatalities in NASCAR's regional, international, and weekly series since then, but even then there's been fewer fatalities than there were before 2001.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Thank you for answering Seth, I appreciate the knowledge

[@SethEggert91]

@@ExploringTheSmoke No problem! As a NASCAR journalist (and stats guy and historian), I like to try to answer questions where and when I can. I also like watching reaction videos like yours to see how new fans (new to NASCAR) are learning about the sport and what kinds of questions are being asked.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@SethEggert91 well I'm glad you found our little plot on the world wide web

[@BolverkAtlasia]

The shame of it all is that I didn't learn about the death of Blaise Alexander Jr. until I worked for his father last year. The irony is that it was also an accident involving Kerry Earnhardt, Dale Sr.'s eldest son, and Blaise would succumb to the exact same injury that killed Dale Sr. just months prior. Blaise Alexander Sr. had become a significant financial backer for HANS device implementation after this.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@BolverkAtlasia I'm glad they've worked tirelessly to keep the drivers as safe as humanly possible

[@needsLITHIUM]

I still can't hear Mike Helton say that line without tearing up. I hear it, and I'm 13 years old and all over again and the tears start... There are only very few celebrities that I've cried, and Dale Earnhardt was one of the ones that hit the hardest.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@needsLITHIUM yeah watching this and especially with the way it happened it certainly is gut wrenching

[@needsLITHIUM]

@@ExploringTheSmoke you can actually hear Mike's voice crack at the last syllable of "Earnhardt"

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

It's painful for sure

[@landon8590]

I went to the Charlotte race in 2022. I went to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, of course the race track, Hendrick Motorsports HQ and I went to visit Dale Earnhardt’s statue. I also drove by his old childhood home! It was such a great experience to have!! I’m so glad I got to see it all

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

That's so awesome

[@mojmoj3763]

theres a chilling interview before the race where dale told the interviewer "you are going to see something you have never seen before today"

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Oh man, that is blood chilling! Thank you Moj, glad you enjoyed 💪🏻

[@TheWorldSpinsSlowly]

He was such a great man for holding everyone up so his team could win. Number 3 at the top of the tree. RIP Dale.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@TheWorldSpinsSlowly dale ain't dead, he's just a lap ahead 🤘🏻

[@egadgo]

I definitely recommend you watch EmpLemon’s documentary about Talladega. 😎

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Ohhh it may have to be done 😭😂

[@BamaXander]

One thing this video gets wrong is that it wasn't Donnie Allison who fought Cale Yarborough at the end of the '79 Daytona 500, it was his brother Bobby. Donnie and Cale were having heated words with one another, for obvious reasons. Bobby swung by the wreck site to make sure Donnie was okay and saw the two in each others' faces. He got out of his car to kinda play peacemaker and break up the tension, only for Cale to turn his ire towards HIM. Bobby wasnt playin' that game, and we know how it ended: with Cale on the ground. 😂

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@BamaXander oh damnnnnnn thank you Xander for the kick arse knowledge, it made me smile as well as informative 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@tj79jrfan]

One thing else that they don't mention on here that most people outside of NASCAR don't know about Dale Earnhardt is. He's actually is the junior his father himself and his son all have the legal name of Ralph Dale Earnhardt.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Awesome that he carried that tradition on

[@thehandsomewolf599]

I’ll never forget that day it is still one of my earliest childhood memory I was 5 years old and were at my uncles house on the back porch. When he hit the wall my dad took his Earnhardt hat off and set in on the table we were sitting at and walked outside and stared at the sky

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Truly a sad day in any man's life when he sees his father ''break"

[@willracer1jz]

Awesome reaction, Dale Earnhardt will always be my favorite driver in NASCAR. FYI when F1 went to permanent numbers for the drivers, Daniel Ricardo chose the #3 because he grew up play one of the mid 90's NASCAR game as Dale Earnhardt.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Thank you for the knowledge that's awesome, glad you enjoyed

[@joanfelicianoo]

IMO Dale Jr 2001 Pepsi 400 win at Daytona was the most feel good moment in US Sports History.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Thank you for the comment Joan, glad you enjoyed

[@Dude-zm4gj]

Can confirm. Watching this live I was speechless.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@Dude-zm4gj I can only imagine

[@Jdoom13]

I met him myself when I was 11 years old. He was my hero and the only death of a person I really didn't know personally that brought me to tears. A true legend

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Awesome that you got to meet him and see him race, you're one of the lucky ones

[@Jdoom13]

@ExploringTheSmoke I remember he was the only driver that wouldn't shut down his autograph line untill he had signed every single person's autograph and shook their hand atleast. All the others had a hard time limit. He would let it happen. Really cool his was the longest line by far

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@Jdoom13 a true man of the people

[@prochrgedLT1]

Great reaction! I just found your channel and enjoying your content. Keep up the good work! Daytona in 2001 was really crazy and its been described before in another comment, but it was like witnessing the death of Senna in F1. Both drivers careers and deaths had so many parallels with each other. I was there in Daytona in 2001 for the Daytona 500 and the Pepsi 400. My mom works for Chevrolet and has for years so I am very fortunate we always get tickets and/or race suites. What really stands out in my mind was the ambulance carrying Dale's body was driving so incredibly slowly after the accident and his exhumation from the car in turn 4. We all thought he was just badly injured and went home to Jacksonville (about an hour North of Daytona International Speedway). When we got home and turned on the TV, the graphic followed shortly thereafter with his picture with 1951-2001 underneath. We were shocked, to say the least. Learning years later that an ambulance traveling that slowly usually signified 2 events, a broken back or death, that image is still burned into my skull. I was never a Dale Earnhardt fan. I liked Jeff Gordon and his "rivalry" with Earnhardt was so fun to watch. Like a changing of the guard in NASCAR, the old hand vs the new young guy in town. Unbeknownst to most of us, the pair were really good friends and played this rivalry for fan service. After a few months, July 4th weekend came rolling around. The Florida summers are AWFUL. Hot, sticky humidity, afternoon rain showers that you can set your clocks by and the sauna feeling that follows a rain storms completion. Everyone at the Pepsi 400 was looking for a cooler place to be until the green flag. Fast forward to the finish and there wasn't a dry eye in the stands. People who left their seats early were rushing back as Dale Jr. won on that night. It was a gigantic, poetic, healing moment for the sport after the events in February. Now over 20 years since then, I can remember it like it was yesterday in my 40 year old brain.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Pro charged!! Thank you for the incredible comment and I'm glad you've found the channel

[@prochrgedLT1]

@@ExploringTheSmoke If you ever make it to Daytona for the 500, come have a beer in the Chevy suite!

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@prochrgedLT1 I will DEFINITELY hold you to it my man

[@Fork-man-gun]

You should watch when time froze in nascar it’s amazing

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Thank you fork, I'll have to look it up 💪🏻

[@josephharrison5639]

As a Jimmie johnson fan, I was born after Dale died, I never saw petty or Earnhardt race. However this story always brings me to tears, to think if he survived where the sport might be, where jrs career might’ve gone without he total collapse of DEI in 2007, how history would’ve been rewritten. Sure in this alternate reality Jimmie might not get his 7 championships, especially not 5 in a row but the void that’s present when you see Richard petty and Jimmie Johnson stand together at the track is palpable. You know Dale is standing there beside them telling jokes. Whenever I see this video I’m reminded of the night Jimmie won his 7th title. Dale jr came up to him in victory lane and said “my dad would’ve thought you’re a bada$$” it still gets me everytime, raise hell praise Dale

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I'm glad that even Jr. knew his dad would have loved seeing Jimmie win! Thank you for the comment Joseph, glad you enjoyed 💪🏻

[@Alex-dc5mx]

Dale was my favorite driver when he was still here I was 12 when he died I still miss him to this day Jimmie was nothing compared to dale. not saying Jimmie was not good but not on dales level

[@landon8590]

An almost hour long video??? THIS IS A MASSIVE W!!!!!! FOR US ALL!!!! Ngl i thought this was gonna be like a 4 part video reaction

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Can't say I don't put the time in haha

[@Tunda2]

I personally feel that Dale helped drive that 29 car for Kevin’s first couple seasons

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I can definitely see it

[@calebcraig8903]

I was down at Daytona in 2001 the Thursday before the 500. Got to watch him run in the Twin 125s, the qualifying races for the 500. It was awesome getting to see him race in person one last time, and it’s a memory I’ll always keep with me. It was insane though how loud the cheers from the crowd were every time he’d pass by. Been to a number of races since then, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard the crowd be that loud for any other driver since, cheers or boos alike

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Whether people cheered or booed for Dale....it was ALWAYS loud 😂

[@RowdyRuth]

Dale was a beast, loved him. Jimmy Johnson was my favorite driver. He won 7 Championships. 5 of them were in a row. The closest behind him was Cale Yarborough with three in a row.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Thank you for answering Ruth, I'm glad you enjoyed

[@NASCARfan38-v6n]

@@RowdyRuth 5 in a row

[@RowdyRuth]

@@NASCARfan38-v6n I hit the wrong button. Thanks for pointing that out. 😀

[@NASCARfan38-v6n]

@@RowdyRuth no problem

[@LarsonPetty]

For a bit more Dale Earnhardt content, thought I'd suggest the 2001 running of the Rolex 24 hours at Daytona, in which Dale and Dale jr were teammates piloting the Chevrolet/Goodwrench C5 Corvette.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Thank you Larson I'll have to look it up 💪🏻

[@Crustychevrolet]

I was 17. I’ll never forget it.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Thank you Tom

[@TroySteele17]

The town that you see in the beginning is my town, I currently live here and was raised here. Kannapolis NC

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

That is kick ass!! You're in a small town with a giant legend 💪🏻💪🏻

[@natemcgaw221]

Raise Hell,Praise Dale 🖤🖤

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Dale ain't dead, he's just a lap ahead 🫡

[@brtscafsma77]

Praise Hell, Raise Dale

[@nielgregory108]

What people don't realize is that Dale grew up racing where you had to get a podium finish to get ANY money. If you didn't get 1, 2 or 3 you left the track with alot less money than you brought. When you HAVE to do that to feed a family, what are you going to do? ANYTHING to get by the guy in front of you. People have it too good to even fathom that. That mentality always stayed with him. You MUST win, you MUST win or you don't eat. You have to admire that. Today's driver's are ALL rich even the worst driver get tons of money and they are not fighting for their next meal. Most don't care if they win as long as they just make the race. Or, today it seems an accomplishment to win a "Stage" of a race. WTF??

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I do feel like the hunger is missing for sure

[@PredxMarvel]

Blaise Alexander was actually the last death a few months after Dale's death Blaise Alexander suffered the same fate in a ARCA race(NASCAR sanctioned series). It was actually after Blaises death that NASCAR made the Hans device mandatory. Since 2000-2001 where a total of 6 drivers all died from the same injury there has been 0 deaths in any NASCAR sanctioned race or event.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Thank you for the knowledge Marvel, glad you're enjoying

[@shockwavegaming5907]

Been waiting for this one for a long time

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Glad you're here shockwave

[@Shay_Mendez]

Oh Jack, in case you havent't fully seen it yet, Stewart-Haas Racing is shutting down all their NASCAR operations at the end of the season, Xfinity Series included. 23XI is expected to get one of the charters, Trackhouse is expected to get one and Front Row Motorsports gets the third charter. The fourth is expected to go to bidding between Roush Fenway Keselowski, Legacy Motor Club, JTG, Kaulig and possibly Spire Motorsports.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I did indeed and such a shame that it's happening! Glad you're still here Shay

[@stonecoldracing6]

I really hope RFK gets that charter, they’re rolling nicely this season and I think they’ve found something there!

[@KyleG_Sports]

Having a Cale Yarborough autograph diecast just means more now that he’s gone. It’s definitely one of my favorite in my collection. I also have a Dale Jr autograph diecast as well which is also one of my favorites. Love the video keep up the nascar videos!! 🫡

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

They are incredible to have you're a lucky man Kyle! Glad you're enjoying

[@TJCNASCAR]

I have a dale jr signed diecast and book a bobby labonte car signed in person and a signed christian eckes driver card 😃

[@KyleG_Sports]

@@ExploringTheSmoke I also have a Austin Dillon and Richard Childress autograph diecast

[@TJCNASCAR]

Im a fan of dale sr and im trying to collect some more dale sr Merchandising for my room since in there currently theres tons of other nascar memorabilia but not much of him Great video btw enjoyed it. I also always remember to have my dale sr 1990 diecast during the daytona 500 😊

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Thank you TJC glad you are still here

[@harleyarmstrong5394]

I think Dale is kind of the Tiger woods of NASCAR. Before both Tiger and Dale there were other greats of the their sport. But both Dale and Tiger came in out of nowhere and dominated. Dale and Tiger both managed to capture the hearts of millions of people many of them being people who have never cared about the sport but was also hated by everyone else for bending the rules or finding the limits of the rule book. The both were dominant and both attracted a new audience to their sport. I know I know very weird comparison but I’m weird

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Harley, that's an incredible comparison and believe me it made perfect sense to me, thank you for being here, glad you're enjoying

[@harleyarmstrong5394]

@@ExploringTheSmokeyea I’m not really sure where I came up with the idea lol. Not one part of this video made me think of Tiger but for some reason afterwards I got to thinking how similar they are. They were both so influential and dominant that even though technically there may have been a better driver/golfer before them and maybe we’ll see someone better in the future, Tiger and Dale will never be replaced. After Dales passing there have been many great drivers. Jimmie Johnson is a good example. On paper he had the wins and the stats to be considered one of the best ever but no one really thinks about him the way they thought about Dale. Same with Tiger. Many many great golfers have come since tigers reign of dominance came to an end but none of them have been as outstanding, dominant and influential as Tiger. So in many ways the 2 of them are very similar. So so soooo random but ya know 🤷🏻‍♂️😂

[@IxDeepOne]

It was close, but in 2020, Ryan Newman suffered a crash at the last lap of the Daytona 500 where another car T-Boned him on the driver's side, damaging the roll cage. He survived by the virtue of his Gen 6 car having intrusion shielding on the sides, added reinforcement to the cage, and his seat positioned closer to the center.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@IxDeepOne that's incredibly lucky!! Thank you for the knowledge and glad you're enjoying Ix 🤘🏻

[@TGL_STUDIOS]

Emp-lemon is peak youtube content!

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Top tier content

[@landon8590]

You probably said it in the video but I haven’t gotten to that point yet! When could we expect to see the Charlotte reactions!? If you saw it already let me know what you thought about it. I’m curious to hear your thoughts 🏁

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I did indeed and mother nature was cruel bitch the whole day 😂

[@Tunda2]

I’m so late. PRAISE DALE!!!!! My memory kicks in around 9/11 but I vaguely remember earlier in the year too, vividly remember the end of that Daytona 500. For years, my 80something year old neighbor was absolutely convinced Dale had been shot because he didn’t believe that hit could’ve killed him. Angles man. In hindsight, “that damn noose” probably would’ve saved him.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I understand the 80 year old fan not wanting to believe it 😂 crazy that, "that damn noose" probably would have saved him

[@Tunda2]

@@ExploringTheSmoke it absolutely would have. That’s what he called the now mandatory HANS device that he refused to wear but made junior have

[@alfie-sama6809]

No Sir, YOU have a great day! Thank you for a great reaction!

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Thank YOU Alfie for watching

[@jameseyman9078]

Would STRONGLY reccomend a video that i feel is posdibly the best ive ever seen that tells the tale of earnhardt better than any other. "Dale earnhardt - The Day". Its broken down into four or five 15 min segments but many end up not being able to stop and watching it in all one go. Talk about goosebumps! But be warned, you will see every second... when his best friend michael is told while in victory lane, you see his son take off running to the medical center, the second the ambulance pulls up at the hospital. It has great interviews with the drivers. Its so damn good! Oh, and in terms ofvthe hans device that would of saved his life, Dale famously told its creator "you will NEVER get me to wear that noose".

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Crazy that he saw it as a noose, may have been one of the only things to have saved him! Thank you for the recommendation James, glad you enjoyed

[@1Seabeebrian]

The man in Black baby! I love his aggressive style of driving! He didn’t slam into you! He rubbed you! And rubbing son is racing!

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

If you ain't rubbin you ain't racin 😂

[@beachside1]

Shake & Bake

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@beachside1 😂😂

[@needsLITHIUM]

Raise Hell, Praise Dale, may he forever give the chrome horn and make the turn 4 pass on the last lap of the Daytona 500 race in the sky. R.I.P. I stayed up late to watch the race, and cried when I found out he had passed, and my grandfather was an old grumpy WWII veteran codger, who used to race in NASCAR back when it was literally just boot leggers street racing on country roads of the South and New England. He never cried in front of anyone if he can help it, not until the last week before he died, but when Dale died, my grandfather was his BIGGEST fan. He was an annual ticket holder for the Daytona Speed Weeks, and for the summer races there and in Miami, and every year he just wanted Dale to win, so when I found out my first thought is "I NEED TO MAKE SURE GRANDPA IS OKAY" and I called him and we cried on the phone together. I miss my grandfather, in case you can't tell. I'm just a 36 year old man, who misses going to watch NASCAR races with his father and grandfather. Thankfully, my dad is still kicking, I just moved away and tbh my mom is a malignant narc so I don't see him much, and he loves seeing pictures of his own grandson. My little boy loves to watch NASCAR with his Daddy. I hope to bring him to see a race, maybe with my dad, some day.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@needsLITHIUM Wow, thank you Lithium for such an incredible comment, I'm glad you found my channel, hopefully one day you can get the NASCAR dream you hope for, and remember, Dale ain't dead, he's just a lap ahead

[@needsLITHIUM]

@@ExploringTheSmoke yeah, I saw that pinned comment. I like the hell outta that, like a white Florida Man likes mountain dew. Fun fact, I'm a white man born in South Florida...

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Then you must loooove the dew haha

[@A_river_dirt_cheese]

DO IT FOR DALE!

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@marcobering3945]

Genius and insanity go hand in hand since the dawn of humanity.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

You're right there Marco! Glad you're here 💪🏻

[@ExTiNkT91]

I was 9 or 10 when Dale died. I remember watching the race on TV and saw the crash. When I woke up the next day and my Dad put on the local news, I found out Dale died. He wasn't my favorite driver, but I looked at him as a Legend of the sport, so I was really upset.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I can only imagine!! Thank you Extinkt, glad you're here and enjoyed

[@jayimler1115]

Don't know if anyone else commented it, but Dale was not Nascar's last death. There was one in October that year that involved Kerry Earnhardt and another guy. The other guy was killed. I wanna say Blaise Alexander was his name, no guarantee on that though.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@jayimler1115 thank you jay I'll have to look it up 💪🏻

[@MKtagteamer]

If you ever want to see something harrowing, just watch a clip of the TV broadcast of the last lap of the '01 Daytona 500. The video showed a clip of Darrell Waltrip rooting on his younger brother, but the whole broadcast is him being ecstatic for Michael getting his first ever win at the sport's biggest stage, while also repeatedly saying in a more subdued tone "I just hope Dale is OK..." and asking if he's gotten out of his car yet.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@MKtagteamer I'll have to look it up, thanks MK

[@deaj8450]

I do find it funny how in this video Emp says "kannapolis wasnt even incorporated until 1984" as if it is something crazy. But even today there are thousands or maybe even tens of thousands of small towns all over America that are still unincorporated. I live in an unincorporated town, and there are many more near me. Granted I live in the most rural state in the eastern US, but there are still population centers and cities near us. Either way, it's actually not that wild for rural America, unincorporated villages are a common thing here.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@deaj8450 the weird thing for me is, when I was living in Wisconsin I'm pretty sure I drove through an unincorporated town or two, I think because of the modernization of the world, a lot of people find it "out of time" to still be unincorporated, thank you for the comment Deaj, glad you enjoyed

[@Itsgamingtime11-co5kp]

This is good! It has A lot of information about old races

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Soooo much information

[@RiverARD-Racing]

Fun fact: when Cale Yarbrough totaled his car at talladega going 200 mph in qualifying, the team used a replica display version of the car from a Hardee's for the race

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Thank you for the knowledge River 💪🏻

[@masoneveridge4078]

It’s true Smoke they had a cat at Hardee’s which was Cale’s sponsor RIP Cale Yarborough the wild thing is the car wrecked was 28 and the showcar was 29

[@aaronleesgbclieutenant]

@ExploringTheSmoke they forgot to mention he won the damn race LOL

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@aaronleesgbclieutenant 😂😂

[@masoneveridge4078]

@@aaronleesgbclieutenant yes we did I got so distracted with mentioning that I completely forgot about the fact he won the race mostly because at the time the clock was nearing Midnight

[@needsLITHIUM]

HE FINALLY WON THE 500 ON MY FUCKING BIRTHDAY AND I WAS SO FUCKING HAPPY. My favorite driver was Jeff Gordon, but far and above anyone else, my next favorite was, by far DALE EARNHARDT. I grew up with my grandfather telling me about that curse, and his black leather jacket with a big white 3 on the back, and I was just so happy because all I could do was think about how happy Dale must have been, the relief, the "after years of detractors, years of people telling me I'm not good enough, HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW??!!!" moment, the penultimate victory of man against the fates, to feel as Ishmael seeing the proverbial Captain Ahab rewrite his story and finally triumph over his white whale.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@needsLITHIUM that is awesome!!

[@jo2832]

Idk if anyone mentioned it but it just crossed my mind. Nascar does have a European series Although they dont do ovals but i think their planning to add one. the cars are pretty much the same as normal nascar im pretty sure too.

[@jo2832]

Actually I think they might race in the uk but I'm not 100% sure 50-50. Edit just checked yea they are in the uk and are about to race this next weekend June 8th.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@jo2832 something for me to look out for!! Thank you Jo

[@_Xds_]

There's never been another death in the cup series but a few other drivers have died since then in racaes. Carlos pardo being the last one in 2009

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@_Xds_ thank you for the knowledge Xds 🤘🏻

[@kingalexander8152]

5:57 He makes a Good Point as The Units of measurement that we in the USA use Are literally derived from the British Imperial System,

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

It is indeed thank you Alexander, glad you're enjoying

[@TroySteele17]

Yea sir I’ve been waiting on this… Just gave you a follow on X

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Thank you Troy 💪🏻

[@AnitaCavalieri-u7x]

The champ died in 2001 and I was unable to speak about it, and I wasn't an Earnhardt fan. My guy still is Mark Martin. Then n the same year when September 11th happened, it's never been the same here, just as going to a race without Dale.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@AnitaCavalieri-u7x Dale ain't dead, he's just a lap ahead 💪🏻 thank you for commenting Anita, the subject matter is sad but I hope you enjoyed

[@bromingogaming3155]

At work right now so I can't watch it yet but I'm excited for this one

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I appreciate you bromingo!

[@bromingogaming3155]

@@ExploringTheSmoke of course my brother it's 8:40 pm here in North Carolina just sat down and ready to watch lol

[@bromingogaming3155]

@@ExploringTheSmokebtw I see Richard Childress's (the owner of RCR) helicopter fly over my house all the time, crazy to think there's people out here that travel by helicopter 😂😂

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@bromingogaming3155 you're a real one Mingo

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@bromingogaming3155 right.....could never catch me flying in one 😂

[@SteelyMcBeam420]

Bill Elliot is Chase Elliot’s dad which is hilarious because he’s currently the most popular driver

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

That makes so much sense

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

And a lot of people find him quite beige haha

[@SteelyMcBeam420]

They actually full seasons on here from the 90s and 2000s, just type in the year/ nascar season

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Thank you macho man

[@Tunda2]

Not so fun fact, Haas F1 is based in Kannapolis but operates out of Silverstone, UK

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

That's wild! No wonder they never really do well in F1 haha

[@CrowsNestPlainsDream]

"Risa hell praise Dale"

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@CrowsNestPlainsDream Dale ain't dead, he's just a lap ahead 💪🏻

[@shakeholland9294]

The Man, The Myth, The Legend.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

And what a legend he is 💪🏻

[@arktemperedoreo9482]

YES! found this channel like a year ago or something. Being hanging out Smokin my shit This was one of the first videos I thought about recommending and I can’t wait to watch this

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

OREO!!! Glad you're still here my friend

[@arktemperedoreo9482]

@@ExploringTheSmoke damn right buddy

[@jthejaguar6888]

Have you heard of the Dale Earnhardt Sr song called The Black #3

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I have indeed by John sines, it was something I oddly stumbled upon at like 3 am one evening 😂😂

[@Tunda2]

Nascar needs a reincarnated Bill France. A big, intelligent, intimidating, organizer who you’re afraid to cross. When he made a decision, it was largely “yes sir.” He was the man nascar needed in the 40s, and we need him now

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

One of the types that rather than saying something has to to change he MAKES it change haha

[@Tunda2]

@@ExploringTheSmoke he was the REAL king

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@Tunda2 and here I was thinking that was Elvis 😜😂

[@Tunda2]

@@ExploringTheSmoke for drivers it’s Richard Petty, but even he had to listen. Actually time time he didn’t and went drag racing because his car got banned and he had a contract

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@Tunda2 your knowledge is always welcome

[@therealdyl1099]

Raise hell, praise Dale.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Dale ain't dead, he's just a lap ahead 💪🏻

[@Ryzard]

Yeah, everything EmpLemon makes is Peak, with few exceptions - like the miami dolphins video (amazing narriative there)... Just in general its hard to miss with his channel.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

There's going to be a fair few more reactions to his work coming 💪🏻

[@Tunda2]

As of 2024, nascar hasn’t lost a driver in the top 3 series. I think the only death in a sanctioned race happened in the Mexico series in 06

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Thank you Tunda, I appreciate the knowledge

[@jimmypham2487]

Dale Earnhardt RIP 😭

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Me he rest in peace 🙏🏻

[@RandomTrinidadian]

Praise Dale

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@RandomTrinidadian Dale ain't dead, he's just a lap ahead 💪🏻

[@SebasQuiaro]

Idk if this is the mandela effect but i swear you have reacted to this before😅 even thought you prob havent, good video!

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I have not I'm afraid 😂😂 Mandela effect for haha

[@danielsilverman382]

thank you for featuring Dale Sr. the only problem is that the guy who did the video you reviewed doesn't understand NASCAR if he keeps pointing out that all they do is rive in circles. i like your reactions to the races and how open minded you are about it. .

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I like to think I come in with an open mind but I will agree he seemed to harp on the same point 😂

[@drawingrobot9255]

I love this video but from my understanding and i may be wrong but the articles at the beginning talking about declining views and stuff some of it may be true but from what ive heard the articles are a little misleading and again i vould be wrong.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

At the time of the video it may be correct but I feel like NASCAR is just, if not more popular than it ever has been

[@JayStephens8]

I know this vid is 5 years old but wrestling over the last couple years has become arguably the most popular it’s ever been wwe finally under new leadership after Vince McMahon and his regime ran it into the ground is back on the levels of the attitude era maybe even better than it, other promotions have been thriving as well

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I was gonna say WWE is arguably the best it's been in years 😂

[@egadgo]

I’d argue that this video you reacted to is the most important KZbin video in NASCAR history. Maybe second to Chastain’s wall ride.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Glad you're still here and enjoying 💪🏻

[@egadgo]

@@ExploringTheSmoke This video brought in many many new fans to the sport, even before the recent boom. EmpLemon can be credited with helping to jumpstart the nascar revival.

[@jo2832]

spoiler warning for the coke 600 if u didnt watch it. But just like dale Earnhardt William byron did a pass in the grass. And there are rumors that Fox was the one that ended the coke 600 early not nascar.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I did indeed....somewhat annoyed that it's not being allowed by KZbin 😭😭

[@jo2832]

@@ExploringTheSmoke oh cool. feel bad for larson the the weather ruined his double, not only did it delay the indy 500 and ended the coke 600 before he could get in his car, it also gave us the worst tornado out break casualty wise this year. Just a terrible weekend weather wise.

[@coletrickle-km7cl]

Yes dale was cleaning his windsheild. He came in for a pit stop the lap b/4, asked for them to clean the windsheild, pit crew didn't do it, so he came around the next lap and cleaned the windsheild. Not saposta do that. Dale was a stubborn guy. Richard pettys dad lee petty said every driver was scared as hell to race the 1st 1959 daytona 500. NOBODY ever saw a track at that time that massive or raced there. They only were going 140 mph in the 1st daytona 500. Earnhardt liked to bump you twice. And all the drivers knew it. Thus why he earned the nickname "the intimatator". Bill Elliott's thunderbird back in the 1980's was tge 1st stock car put in a windtunnel to improve its aerodynamics. Thats why it was sooo much faster than the competition at the superspeedways. If they had a separate pit wall at lemans that wreck in 1955 would of not happened. Lemans didnt get a saparating pit wall until in the earily 1970's. You think they'd be more smarter than that. Crazy frogs.dale had his daytona 500 curse....the Andretti's had there indy 500 curse. Dale earnhardt is credited for reaally getting the merch/souvenirs going. He bought sports image. And put his daughter kelly in charge of it and the earnhardt hats and shirts sold like craaazy. Before you walk into any nascar track you go check out the souvenir trailers. Those trailers are 18 wheeler trailer size....dale GOT killed because he wouldn't let anyone else install his race seat. And the seat belts mounts where welded in at the wrong angle. Witch made one of the shoulder seatbelts tear. And he died. Dale always liked the open face helmets because it helped him feel the wind pressure difference. That helped him "see the air" and his advantage in drafting at daytona/talledega. After dale died they outlawed the open faced helmet. and i've heard it 1000 times from older nascar fans, when dale died, the sport died. Atleast for hard core earnhardt fans. 1000's of earnhart fans stopped watching nascar after dale passed away. Micheal waltrip did his own movie about the daytona 500 he won, and we all lost dale earnhardt . He liked to be called BIG E. not SR. I saw dale 1 month before his death at a racing convention. He was doing a question and answer for fans on stage. That was the 2nd and last time i saw him. When dale died, President george W. Bush did a speech commemorating dale. Thats how popular he was. Dale earnhardt Inc. (DEI), GARAGE-MA-HAUL (called that after the tashmahaul in india, His race team's collossal race shop) slowly turned the front foyer entrance area into a museum of sorts. Its still open certain days. There's a gift shop there. Dales car owner turned his race shop into a museum to dale. I've been to that museum in welcome ( yeah thats the town name) north carolina. So cool. Dales old pit road/pit stop gas man chocolate myres is in charge of the museum.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Cole! You legend! Thank you! And awesome that chocolate heads up the museum

[@coletrickle-km7cl]

​@@ExploringTheSmokeif you get XM satellite radio in the U.K., channel 90 over here is the nascar channel. Chocolate does a daily show on that channel....he's been having heath issues so sometimes he's not on air.

[@0rionknight636]

Nice glass "decoration" and can you pass it please

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@0rionknight636 come on now Orionnnnnnn! You know ittt puff puff pass mannnnn 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@keithjames7843]

This man could drive a race car like no other He could take a 10th place car and win the race He was dominate at Daytona and Talladega The two fastest tracks they race on If someone wanted to win at either one of these tracks They had to deal with the 3 car If you what some of his races on UTube What the two races from 1986 and 1987 and you will see how good he was He could get a car sideways running 205 and miles and hour and keep right on getting it on the track A reporter ask him how he felt about coming in second place after a race and Earnhardt told him second place ain’t nothing but the first loser

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

If you're not first you're last

[@needsLITHIUM]

FATHER AND SON BOTH WON THE 500 ON MY BIRTHDAY

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

That's awesome 🥳🥳

[@nascarlemon]

Can't wait for the new race reactions at gateway

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I'm bummed KZbin hasn't cleared my "Larson 1100" 😂

[@DoubleKlutchRacing]

Daytona is so large that they had to build it with the curvature of the earth so that it’s completely flat. At least that’s what they say during the tour of the track

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@DoubleKlutchRacing that's absolutely incredible thank you Double Klutch glad you're here

[@Clementinewoofwoof]

47:34 I do think he knew he was going to die that race, or sometime soon in the future if there was just something calling him

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@Clementinewoofwoof it's absolutely haunting, at least he had the joy of seeing the ones he loved ahead of him, but remember, Dale ain't dead, he's just a lap ahead 🤘🏻

[@ryansheehan9462]

I’ve always gotten aggravated with the exaggerations of NASCAR’s decline, but the rest of the documentary is fantastic

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I feel like at least since this video was made the fan base has only gotten stronger

[@nascarf1fan7721A]

Speaking Of DERRIKE Cope Please can you react to DERRIKE cope by Clumsy Cardboard it’s a great documentary on cope it would be great!

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@nascarf1fan7721A I'll see what I can do RBRR 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@nascarf1fan7721A]

@@ExploringTheSmoke thank ye

[@nascarnational]

i feel like nascar's decline in popularity is over-exaggerated, much like any major highlight in the sport's history (especially in the past 35 years). it's not to say it was bad, because it was.. i mean, nascar went from having 16.7 million people tune in to the daytona 500 in 2013-- to the 2023 daytona 500 getting 8.1 million viewers. for context, the first nascar cup race i attended at auto club speedway in 2013 had 8.0 million people watching. it's true, nascar is generally half as popular as it was a decade ago, but they've made some great strides to change that. 2022 was the highest-viewed season in the sport since dale earnhardt, jr. left in 2017. this year saw nascar unveil a netflix documentary ahead of the season, which has probably helped nascar retain popularity in 2024. if this year's daytona 500 & coke 600 aren't rained out or ended early for rain, the 2024 season would've experienced an increase in viewership over last year to this point. i think people have a habit of badly reacting to changes in due time for nostalgic reasons, for the most part. more than a few times they're right (hell i think nascar's best days were in the 2000s), but i feel like most forget that over 50% of the time it's just overblowing the actual situation

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I very much understand and agree National, it's definitely on the increase in popularity again and I've certainly been spoiled in terms of exciting races this season 😂

[@nascarnational]

@@ExploringTheSmoke haha i'm glad you're noticing it too!! as a lifelong fan of almost 20 years since i was 2 in 2004, i can tell you as a southern californian who watches every race live that it's been a pretty interesting season so far. easily near the top-half of most memorable if i compare it to the other years i've watched. i know you haven't seen sonoma highlights yet but just an fyi, the rest of the season with the nbc sports team covering the races instead of fox does make a world of difference. the camera cuts, tone of the broadcast, & care of the sport are much more apparent with them than with fox. i think you'll love them when you react to iowa highlights next week

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@nascarnational I am looking forward to the changeover because about 15 different people have said how much the whole thing improves in the later half of the season/when NBC take over 😂

[@nascarnational]

@@ExploringTheSmoke lol i can tell you, it really does. even with dale, jr. not on the broadcasts anymore i think the habits learned from the 5 years he spent making them better will stick around

[@texasforever7887]

Raise Hell, Praise Dale...

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

You know it

[@texasforever7887]

@@ExploringTheSmoke I was never a Dale fan at the time but always respected him as driver and slowly have become a fan as I learn more about him. I watched was watching the 2001 Daytona 500 live and it took years for what happened to really sink in.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@texasforever7887 it's crazy going back to something/seeing it in a different perspective really does change everything, I'm still fairly new to NASCAR in the grand scheme of it all but even I know now just how important he was to the sport

[@shadow7796]

I'll forever be an Earnhardt fan. Maybe not a total Nascar fan, but there are a few drivers I'll always defend and admire. I dont enjoy the political stuff that gets injected, stage racing, and some of the modern drivers. But then, i have an old-school mindset.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

No school like the old school 💪🏻

[@landon8590]

24:24 Chase Elliott’s dad

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

💪🏻💪🏻

[@JMO_1976]

Fifteen million viewers is quite a lot, but just 4 years later, 105.97 million viewers tuned in for the final episode of M*A*S*H.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@JMO_1976 that is true, although mash at the time definitely had a far larger audience than NASCAR 🤭💪🏻

[@koollyb]

What you don't hear and they don't say on the documentaries and I wish they would is that NASCAR for the year they implemented a caution at the third lap and whatever you believe about the afterlife this is going to change your mind three things happened after his death. 1) the caution came out on lap 2 for the next three races NASCAR didn't have to call it 2) Richard childress team who won the next three races 3) Kevin harvick winning the first time in a Sprint NASCAR series at Daytona and I don't know why nobody I this wouldn't get mentioned but when Kevin harvick finish the race he said he doesn't remember the last three laps it was like somebody else was driving the car. Now you can think whatever you want to think about the afterlife but I say he was there and didn't rest until his job was done and that was to help the team and everybody move on. On a side note I wasn't an Earnhardt fan not because of the person but because he drove for Chevy and I was a Ford fan I never really had any favorite drivers it was all about the name plate for me as long as Ford won.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@koollyb koolly! Thank you for the incredible comment, I understand liking a manufacturer over drivers, glad you're here and enjoying 💪🏻

[@Shay_Mendez]

Dale did have a bit (well, maybe more than a bit) of an ego. Notoriously hard to pass, even harder to race against and above all else, an eye for the track. Dude did allude to the fact that he could see the wind moving at superspeedways. His ego was warranted.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

When you know you're the best....sometimes you HAVE to show it

[@sodalines]

god needed a driver so he picked #3

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Can't get much better than #3

[@simonpoe2223]

do the charlotte race

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I haveeeee it's been blocked by KZbin 😭

[@coletrickle-km7cl]

Are you watching the 24hrs of nurburgring this 1st weekend of june?

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I will not be unfortunately 😭

[@tons0ffun519]

I feel like you need to learn of the existence of one Dick Trickle.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

I have now been very well educated in Mr. Trickle believe me 😂

[@tons0ffun519]

@@ExploringTheSmoke absolute legend, I actually meant to post this to the Talladega video because of your laughter towards another Dick in NASCAR lol.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Glad to have TICKLED you too

[@krygerm]

Anyone who says nascar is just a oval where you go fast and turn left has clearly never watched nascar. NASCAR holds races at 42 different tracks in the U.S and Canada, including oval short tracks, winding road courses, and superspeedways longer than 2 miles. Nascar has, stock car, truck, and dirt racing as a part of its portfolio. Go watch some of the actually course races and come back before listening to some jack wagon who thinks nascar is just fast lefts.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@krygerm I completely agree 🤘🏻

[@ns_sd70acu]

React to nfjj's video on the tragic passing of Blaise alexander.

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

Added to the list thank you for watching

[@ZebZanko]

Loved Dale....But Petty is still "THE KING".

[@ExploringTheSmoke]

@@ZebZanko thank you Zeb!! Glad you're here and you enjoyed 💪🏻