This is an alternate timeline of the 2001 Nascar Winston Cup Season in which we have a surviving Dale Earnhardt. I've searched for this but could not find it on this site. This starts at the 2001 Daytona 500 on the final lap.
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February 18th, 2001
It was the final turn, the final lap, and the first race of the season. Earnhardt saw his two cars leading the field in the biggest event of the year. As Sterling Marlin attempted a pass down low, Earnhardt went for the block. The rear of Earnhardt’s car clipped the front bumper of Marlin’s. The black #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet started to lose control. Miraculously, Earnhardt saved the car after brief contact with the #36 of Ken Schrader. Even though Dale Earnhardt wanted a top five finish, he would have to settle for 12th, but nonetheless, after the race he celebrated in victory lane with Michael Waltrip.
February 20th, 2001
Earnhardt’s car was randomly selected out of eight cars to be taken back to the R&D Inspection facility. It was there that Nascar discovered the weakened seatbelt. Richard Childress Racing was informed of this discovery as well as informing Dale Earnhardt. The three realized how close they were to certain tragedy that day. Both Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt discussed the events and decided to reexamine all the cars they had built for the next few events. Finally, everything was ready for the next race at Rockingham.
February 25th – 26th, 2001
Earnhardt didn’t particularly qualify well coming into this event. He would start mid-pack for the race. During this race, fans started to notice a more cautious driving style from him. When his son Dale Earnhardt, Jr. crashed during the early running of this race, it was stated that Earnhardt asked his crew chief, “Make sure my son is alright, he is tough, but you never know what could happen out here on the track.” Sr. kept his car clean and finished the race in 10th position. He congratulated his driver Steve Park on a well-deserved victory as well as his ability to have held off a hard charging Bobby Labonte. Nascar once again selected the #3 Chevrolet for R&D Inspection, but this time everything went smoothly.
March 4th, 2001
At Las Vegas, Earnhardt was challenging hard to take the lead away from Dale Jarrett. Darrell Waltrip made a reference to the Dale and Dale showdown and compared how they seemed to always meet each other for the lead. Earnhardt led the most laps, but came off with a slow final pit stop and was able to finish third. After this race, Richard Childress made the decision to give Earnhardt a newly built racecar for the Atlanta event. The old racecar would be handed down to Kevin Harvick, a young rookie who would be making his first start of the year. The old car was repainted and renumbered with the #30 and backing from AOL.
March 11th, 2001
“It is a historic day in the world of Nascar,” cried Darrell Waltrip, “Can you believe it, I can’t believe it, this race was almost too close to call, I still don’t know who the winner is, but it’s for certain who definitely is celebrating.” The smoke from the burnout began to dissipate as the #30 AOL Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick emerged in victorious fashion. The side of the car was badly dented from heated side-by-side action between him and Dale Earnhardt in the closing laps. Harvick was able to nudge out Dale Earnhardt by .003 of a second to become the first driver in the history of Nascar to win in their first career start. An agitated Earnhardt was interviewed following post-race celebrations, “I got to thank the crew for the job well done that they did. I’m just disappointed that I got beat by my own car. This kid is good; I should have hired him when I had the chance [laughter]. Richard and I need to have a little talk.” Seriousness drained into the new points leaders face as he left the interview in search of Richard Childress.
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February 18th, 2001
It was the final turn, the final lap, and the first race of the season. Earnhardt saw his two cars leading the field in the biggest event of the year. As Sterling Marlin attempted a pass down low, Earnhardt went for the block. The rear of Earnhardt’s car clipped the front bumper of Marlin’s. The black #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet started to lose control. Miraculously, Earnhardt saved the car after brief contact with the #36 of Ken Schrader. Even though Dale Earnhardt wanted a top five finish, he would have to settle for 12th, but nonetheless, after the race he celebrated in victory lane with Michael Waltrip.
February 20th, 2001
Earnhardt’s car was randomly selected out of eight cars to be taken back to the R&D Inspection facility. It was there that Nascar discovered the weakened seatbelt. Richard Childress Racing was informed of this discovery as well as informing Dale Earnhardt. The three realized how close they were to certain tragedy that day. Both Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt discussed the events and decided to reexamine all the cars they had built for the next few events. Finally, everything was ready for the next race at Rockingham.
February 25th – 26th, 2001
Earnhardt didn’t particularly qualify well coming into this event. He would start mid-pack for the race. During this race, fans started to notice a more cautious driving style from him. When his son Dale Earnhardt, Jr. crashed during the early running of this race, it was stated that Earnhardt asked his crew chief, “Make sure my son is alright, he is tough, but you never know what could happen out here on the track.” Sr. kept his car clean and finished the race in 10th position. He congratulated his driver Steve Park on a well-deserved victory as well as his ability to have held off a hard charging Bobby Labonte. Nascar once again selected the #3 Chevrolet for R&D Inspection, but this time everything went smoothly.
March 4th, 2001
At Las Vegas, Earnhardt was challenging hard to take the lead away from Dale Jarrett. Darrell Waltrip made a reference to the Dale and Dale showdown and compared how they seemed to always meet each other for the lead. Earnhardt led the most laps, but came off with a slow final pit stop and was able to finish third. After this race, Richard Childress made the decision to give Earnhardt a newly built racecar for the Atlanta event. The old racecar would be handed down to Kevin Harvick, a young rookie who would be making his first start of the year. The old car was repainted and renumbered with the #30 and backing from AOL.
March 11th, 2001
“It is a historic day in the world of Nascar,” cried Darrell Waltrip, “Can you believe it, I can’t believe it, this race was almost too close to call, I still don’t know who the winner is, but it’s for certain who definitely is celebrating.” The smoke from the burnout began to dissipate as the #30 AOL Chevrolet of Kevin Harvick emerged in victorious fashion. The side of the car was badly dented from heated side-by-side action between him and Dale Earnhardt in the closing laps. Harvick was able to nudge out Dale Earnhardt by .003 of a second to become the first driver in the history of Nascar to win in their first career start. An agitated Earnhardt was interviewed following post-race celebrations, “I got to thank the crew for the job well done that they did. I’m just disappointed that I got beat by my own car. This kid is good; I should have hired him when I had the chance [laughter]. Richard and I need to have a little talk.” Seriousness drained into the new points leaders face as he left the interview in search of Richard Childress.
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