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That crash seemed awfully weak for some of the others that Earnhardt had sustained in the past.
Dale had just started DEI and Jr. was starting to come on.
He and all of NASCAR decided to set up the 2001 season. Sr. wanted to step back and run DEI. He didn't want his budding star son to have to live in his shadow, but he knew just retiring wouldn't be enough. So all of NASCAR decided that 2001 would be a thrown season. Let's take a look at the facts which seem extra fishy...
- Michael Waltrip, one of DEI's 4 drivers, had never won a race ever. His first win comes at Daytona, the biggest race of the year, when Dale dies. Jr. finishes second and Sr. was in third when he crashed. The top 3 was all DEI drivers.
- Crappy DEI driver Steve Park, won the very next week after Earnhardt's "death". Coincidence?
- Earnhardt, a fan favorite and very accessible, had been cold and distant during the week leading up to the 500.
- Jr. won the very next race held at Daytona and a couple of drivers mentioned a possible conspiracy. They were quickly silenced.
Now you may be saying "Hey, Mr. conspiracy man, why didn't a DEI driver win the Cup that year, then?"
Well, then it would be too obvious, that's why. So Sr. hand picked Jeff Gordon to win that year. Gordon was generally well liked by fans, and he had won three titles already. Earnhardt figured that would seem like a natural winner and not a complete setup.
DALE EARNHARDT: CASE CLOSED