Episode 6 -- The Devastating What Ifs of Dale Earnhardt and the 2001 Daytona 500

Dale Earnhardt. 2001 Daytona 500. The final hours of The Intimidator — reconstructed lap by lap, conversation by conversation, from the people who were there.

On February 18, 2001, Earnhardt arrived at Daytona International Speedway on a perfect, Chamber of Commerce morning — and left in silence. This is the story of everything that happened before the crash that changed NASCAR history forever.

What did Earnhardt say to his spotter two days before the race — and why did that spotter almost not show up on race day?

What scripture did Stevie Waltrip press into Earnhardt's hand before the engines fired?

What were the last words Dale Earnhardt ever spoke on the radio?

And why, during the race itself, did Earnhardt warn Richard Childress that NASCAR's cars were going to kill somebody?

In this episode: The Terry Bradshaw promo spin — and the moment Earnhardt deliberately scared him on the apron

Danny Culler's explosive falling-out with Earnhardt, and the Sunday morning phone call that brought him back

Ward Burton's shoulder-bump on the way to driver introductions — the only way he knew how to say it

Earnhardt's final televised interview with Matt Yocum, minutes before the green flag

The Proverbs 18:10 scripture, and Max Helton's haunting memory of a handshake that lasted a moment too long

"The big one" on Lap 175 — and Earnhardt's chilling radio call to Childress in the aftermath