The Earnhardt Connection - Photo Album


Dale Earnhardt in 1998 DieHard 500 Crash

Return to 1998 DieHard 500 Race Report

Ward Burton's car leaves the banking going through the tri-oval, moments before he would bump Dale in the left-rear.
Once Burton bumps Dale, Dale's car swerves left into Bill Elliott.
Then, Elliott and Earnhardt both sling toward the wall at 190 mph.
From there it was a chain reaction, with over 20 cars being collected.
Earnhardt and Elliott slide down the track as Kyle Petty smashes into them.
Elliott's car blew flames from the exhaust.  The flames went though the Dale's driver-side window, giving him second-degree burns and melting his goggles.
Finally, the crash nears an end.  Earnhardt and Elliott are taken to a nearby hospital.  Elliott was taken on a stretcher, Earnhardt was able to walk.
This is the second straight race a Talladega in which Dale was involved in a major accident.  This crash somewhat resembled the Fall 1996 crash at Talladega in which Earnhardt was injured.
Before Earnhardt left for the hospital, he did a couple of interviews. Dale said he was not happy with this kind of racing (referring to restrictor plate racing).
Earnhardt with burns alongside Richard Childress.
Kyle Petty and Joe Nemechek drove Earnhardt's car for a few laps before NASCAR black flagged it.  Earnhardt took his first DNF in 53 races.

Return to 1998 DieHard 500 Race Report


© 1998 The Earnhardt Connection