Today's movie is a biography with a scene that happens on February 15. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.
3:THE DALE EARNHARDT STORY
During the 2001 Daytona 500
stockcar auto race, Dale Earnhardt thinks back over his life. 40 years before
his father drove in dirt track races in the evening after working in a cotton
mill. Eight years after that an 18 year old Earnhardt is driving in dirt track
races himself. He had already gotten married at age 17 and had a child, but
they soon separated because she did not support his dream of becoming a NASCAR
driver. In spite of their disagreements Dale is stunned by his father’s death
by heart attack. He gets married again, but his money woes continue. He starts
driving with a relentless style of doing anything to win. His second place
finish at the 1978 World 600 gets him a spot on the Rod Osterlund racing team.
Earnhardt wins the “Rookie of the Year” award. He later joins the Childress
Racing team. He goes through a rough patch but comes back to win the Winston
Cup in 1986 and 1987. He meets his oldest son who he has not seen in 15 years.
In 1987 he earns his nickname “The Intimidator” after an incident in the Sprint
All-Star Race. He goes on to win seven Winston Cups tying the all time record.
On February 15, 1998 [1:16:51 to
1:21:20] Earnhardt finally wins the Daytona 500, a race win that had eluded him
in 19 previous attempts. In the 2001 Daytona 500 Earnhardt is killed in a wreck
on the final lap.
A good movie. However I think a
lot of his story got glossed over. I believe a longer film or a miniseries
might have been a better choice for telling this story.
3: The Dale Earnhart Story
(Hyperion Books, New York, 2004) at page 134 gives the date of his only Daytona
500 win
Producers - Orly Adelson and Lynn
Raynor
Director - Russell Mulcahy
Awards – This film was nominated
for the Outstanding Sound Editing for a Minseries, Movie or a Special at the 57th
Primetime Emmy Awards.
Screenplay - Robert Eisele
Runtime – 1 hour 32 minutes
Released - December 11, 2004
Starring -
Barry Pepper as Dale Earnhardt
Elizabeth Mitchell as Teresa Earnhardt
Sean Briggers as Neil Bonnett
J. K. Simmons as Ralph Earnhardt
David Sherrill as “Humpy” Wheeler
Greg Thompson as Darrell Waltrip
Copyright by Ivan Walters 2014
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