Dale Earnhardt Jr. docuseries portrays NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt realistically
Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kelley Earnhardt Miller clarify why they selected to point out all points of the lifetime of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt. You’ll be able to watch the primary two episodes from the brand new docuseries “Earnhardt” on Prime Video beginning Could twenty second.
NASCAR has seen many iconic drivers and groups since its inaugural season in 1948.
The primary decade of what is change into the Cup Collection noticed a lot of parity with a number of drivers competing for championships. Lee Petty had essentially the most with three (1954, 1958-59). His son Richard grew to become the primary NASCAR driver to win seven championships, the primary in 1964. He additionally received titles in 1967, 1971-72, 1974-75 and 1979.
That was some of the dominant stretches in NASCAR historical past. Richard Petty nonetheless holds the report for many Cup Collection wins with 200.
One yr after Richard’s remaining title, a brand new champion was topped: Dale Earnhardt.
The North Carolina native took the mantle from Petty because the dominant drive in NASCAR. Earnhardt took his first Cup Collection title in 1980 and equaled Petty’s complete of seven championships with titles in 1986-87, 1990-91 and 1993-94. His driving model earned him many nicknames, together with “The Intimidator,” “Ironhead” and “The Man in Black,” a nod to his black No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet.
However for a lot of youthful NASCAR followers, Earnhardt is barely the stuff of legend. The seven-time champion died in a last-lap crash through the 2001 Daytona 500.
Now his children, Kelley Earnhardt Miller and longtime NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., have partnered with Amazon Prime on a brand new documentary collection titled “Earnhardt,” masking their father’s profession and the Earnhardt household.
Earnhardt Jr. and Earnhardt Miller each spoke with USA TODAY in regards to the documentary.
‘Earnhardt’ documentary origins
NASCAR’s gone by means of a number of period modifications since Earnhardt’s loss of life. One other driver has equaled his championship complete — Jimmie Johnson — and a brand new era of drivers are of their primes, together with the likes of Kyle Larson, William Byron, Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott.
“For me, I simply wished to introduce Dad and his greatness to a era of followers that hadn’t seen him race or did not perceive why he was so cherished or appreciated,” Earnhardt Jr. mentioned.
This documentary additionally offers viewers an opportunity to grasp Earnhardt’s story previous to his NASCAR profession.
“There’s been a number of completely different documentaries and items achieved however I do not assume something this complete,” Earnhardt Miller mentioned. “A form of human facet of our dad, not the racer, not all the time the racer that folks know. The daddy and the particular person and the good friend and all that he was to folks.”
What makes ‘Earnhardt’ completely different?
There isn’t any scarcity of media about Earnhardt. The 2004 ESPN movie “3: The Dale Earnhardt Story” and 2007’s “Dale – The Film” narrated by Paul Newman are among the different movies in regards to the NASCAR icon.
This new collection takes a wider view, together with concerning much less optimistic sides of the seven-time champion. It contains quite a lot of candid interviews that debate personal conversations Earnhardt had with mates and different drivers.
Each of Earnhardt’s youngsters felt it was necessary to be trustworthy about how he was with them.
“We have grown to grasp to inform this story, Dad’s story, which has been informed many, many occasions, to actually inform it was to be trustworthy,” Earnhardt Jr. mentioned. “Had we not, we might be simply regurgitating the identical ‘seven-time champion,’ ‘received this many races,’ ‘what an excellent man,’ ‘he is superb,’ ‘The Intimidator,’ that everyone is aware of and loves. However to do that venture justice, we needed to be trustworthy about what it was like being round him.”
Via this documentary, the 2 realized extra about their father. Earnhardt’s longtime good friend Hank Parker Sr. recounted a dialog during which Earnhardt mentioned he could not inform his youngsters he cherished them.
“(Parker) hangs up the cellphone along with his son and says, ‘I like you, son,'” Earnhardt Miller mentioned. “And when he hangs up, my dad says ‘that is not one thing I can say to my children.'”
“For me and Kelley to listen to that was unbelievable,” Earnhardt Jr. mentioned. “There is a couple little nuggets of that in there with (Parker) and different individuals who contributed to the venture that … I’d’ve by no means believed that was what Dad mentioned or how that went down.”
For Earnhardt Jr., it was an emotional watch to see the ultimate two episodes of the documentary along with his interviews included.
“Reliving one of many harder elements of your life … having to undergo that was tough,” Earnhardt Jr. mentioned. “However I wished on the finish for there to be this actually, actually superb venture. For (individuals who) won’t ever meet this man, this right here would possibly enable you get as shut as you probably can.”
watch ‘Earnhardt’
“Earnhardt” premieres on Prime Video on Thursday, Could 22. The primary two episodes are included within the premiere with the ultimate two set for launch on Could 29.
This coincides with NASCAR’s broadcast on the streaming service. Earnhardt Jr. can be a part of Prime Video’s broadcast group calling the Coca-Cola 600 this weekend from Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“They are going to come at it with a recent lens,” Earnhardt Jr. mentioned. “When you have a look at their broadcast of (Thursday Evening Soccer), they’ve new concepts, new methods of presenting the sport and expertise to the fan and I believe this can be very related.”
