PART SIX: ATLANTA – 500 Days: Lost Storylines of the 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup Season

Mike Skinner once called the Atlanta Motor Speedway the “Earnhardt Speedway” for how dominant his teammate had been at the track’s 1.5-mile oval. Skinner said so in March 2000, just minutes after a blown engine kept him from his first Winston Cup victory, and moments before Earnhardt would win there for a ninth time. Now without Earnhardt in the 43-car field, would Skinner finally break through – or perhaps his new teammate, rookie Kevin Harvick, who rolled into the race fresh off his first Top Ten?

MUSIC
“Epic Movie Documentary Trailer” – Sergio Productions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtnt-KAzxU8
“Epicness Cinematic Dramatic Trailer” – Roman Senyk Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB5UtRZBihc
“Bravery” – Roman Senyk Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSQab8QbtMs

VIDEO CREDITS
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjZQnMo0uMCFYg5KxE78kjwN0_hmSca_8

PHOTOS
Bryan Hallman, BRH Racing Archives

INTERVIEWS
Special thanks to Richard Childress

CHAPTERS
0:00 – Intro
4:25 – Monday, March 5, 2001
5:41 – Tuesday, March 6, 2001
7:51 – Wednesday, March 7, 2001
10:48 – Thursday, March 8, 2001
15:02 – Friday, March 9, 2001
19:58 – Saturday, March 10, 2001
37:48 – Sunday, March 11, 2001

SOURCES
Jayski’s Silly Season Site

ARTICLES
Bell, Adam. “Conover site to help NASCAR’s R&D operation,” The Charlotte Observer, March 6, 2001.
Carvell, Michael. “Todd Bodine suddenly hot,” The Atlanta Constitution, March 9, 2001.
Clegg, Guerry. “A fate neatly wrapped,” Ledger-Enquirer, March 12, 2001.
Finney, Mike. “Learning Curve,” The News Journal, March 8, 2001.
Finney, Mike. “Safer cars not on fast track,” The News Journal, March 8, 2001.
Fleischman, Bill. “NASCAR feels the crush of calls for more safety,” Philadelphia Daily News, March 8, 2001.
Fowler, Scott. “In wake of Earnhardt tragedy, NASCAR needs to come clean,” The Courier, March 8, 2001.
Fryer, Jenna. “Labonte heads to Atlanta needing win,” The Leaf-Chronicle, March 9, 2001.
Galey, Leo. “Nadeau not just a new kid on the block,” The Lima News, March 9, 2001.
Leusner, Jim and Henry Pierson Cutis, “Experts: view autopsy photos,” The Orlando Sentinel, March 11, 2001.
Litke, Jim. “It’s not the time to look away,” The Commercial Appeal, March 9, 2001.
Mayo, Michael. “Right to know, right to grieve,” South Florida Sun Sentinel, March 7, 2001.
Minter, Rick. “Beginner’s luck at AMS,” The Atlanta Constitution, March 9, 2001.
Morrissey, Rick. “Truth not sole possession of NASCAR officials,” The Paducah Sun, March 7, 2001.
Schneider, Mike. “Newspaper feels wrath over Earnhardt autopsy photos,” The Paducah Sun, March 7, 2001.
Turner, Christa. “Triumphant Tribute,” Ledger-Enquirer, March 12, 2001.
Utter, Jim. “Fresh faces: six drivers in battle to become the best of the Class of ’01,” The Courier, March 8, 2001

UNCREDITED ARTICLES
Associated Press. “Elliott ready to focus on racing again,” Poughkeepsie Journal, March 9, 2001.
Associated Press. “Restrictor break increases speeds,” The Cincinnati Enquirer, March 11, 2001.
Uncredited. “Hornaday at peace with Earnhardt,” The Macon Telegraph, March 11, 2001.
Uncredited. “Waltrip: HANS device isn’t restrictive,” The News Journal, March 12, 2001.