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| Photo credit to People.com |
Perhaps the most widely known man in NASCAR history had a near-death experience on August 15th. Retired racer-turned-television-broadcaster Dale Earnhardt, Jr. was flying with his family to the Bristol night race in Tennessee on his private jet.
Upon landing at the Elizabethton Municipal Airport, the private jet bounced and skidded on the runway, sliding eerily close to Tennessee Highway 91. Although the jet was quickly engulfed in flames, Earnhardt Jr, wife Amy, daughter Isla Rose, and both pilots all escaped to safety.
With private air travel being an integral part of NASCAR for race teams and broadcast crews alike, moments like this are harrowing reminders of how dangerous flying can be.
Upon the conclusion of the crash landing, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) was quickly on the scene to conduct a full investigation. While the process is ongoing, they have determined that the rough landing was caused by a right rear landing gear failure. While the pilots were attempting a 'go around' procedure, the plane bounced twice and slid to a stop in a ditch off the 4,500-foot runway.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr., is the son of 7-time NASCAR champion and Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt. Earnhardt, Jr. was a full time NASCAR driver from 1998 until his retirement in 2017. Since 2018, Earnhardt, Jr. has been a booth commentator for NBC Sports' NASCAR coverage. Dale, wife Amy, and their 1-year-old daughter Isla were traveling from their home in North Carolina to the Bristol Night Race in Tennessee.
NBC Sports gave Earnhardt, Jr. the weekend off from broadcasting after he was released from a local hospital. Dale later released that he would spend the upcoming off week to recover and spend more time alone with his family.
Not only will Dale, Jr. be back on the air this weekend, he will also be back on the track. Since his retirement from full time racing in the premier-level Cup Series, Earnhardt, Jr. has made 1 start every year in the second-tier Xfinity Series. He will race this weekend at South Carolina's Darlington Raceway, driving a car that looks like his legendary father's ride from 1976 in the 'Throwback Weekend.'
For those involved in major sports at a professional level, whether competing or broadcasting, private air travel is a key method of transportation. Earnhardt, Jr. and his family were more than lucky to escape this rough landing mostly uninjured, as the photos and videos taken at the scene had many fearing the worst. In due time the NTSB investigation will conclude, and a cause for this crash will be determined.
Photo credit to People.com
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