_{*Quick Summary: The author discusses his final meeting with Dale Earnhardt at a commercial filming in January 2001.*}

This is a post about a commercial that never was. I should pause here – IF the commercial has aired, I’ve never seen it. See, we were contracted to supply a #24 DuPont showcar for a commercial for Union 76 in January, 2001 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Eleven years ago today. Because all my showcar drivers were busy, and the location was close, I took the car there myself.

This would be the last time I would see or speak with Dale Earnhardt. Just one month before his death, it may have been the last commercial he filmed. Simply knowing I got to see him so close to his passing has been a memory that has been special, even if the interaction was quick.

I had been at the track, along with the other team’s showcar drivers, since a little before 6:00 AM on the morning of January 16th, 2001. By the time Dale got there later, closer to mid-day, I was already tired and hungry. Being in a holding pattern, and not having anything to do with my car at the moment, I decided to take a break by my truck. I was sitting on the asphalt, leaning against the tire, head down, “resting my eyes”, when I heard a car coming. I looked up just in time to move my legs out of the way of a black Corvette, coming to a fast stop right beside me. A little annoyed at how fast the driver whipped in, and how close they came to hitting my legs, I looked up with full intentions of giving them a piece of my mind, when Dale Earnhardt stepped out of the car, walked around to the passenger side, which was closest to me, and opened the door for his wife Teresa. He closed her door and looked down at me with a half-grin on his face and said, “Were you asleep? Did I wake you up?” To which I replied, “No Sir. How ya’ doin’ Dale?” He followed up with, “Uh huh. Typical worthless-ass showcar driver. Asleep on the job.” I was a little offended by that because I’d been there for several hours already, I wasn’t actually asleep (yet), as best I could tell we were all waiting the last couple of hours for HIM, and it had been a long time since I was a showcar driver, so I cockily responded, “I’m the Showcar Manager.” Dale didn’t miss a beat with his retort – “Oh! I’m sorry! You’re KING of the worthless-ass showcar drivers!” and walked away. I had to laugh at that one! He got me good, and I just got to chat with a Seven-Time Winston Cup Champ, so I considered the day was looking up a bit. Of course, I wasn’t going to be caught “resting my eyes” any more, especially not by Dale, so I jumped up and decided to wipe my showcar down for the third or fourth time so far that day, and at least try to look busy while I was waiting.

With Dale there, things progressed quickly, and shooting took on a very hurried feel. He left, we shot a few more things, and that was a wrap. I was looking forward to seeing the finished product on the screen, but I never did. Of course, he would die a month later, and I assume Union 76 pulled the ad, as I didn’t recall seeing it on the Daytona 500 broadcast. Regardless, similar to my first interaction with Dale, the last one also stays with me. Good stuff for somebody who was a fan of his, even when it wasn’t good for my career to say so.

Below is my show dispatch from this event.