In order to appreciate the full magnitude of the legendary 1999 Night Race finish, where Dale Earnhardt bumped his way past on-track rival and off-track friend Terry Labonte en route to his ninth Bristol Motor Speedway victory, you need to jump into a time machine and head back to the 1995 Night Race.
It was here where all of this madness started. On that night, Labonte was leading on the final lap and Earnhardt applied the bumper to his car while it was heading out of turn four. Somehow Labonte managed to keep his Chevy out in front and took the checkered flag in dramatic fashion. His car crossed the finish line sideways with tire smoke billowing in the distance as he ultimately careened into the outside retaining wall. In Victory Lane, he and his team stood proudly by his mangled machine which was spewing steam and liquids.
Presented with a similar late race scenario in ’99, The Intimidator wasn’t going to be denied as he approached Labonte’s Chevy after the white flag was waived.
This time, Earnhardt popped the bumper on Labonte’s No. 5 Kellogg’s Chevy in turn two, sending the Texan into the outside wall and then careening down into race traffic before coming to a stop on the inside wall. Earnhardt, meanwhile, powered his black No. 3 Chevy on around the track and took the checkered flag.
In Victory Lane Earnhardt famously said, “I didn’t mean to wreck him, I just meant to rattle his cage.”
You could barely hear Earnhardt talking with ESPN pit reporter Jerry Punch after the race. That’s because thousands of BMS fans were letting Earnhardt know they weren’t pleased with how the race ended.
“It was the only time in my career covering Earnhardt where I remember Earnhardt getting booed mercilessly,” said longtime ESPN reporter Marty Smith. “He got out of his car in Victory Lane and all those crazy sparks went off and it sounded like he was the most hated man in the sport. The amazing thing is Bristol is known as Earnhardt country. What a fantastic night and man, ol’ Terry was pissed.”
Labonte, who earned the nickname the Iceman due to his mild-mannered persona, said that he was pretty angry following the incident and that Earnhardt had crossed the line that time. He later said he had planned to retaliate immediately by putting his car in reverse so he could ram it into the side of Earnhardt’s machine when he rolled back around the track on the cooldown lap. However, when Labonte had Earnhardt’s winning machine in his sights and mashed the gas in frustration to slam into it, his car tore the gear out and wouldn’t move.
“Everybody said I was so calm after the race,” Labonte said. “But I wouldn’t have been if that hadn’t have happened.”
Two decades later the race still draws water cooler conversations and the video of the final laps is a YouTube sensation.
“That race is certainly one of the greatest finishes in all of NASCAR history, if not the single greatest finish,” said Jerry Caldwell, executive vice president and general manager, Bristol Motor Speedway. “During the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race this year we are going to have some fun looking back at that race as we remember how important it was to the sport and the industry. It set the standard for exciting finishes and it serves as a great reminder to fans each and every time that they walk into The Last Great Colosseum that a similar thrilling finish is only 500 laps away.”
Bristol Motor Speedway officials will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the epic 1999 Night Race finish during the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race, August 15-17 at The Last Great Colosseum.
As part of that celebration, on Tuesday, July 30, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, N.C., several participants from that race will share their memories and tell some great stories about that night during the “1999 Night Race Rewind” event, hosted by Bristol Motor Speedway. The event starts at 2 p.m. and is open to the public. A ticket to the NASCAR Hall of Fame is required for entry.
Panel guests will include Earnhardt’s team owner Richard Childress, Labonte, his then crew chief Andy Graves, ESPN pit reporter Dr. Jerry Punch and longtime Richard Childress Racing crew member members Larry McReynolds and Chocolate Myers. The panel will be hosted and moderated by PRN President Doug Rice.
In four weeks, NASCAR fans will once again be able to cheer on their favorite drivers and watch some amazing finishes as the greatest stock car drivers in the world battle on the all-concrete high banks. Perhaps another finish just as thrilling as the Earnhardt-Labonte battles of the ‘90s will take place when Bristol dominator Kyle Busch, his brother and defending Night Race winner Kurt Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Kevin Harvick, defending series champion Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott, Jimmie Johnson and Ryan Blaney will all be looking to take home the Gladiator sword from The Last Great Colosseum during the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race.
During the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race weekend you’ll definitely want to take advantage of so many activities to make a complete weekend of family fun, including great video entertainment provided by Colossus TV, the world’s largest center-hung video screen, premium VIP experiences like the Chairman’s Experience, tailgating, a visit to the Kids Zone, on-site camping, concerts, great food and beverages in the concession stands throughout the property, and so much more.
If you want to bring the entire clan out to experience the amazing fun that is America’s Night Race, Bristol Motor Speedway officials are making it easier than ever for families to enjoy the weekend. Kids’ tickets (12 and under) are free and adult tickets are $30 for Thursday’s (Aug. 15) UNOH 200 and Bush’s Beans 150 doubleheader. On Friday (Aug. 16), kids’ tickets are free and adult tickets start at $30 for the Food City 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race and Pinty’s Qualifying for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race. On Saturday night (August 17) adult tickets start at $65 for the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race and kids’ tickets are $10. For all races, each child must have a physical ticket in hand to enter the gates. The Bristol Motor Speedway ticket office is the only authorized location that can produce the free kids’ tickets.
To purchase tickets to the Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race, please call 423-BRISTOL or buy them online at www.BRISTOLTIX.com. For a limited time, tickets can also be purchased directly from any neighborhood Food City store.
BMS PR
