By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: IMDB/Prime Video
The second episode of the Earnhardt documentary series, The Intimidator, is the title of the episode, and it focuses on how he got the nickname.
He earned the nickname because of his aggressive racing style and his name-calling of other drivers, especially Geoff Bodine. To give credit to Bodine, he didn’t get out of the way or back down to Earnhardt.
In this episode, Earnhardt hungers to chase Richard Petty’s seven championships. Earnhardt was obsessed with winning. That’s all he focused on—winning races and championships. One of the most significant changes in Earnhardt’s career was when he and Richard Childress began working with a new sponsor, Goodwrench.
When Earnhardt and Childress joined forces with Goodwrench and Earnhardt driving the black car, it was a game changer, and they started winning more races. 1990 is one of the best driving seasons for Earnhardt.
Episode two had some tough scenes and moments, and it was quite emotional, too. You can’t help but feel bad for Dale Jr. when he was sent to military school during his teen years. He felt homesick and alone. His sister, Kelley, is a tough customer and independent.
Kelley is strong-willed. She was always there for Dale Jr., and without her, his youth would’ve been much more challenging. Kelley eventually stopped doing things to please her father.
The saddest moment in the documentary is Neil Bonnett’s death. No one meant more to Dale Sr. on the race track than Bonnett. Dale Sr. had no friends when he was driving, but it was different with Bonnett.
Bonnett never liked to slow down. Racing was his passing. He lived, ate, and slept racing. Bonnett was stubborn and wouldn’t let anyone limit him when it came to driving.
When Bonnett died in 1994 due to an accident while practicing on the track, it rocked NASCAR to the core, and it rocked Dale Sr to the core. Dale Sr didn’t go to his funeral; that was his best friend.
Dale Sr channeled all his sadness and anger into his work. When he won the championship in 1994, he dedicated it to Bonnett. Losing his best friend was tough, and he never found anyone with whom he could share a bond like Bonnett again.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
X: @mmm_sportnfilms, Instagram: @miguel_passionforsports and @themmmjournal, LinkedIn: The MMM Journal, TikTok: @miguelmikemedina
