DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. and LOS ANGELES — NASCAR Studios and FOX Sports today announced “We’ve Lost Dale Earnhardt: 25 Years Later,” a powerful new original documentary marking the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Daytona 500, the race that forever changed NASCAR and American motorsports. Premiering Thursday, Feb. 12 at 10 p.m. ET following the NASCAR Cup Series American 250 Duels on FS1, the film is told through exclusive first-person accounts, rare home video, archival broadcast footage and cinematic storytelling, revisiting the death of seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt and examining the profound ripple effects that continue to shape the sport and its culture 25 years later.
“FOX Sports’ partnership with NASCAR allows us to tell the stories that define the heart of the sport, and through this film, we are honored to spotlight Dale Earnhardt, one of the most iconic and influential figures in NASCAR, and carry his legacy forward,” said Barry Nugent, vice president, development & original programming, FOX Sports. “This documentary explores the man behind the wheel and goes beyond a single day in history to delve into how one moment forever changed the sport and continues to impact drivers competing today.”
Dale Earnhardt faces the camera with a serious look with the title “We
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On the final lap of NASCAR’s biggest race, Earnhardt was lost in a moment that stunned fans, competitors, broadcasters and the nation. His death was more than a tragedy; it was a rupture in the heart of the sport. “We’ve Lost Dale Earnhardt: 25 Years Later” explores that day and its aftermath not just through competition, but through the emotional, cultural and human impact felt by those inside and far beyond the race track.
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Even 25 years later, Earnhardt remains one of the most iconic figures in all of sports, transcending NASCAR to become a symbol of American identity, grit and fandom. Part mythology, part time capsule and part love letter, the documentary examines how Earnhardt became bigger than the sport itself and why his legacy endures with such intensity today.
The documentary features intimate reflections from former NASCAR President Mike Helton, 2001 Daytona 500 competitors Rusty Wallace and Kurt Busch, as well as Kurt’s younger brother and NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, who was at that fateful race. It also features insights from NASCAR Cup Series champions Joey Logano and Ryan Blaney, along with “Malcolm in the Middle” star/current NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Frankie Muniz, who was the honorary pace car driver at the race, in addition to former NASCAR and FOX Sports media personnel Ryan McGee and Patti Wheeler.
“When Mike Helton announced that ‘We’ve lost Dale Earnhardt,”” it’s one of those rare moments when you remember where you were when you heard that devastating news,” said John Dahl, NASCAR SVP of content. “Through the prism of those indelible words, this documentary explores that fateful day and the profound impact it continues to have a quarter-century later.”
Key storylines include the unprecedented challenge faced by FOX Sports’ broadcast team as they covered the unimaginable live on air in the network’s first NASCAR race broadcast, the weight carried by Helton as he delivered the words that would echo forever, the sweeping safety revolution that followed and the influence Earnhardt continues to have on today’s stars and generations of fans.
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“We’ve Lost Dale Earnhardt: 25 Years Later” was directed by Justin Burnett, produced by Griffin Van Malssen, Ariana Rotstein, Carl Hansen, Michael Vayder and Rita O’Dea, and executive produced by Eric Shanks, Brad Zager, Tim Clark, John Dahl, Tally Hair and Barry Nugent.
