Feb. 19, 1979, saw a historic Daytona 500 take place, and not just because Richard Petty ended his 45-race losing streak or because of Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough’s infamous fight in the closing moments. The 1979 Daytona 500 would be remembered for one major reason: Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s NASCAR debut.
Twenty-two years later, Earnhardt would become a seven-time Cup Series champion and one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers, with his entire journey well-documented — right up until the tragic 2001 Daytona 500.
With the fame Earnhardt earned, very little about him remained private. Fans believed they had seen and heard everything about the legendary driver, but an upcoming Amazon docuseries promises to reveal never-before-seen footage and stories.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Close Friend Reveals Special Details About Sr.’s Upcoming Docuseries
Twenty-four years after a basilar skull fracture took the life of one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers, Amazon Prime Video is set to release a four-part documentary covering Earnhardt’s life on and off the track.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s confidante, Mike Davis, took to X to share a trailer for the series. Having worked closely with the Earnhardt family for over two decades, Davis thought he knew everything about the former No. 3 driver. However, he revealed that Prime Video’s latest project offers a look at content even he had never seen before.
“Hear me, friends. I’ve worked with this family for more than 2 decades, which is to say I thought I’d seen and heard it all. I thought wrong. This docuseries contains footage I had never seen, stories I had never heard, and depths I never realized. Just wait,” Davis said via X.
Hear me, friends. I've worked with this family for more than 2 decades, which is to say I thought I'd seen and heard it all. I thought wrong. This docuseries contains footage I had never seen, stores I had never heard, and depths I never realized. Just wait. #Earnhardt https://t.co/XVfwIPper3
— Mike Davis (@MikeDavis88) March 17, 2025
As a producer of the series, Earnhardt Jr. has already seen the final product and shared his thoughts on what fans can expect.
He revealed that the series not only focuses on his father’s legacy but also provides a personal look at what it was like to be his son and part of the Earnhardt family. The younger Earnhardt also mentioned that the documentary will explore some of his father’s darker sides, which might be “a lot” for some viewers.
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Ron Howard, known for directing films such as “Rush,” is also a producer of the documentary, adding another layer of credible storytelling.
It makes sense when considering Earnhardt Sr.’s lasting impact on NASCAR. He wasn’t just a great driver — he was part of NASCAR’s history, and NASCAR is part of the Earnhardt family’s history.
Even Earnhardt’s tragic passing changed the sport forever. It led to the installation of SAFER barriers at tracks and the introduction of Head and Neck Safety (HANS) devices, making modern NASCAR safer than ever before.
The documentary, titled “Earnhardt,” is set to premiere on Memorial Day weekend on Amazon Prime Video. The release coincides with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where Earnhardt Jr. will make his debut in the broadcast booth for the event.