Earnhardt

Through 2 episodes, so far this has been an excellent documentary series. If you're a fan of Earnhardt, there's not really any new information here, but there is a lot of excellent footage that I hadn't seen before. If you're not a racing fan, and just curious about this racing icon, it's a great watch. So far, it's done an excellent job of showing who he was, both the good and the bad. Even if you're not a fan of auto racing, it's worth a watch if you're interested in American success stories. This was a guy who came from nothing and became an icon in motorsports. NASCAR wishes they had a driver that made people as interested in their series as people were when guys like Earnhardt and Gordon were still in the seat.

To start there's 2 reasons I'm not giving this a 10. 1st it's a smidge too long. A lot of extra stuff and this could have been condensed to 3 episodes. 2nd where is Teresa and her and dales daughter? I find that very interesting they aren't in a documentary about the Earnhardt family that is focused on dale. They're Earnhardts. She claims he was the "love of" her life during the HOF induction. But can't appear on a documentary portraying history for folks like myself and others? Then whatever the lawsuits were about photos? Contract dispute with jr and his sister? Very interesting... Anyways, this was very eye opening about dale Earnhardt and how he was. I was born in 87 so I knew about him growing up but I was a football fan as was my dad. And basketball heck even hockey and baseball. NASCAR just wasn't a big thing like they portray it. But dale was like MJ. He made the sport. And then jr carried the torch.

This was a good doc to explain the relationship between dale and his family. It was not really good imo. It's a shame for jr. I mean he sacrificed his family for fame. Sure they've all panned out I supposed in the end but is it worth it? Interesting right? One of the tales as old as time when it comes to professional athletes and their families. It makes you wonder like if you could go pro but not see your kids or your wife but be a big dog in the sport would you do it?

I'd prob not personally. I'd say most people I know prob wouldn't. But then again, that's why we aren't legends in sports maybe...

As Episode 1 of "Earnhardt" (2025 release; 4 episodes ranging from 59 to 72 min) opens, it is "1979" and Dale Earnhardt, then 28 yo, competes in his first season of NASCAR, and promptly wins Rookie of the Year honors. NASCAR was wildly popular in the Southeast, where there were very few professional sports in the 60's and 70's. We learn that Dale's dad Ralph was himself quite good on the off-road car races. At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: it is true that Dale Earnhardt is the central figure of this documentary series. It shows that Earnhardt was very driven and ambitious, and would do anything for his sport and for winning. If that means that the family, in particular the kids, suffer from Dal's absence, that was the price he was willing to pay. Dale Jr. And Kelly are quite forthcoming about it all, and do not hold back. But this documentary mini-series is about more than just Dale. It's in fact a mini-capsule of how NASCAR developed from a regional sport into the juggernaut it eventually became in the late 90's and early 00's (which is when I was a huge NASCAR fan, going to races all over the country). Absolutely fascinating stuff. The mini-series benefits from a ton of home footage that was unearthed, including of course from the Earnhardt family.

"Earnhardt" started streaming recently on Amazon Prime, where I watched this just the other night. If you are an Earnhardt fan, but also even if you are not even a fan of NASCAR all that much, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

From start to finish, "Earnhardt" was one of the best documentary series I've ever watched. Bravo to all involved.

The story of Dale Earnhardt Sr. - aka The Intimidator, an American icon whose fame transcended the sport of stock car racing - is well known.

What was less well known to now was the complicated life the 7-time NASCAR Cup Series champion led, and how it affected those around him, not least of which were his kids, Dale Jr., Kelley and Kerry.

"Earnhardt" lifts the lid on Dale Sr. The man, separate to Dale Sr. The racer, and it is fascinating.

A brilliant mix of broadcast footage, current-day interviews with the people who knew Earnhardt the best, and home video-type footage is woven together perfectly to tell the warts-and-all story of one of the greatest drivers - and most complicated personalities - to ever do it.

A triumph - the last episode, especially.

This is a great documentary. There aren't too many talking head interviews... and they cut back and forth to the family members, friends and competitors of the famous, or rather infamously strategically wreckless NASCAR driver, so you get a life story alongside a study to how important everything is in all aspects covered concerning race car driving...

Movies should be done this well about racing... You never really understand what the strategy of going around in circles but you do here, so it's a riveting study and not too much of a propaganda piece, like so many docs are nowadays...

The only big critique is why Amazon would drop the first 2 of 4 episodes and then wait a week for the next...

But that's over with and the last two episodes are very moving... Tragic and yet with an optimistic ending, about family... They could have centered a bit on the controversy surrounding the crash, but... overall an incredible doc.