NASCAR Documentary ‘Blink of an Eye’ Is An Emotional Look At a Daytona 500 Tragedy

Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s fateful friendship with driver Michael Waltrip is examined in this documentary about one of NASCAR’s darkest days.

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NASCAR documentary Blink of an Eye follows dead-end driver Michael Waltrip–who had the longest losing streak in perhaps all of sports history with 462 straight losses–and his star-crossed relationship with racing icon Dale Earnhardt Sr. 

On the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500, Waltrip miraculously held the lead with Dale Earnhardt Jr. in second place and Sr. in third. But instead of making his trademark, ruthless charge to the front of the pack, Earnhardt Sr. blocked the field of 40 cars to allow his friend to win his first checkered flag. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Unfortunately Waltrip never had the opportunity to celebrate with Earnhardt Sr., since the racing legend was killed on the last lap, in what most initially thought was a minor crash. 

“People are obviously capable of handling the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, but I don’t know how many people have had to experience them within seconds of each other,” an emotional Waltrip says in the trailer. 

Waltrip eventually returned to Daytona in a dramatic, unexpected fashion to pay homage to Earndhardt Sr. 

The film features interviews with Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Richard Childress, and a special cameo by country star Trace Adkins. 

Blink of an Eye is set to roar into theaters and streaming services this September.

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