Before LeBron, before Brady, there was Dale Earnhardt. This doc shows how a guy from Kannapolis, NC, turned grit, aggression, and raw instinct into one of the most dominant careers in racing history.
Shoutout to IDA for putting this one on our radar.
Trailer for “Earnhardt”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- The 2001 Daytona 500 ends with Dale Jr. and Michael Waltrip finishing 1–2…while Dale Sr. crashes on the final lap behind them. The celebration turns into tragedy within minutes.
Watch “Earnhardt”
You can watch “Earnhardt” on Prime Video.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 92/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: not yet rated
Director’s Note: This 4-part Prime Video docuseries leans heavily on archival race footage, family interviews, and insider NASCAR voices.
Release Date: May 22, 2025
Other Unique Stuff
- Earnhardt wins the NASCAR championship in just his second full season (1980). This was almost unheard of, and then it was immediately labeled as too aggressive by other drivers.
- He fully leans into being the villain, earning the nickname “The Intimidator” by bumping, nudging, and rattling competitors at 180+ mph.
- His partnership with Richard Childress is one of the core backbones of the story. Two underdogs who scaled from scrappy beginnings to building a full NASCAR dynasty.
- The doc makes a sharp contrast between Earnhardt on and off the track—a calculated, aggressive driver vs. a distant and demanding father, especially as Dale Jr. tries to follow in his footsteps.
Wrap Up:
“Earnhardt” is one of the best sports docuseries I’ve seen. It’s about what it costs to become a legend. And as an NC-native with family in the sport, I really connected with this one.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc