Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip are taken out in the same crash. Credit: CIA Stock Photo

Earnhardt Jr., Waltrip fall victim early at Talladega

TALLADEGA, Ala. -- Richie Gilmore stood on the lift gate of the No. 15 transporter, arms folded, face stoic, surveying a mangled NAPA Chevrolet that served as a tangible microcosm of the 2005 season for Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

"Been that kind of year," Gilmore said. "If it's going to happen ..."

It does happen.

	Inside the Numbers Dale Earnhardt Jr. 2005 Category No. Starts 29 Wins 1 Top-5 6 Top-10 11 DNF 4

Off to Gilmore's left was the No. 8 Chevy, equally destroyed. His drivers, Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt, Jr., flanked him, chuckling a bit in disbelief of what had just happened.

Both cars were laser-quick, knifing through the field on Lap 19 when Jimmie Johnson got into Elliott Sadler, triggering a multicar pileup in Turn 1 that collected Sadler, Earnhardt, Johnson, Mike Skinner and Mark Martin.

"No idea what happened," Earnhardt said. "They checked up for something. I think [Johnson] and [Sadler] got together and had to slow down. We were all real tight there together, and I hit [Johnson].

"Just can't stop, can't do anything about it. You're going too fast. If you turn left you know you're doomed. That was a wild crash behind me. Glad Michael's OK."

Among the overall chaos, Waltrip's wreck was by far the most spectacular individual accident. Waltrip was tapped in the right rear by Martin -- who'd already bounced off of Earnhardt -- and sent barrel rolling through the corner twice before impacting the Turn 2 wall.

Early exitMartin, Junior, Waltrip knocked out of the race at 'Dega Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

"If somebody turns the pole-sitter it's going to be a big wreck, and unfortunately that's what happened," Waltrip said. "I start these races knowing three things: that I'm as safe as I can be, that SAFER barriers are my friend, and I'm not going to cause a wreck.

"That's all I can do. After that, you just pray."

Waltrip's account of the wild ride was classic Mikey.

"I was watching the world go upside right, upside wrong, upside right, upside wrong. I was following along," he said. "It was pretty cool, actually. Once I stopped tumbling I was more concerned, because I had pretty good momentum when I was flipping and I didn't want to come to a sudden stop. Those will hurt you."

	Inside the Numbers Michael Waltrip 2005 Category No. Starts 29 Wins 0 Top-5 3 Top-10 7 DNF 7

Losing two speedway cars in one fell swoop hurts DEI.

"We're pretty disappointed," Gilmore said. "We had really happy hopes going into [Sunday]. All three cars were very good, and to lose two of them in one wreck is just heartbreaking.

"That's a very expensive wreck, right there. Plus the hours the guys put in on these speedway cars. But they knew we were here. It's part of these plate races. We had two cars that could win."

Earnhardt, standing in front of his car as his team ripped the wreckage apart, could only grin.

"My car was super fast, man. It was awesome," he said. "We'll save up for next year, see if we can't afford some, then. I ain't too disappointed. The car was real, real good.

"They cut the body off this thing and just put this body on it. All that work. Those boys stayed late and put this body together. It sucks for that reason. But it was fast, so that's cool."

"Maybe we'll get all that bad luck gone this year and come back to contend with [Martin Truex, Jr.] and [Earnhardt] for a championship next year," Gilmore said. "Man, just been this kind of year for us."