Earnhardt-Vickers Confrontation (Dale Earnhardt Survives)

The Earnhardt-Vickers Confrontation was the last documented post-race altercation that Dale Earnhardt Sr. got in. During the 2006 UAW-Ford 500, Dale Earnhardt Sr. filled in for Dale Jr.'s regular spotter for this race, guiding his son around the track. The race restarted on lap 178, with Earnhardt Jr. leading Johnson and Vickers. That lap, Burton (in fifth) had a flat left rear tire and lost a lap. The field then formed a single line, with most remaining in that formation for the rest of the race. Dale Earnhardt Sr. kept instructing Jr. on the final laps, trying desperately to get his son the win, telling him to watch for when Johnson would make a move on the last lap. On the final lap, Johnson and Vickers left turn two with Johnson moving out of line to pass Earnhardt Jr.. Dale Earnhardt Sr. told Dale Jr. to get down and block quick, which he attempted to do, when Vickers tried to move out with Johnson to provide drafting assistance, he clipped Johnson's right rear quarter panel. Johnson clipped Earnhardt Jr.'s left rear corner panel sending both drivers into the infield. The yellow flag went out and the field was frozen in place, with the order of finish determined by where the drivers were when the caution began. This gave Vickers the victory (the first of his career), although he was booed by the crowd and ended up in a physical altercation with Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Earnhardt was very angry, adamant that Vickers had wrecked his son on purpose via Jimmie Johnson. Earnhardt was also furious as the move looked very similar to the move Ernie Irvan made to Earnhardt Sr. a decade prior, that had almost killed him. Sr. reportedly walked into victory lane just as celebrations concluded, pushed Vickers into his car then lifted him up and told him not to do anything like that again, before winding up his fist but not punching. He then dropped the stunned Vickers and walked away with his normal Intimidator swagger as the crowd roared. Earnhardt was fined $50,000 dollars for his actions; he later stated he didn't care, as long as he got his message across. Vickers declined to comment on the situation.
Category:Dale Earnhardt Survives