A later investigation revealed that Earnhardt's car struck the concrete retaining wall at a heading angle (angle of the vehicle measured from the wall face to the center-line of the car at point of impact) of between 55–59°, combined with a trajectory angle of 13.6° (path of vehicle approaching the wall) and an estimated speed between 157 and 161 mph (253 and 259 km/h).
‘Sebuah penyelidikan kemudian mengungkapkan bahwa mobil Earnhardt menghantam dinding penahan beton pada sudut kemiringan (sudut kendaraan diukur dari dinding muka ke garis pusat titik dampak mobil) antara 55-59°, dikombinasikan dengan sudut lintasan 13,6° (jalur kendaraan yang mendekat dinding) dan kecepatan diperkirakan antara 157 sampai 161 mph (253 sampai 259 km / jam).