Dale Earnhardt's quest for that eight Winston Cup championship had a chance in 2001. The series has never been more competitive- as many as 10, perhaps 15, drivers could legitimately claim a solid chance at winning the '01 title- but signs pointed to another strong Earnhardt run. The most obvious sign was his performance during the 2000 season, in which he finished second only to the dominating Pontiac of Bobby Labonte.

Another, perhaps more important, fact: Dale and his teams at Dale Earnhardt, Inc. and Richard Childress Racing were the lead developers of the 2000 Monte Carlo- a solid car that seemed to be getting better. 
The last time a new Chevy had been introduced- in 1995- the lead development team (Hendrick Motorsports) went on a Winston Cup championship binge and catapulted Jeff Gordon to stardom. This time, Dale Earnhardt was the lead driver of the lead development team. 
Though the 2000 Monte Carlo was not nearly as succesful as the 1995 version, the Chevy teams were able to use the 2000 car to stem the onslaught of the Fords and Pontiacs. In 2000, Chevy teams held their own on the curcuit's down-force tracks, rather that automatically concede them as thy had in 1999.
In other words, Dale Earnhardt had the car and he had momentum. Sure, Speed Weeks seemed inauspicious. For the first time in 14 years, Dale didn't win the Budweiser Shootout or a Twin 125 or a IROC race. No one knows why. 
But Daytona disappointment was never an indicator of future Dale success. Perhaps the better indication of what awaited was Dale's demeanor. 
He was more relaxed than ever. When Eddie Cheever ran him off the road in the IROC race- precipitating a spectacular save by Dale- the Intimidator gave him a harmless shove on the cool-down lap, then laughed it off by giving a nervous Cheever a pat on the back after the race. 
Before the Daytona 500, a TV reporter preparing to interview Dale nearly had to wake him up first, so completely was Dale at ease with his situation. 

In those now-famous last scenes on pit road with his son, Dale Jr., and wife, Teresa, Dale seemed content and ultra confident in his team's potential. 
He even predicted a win for Michael Waltrip's No.15 Chevy. Then came the wreck, the tears, the mouring.
As usual, Dale Earnhardt left NASCAR fans guessing and wishing they had more. We love you, we'll missing you.