By Kelly Crandall - Jan 27, 2026, 1:00 PM ET

New documentary explores impact of Earnhardt's death, 25 years on

Fox Sports and NASCAR Studios have announced a new documentary about the death of Dale Earnhardt, which will premiere the week leading into the season-opening Daytona 500.

“We’ve Lost Dale Earnhardt: 25 Years Later” will air at 10 p.m. ET, Feb. 12, on Fox Sports 1 following the two qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway. It features first-person accounts, home video, and archival broadcast footage to revisit the death of Earnhardt and its impact on the sport. Those included in the project are former NASCAR president Mike Helton, Rusty Wallace, Kurt and Kyle Busch, and former media personnel Ryan McGee and Patti Wheeler.

“FOX Sports’ partnership with NASCAR allows us to tell stories that define the heart of the sport and through this film, we are honored to spotlight Dale Earnhardt, one of the most iconic and influential figures in NASCAR and carry his legacy forward,” said Barry Nugent, Vice President, Development & Original Programming, FOX Sports.

“This documentary explores the man behind the wheel and goes beyond a single day in history to delve into how one moment forever changed the sport and continues to impact drivers competing today.”

A seven-time NASCAR champion and one of the sport’s most popular and impactful figures, Earnhardt was killed on the final lap of the Daytona 500 in Feb. 2001. It was Helton who stood in front of the media in Daytona that afternoon and announced Earnhardt’s death.

The documentary's title is derived from the words Helton used in 2001.

“When Mike Helton announced ‘We’ve lost Dale Earnhardt,’ it’s one of those rare moments when you remember where you were when you heard that devastating news,” said John Dahl, NASCAR SVP of Content. “Through the prism of those indelible words, this documentary explores that fateful day and the profound impact it continues to have a quarter-century later.”

The documentary is directed by Justin Burnett and executive produced by Tim Clark, John Dahl, and Tally Hair of NASCAR Studios. Eric Shanks, Brad Zager, and Barry Nugent were involved from the Fox Sports side. Ariana Rotstein, Carl Hansen, Michael Vayder, Rita O’Dea, and Griffen Van Malssen serve as producers.