This is probably one of the most remembered moments in NASCAR. Heck, when you ask a driver what the most controversial moment was, 9 times out of ten they will say that 'Pass in the Grass' was. I am kinda skeptical about it, though. For one, there wasn't really a pass. But in all fairness, it was a pretty cool move by my favorite driver of all time.
After two mostly uneventful runnings, in 1987, a new format was introduced for NASCAR's all-star event, The Winston at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (Following the new numbering format used by the race in 2008, this race is retroactively now known "Sprint All-Star Race III".) Two segments – 75 and 50 laps, respectively – were concluded with a 10-lap "trophy dash" sprint to the finish. With 7 laps to go, Dale Earnhardt led Bill Elliott in turn four. Towards the quad-oval, Elliott pushed his nose underneath Earnhardt, attempting to take the lead. Earnhardt swiped the car over to block, but slid into the infield grass. He was able to maintain control, veered back onto the track, back in front of Elliott, and held onto the lead. Earnhardt muscled his way around the track over the final six laps, and won. The event has since been become one of the most popular events on the calendar.
Here is the video of it:
[youtube=640,480]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbMZVAr43Kw[/youtube]
If you look, this was in 1987. It was before the Black #3 was born, and Sr. still had Wrangler as his sponsor. Bill Elliott is driving the #9 car. Above all things reality wise here. It is an oxymoron to see Bill Elliott complain about someone cheating. Mainly for the fact that him and his brother are the single reason why they have the rules they have in place. The Elliott Brother were constantly cheating. Of course today they would call it being innovative.
