“I don’t think I could forget”: Jeff Gordon ‘forgiving’ Dale Sr. despite an unforgettable disaster resurfaces in a recent NASCAR update

Jeff Gordon was once asked about his conversation with Dale Earnhardt Sr. at the Phoenix Raceway in 1994 when the latter questioned the former if he remembered the last year's wreck. The query stemmed from a crash that occurred between the two legendary NASCAR drivers a year ago at the 1993 Slick 50 500 at Phoenix. Gordon expressed the incident was unforgettable but said he forgave the Intimidator for his move.

20 years later, NASCAR Classic recently posted the late 90s talk.

Earnhardt Sr. was already a six-time Cup Series champion before he entered the 1993 Slick 50 500. The #3 Richard Childress Racing Chevy driver was the 11th fastest in qualifying, while the #24 Hendrick Motorsports rookie Jeff Gordon started in ninth.

However, a wreck between Dale Sr. and Gordon, even before half of the 312-lap event, changed the latter's fate. Gordon tried to outmaneuver Senior from the outside, but the RCR driver nudged the HMS driver's ride from the left rear. It spun Gordon, prompting the officials to issue a yellow.

The wreck was sufficient to mark Gordon's DNF. On the contrary, Earnhardt Sr. would post a fourth-place finish with two laps led. It's worth mentioning that the HMS rival was in control of the race, as he led 48 laps before the abrupt end.

A year after the incident, Jeff Gordon recalled the unforgettable moment. He mentioned forgiving Senior, praising his tough-to-outduel race prowess. Now, NASCAR Classics revisited the conversation, sharing it with the fanbase.

"I don't think I can ever forget last year, but I forgive (him). We race each other real hard and things happen out there but you know, he's (Dale Sr.) a tough driver...it's neat to race and try to learn from him," Gordon said via NASCAR Classics (0:39).

After recalling the incident, Gordon asked Senior if he learned anything from the wreck. However, Dale Sr. revealed what he took away from the race instead.

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Dale Earnhardt explains his learning after wrecking Jeff Gordon and Ken Schrader

Earnhardt revealed that before his tango with Jeff Gordon, he rammed into Ken Schrader. However, Schrader was none other than Gordon's Hendrick Motorsports teammate who started eight and finished 33rd at Phoenix.

Senior's second run-in with an HMS car made him realize he can't wreck into two team cars and not expect the rivals to team up against him.

"I learned something from it. I've gotten into Schrader earlier, then got together, and Schrader wrecked. Then I was racing Gordon later and got into him and he wrecked. So, I learned you can't wreck two team cars and look down on them to team up against you," Earnhardt said (1:01).

Jeff Gordon wrapped his rookie season in 14th place. However, his solitary pole, seven top-5s, and 11 top-10s earned him the Rookie of the Year honors. Two years later, in 1995, the HMS legend would claim his first-ever Cup Series championship. The dominance would follow with titles in 1997, 1998, and 2001. Now, William Byron pilots the iconic #24 Chevy.