- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
KCTV5 First to Report Dale Earnhardt's Tragic Death
25 years ago, KCTV5 broke the news of NASCAR legend's passing before any other outlet.
Published on Feb. 17, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
On February 18, 2001, KCTV5 in Kansas City became the first news organization to report the death of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt following his crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500. KCTV5 meteorologist Bruce Thomas was at the track's hospital and informed the station of Earnhardt's passing, leading to KCTV5 being the sole outlet reporting the tragic news for over two hours before NASCAR officially announced it.
Why it matters
Earnhardt's death was a seismic event in the world of motorsports, and KCTV5's ability to break the news first before any other media outlet demonstrated the station's journalistic prowess and commitment to rapid, accurate reporting, even in the face of such a somber occasion.
The details
KCTV5 sports anchor Leif Lisec was anchoring that night when the initial reports of Earnhardt's crash came in. KCTV5 meteorologist Bruce Thomas, who was at the track's hospital with his mother, was able to directly confirm Earnhardt's death to the station. KCTV5 producer Joe Balian then made the decision to lead with the story, making them the only outlet reporting Earnhardt's passing for over two hours before NASCAR officially announced it.
- On February 18, 2001, Earnhardt was involved in a crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500.
- KCTV5 first reported Earnhardt's death over two hours before NASCAR officially announced the news.
The players
KCTV5
A television station in Kansas City, Missouri that was the first to report Dale Earnhardt's death following his crash at the 2001 Daytona 500.
Dale Earnhardt
A legendary NASCAR driver who was killed in a crash on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.
Bruce Thomas
A KCTV5 meteorologist who was at the track's hospital and directly confirmed Earnhardt's death to the station.
Leif Lisec
The KCTV5 sports anchor who was on the air when the station first reported Earnhardt's death.
Joe Balian
The KCTV5 producer who made the decision to lead the station's newscast with the report of Earnhardt's death.
What they’re saying
“Bruce Thomas calls the station and says 'Dale Earnhardt's dead.'”
— Leif Lisec, KCTV5 Sports Anchor (KCTV5)
“There was this young daughter and some nurses up against the wall with their heads down. And I just stepped in real close to the doctor. And I never even said anything and he just looked at me and he said, 'We're about to move the body. We're about to move the body.' And that's all I needed to know.”
— Bruce Thomas, KCTV5 Meteorologist (KCTV5)
“The decision to announce the death of anyone- especially a world-famous person like Dale Earnhardt- is a very serious undertaking.”
— Neal Jones, KCTV5 Sports Anchor (KCTV5)
What’s next
The KCTV5 team's quick and accurate reporting of Earnhardt's death cemented the station's reputation for breaking news and set a high standard for sports journalism that they would continue to uphold in the years to come.
The takeaway
KCTV5's ability to be the first to report Dale Earnhardt's tragic death in 2001, even before NASCAR itself, demonstrated the station's commitment to rapid, responsible journalism and their willingness to make difficult decisions in the face of a major breaking news event.
