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| Born: | April 29, 1951 | |
| Birthplace: | Kannapolis, North Carolina | |
| Died: | February 18, 2001 (aged 49) | |
| Cause of Death: | Basilar skull fracture from crash in Turn 4 on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. Events 1429 - Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orleans. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Kannapolis is a city in Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, and Rowan counties in the U Events 3102 BC - Epoch (origin of the Kali Yuga. 1229 - The Sixth Crusade: Frederick II Holy Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. A basilar skull fracture (or Basal skull fracture) is a linear Skull fracture involving the basilar bone of the Skull. The 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season began on February 11 and ended on November 23. | |
| Achievements: | 1980 / 1986 / 1987 / 1990 / 1991 / 1993 / 1994 Sprint Cup Series Champion
Sprint All-Star Race III, VI, and IX Winner 1990 / 1995 / 1999 / 2000 IROC Champion |
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| Awards: | 1979 NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie of the Year
Listed as one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers 2001 NASCAR Most Popular Driver |
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| NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Statistics | ||
| 677 races run over 27 years. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) The 1986 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season began February 16 and ended November 16. The 1987 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season began February 8 and ended November 22. The 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup began on Sunday February 11 and ended on Sunday November 18. The 1991 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began February 10 and ended November 17. The 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season began on February 7 and ended on November 14. The 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began on Sunday February 20 and ended on Sunday November 13. The 1998 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began on Sunday February 8 and ended on Sunday November 8. The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, formerly known as The Winston until 2004 then the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge from 2004 until 2007 is a race open to race winners Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers is a list of NASCAR drivers In 1998, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration NASCAR gathered a panel to select "The The 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season began on February 11 and ended on November 23. NASCAR's Most Popular Driver Award is awarded to the fans' favorite NASCAR driver See also 2002 (disambiguation Year 2002 ( MMII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is a Hall of Fame and museum in Novi Michigan for American motorsports legends Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame dedicated to enshrining those who have contributed the most to Auto racing either as a driver owner The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. | ||
| Best Cup Position: | 1st - 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994 | |
| First Race: | 1975 World 600 (Charlotte) | |
| Last Race: | 2001 Daytona 500 (Daytona) | |
| First Win: | 1979 Southeastern 500 (Bristol) | |
| Last Win: | 2000 Winston 500 (Talladega) | |
| Wins | Top Tens | Poles |
| 76 | 428 | 22 |
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. The Coca-Cola 600 (formerly the World 600) and also known as the "Coke 600" is a in length Stock car race held annually at Lowe's Motor Speedway Lowe's Motor Speedway (formerly Charlotte Motor Speedway) is a speedway in Concord North Carolina, north of Charlotte. The Daytona 500 is a 200-lap long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach Florida. Daytona International Speedway is a Superspeedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The Food City 500 is a 500 lap race NASCAR Sprint Cup race held on the track at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol Tennessee. Bristol Motor Speedway, originally known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track located in Bristol The AMP Energy 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama Talladega Superspeedway is a Motorsports complex located in Talladega Alabama United States The term " pole position " comes from the Horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole (April 29, 1951 – February 18, 2001) was an American race car driver, best known for his career driving stock cars in NASCAR's top division. Events 1429 - Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orleans. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Events 3102 BC - Epoch (origin of the Kali Yuga. 1229 - The Sixth Crusade: Frederick II Holy Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Stock car racing is a form of Automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Great Britain The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. Earnhardt had four children, Kerry, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, Dale Jr., and Taylor Earnhardt. Kerry Dale Earnhardt (born December 8 1969 in Kannapolis North Carolina) is the eldest son of the late seven time NASCAR Winston Cup Ralph Dale His widow, Teresa Earnhardt (whom he married in 1982) is the owner of Dale Earnhardt, Inc., the race team and merchandising corporation Earnhardt founded with her in February of 1980. Teresa Earnhardt ( née Houston) is the widow of Dale Earnhardt and mother of Taylor Nicole Earnhardt (born December 20 1988 Dale Earnhardt Inc is a NASCAR team based in Mooresville North Carolina. [1]
Earnhardt is known for his success in the Winston Cup Series, now known as the Sprint Cup Series. He won seventy-six races (including his only Daytona 500 victory in 1998), and his seven championships are tied for most all-time with Richard Petty. The Daytona 500 is a 200-lap long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach Florida. The 1998 Daytona 500 was run on February 15, 1998. It is memorable in that it marked Dale Earnhardt 's first Daytona 500 victory after 19 previous Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937) is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the Winston Cup Series His highly aggressive driving style made him a fan favorite and earned him the nicknames "Ironhead", "Mr. Restrictor Plate", "The Man in Black" and most famously, "The Intimidator. A Restrictor plate or air restrictor is a device installed at the intake of an engine to limit its power "
Earnhardt died in a last-lap crash during the 2001 Daytona 500,[2] the fourth NASCAR driver to die in a nine month period that began with the death of Adam Petty in May 2000. The 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season began on February 11 and ended on November 23. Adam Kyler Petty ( July 10, 1980 &ndash May 12, 2000) was an auto racing car driver Due in large part to overwhelming fan outcry, NASCAR began an intensive focus on safety that has seen the organization begin to require the use of head-and-neck restraints such as the HANS device, oversee the installation of SAFER barriers at all oval tracks, set rigorous new rules for seat-belt and seat inspection, develop a roof-hatch escape system (used briefly, but later eliminated), and develop a next-generation race car built with extra driver safety in mind, dubbed the Car of Tomorrow. The Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER barrier, sometimes called a soft wall, is a technology found primarily on oval automobile Race tracks and intended to make The Car of Tomorrow (CoT, occasionally called the "Car of Today"
Contents |
Early life
Earnhardt was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina on April 29, 1951 to Martha Coleman and Ralph Earnhardt, who was then one of the best short-track drivers in North Carolina. Kannapolis is a city in Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, and Rowan counties in the U Events 1429 - Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orleans. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Ralph Lee Earnhardt ( February 23, 1928 &mdash September 26, 1973) was a NASCAR racing legend Ralph won his one and only NASCAR Sportsman Championship in 1956. Although Ralph did not want his son to follow in his footsteps, Earnhardt would not be persuaded to give up his dream of racing, and even dropped out of high school to race. Ralph was a hard teacher for Earnhardt, and after Ralph died of a heart attack at his home in 1973, it took many years before Earnhardt felt as though he had finally "proven" himself to his father.
When he was 17, he married his first wife, Latane Key, in 1968. Key gave birth to Earnhardt's first son, Kerry, in 1969. They were subsequently divorced in 1970. In 1971, Earnhardt married his second wife, Brenda Gee (the daughter of NASCAR car builder Robert Gee), who gave birth to a daughter, Kelley, in 1972, and a son, Dale Jr. , in 1974. Not long after his second son was born Dale and Brenda divorced. Dale then married his last wife, Teresa.
NASCAR career
Early Winston Cup career
Dale Earnhardt began his Winston Cup career in 1975, making his first start at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina in the longest race on the Cup circuit, the World 600. Lowe's Motor Speedway (formerly Charlotte Motor Speedway) is a speedway in Concord North Carolina, north of Charlotte. The Coca-Cola 600 (formerly the World 600) and also known as the "Coke 600" is a in length Stock car race held annually at Lowe's Motor Speedway Earnhardt drove an Ed Negre car and finished 22nd in the race, one place ahead of his future car owner, Richard Childress. Richard Childress (born September 21, 1945 in Winston-Salem North Carolina) is a former NASCAR driver and successful team owner of Richard Earnhardt competed in 8 more races until 1979, when he joined Rod Osterlund Racing, in a season that included a rookie class of future stars - Earnhardt, Harry Gant and Terry Labonte. Rod Osterlund was a NASCAR Winston Cup car owner spanning from 1977 - 1981, and then again from 1989 - 1991. Harry Phil Gant (born January 10, 1940 in Taylorsville North Carolina) is a retired American racecar driver best known for driving the number 33 Skoal Terrance Lee Labonte (born November 16, 1956, in Corpus Christi Texas) is a NASCAR driver who now races part-time in the Sprint Cup Series
In his rookie season, Earnhardt won four poles (one race at Bristol), had 11 Top 5 finishes, 17 Top 10 finishes, and finished 7th in the points standings, in spite of missing four races because of a broken collarbone, winning Rookie of the Year honors. Bristol Motor Speedway, originally known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway is a NASCAR short track located in Bristol The NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award is presented to the first-year driver that has the best season in a NASCAR season
In his sophomore season, Earnhardt, now with 20-year old Doug Richert as his crew chief, began the season winning the Busch Clash. With wins at Atlanta, Bristol, Nashville, Martinsville, and Charlotte, Earnhardt won his first Winston Cup championship. Atlanta Motor Speedway (formerly Atlanta International Raceway) is an Intermediate track in Hampton Georgia, twenty miles (32 km south of Music City Motorplex is a NASCAR Whelen All-American Series racetrack located at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds near downtown Nashville Tennessee. Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation -owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Ridgeway Virginia. To this day, Earnhardt is the only driver in NASCAR Winston Cup history to win Rookie of the Year honors, and the following season win the NASCAR Winston Cup Championship.
In 1981, after Osterlund sold his team to J. D. Stacy during the season, Earnhardt left for Richard Childress Racing, and finished the season 7th in the points standings, despite not winning any races. RCR Enterprises LLC, doing business as Richard Childress Racing, is a NASCAR team fielding Chevrolets for Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer The following year, at Childress' suggestion, he joined car owner Bud Moore for the 1982 and 1983 seasons. Richard Childress (born September 21, 1945 in Winston-Salem North Carolina) is a former NASCAR driver and successful team owner of Richard Bud Moore may refer to Bud Moore (NASCAR owner, former NASCAR owner Bud Moore Engineering, his team Bud Moore During the 1982 season, Earnhardt struggled. Although he won at Darlington, he failed to finish 15 races, and completed the season 12th in the points standings, for his career worst finish. Darlington Raceway is a Race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington South Carolina. In 1983, Earnhardt rebounded and won his first of 12 Twin 125 Daytona 500 qualifying races. The Daytona 500 is a 200-lap long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach Florida. The Daytona 500 is a 200-lap long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach Florida. Earnhardt won at Nashville and at Talladega, and finished eighth in the points standings. Talladega Superspeedway is a Motorsports complex located in Talladega Alabama United States
Return to Richard Childress Racing
After the 1983 season, Earnhardt returned to Richard Childress Racing, or RCR, swapping teams with Ricky Rudd. RCR Enterprises LLC, doing business as Richard Childress Racing, is a NASCAR team fielding Chevrolets for Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer Rudd went to Bud Moore's #15, and Dale took over the #3 made famous by Rudd. Wrangler sponsored both cars. During the 1984 and 1985 seasons, Earnhardt visited victory lane six times, at Talladega, Atlanta, Richmond, Bristol (twice), and Martinsville, where he finished fourth and eighth in the season standings, respectively. Richmond International Raceway (RIR is a 3/4-mile (12 km D-shaped asphalt race track located just outside Richmond Virginia in Henrico County.
The 1986 season saw Earnhardt win his second career Winston Cup Championship and the first owner's championship for RCR. He won five races and had ten Top 5 and sixteen Top 10 finishes. Earnhardt successfully defended his championship the following year, visiting victory lane eleven times and winning the championship by 489 points over "Awesome" Bill Elliott. William Clyde Elliott (born October 8, 1955 in Dawsonville Georgia) is a part-time driver and former champion of the NASCAR Sprint Cup In the process, Earnhardt set a NASCAR modern era record of four consecutive wins and won five of the first seven races. In the 1987 season Earnhardt earned his nickname "The Intimidator" after spinning out Elliott in the final segment of "The Winston", a non-points event now known as the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race, formerly known as The Winston until 2004 then the NEXTEL All-Star Challenge from 2004 until 2007 is a race open to race winners
The 1988 season saw Earnhardt racing with a new sponsor, GM Goodwrench, which replaced Wrangler. GM Goodwrench is an auto repair service for General Motors. Goodwrench took to the national airwaves in 1977 as a way to market General Motors franchised dealers' service Wrangler is a manufacturer of Jeans. The brand is owned by the VF Corporation, who also own Lee, JanSport and The North Face During this season Earnhardt garnered a second nickname, "The Man in Black", owing to the black paint scheme in which the #3 car was painted. He was also called "Darth Vader" more than once because of the black uniform and car, adding to his notoriety as a driver who would wreck you if he couldn't pass you. He won three times in 1988, finishing third in the points standings behind Bill Elliott and Rusty Wallace. Russell William "Rusty" Wallace (born August 14, 1956) is a former NASCAR champion NASCAR Nationwide Series car owner and television The following year, Earnhardt won five times, but a late spin out at North Wilkesboro arguably cost him the 1989 championship, as Rusty Wallace edged out Earnhardt for the championship. North Wilkesboro Speedway is a Short track that held races in NASCAR's top three series from NASCAR's inception in 1949 until its closure in 1996
1990s
The 1990 season started with heartbreak at Daytona. Speed Week started auspiciously with victories in the Busch Clash and his heat of the Gatorade Twin 125's. Near the end of the 500, he had a 4 second lead when the final caution flag came out with a handful of laps to go. The Gatorade Duel, is NASCAR Sprint Cup Series preliminary event to the Daytona 500 held annually in February at Daytona International Speedway When the green flag waved, Earnhardt was leading Derrike Cope. Derrike Cope is a race-car driver in NASCAR, best known for his win at the 1990 Daytona 500. On the final lap, Earnhardt ran over a piece of metal in the final turn, cutting a tire. Cope, in an upset, won the race while Earnhardt finished 5th. The #3 Goodwrench Chevy team took the flat tire that cost them the win and hung it on the shop wall. Apparently, this strategy to inspire worked, because Earnhardt won nine races. He also won his 4th Winston Cup title, beating out Mark Martin by just 26 points. Mark Martin may refer to Mark Martin (racecar driver (b 1959 American racecar driver Mark Martin (cartoonist, American cartoonist Earnhardt also won The Winston, his second, the first to win two.
The 1991 season saw Earnhardt win his 5th Winston Cup championship. He scored just 4 wins, but took the title by 195 points over Ricky Rudd. Ricky Rudd (born September 12, 1956) is a retired American NASCAR driver One of the biggest highlights of the season for Earnhardt was scoring the win at North Wilkesboro. North Wilkesboro Speedway is a Short track that held races in NASCAR's top three series from NASCAR's inception in 1949 until its closure in 1996 Harry Gant, who had tied Earnhardt's mark of 4 consecutive wins and was going for a 5th, lost the brakes late in the race, giving Earnhardt the chance he needed to make the pass for the win. Harry Phil Gant (born January 10, 1940 in Taylorsville North Carolina) is a retired American racecar driver best known for driving the number 33 Skoal
After winning his second set of consecutive titles, Dale Earnhardt was determined to make it 3 in a row, but Ford's new engine and aerodynamic package for the Thunderbird dominated, winning 13 consecutive races from the end of the 1991 season into the first nine races of 1992. Earnhardt's only win in 1992 came at Charlotte, in the prestigious Coca-Cola 600, ending the 13-race win streak for the Ford teams. The Coca-Cola 600 (formerly the World 600) and also known as the "Coke 600" is a in length Stock car race held annually at Lowe's Motor Speedway Earnhardt finished a career-low 12th in the points for the second time in his career, and the only time he had finished that low since joining RCR. At the end of the year, longtime crew chief Kirk Shelmerdine left to become a driver. Kirk Shelmerdine (born March 8, 1958 in Philadelphia) is a NASCAR driver and former championship-winning Crew chief for the late Andy Petree took over as crew chief. Andy Petree (born August 15, 1958 in Hickory North Carolina) is a long-time fixture in NASCAR.
Hiring Petree turned out to be beneficial, as the #3 GM Goodwrench Chevy returned to the front in 1993. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Earnhardt once again came close to a win at the Daytona 500, and dominated Speedweeks before finishing 2nd to Dale Jarrett on a last-lap pass. The Daytona 500 is a 200-lap long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach Florida. Dale Arnold Jarrett (born November 26, 1956 in Newton North Carolina) is a former American race car driver Earnhardt scored 6 wins en route to his 6th Winston Cup title, including wins in the Coca-Cola 600 and The Winston at Charlotte, and the Pepsi 400 at Daytona. The Coca-Cola 600 (formerly the World 600) and also known as the "Coke 600" is a in length Stock car race held annually at Lowe's Motor Speedway The Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona is a 160 lap NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held on the first Saturday night of July Earnhardt beat Rusty Wallace for the championship by 80 points. Russell William "Rusty" Wallace (born August 14, 1956) is a former NASCAR champion NASCAR Nationwide Series car owner and television
In 1994, Earnhardt achieved a feat that he himself had believed to be impossible - he scored his seventh Winston Cup championship, tying the legendary Richard Petty. The 1994 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began on Sunday February 20 and ended on Sunday November 13. Richard Lee Petty (born July 2, 1937) is a former NASCAR driver who raced in the Strictly Stock/Grand National Era and the Winston Cup Series Earnhardt was very consistent, scoring 4 wins, and winning the title by over 400 points over Mark Martin. Mark Martin may refer to Mark Martin (racecar driver (b 1959 American racecar driver Mark Martin (cartoonist, American cartoonist Earnhardt sealed the deal at Rockingham by winning the race over Rick Mast. Rick Mast (born March 4, 1957, in Rockbridge Baths, Virginia) is a former NASCAR driver Although Earnhardt continued to dominate in the seasons ahead, this proved to be the last Winston Cup title of his career.
Earnhardt started off the 1995 season by finishing second in the Daytona 500 to Sterling Marlin. Sterling Marlin (born June 30, 1957 in Columbia Tennessee) is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #09 Finch Racing car He won 5 races in 1995, including his first road course victory at Sears Point. Road racing can be a term involving Road running, road bicycle races, or Automobile races Infineon Raceway, formerly Sears Point Raceway, is a road course and drag strip located on the landform known as Sears Point in the southern Sonoma Mountains He also won the prestigious Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a win he called the biggest of his career. The Allstate 400 at The Brickyard, introduced as the Brickyard 400 in 1994, is an annual 400-mile (644 km NASCAR Sprint Cup points race The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway Indiana (an Enclave of Indianapolis) in the United States, is the home of the But in the end, Earnhardt lost the championship to Jeff Gordon by just 34 points. Jeffery Michael Gordon
Earnhardt began 1996 with a repeat of 1993 - he dominated Speedweeks only to finish second in the Daytona 500 to Dale Jarrett for a second time. Dale Arnold Jarrett (born November 26, 1956 in Newton North Carolina) is a former American race car driver Earnhardt won early in the year, scoring consecutive victories at Rockingham and Atlanta. This article is about the Rockingham North Carolina Track for the track located in Northamptonshire, United Kingdom see Rockingham Motor In late July in the DieHard 500 at Talladega, he was in the points lead and looking for his eighth title despite the departure of crew chief Andy Petree. The AMP Energy 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama Andy Petree (born August 15, 1958 in Hickory North Carolina) is a long-time fixture in NASCAR. Late in the race, Ernie Irvan lost control of his #28 Havoline Ford Thunderbird, igniting a frightening crash that saw Earnhardt's #3 Chevrolet hit the tri-oval wall nearly head-on at almost 200 miles per hour. Virgil Earnest Irvan, more commonly known as Ernie Irvan, (born January 13, 1959 in Salinas California) is a former race driver in NASCAR After hitting the wall, Earnhardt's car flipped and slid across the track, in front of race-traffic. His car was hit in the roof and windshield, and the accident led NASCAR to mandate the "Earnhardt Bar", a metal brace located in the center of the windshield that reinforces the roof in case of a similar crash.
Rain-delays had canceled the live telecast of the race and most fans first learned of the accident during the night's sports newscasts. Video of the crash showed what appeared to be a fatal incident, but once medical workers arrived at the car, Earnhardt climbed out and waved to the crowd, refusing to be loaded onto a stretcher despite a broken collarbone, sternum, and shoulder blade. Many thought the incident would end his season early, but Earnhardt refused to give up. The next week at Indianapolis, he started the race but exited the car on the first pit stop, allowing Mike Skinner to take the wheel. Mike Skinner (born June 28, 1957 in Ontario California is a NASCAR driver from Susanville, California now living in Daytona When asked, Earnhardt said that vacating the #3 car was the hardest thing he'd ever done. The following weekend at Watkins Glen, he drove the #3 Goodwrench Chevrolet to the fastest time in qualifying, earning the "True Grit" pole. Watkins Glen International (nicknamed "The Glen" is an auto race track located near Watkins Glen New York, at the southern tip of Seneca Lake. T-shirts emblazoned with Earnhardt's face were quickly printed up, brandishing the caption, "It Hurt So Good. " Earnhardt led most of the race and looked to have victory in hand, but fatigue finally took its toll and Earnhardt ended up 6th, behind race winner Geoff Bodine. Geoffrey Bodine (born April 18, 1949 in Chemung New York) is the oldest of the three Bodine brothers ( Brett Bodine and Todd Bodine Earnhardt did not win again in 1996, but still finished 4th in the standings behind Terry Labonte, Jeff Gordon and Dale Jarrett. Terrance Lee Labonte (born November 16, 1956, in Corpus Christi Texas) is a NASCAR driver who now races part-time in the Sprint Cup Series Jeffery Michael Gordon Dale Arnold Jarrett (born November 26, 1956 in Newton North Carolina) is a former American race car driver David Smith departed as crew chief of the #3 team and RCR at the end of the year for personal reasons, and was replaced by Larry McReynolds. Lawrence Joseph McReynolds III (born January 10, 1959 in Birmingham Alabama) was a long-time NASCAR Crew chief and currently serves
In the 1997 season, Earnhardt went winless for only the second time in his career. The only (non-points) win came during Speedweeks at Daytona in the Twin 125-mile qualifying race, his record 8th straight win in the event. Once again in the hunt for the Daytona 500 with 10 laps to go, Earnhardt was taken out of the Daytona 500 by a late crash which sent his car upside down on the backstretch. Earnhardt hit the low point of his year when he blacked out early in the Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington, causing him to hit the wall. The Southern 500 is the annual spring NASCAR Sprint Cup race held at Darlington Raceway in Darlington South Carolina, USA Darlington Raceway is a Race track built for NASCAR racing located near Darlington South Carolina. He was evaluated at a hospital and cleared to race, but the cause of the crash was not identified. Despite no wins (all of Chevrolet's wins were by Hendrick Motorsports – Pontiac won one race, Ford won every other race in 1997) the RCR team finished the season 5th in the final standings, with no DNF's.
After 20 years of disappointment in the Daytona 500, Earnhardt finally won the race in 1998. The Daytona 500 is a 200-lap long NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach Florida. He started Speedweeks by winning his Twin 125-mile qualifier race for the ninth straight year. On race day, Dale showed himself to be a contender early. Halfway through the race, however, it seemed that Jeff Gordon had the upper hand. Jeffery Michael Gordon But by lap 138, Earnhardt had taken the lead, and thanks to a push by teammate Mike Skinner, he was able to maintain it. Mike Skinner (born June 28, 1957 in Ontario California is a NASCAR driver from Susanville, California now living in Daytona Earnhardt beat Bobby Labonte to the checkered flag in the race. Robert Alan Labonte (born May 8, 1964 in Corpus Christi Texas) is an American Race car driver and drives the #43 Cheerios Afterwards, there was a large show of respect for Earnhardt, in which every crew member of every team lined pit road to shake his hand as he made his way to Victory Lane. Earnhardt then drove his #3 into the infield grass, starting a trend of post-race celebrations. He spun the car twice, throwing grass and leaving tire tracks in the shape of a #3 in the grass. Earnhardt then spoke about the victory, saying "I have had a lot of great fans and people behind me all through the years and I just can't thank them enough. The Daytona 500 is ours. We won it! We won it! We won it!" Unfortunately, the rest of the season did not go as well. He slipped to 12th in the standings halfway through the season, and Richard Childress decided to make a crew chief change, taking Mike Skinner's crew chief Kevin Hamlin and putting him with Earnhardt while giving Skinner Larry McReynolds. Richard Childress (born September 21, 1945 in Winston-Salem North Carolina) is a former NASCAR driver and successful team owner of Richard Mike Skinner (born June 28, 1957 in Ontario California is a NASCAR driver from Susanville, California now living in Daytona Kevin Hamlin (born June 22, 1979 in Snohomish Washington) is an American Racecar driver who has competed in the NASCAR Lawrence Joseph McReynolds III (born January 10, 1959 in Birmingham Alabama) was a long-time NASCAR Crew chief and currently serves Earnhardt was able to climb back to 8th in the final standings.
Before the 1999 season, fans began discussing Earnhardt's age and speculating that with his son, Dale Jr, getting into racing Earnhardt might be contemplating retirement. Ralph Dale Earnhardt swept both races for the year at Talladega, leading most observers to conclude that Earnhardt's talent had become limited to the restrictor plate tracks, which require a unique skill set and an exceptionally powerful car to win. But halfway through the year, Earnhardt began to show some of the old spark. In the August race at Michigan International Speedway, Earnhardt led laps late in the race and nearly pulled off his first win on a non-restrictor plate track since 1996.
One week later, he provided the sport with one of its most controversial moments.
At the August Bristol race, Earnhardt found himself in contention to win his first short track race since Martinsville in 1995. When a caution came out with 15 laps to go, leader Terry Labonte got hit from behind by the lapped car of Darrell Waltrip. Terrance Lee Labonte (born November 16, 1956, in Corpus Christi Texas) is a NASCAR driver who now races part-time in the Sprint Cup Series Darrell Lee Waltrip (born February 5, 1947 in Owensboro Kentucky) is a three-time former NASCAR Winston Cup champion the 1989 Daytona His spin put Earnhardt in the lead with 5 cars between him and Labonte with 5 laps to go. Labonte had four fresh tires and Earnhardt was driving on old tires, which made Earnhardt's car considerably slower. Labonte caught Earnhardt and passed him coming to the white flag, but Earnhardt drove hard into turn two, bumping Labonte and spinning him around. White flags have had different meanings throughout history and depending on the locale Dale went on to collect the win while spectators booed and made obscene gestures. "I didn't try to turn him around, I just wanted to rattle his cage", Earnhardt said of the incident. Earnhardt finished 7th in the standings that year, and looked like a contender again.
In the 2000 season, Earnhardt had a resurgence, which some attributed to neck surgery he underwent to correct a lingering injury from his 1996 Talladega crash. He scored what many considered the 2 most exciting wins of the year - winning by . 006 seconds over Bobby Labonte at Atlanta, then gaining seventeen positions in the final four laps to win at Talladega, claiming his only No Bull million dollar bonus. Robert Alan Labonte (born May 8, 1964 in Corpus Christi Texas) is an American Race car driver and drives the #43 Cheerios The Winston Million was a cash prize award program on the NASCAR Winston Cup series based on the Grand Slam concept Earnhardt also enjoyed strong second-place runs at Richmond and Martinsville, tracks where he'd struggled through the late '90s. On the strength of these performances, Earnhardt took the No. 3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo to 2nd in the standings. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo was an American-made automobile Originally introduced by Chevrolet for the 1970 model year (as competition with the Ford Thunderbird However, poor performances at the road course of Watkins Glen, where he wrecked coming out of the innerloop, and mid-pack runs at intermediate tracks like Lowe's and Dover, denied Earnhardt the coveted eighth championship title.
Death
Always a media favorite, in the weeks before the 2001 Daytona 500, Earnhardt stirred up controversy by skipping the annual fan and media preview event, drawing fire from fellow driver Jimmy Spencer. The death of Dale Earnhardt Sr on February 18, 2001 was a significant event in NASCAR and American sporting history which resulted in the The 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season began on February 11 and ended on November 23. Jimmy Spencer (born February 15, 1957 in Berwick Pennsylvania) is an American NASCAR driver and commentator
Despite the early start, Speedweeks was a disappointment for Earnhardt, who had a long-running tradition of winning at least one race during the two-week season kick-off. Earnhardt finished second to Tony Stewart in the Budweiser Shootout. Anthony Wayne Stewart (born May 20, 1971 in Columbus Indiana) is an American race car driver/car owner/entrepreneur in NASCAR 's He was also denied victory in the Gatorade Twin 125 qualifying race in which he participated. Earnhardt had won every Twin 125 event he competed in during the 1990s, and was in 3rd place on the final lap in 2001 when Sterling Marlin pulled off a slingshot pass going down the backstretch. Sterling Marlin (born June 30, 1957 in Columbia Tennessee) is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #09 Finch Racing car
Taking it in stride, Earnhardt appeared relaxed and confident in television interviews on the morning of the 2001 Daytona 500. When the Daytona 500 started, Earnhardt showed early promise, leading the race and running up front for most of the event.
A multi-car wreck late in the race eliminated several cars in spectacular fashion. Tony Stewart, who had beaten Earnhardt in the Budweiser Shootout, found his car tumbling wildly down the backstretch. Anthony Wayne Stewart (born May 20, 1971 in Columbus Indiana) is an American race car driver/car owner/entrepreneur in NASCAR 's As it tumbled, Earnhardt managed to weave his way through wrecked cars and come out unscathed. The race was stalled to facilitate cleanup of the track, and when the race resumed, it was Earnhardt and DEI drivers Earnhardt Jr. and Michael Waltrip who were running up front. Dale Earnhardt Inc is a NASCAR team based in Mooresville North Carolina. Ralph Dale Michael Curtis Waltrip (born April 30, 1963 in Owensboro Kentucky) is a professional race car driver and owner of Michael Waltrip Racing. As the laps wound down, Waltrip was leading Earnhardt Jr. and Earnhardt.
On the front stretch with 3 laps to go, Sterling Marlin made contact with Earnhardt's left rear fender. Earnhardt's car wiggled but Dale kept control and he remained in third position. Marlin was known for having a fast car throughout the race, and Earnhardt repeatedly blocked his attempts at passing during the last few laps. With less than two laps remaining, Darrell Waltrip commented that "Sterling has beat the front end off of that old Dodge (Marlin's car) trying to get around Dale (Earnhardt)".
Going into turn 3 on the last lap, Earnhardt was racing three wide with Marlin to his left and Schrader to his right. In the corner, Earnhardt's left rear fender made slight contact with Marlin's front bumper.
Earnhardt’s car slid off the track's steep banking, onto the flat apron, and then turned sharply up the track toward the outside retaining wall. The 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season began on February 11 and ended on November 23. As the #3 car came up the track it collided with the #36 Pontiac driven by Ken Schrader. Kenneth Schrader (born May 29, 1955 in Fenton Missouri) is a second-generation race car driver Schrader's car hit Earnhardt's car just behind the passenger door, causing both cars to run nose-first into the wall. Earnhardt's #3 hit at a critical angle at nearly 150 miles per hour. The right-rear wheel assembly broke off the car on impact. The hood pins severed and the hood flapped open, slamming against the windshield as the car slid slowly down the track. To most observers, the crash looked minor, and certainly not as dramatic as his famous 1996 wreck at Talladega, when Earnhardt's car was pelted several times in the roof and windshield as it rolled across the track. Talladega Superspeedway is a Motorsports complex located in Talladega Alabama United States
While Michael Waltrip raced toward the checkered flag to claim his first victory, with Earnhardt Jr. close behind, the cars of Earnhardt and Schrader slid off the track's asphalt banking toward the infield grass just inside of turn four. After climbing from his car, Schrader peered into Earnhardt's car, only to jump back and signal for EMTs. The Emergency Medical Technician ( EMT) exists in many countries and is a health care provider trained to provide prehospital emergency medical care As medical crews converged upon the crash scene, NASCAR on FOX reporter Jeanne Zelasko asked Schrader about Earnhardt's condition. NASCAR on FOX is a series of NASCAR races airing on Fox Sports and the SPEED Channel since 2001. Jeanne Zelasko (born October 26, 1966 in Cincinnati Ohio) is a sports commentator for the FOX network "I'm not a doctor, but I got the heck out of the way as soon as I got there," Schrader said solemnly. Earnhardt was taken to Halifax Medical Center by ambulance after being removed from his car. Hours later, at a press conference, NASCAR President Mike Helton made the formal announcement to the world saying, "Undoubtedly this is one of the toughest announcements I've personally had to make. The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR) is the largest sanctioning body of Stock cars in the United States. Michael Helton is currently the president of the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR After the accident in Turn 4 at the end of the Daytona 500, we've lost Dale Earnhardt. "[3]
Aftermath
Earnhardt's death was the catalyst for change that continues even now. Following his death, there was a police investigation, as well as a NASCAR-sanctioned investigation. Nearly every detail of the event was made public, from the finding of a torn seatbelt inside Earnhardt's car to graphic descriptions of the injuries the driver suffered at the moment of impact. There were rumors that he did not have his seat belt on properly, as he liked to wear it loose so he could move around and not feel too constrained. The allegations of seatbelt failure led Bill Simpson to resign from the company bearing his name, which manufactured the seatbelts used in Earnhardt's car and nearly every other NASCAR competitor's machine. Bill Simpson (born March 14, 1940, Hermosa Beach California) is a retired American racecar driver but is best known as a pioneer in the racing safety [4]
Several press conferences were held in the days following Earnhardt's death. Some fans wrote threatening letters to Sterling Marlin, blaming him for causing the wreck. Sterling Marlin (born June 30, 1957 in Columbia Tennessee) is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver who drives the #09 Finch Racing car Quickly thereafter, Earnhardt's son, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., publicly and adamantly absolved Marlin of any responsibility. Ralph Dale
Earnhardt's #3 car was immediately retired by team owner Richard Childress, who made a public pledge that the number would never again adorn the side of a black car sponsored by GM Goodwrench, the color scheme and sponsor Earnhardt had driven since 1988. Earnhardt's team was re-christened as the #29 team, with the same sponsor but with a new look (a reversed color scheme with white with black numerals and a black stripe on the bottom) for the following races at Rockingham and Las Vegas. For Atlanta, a new GM Goodwrench scheme was introduced, with angled red stripes and a thin blue pinstripe, resembling the Childress AC Delco Chevrolets driven in the Busch Series.
Childress' second-year Busch Series driver Kevin Harvick was named as Earnhardt's replacement driver, beginning with the race following Earnhardt's death held at the North Carolina Speedway. Kevin Michael Harvick (born December 8, 1975 in Bakersfield California) is an American race car driver and car owner competing in the Special hats bearing the #3 were distributed to everyone at the track to honor Earnhardt, and the Childress team wore blank uniforms out of respect, something which disappeared quickly and was replaced by the wearing of the GM Goodwrench Service Plus uniforms.
Fans took it upon themselves to begin honoring Earnhardt by holding three fingers aloft on the third lap of every NASCAR Cup race, and the television coverage of FOX and NBC went silent for each third lap from Rockingham through to the next Daytona 500 in honor of Earnhardt (and, after 9/11, in remembrance of those who perished that day). NASCAR on FOX is a series of NASCAR races airing on Fox Sports and the SPEED Channel since 2001. NASCAR on NBC was a series of NASCAR races that aired on the network from 2001 - 2006. For the first three weeks after Earnhardt's death, on-track incidents brought out the caution flag on lap three. Three weeks after Earnhardt's death, Harvick scored his first career Cup win at Atlanta driving a car that had been prepared for Earnhardt. In the final lap of the 2001 Cracker Barrel Old Country Store 500, Harvick beat Jeff Gordon by . The Kobalt Tools 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup stock car race that is actually in length held in March at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton Georgia Jeffery Michael Gordon 006 seconds, and the images of Earnhardt's longtime fueler, Danny "Chocolate" Myers, crying after the victory, Harvick's tire-smoking burnout on the frontstretch with three fingers held aloft outside the driver's window, and the electrifying FOX television call by Mike Joy, Larry McReynolds, and Darrell Waltrip, concluding with "Gordon got loose, it's Harvick! Harvick by inches!" are memorable to many NASCAR fans. Mike Joy (born November 25, 1949 in Chicago Illinois) is a TV sports announcer who currently serves as the lap-by-lap voice of FOX Sports Lawrence Joseph McReynolds III (born January 10, 1959 in Birmingham Alabama) was a long-time NASCAR Crew chief and currently serves Darrell Lee Waltrip (born February 5, 1947 in Owensboro Kentucky) is a three-time former NASCAR Winston Cup champion the 1989 Daytona The win was also considered cathartic for a sport whose epicenter had been ripped away. In medicine a Cathartic is a substance which accelerates Defecation.
Other notable events include:
- Steve Park, driver of the #1 DEI Pennzoil Chevy Monte Carlo won the very next NASCAR Winston Cup race: The DuraLube 400 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham, NC held on February 26, 2001. There are several well-known men named Steve Park. A Korean-American comedian Steve Park (comedian A driver on the NASCAR circuit Steve Pennzoil is an oil company originally founded in Oil City Pennsylvania. Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar.
- Dale Earnhardt Jr. won in the next Cup race at Daytona: the Pepsi 400 on July 7, 2001. Ralph Dale Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. This led to an emotional celebration on the infield with driver Michael Waltrip, whose victory at the Daytona 500 was vastly overshadowed.
- Earnhardt was credited with finishing 57th in the final point standings in 2001, despite running one race. He also won the 2001 Most Popular Driver award at the end of the year in the awards' ceremony banquet.
- Earnhardt Jr. later went on to win the 2004 Daytona 500, three years after his father's death and six years to the day after his father won the 1998 Daytona 500.
- Kevin Harvick won the 2007 Daytona 500 on February 18, 2007, the six-year anniversary of Earnhardt's death. Events 3102 BC - Epoch (origin of the Kali Yuga. 1229 - The Sixth Crusade: Frederick II Holy Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. It was Harvick's first Daytona 500 win and Richard Childress's second, having previously won in 1998 with Earnhardt.
- As of 2008, Earnhardt is interred in a concrete memorial on his farm in Mooresville, NC.
#3 Car
Earnhardt drove the #3 car for most of his career, spanning the early 1980s until his death in 2001. Although he had other sponsors during his career, his #3 is associated in fan's minds with his last sponsor, GM Goodwrench, and his last color scheme — a predominantly black car with bold red and silver trim. The black and red #3 continues to be one of the most famous logos in racing.
In 2002, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. , drove a Chevrolet Monte Carlo in the Busch Grand National series race at Daytona. The car featured Oreo Cookies as a primary sponsor, and carried the trademarked #3 on the doors and roof. He went on to win the race. As of 2006, he hasn't driven the #3 again (in fact, no other team in any of the major NASCAR series has used it since Earnhardt's death), however in interviews he has stated that he would "probably finish his career driving the #3 car".
A common misconception is that Richard Childress Racing "owns the rights" to the #3 (fueled by the fact that Kevin Harvick's car has a little #3 as an homage to Earnhardt), but in fact no team owns the rights to this or any other number: NASCAR decides who uses which number. However, according to established NASCAR procedures, RCR would have priority over other teams if and when the time came to reuse the number. RCR and the Earnhardt estate do own the rights to various black and red #3 logos used during Earnhardt's lifetime; however these rights would not prevent a future racing team from using a different #3 design. (Also, a new #3 team would, in any case, need to create logos which fit with their sponsor's logos. )
It is generally believed that current NASCAR owners have agreed never to use the #3 in Sprint Cup competition again, although this is not official NASCAR policy.
Only the former International Race of Champions has actually retired the #3, which they did in a rule change effective in 2004. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Anyone wishing to use the #3 again has to use #03 instead.
In 2004, ESPN released a made-for-TV movie entitled 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story which used a new (but similarly colored) #3 logo. ESPN, originally an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American Cable television network dedicated to 3 The Dale Earnhardt Story or sometimes referred to as The Dale Earnhardt Movie is a 2004 Television movie produced by ESPN Even though the movie was a sympathetic portrayal of Earnhardt's life, the producers did get sued for using the #3 logo. In December of 2006, the ESPN lawsuit was settled, but details were not released to the public.
In 2008, Andy Santerre Motorsports will use the #3, in its trademark stylised RCR design, in the Camping World Series East with Austin Dillon driving; Dillon is the grandson of Childress. RCR Enterprises LLC, doing business as Richard Childress Racing, is a NASCAR team fielding Chevrolets for Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer [5]
Legacy
Earnhardt was a very polarizing figure in NASCAR. He was both loved and hated in the sport, yet despite his numerous detractors, Earnhardt remained one of the sport's most popular drivers. His death drew a considerable amount of reaction from the nation, NASCAR, and his fans.
Earnhardt kept his personal life relatively private. He enjoyed the company of his family, being outdoors, hunting and fishing, and actively working on his farm in Mooresville. In contrast with his image as a hardnosed competitor on the track, off the track he was known to his friends as someone who was charitable and generous, but usually kept that side of himself hidden from the rest of the world.
Earnhardt has a street in his hometown of Kannapolis named after him. Dale Earnhardt Boulevard (originally Earnhardt Road) is marked as Exit 60 off Interstate 85, northeast of Charlotte. Interstate 85 (I-85 is an Interstate highway in the southeastern United States. Dale Earnhardt Boulevard is also the start of The Dale Trail, [1] a self-guided driving tour of landmarks in the lives of Dale and his family. A road between Kannapolis and Mooresville, near the headquarters of DEI, has been given the designation State Highway 3 by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Mooresville is a town in Iredell County, North Carolina, USA. In addition, Exit 73 off Interstate 35W, one of the entrances to Texas Motor Speedway, is named "Dale Earnhardt Way". Interstate 35W (abbreviated I-35W) an Interstate highway, is the western half of Interstate 35 where it splits to serve different cities in Texas Texas Motor Speedway is a speedway located in the northernmost portion of the U
Recording artist Jason Swain's song "Victory Lane" was among many songs released in tribute to Dale Earnhardt posthumously.
Between the 2004 and 2005 JGTC (subsequently renamed Super GT from 2005) season, Hasemi Sport competed in the series with a sole black G'Zox sponsored Nissan 350Z with the same number and letterset as Earnhardt on the roof. The Super GT series formerly known as the All-Japan Grand Touring Car Championship or JGTC (全日本GT選手権 Zen Nihon GT Sensyuken) is a grand is a former racing driver and team owner from Japan. He started in motorcross when he was 15 The Nissan 350Z is a two seat Sports car manufactured by Nissan Motor Co LTD.
A 2005 novel, St. Dale by Sharyn McCrumb explores the world of NASCAR as it follows several racing fans on a tribute tour of tracks in memory of Dale Earnhardt. Sharyn McCrumb (born Sharyn Elaine Arwood February 26 1948 Wilmington North Carolina) is an American writer whose books celebrate the history and folklore of
During the April 29, 2006 - May 1, 2006 NASCAR weekend races at Talladega Superspeedway, the Dale Earnhardt Inc cars competed in identical special black paint schemes on Dale Earnhardt Day, held annually on his birthday, April 29th. Events 1429 - Joan of Arc arrives to relieve the Siege of Orleans. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Talladega Superspeedway is a Motorsports complex located in Talladega Alabama United States Martin Truex Jr won the Aaron's 312 in the black car, painted to reflect Earnhardt's Intimidating Black #3 Winston Cup Car. In the Nextel Cup race on May 1st. #8 Dale Earnhardt Jr. , #1 Martin Truex Jr. ,#15 Paul Menard and competed in cars with the same type of paint scheme.
On June 18, 2006 at Michigan for the 3M Performance 400 Dale Earnhardt Jr ran a special vintage Budweiser car to honor his dad and his grandfather Ralph Earnhardt. Events 618 - Coronation of the Chinese governor Li Yuan as Emperor Gaozu of Tang, the new Emperor of China, initiating three centuries Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Budweiser is an American-style lager and is one of the most popular beers in the United States. Ralph Lee Earnhardt ( February 23, 1928 &mdash September 26, 1973) was a NASCAR racing legend He finished 3rd after rain caused the race to be cut short. The car was painted to resemble Ralph's 1956 dirt cars, and carried 1956-era Budweiser logos to complete the throwback look.
In the summer of 2007, Dale Earnhardt Inc. (DEI) with the Dale Earnhardt Foundation, announced it will fund an annual undergraduate scholarship at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina for students interested in motorsports and automotive engineering. Dale Earnhardt Inc is a NASCAR team based in Mooresville North Carolina. In some Educational systems undergraduate education is Post-secondary education up to the level of a Bachelor's degree. Clemson is a city in Anderson and Pickens counties in the US state of South Carolina. The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design development manufacture marketing and sale of Motor vehicles In 2007 more than 73 million motor vehicles Scholarship winners are also eligible to work at DEI in internships. [6] The first winner was William Bostic, a senior at Clemson majoring in mechanical engineering. Mechanical Engineering is an Engineering discipline that involves the application of principles of physics for analysis Design, Manufacturing [7]
"Earnhardt Tower", a seating section at Daytona International Speedway, the track where Earnhardt was killed, was named in his honor.
Awards
- Earnhardt was named Number 1 among ESPN's NASCAR's 20 Greatest Drivers in 2007 in front of Richard Petty.
- Earnhardt was named second among NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998 (ranked behind David Pearson). NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers is a list of NASCAR drivers In 1998, as part of its 50th anniversary celebration NASCAR gathered a panel to select "The
- Earnhardt was posthumously named NASCAR's Most Popular Driver in 2001, the only time he received the award.
- He was posthumously inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2002. The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America is a Hall of Fame and museum in Novi Michigan for American motorsports legends
- He was inducted in the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006. The International Motorsports Hall of Fame is a Hall of Fame dedicated to enshrining those who have contributed the most to Auto racing either as a driver owner
Films about Earnhardt
In 2004, Dale Earnhardt's life story was made into a television movie by ESPN titled, 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story, starring Barry Pepper as Earnhardt. ESPN, originally an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American Cable television network dedicated to 3 The Dale Earnhardt Story or sometimes referred to as The Dale Earnhardt Movie is a 2004 Television movie produced by ESPN Barry Robert Pepper (born April 4, 1970) is a Golden Globe - Screen Actors Guild - and Emmy -nominated Canadian -born
In 2007, a documentary-style movie, entitled Dale, was released in theatres and, according to the movie website, includes original, never-before-seen footage of Earnhardt's racing career and personal life, as well as family photos and historical interviews with the seven-time champion that give the viewer an unprecedented look at the man Earnhardt truly was. Dale is a documentary film about the life and career of NASCAR race car driver Dale Earnhardt. Dale Movie Dale The Movie was released in early 2007 showing only in major NASCAR markets. The film is a collaboration between NASCAR Media and CMT, and was released on DVD in December 2007
Connections with Music
Earnhardt has had several connections with various genres of music, especially Country, both before and after his death. Country Music Television, or CMT as it is usually called is an American Country music -oriented Cable television network Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains.
- In 1980, Record Executive Mike Curb sponsored Dale's winning Winston Cup car. Michael Curb (born December 24, 1944, in Savannah Georgia) is an American Musician, Record company executive race car The Curb Motosports Museum in Kannapolis, NC, has the #2 car Dale Earnhardt drove in his first Winston Cup Championship alongside Curb's music memorabilia. Curb Motorsports Museum is a museum that represents two business interests and passions of owner Mike Curb.
- In 1997, Earnhardt appeared as a special guest with his close friends, the country duo Brooks and Dunn, in the video for Brooks and Dunn's hit song, Honky Tonk Truth. Brooks & Dunn are an American Country music duo consisting of Singer-songwriters Kix Brooks (born Leon Eric Brooks III May 12, 1955 "Honky Tonk Truth" is a single by American country music duo Brooks & Dunn. The video was a play on Earnhardt's resemblance to Kix Brooks, with the two switching roles throughout the video.
- In 2004, Keith Bryant released the album "Ridin' with the Legend," with the title track being a tribute to Dale Earnhardt based on David Allan Coe's "The Ride (The Ghost of Hank Williams)"
- Charlie Daniels wrote and performed a song called "The Intimidator" about Dale Earnhardt. David Allan Coe (born September 5, 1936 in Akron Ohio) is an American Country music singer who achieved his greatest popularity in the 1970s Hank Williams ( September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American Singer-songwriter and Musician who has
- John Boy and Billy presented a song set to the music of “Uneasy Rider” by the Charlie Daniels Band called "The Bristol Song", which recounts the interactions between Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt at the August 1995 race at Bristol Motor Speedway. John Isley and Billy James, known as John Boy & Billy, are American radio hosts based in Charlotte North Carolina. Charlie Daniels (born October 28, 1936 in Wilmington, North Carolina) is an American musician famous for his contributions to
- Country singer Travis Tritt plays a guitar with Earnhardt's image airbrushed onto the front during concerts. James Travis Tritt (born February 9 1963 in Marietta Georgia) is a Grammy award -winning American Country music artist and occasional actor more
- Troy Gentry, of the country duo Montgomery Gentry, also had a guitar with the #3 and a picture of Earnhardt on its face, which was played during their Crossroads television special with Lynyrd Skynyrd. Montgomery Gentry is an American Country music duo composed of Eddie Montgomery (brother of country singer John Michael Montgomery) and Troy Gentry Lynyrd Skynyrd (ˌlɛnɚdˈskɪnɝd is an American Southern rock band Similarly, Gentry's bandmate Eddie Montgomery can be seen with Earnhardt's #3 embroidered onto both sleeves of his trademark black trenchcoat in the video for the song "Speed. Montgomery Gentry is an American Country music duo composed of Eddie Montgomery (brother of country singer John Michael Montgomery) and Troy Gentry "
- The Bled's first album, Pass the Flask, includes a song called "You Know Who's Seatbelt", which is loosely based on Earnhardt's story. The Bled is a Post-hardcore band from Tucson, Arizona. The band members united over their love of music and their desire to get out of Tucson Pass The Flask is the first full album released by the Post-hardcore band The Bled. The song was originally titled "Dale Earnhardt's Seatbelt", but was subsequently changed for legal reasons. It is still labeled as such in the liner notes.
- On a VH1 special C.C. DeVille of Poison played a guitar with a Dale Earnhardt number 3 sticker on it during the song "Fallen Angel". Poison is an American Hard rock band that achieved great success and popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s
- In the Brad Paisley video "When I Get To Where I'm Goin" Teresa Earnhardt appears in front of a picture of the legend.
- Billy Ray Cyrus's song "The Man" is a tribute to Earnhardt. Billy Ray Cyrus (born William Ray Cyrus; August 25 1961 is a Grammy Award -nominated American Country music singer songwriter and actor from Flatwoods
- The Bowling For Soup song "99 Biker Friends" has the lyrics "your tiny pickup truck in the driveway, with the sticker on the window, 'rest in peace #3'" near the start of the track. Bowling for Soup is an American Rock band who originally formed in Wichita Falls, Texas in 1994.
- Cledus T. Judd's comedy spoof song, 'I Love NASCAR,' styled after Toby Keith's 'I Love This Bar,' features a verse by Toby Kieth singing, "I love NASCAR, it's my kind of race. Cledus T Judd (born Barry Poole, December 18, 1964, in Marietta Georgia) is an American Country music artist Just to see Big E back on the track, Would put a smile on every face. No-one drove a car quite like Earnhardt. . . "
- There was a special single of Tim McGraw's "Please Remember Me" with sound bytes from the day of the race and later interviews called the "Dale Earnhardt Tribute"
- John Hiatt devotes a verse to Earnhardt in 'The Tiki Bar is Open', singing "The king is gone, but he'll not be forgotten/nor his light will we ever see"
Footnotes
- ^ www.DaleEarnhardtInc.com : Dale Earnhardt, Inc
- ^ Dale Earnhardt. The Crittenden Automotive Library. Retrieved on 2007-05-07. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses
- ^ "Earnhardt dies following Daytona 500 accident"; Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive, February 21, 2001; NASCAR. Events 362 - Athanasius returns to Alexandria. 1245 - Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. com; Retrieved September 6, 2007
- ^ Daytona: From the Birth of Speed to the Death of the Man in Black. Events 3114 BC - According to the Proleptic Julian calendar the current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar started Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Hinton, Ed. Warner Books, 2001. ISBN 0-446-52677-0.
- ^ NASCAR.COM - Childress' grandson driving No. 3 car back to NASCAR - March 20, 2008
- ^ "DEI partners with Clemson motorsports. Events 1600 - The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Clemson World. Fall 2007. p. 5.
- ^ "Earnhardt Motorsports Scholar". Clemson World. Fall 2007. p. 31.
See also
- Dale Earnhardt, Inc.
- Teresa Earnhardt, wife
- Dale Earnhardt, Jr., son
- Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson
- Kerry Earnhardt, son
- Richard Childress Racing
External links
- Dale Earnhardt Inc.
- The Dale Trail, official tour of Dale Earnhardt's Hometown of Kannapolis, NC
- Career statistics at racing-reference.info
- Dale Earnhardt Photos
- Orlando Sentinel article on the inquiries into the cause of death
- Sports Illustrated article on the controversy over Earnhardt's seat belt
- Dale Earnhardt Movie
- Dale Earnhardt at The Crittenden Automotive Library includes full Win List, Statistics
| Preceded by Richard Petty |
NASCAR Winston Cup Champion 1980 |
Succeeded by Darrell Waltrip |
| Preceded by Darrell Waltrip |
NASCAR Winston Cup Champion 1986, 1987 |
Succeeded by Bill Elliott |
| Preceded by Rusty Wallace |
NASCAR Winston Cup Champion 1990, 1991 |
Succeeded by Alan Kulwicki |
| Preceded by Alan Kulwicki |
NASCAR Winston Cup Champion 1993, 1994 |
Succeeded by Jeff Gordon |
| Preceded by Terry Labonte |
IROC Champion IROC XIV (1990) |
Succeeded by Rusty Wallace |
| Preceded by Mark Martin |
IROC Champion IROC XIX (1995) |
Succeeded by Mark Martin |
| Preceded by Mark Martin |
IROC Champion IROC XXIII (1999), IROC XXIV (2000) |
Succeeded by Bobby Labonte |
| Preceded by Jeff Gordon |
Daytona 500 winner 1998 |
Succeeded by Jeff Gordon |
| Richard Childress Racing | |
| Sprint Cup Drivers | Clint Bowyer (#07) | Kevin Harvick (#29) | Jeff Burton (#31) |
| Nationwide Series Drivers | Scott Wimmer (#29) |
| Driver development program Drivers | Austin Dillon | Ty Dillon | Stephen Leicht | Tim McCreadie |
| Partnerships and Affiliations | Dale Earnhardt, Inc. | Kevin Harvick Incorporated | Morgan-Dollar Motorsports | Rusty Wallace, Inc. | SKI Motorsports |
| Other | Richard Childress | Dale Earnhardt |
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