looking back, knowing that you gave it your all.... win or lose, you finish a champion
Dale Earnhardt
Well what can I say. I have been a Dale Earnhardt fan since 1979 when he first started in Winston Cup. It's taken me some time before I could do this page, but knew I needed to do it for me. On February 18, 2001 I watched the Daytona 500 like most NASCAR fans, and saw Dale do something that was uncharacteristic for him to do on the track. He blocked other drivers so that his friend, and his son could battle for the win in a race he only won once. I saw the wreck, and at the time didn't think allot about it. I have seen him get out of cars where the wreck looked allot worse like when he wrecked at Talladega, the car flipped, barrel rolled, and came to rest on it's wheels. Dale climbed from the car went to the ambulance. When he saw it still had the wheels on it, had one of the safety crew try to start it, it started, he got out of the ambulance, and climbed back into the car. The roof was crushed, and the whole car was almost demolished. He drove it back to the pits, and ran some laps after that. That is one of the many reasons I am a fan of Dales.
I mentioned before that what he did on the track that day was uncharacteristic of him. Dale would lay a fender on his grandmother to win a race, but was totally different off of the track. He was the kind of person I admire as a human being. The money he made did not change his beliefs, or make him cynical. He was a devoted family man who had a strong belief in God., and was a good business man. He was at peace with the world, and the world was a better place with him in it. I was always amazed that he could doze off in the race car minutes before he would be doing 190 mph inches away from 42 other cars. To me that shows someone who is so at peace with himself, God, and the world.
I haven't stopped watching races, nor will I. I still watch, but it just isn't the same. I still get choked up when the 3rd lap comes around, or I see things for Dale. I do pull for a different driver now, but really don't have trouble keeping the names straight. When I yell at my television "Go Dale" now it's for Jr.
I think NASCAR should retire the number 3 from Winston Cup, and Busch series racing. Dale made that number famous, and has made NASCAR what it is today. The fastest growing spectator sport in the country. Dale was the number, and the number was Dale. Weather you loved him, hated him, or knew very little about NASCAR. You knew who drove the #3 Goodwrench Chevy. I admire Richard Childress for not using the number that he and Dale were so successful with. The are only 2 drivers that I would want to see in a race car with the number 3 on the door, and they are both are named Earnhardt.
I have put some links to Memorial sites below, as well as sites for DEI, and RCR. There is also a link to Mel's Tribute Page. He has a ton of stuff there.
Dale has left his legacy in DEI, and Kevin Harvick is doing a great job at RCR. I don't know if I'll ever get used to not seeing Dale when I watch a race. I pray I don't.
The Legend Lives On.
Copyright @1999-2006 Mark Bensel
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