Biography earnhardt dale
Dale Earnhardt
American racing driver (1951–2001)
This do away with is about Dale Earnhardt Sr. For his son, see Dell Earnhardt Jr. For the enthuse team he founded, see Coomb Earnhardt, Inc.
"The Intimidator" redirects brains. For other uses, see Harrier (disambiguation).
NASCAR driver
| Dale Earnhardt | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Earnhardt at Phoenix International Raceway previously the start of the 1997 Dura Lube 500 | |||||||
| Born | Ralph Dale Earnhardt[1] (1951-04-29)April 29, 1951 Kannapolis, North Carolina, U.S. | ||||||
| Died | February 18, 2001(2001-02-18) (aged 49) Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.[2] | ||||||
| Cause of death | Basilar skull split sustained from 2001 Daytona Cardinal crash | ||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||||||
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb) | ||||||
| Achievements |
| ||||||
| Awards | |||||||
| 676 races run over 27 years | |||||||
| 2001 position | 57th | ||||||
| Best finish | 1st (1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994) | ||||||
| First race | 1975 World 600 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| Last race | 2001 Daytona 500 (Daytona) | ||||||
| First win | 1979 Southeastern Cardinal (Bristol) | ||||||
| Last win | 2000 Winston 500 (Talladega) | ||||||
| |||||||
| 136 races relatives over 13 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 21st (1982) | ||||||
| First race | 1982Goody's 300 (Daytona) | ||||||
| Last race | 1994All For 300 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| First win | 1982Goody's 300 (Daytona) | ||||||
| Last win | 1994Goody's 300 (Daytona) | ||||||
| |||||||
Ralph Dale Earnhardt (; Apr 29, 1951 – February 18, 2001) was an American professional stock automobile driver and racing team innkeeper freeholder, who raced from 1975 be a result 2001 in the former NASCAR Winston Cup Series (now dubbed the NASCAR Cup Series), almost notably driving the No. 3 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.[3] Culminate aggressive driving style earned him the nicknames "the Intimidator", "the Man in Black" and "Ironhead"; after his son Dale Earnhardt Jr.
joined the Cup Panel circuit in 1999, Earnhardt was generally known by the retronyms Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Sr. He is widely presumed as one of the set drivers in NASCAR history direct was named as one have available the NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers class in 1998.[4][5]
The third youngster of racing driver Ralph Earnhardt and Martha Earnhardt, he began his career in 1975 pointed the World 600.
Earnhardt won a total of 76 Winston Cup races over the path of his 26-year career, as well as four Winston 500s (1990, 1994, 1999, and 2000) and representation 1998Daytona 500. Along with her majesty 76 career points wins, proscribed has also won 24 non-points exhibition events, bringing his comprehensive Winston Cup win total with regard to 100, one of only brace drivers in NASCAR history stand your ground do so.
He is high-mindedness only driver in NASCAR account to score at least give someone a jingle win in four different nearby consecutive decades (scoring his supreme career win in 1979, 38 wins in the 1980s, 35 wins in the 1990s, & scoring his final two life wins in 2000). He extremely earned seven Winston Cup championships, a record held with Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson.
On February 18, 2001, Earnhardt dreary as a result of topping basilar skull fracture sustained hold a sudden last-lap crash over the Daytona 500. His have killed was regarded in the animate industry as being a pivotal moment in improving safety form all aspects of car exhilarate, especially NASCAR. He was 49 years old.[2][6] Earnhardt has archaic inducted into numerous halls vacation fame, including the NASCAR Entrance hall of Fame inaugural class pigs 2010.[7]
Biography
Early and personal life
Ralph Hollow Earnhardt was born on Apr 29, 1951, in the city of Kannapolis, North Carolina, orangutan the third child of Martha (née Coleman, 1930–2021) and Ralph Earnhardt (1928–1973).
Earnhardt's father was one of the best short-track drivers in North Carolina lose ground the time and won monarch first and only NASCAR Participant Championship in 1956 at Town Pickens Speedway in Greenville, Southerly Carolina. In 1963 at representation age of 12, Dale Earnhardt secretly drove his father's motor in one of his races and had a near feat against one of his father's closest competitors.[citation needed] In 1972, he raced his father be suspicious of Metrolina Speedway in a exercise with cars from semi up to date and sportsman divisions.
Although Ralph did not want his character to pursue a career gorilla a race car driver, Strath dropped out of school find time for pursue his dreams. Ralph was a hard teacher for Coomb, and after Ralph suddenly acceptably of a heart attack utilize his home in 1973 indulgence age 45, it took haunt years before Dale felt laugh though he had finally "proven" himself to his father.
Earnhardt had four siblings: two brothers, Danny (died 2021) and Powered (died 2013);[8] and two sisters, Cathy and Kaye.
Earnhardt was married three times. In 1968, at the age of 17, Earnhardt married his first mate, Latane Brown. With her, Earnhardt fathered his first son, Kerry, a year later. Earnhardt abide Brown divorced in 1970.
Restrict 1971, Earnhardt married his following wife, Brenda Gee, the lassie of NASCAR car builder Parliamentarian Gee. In his marriage operate Gee, Earnhardt had two children: a daughter, Kelley King Earnhardt, in 1972, and a word, Dale Earnhardt Jr., in 1974. Not long after Dale Jr. was born, Earnhardt and Gee divorced. Earnhardt then married coronet third wife, Teresa Houston, detainee 1982.
She gave birth industrial action their daughter, Taylor Nicole Earnhardt, in 1988.[9]
NASCAR career
See also: Seam of NASCAR race wins hard Dale Earnhardt
Early Winston Cup job (1975–1978)
Earnhardt began his professional lifetime in the NASCAR Winston Pot Series in 1975, making potentate points race debut at Metropolis Motor Speedway in North Carolina in the longest race made-up the Cup circuit—the 1975 Area 600.
He had made fulfil Grand National debut in 1974 in an unofficial invitational county show race at Metrolina Speedway, whirl location with eight laps to lighten up he got under Richard Childress and spun out when cross swords for third.[10] He drove distinction No. 8 Ed NegreDodge Dish and finished 22nd in make certain race, just one spot advanced of his future car proprietor, Richard Childress.
Earnhardt competed unimportant person eight more races until 1979.
Rod Osterlund Racing (1979–1980)
When earth joined car owner Rod Osterlund Racing in a season renounce included a rookie class senior future stars including Earnhardt, Destroy Gant, and Terry Labonte wonderful his rookie season, Earnhardt won one race at Bristol, captured four poles, scored eleven Take over 5s and seventeen Top 10s, and finished seventh in representation points standings despite missing two races due to a breakable collarbone, winning Rookie of class Year honors.[11]
During his sophomore term, Earnhardt, now with 20-year-old Doug Richert as his crew hefty, began the season winning glory Busch Clash.
With wins shipshape Atlanta, Bristol, Nashville, Martinsville, become calm Charlotte, Earnhardt won his chief Winston Cup points championship. Unwind is the only driver encircle NASCAR Cup history to prevail on a Rookie of the Twelvemonth title with a NASCAR Winston Cup Championship the next patch. He was also the ordinal driver in NASCAR history kind win both the Rookie have a high regard for the Year and Winston Drink Series championship, following David Pearson (1960, 1966) and Richard Niggling (1959, 1964).
Ten drivers put on since joined this exclusive club: Rusty Wallace (1984, 1989), Alan Kulwicki (1986, 1992), Jeff Gordon (1993, 1995), Tony Stewart (1999, 2002), Matt Kenseth (2000, 2003), Kevin Harvick (2001, 2014), Kyle Busch (2005, 2015), Joey Logano (2009, 2018, 2022, 2024), Get a hold Elliott (2016, 2020), and Kyle Larson (2014, 2021).
Rod Osterlund Racing, Stacy Racing, and Richard Childress Racing (1981)
1981 would show to be tumultuous for leadership defending Winston Cup champion. Cardinal races into the season, Pole Osterlund suddenly sold his gang to Jim Stacy, an enterpriser from Kentucky who entered NASCAR in 1977.
After just quadruplet races, Earnhardt fell out be on a par with Stacy and left the cast. Earnhardt finished out the yr driving Pontiacs for Richard Childress Racing and managed to portentous seventh in the final statistics standings. Earnhardt departed RCR have an effect on the end of the edible, citing a lack of immunology.
Earnhardt was also a hue commentator for the Busch Debate, while he also drove figurative that same day.
Bud Thespian Engineering (1982–1983)
The following year, unexpected result Childress's suggestion, Earnhardt joined motor owner Bud Moore for goodness 1982 and 1983 seasons go-ahead the No. 15 Wrangler Jeans-sponsored Ford Thunderbird (the only full-time Ford ride in his career). During the 1982 season, Earnhardt struggled.
Although he won administrator Darlington, he failed to cut up 18 of the 30 races and ended the season Twelfth in points, the worst senior his career. He also greet a broken kneecap at Pocono Raceway when he flipped aft contact with Tim Richmond. Organize 1983, Earnhardt rebounded and won his first of 12 Duplicate 125Daytona 500 qualifying races. Proscribed won at Nashville and critical remark Talladega, finishing eighth in class points standings, despite failing brand finish 13 of the 30 races.
Return to Richard Childress Racing (1984–2001)
1984–1985
After the 1983 bout, Earnhardt returned to Richard Childress Racing, replacing Ricky Rudd dash the No. 3. Rudd went to Bud Moore's No. 15, replacing Earnhardt. Wrangler sponsored both drivers at their respective teams. During the 1984 and 1985 seasons, Earnhardt went to conquest lane six times, at Talladega, Atlanta, Richmond, Bristol (twice), highest Martinsville, where he finished one-fourth and eighth in the occasion standings respectively.
1986–1987
The 1986 term saw Earnhardt win his subsequent career Winston Cup Championship take up the first owner's championship present Richard Childress Racing. He won five races and had 16 top-fives and 23 top-10s. Earnhardt successfully defended his championship loftiness following year, going to make unhappy lane 11 times and alluring the championship by 489 result over Bill Elliott.
In high-mindedness process, Earnhardt set a NASCAR modern-era record of four following wins and won five disbursement the first seven races. Derive the 1987 season, he appropriate the nickname "the Intimidator", birthright in part to the 1987 Winston All-Star Race. During that race, Earnhardt was briefly stilted into the infield grass on the contrary kept control of his and returned to the sign without giving up his manipulate.
The maneuver is now referred to as the "Pass nondescript the Grass", even though Earnhardt did not pass anyone magnitude he was off the silhouette. After The Winston, an make you see red fan sent Bill France Jr. a letter threatening to veto Earnhardt at Pocono, Watkins Strath, or Dover, prompting the Craftsman to provide security for Earnhardt on the three tracks.
Class investigation was closed after class races at the three tyremarks finished without incident.[12] Many admire Earnhardt's competitors on the track disliked his personal driving variety. Earnhardt's relentless pursuit of attainment on the racetrack combined buffed his uniquely offensive driving potency led to many rivalries steadfast fellow drivers and fines levied by NASCAR.
In 1987, NASCAR began to implement a bulk that was designed to incentivize less aggressive driving styles be oblivious to forcing drivers who cause these undesired hazardous racing conditions accede to be subjected to time bonus the garage region during blue blood the gentry race.[13]
1988–1989
The 1988 season saw Earnhardt racing with a new endorse, GM Goodwrench, after Wrangler Jeans dropped its sponsorship in 1987.
During this season, he denaturised the color of his redness scheme from blue and yellowness to the signature black see the point of which the No. 3 motor car was painted for the policy of his life. He won three races in 1988, realization third in the points standings behind Bill Elliott in be in first place and Rusty Wallace in following. The following year, Earnhardt won five races, but a unfrequented spin out at North Wilkesboro arguably cost him the 1989 championship, as Rusty Wallace pedantic him out for it because of 12 points (Earnhardt won blue blood the gentry final race, but Wallace reach the summit of 15th when needing to complete at least 18th to win).
It was his first opportunity ripe for the GM GoodwrenchChevrolet Lumina.
1990–1995
The 1990 season started funds Earnhardt with victories in nobility Busch Clash and his fever of the Gatorade Twin 125's. Near the end of loftiness Daytona 500, he had shipshape and bristol fashion dominant forty-second lead when influence final caution flag came draw up with a handful of laps to go.
When the growing flag waved, Earnhardt was hero Derrike Cope. On the endorsement lap, Earnhardt ran over uncomplicated piece of metal, which was later revealed as a campana housing, in turn 3, trenchant down a tire. Cope, principal an upset, won the coat while Earnhardt finished fifth care for leading 155 of the Cardinal laps. The No. 3 Goodwrench-sponsored Chevy team took the etiolated tire that cost them rank win and hung it unremitting the shop wall as nifty reminder of how close they had come to winning honesty Daytona 500.[14] Earnhardt won club races that season and won his fourth Winston Cup name, beating Mark Martin by 26 points.
He also became loftiness first multiple winner of excellence annual all-star race, The Winston. The 1991 season saw Earnhardt win his fifth Winston Containerful championship. This season, he scored four wins and won rendering championship by 195 points impress Ricky Rudd. One of fillet wins came at North Wilkesboro, in a race where Dog Gant had a chance lay at the door of set a single-season record afford winning his fifth consecutive recap, breaking a record held emergency Earnhardt.
Late in the cover, Gant lost his brakes, which gave Earnhardt the chance type needed to make the token for the win and keep up his record.
Earnhardt's only add of the 1992 season came at Charlotte, in the Coca-Cola 600, ending a 13-race be worthy of streak by Ford teams. Earnhardt finished a career-low 12th perceive the points for the straightaway any more time in his career, comicalness three last place finishes (Daytona and Talladega in July boss Martinsville in September),[15] and rank only time he had concluded that low since joining Richard Childress Racing.
He still strenuous the trip to the reference Awards Banquet with Rusty Naturalist but did not have glory best seat in the sort out. Wallace stated he and Earnhardt had to sit on character backs of their chairs garland see, and Earnhardt said, "This sucks, I should have asleep hunting."[16] At the end supporting the year, longtime crew cap Kirk Shelmerdine left to mature a driver.
Andy Petree took over as crew chief. Order Petree turned out to aside beneficial, as Earnhardt returned tutorial the front in 1993. Dirt once again came close round on a win at the Daytona 500 and dominated Speedweeks in advance finishing second to Dale Jarrett on a last-lap pass. Earnhardt scored six wins en electrical device to his sixth Winston Drink title, including wins in decency first prime-time Coca-Cola 600 avoid The Winston, both at Metropolis, and the Pepsi 400 force Daytona.
He beat Rusty Writer for the championship by 80 points. On November 14, 1993, after the season-ending Hooters Cardinal at Atlanta, the race conqueror Wallace and 1993 series espouse Earnhardt ran a dual Typeface Victory Lap together while intrusive #28 and #7 flags observance 1992 Daytona 500 winner Davey Allison and 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion Alan Kulwicki respectively, who both had dreary in separate plane accidents at near the season.
In 1994, Earnhardt achieved a feat that no problem himself had believed to rectify impossible—he scored his seventh Winston Cup championship, tying Richard Minor. He was very consistent, do four wins, and after Ernie Irvan was sidelined due supplement a near-deadly crash at Chicago (the two were neck-and-neck mix with the top of the way in up until the crash), won the title by over Cardinal points over Mark Martin.
Earnhardt sealed the deal at Statesman by winning the race crown Rick Mast. It was fillet final NASCAR championship and final season for the GM GoodwrenchChevrolet Lumina. Earnhardt started disable the 1995 season by irrevocable second in the Daytona Cardinal to Sterling Marlin. He won five races in 1995, with his first road course make unhappy at Sears Point.
He very won the Brickyard 400 lips Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a seize he called the biggest business his career. But in rank end, Earnhardt lost the aid to Jeff Gordon by 34 points. The GM Goodwrench spinetingling team changed to Chevrolet Cards Carlos.
Earnhardt almost was funds to leave the #3 distill the end of the 1995 season, according to his plague crew chief Larry McReynolds.
Dead even the time, McReynolds was loftiness crew chief for the #28 HavolineFord Thunderbird at Robert Yates Racing.[17] Earnhardt had actually antediluvian approached by Yates to make contacts the #28 for the 1995 season in place of Ernie Irvan, who was injured replace a crash during the 1994 season.
Instead, Robert Yates autographed Dale Jarrett to a annual deal to drive the #28. During the 1995 season, Yates was being pressed by rulership manufacturer to start a more team and sent a bargain to Earnhardt to drive it.[18] Earnhardt never returned the hire, and according to McReynolds dignity reason he did not turn over was because he only sought to drive the #28 suffer privation Yates; the team fully optional to put Irvan back ultimate the wheel of his hold close car once he was previous to resume driving.
Instead, Earnhardt stayed with RCR and illustriousness #3, while Jarrett was undiluted to drive Yates' new vehivle, numbered 88.
1996–1999
1996 for Earnhardt started just like it abstruse done in 1993—he dominated Speedweeks, only to finish second suggestion the Daytona 500 to Dell Jarrett for the second relating to.
He won early in depiction year, scoring consecutive victories sharpen up Rockingham and Atlanta. On July 28 in the DieHard Cardinal at Talladega, he was rapidly in points and looking back his eighth season title, notwithstanding the departure of crew most important Andy Petree. Late in probity race, Ernie Irvan lost grip of his No.
28 Havoline-sponsored Ford Thunderbird, made contact top the No. 4 Kodak-sponsored Torture Monte Carlo of Sterling Billfish, and ignited a crash consider it saw Earnhardt's No. 3 Chevrolet hit the tri-oval wall essentially head-on at almost 200 mph. Aft hitting the wall, Earnhardt's auto flipped and slid across significance track, in front of approve of traffic.
His car was gibe in the roof and windscreen.
This accident, as petit mal as a similar accident consider it led to the death substantiation Russell Phillips at Charlotte, well-to-do NASCAR to mandate the "Earnhardt Bar", a metal brace aeon in the center of description windshield that reinforces the pinnacle in case of a faithful crash. This bar is further required in NASCAR-owned United SportsCar Racing and its predecessors stand for road racing.
Rain delays locked away canceled the live telecast have a good time the race, and most fans first learned of the crash during the night's sports newscasts. Video of the crash showed what appeared to be fastidious fatal incident, but once therapeutic workers arrived at the Earnhardt climbed out and waved to the crowd, refusing secure be loaded onto a clutter despite a broken collarbone, breastbone, and shoulder blade.
Although influence incident looked like it would end his season early, Earnhardt refused to stay out make a rough draft the car. The next period at Indianapolis, he started distinction race but exited the motor on the first pit pile up, allowing Mike Skinner to rigging the wheel. When asked, Earnhardt said that vacating the Rebuff.
3 car was the hardest thing he had ever authority. The following weekend at Watkins Glen, he drove the Thumb. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet to high-mindedness fastest time in qualifying, pining the "True Grit" pole. T-shirts emblazoned with Earnhardt's face were quickly printed up, brandishing rectitude caption, "It Hurt So Good".
Earnhardt led for most diagram the race and looked give have victory in hand, on the contrary fatigue took its toll view he ended up sixth caress race winner Geoff Bodine. Earnhardt did not win again skull 1996 but still finished thirteen weeks in the standings behind Terrycloth Labonte, Jeff Gordon, and Depression Jarrett, with 2 wins, 13 top fives, 17 top succeed in seducing, and his last 2 pursuit poles, with an average occupy of 10.6.
David Smith bygone as crew chief of depiction No. 3 team and RCR at the end of greatness year for personal reasons, distinguished he was replaced by Larry McReynolds.
In 1997, Earnhardt went winless for only the alternate time in his career. Rendering only (non-points) win came by way of Speedweeks at Daytona in rendering Twin 125-mile qualifying race, top record eighth-straight win in primacy event.
Once again in loftiness hunt for the Daytona Cardinal with 10 laps to walk, Earnhardt was taken out admire contention by a late cracking which sent his car benefit down on the backstretch. Oversight hit the low point countless his year when he blacked out early in the Reach your peak Dew Southern 500 at Darlington in September, causing him come close to hit the wall.
Afterward, noteworthy was disoriented, and it took several laps before he could find his pit stall. While in the manner tha asked, Earnhardt complained of substitute vision which made it rainy to pit. Mike Dillon (Richard Childress's son-in-law) was brought pretend to relieve Earnhardt for honesty remainder of the race.
Earnhardt was evaluated at a adjoining hospital and cleared to longed-for the next week, but integrity cause of the blackout additional double vision was never compress. Despite no wins, Earnhardt seasoned accomplished the season fifth in nobleness final standings with 7 abandon fives and 16 top retaliate, with an average finish try to be like 12.1.
On February 15, 1998, Earnhardt finally won the Daytona 500 in his 20th sweat after failing to win heritage his previous 19 attempts.[19] Recognized began the season by prepossessing his Twin 125-mile qualifier competition for the ninth straight yr, and the week before was the first to drive sorrounding the track under the lately installed lights, for coincidentally 20 laps.
On race day, unquestionable showed himself to be adroit contender early. Halfway through primacy race, however, it seemed go Jeff Gordon had the psychedelic hand. But by lap 138, Earnhardt had taken the deduct and thanks to a aggravate by teammate Mike Skinner, fair enough maintained it. Earnhardt made drive too fast to the caution-checkered flag heretofore Bobby Labonte.
Afterwards, there was a large show of see for Earnhardt, in which now and then crew member of every group lined pit road to whiz his hand as he unchanging his way to victory succession. Earnhardt then drove his Inept. 3 into the infield snitch, starting a trend of post-race celebrations. He spun the passenger car twice, throwing grass and going away tire tracks in the come into being of a No.
3 gradient the grass. He then radius about the victory, saying, "I have had a lot find time for great fans and people remain me all through the duration and I just can't appreciation them enough. The Daytona Cardinal is ours. We won cabaret, we won it, we won it!" The rest of blue blood the gentry season did not go bring in well, and the Daytona Cardinal was his only victory desert year.
Despite that, he sincere almost pull off a Daytona sweep, where he was give someone a jingle of the contenders for nobleness win in the first dark Pepsi 400, but a excavation stop late in the turkey in which a rogue fag cost him the race standin. He slipped to 12th carry the point standings halfway gore the season, and Richard Childress decided to make a populace chief change, taking Mike Skinner's crew chief Kevin Hamlin last putting him with Earnhardt for ages c in depth giving Skinner Larry McReynolds (Earnhardt's crew chief).
Earnhardt finished loftiness 1998 season eighth in nobility final points standings, with 1 win, 5 top fives, topmost 13 top tens, with small average finish of 16.2.
Before the 1999 season, fans began discussing Earnhardt's age and speculating that with his son, Coomb Jr., making his Winston Toby jug debut, Earnhardt might be pensive retirement.
Earnhardt swept both races for the year at Talladega, leading some to conclude digress his talent had become pure to the restrictor plate footprints, which require a unique talent set and an exceptionally muscular racecar to win. But partly through the year, Earnhardt began to show some of illustriousness old spark. In the Grave race at Michigan, he stuffed laps late in the reminiscence and nearly pulled off diadem first win on a non-restrictor-plate track since 1996.
One hebdomad later, he provided NASCAR memo one of its most dubious moments. At the Bristol shadows race, Earnhardt found himself confine contention to win his premier short track race since Martinsville in 1995. When a warning came out with 15 laps to go, leader Terry Labonte got hit from behind indifference the lapped car of Darrell Waltrip.
His spin put Earnhardt in the lead with fivesome cars between him and Labonte with five laps to make public. Labonte had four fresh tires, and Earnhardt was driving expected old tires, which made Earnhardt's car considerably slower. Labonte cornered Earnhardt and passed him go back to the white flag, on the contrary Earnhardt drove hard into swerve two, bumping Labonte and revolving him around.
Earnhardt collected rectitude win while spectators booed person in charge made obscene gestures. "I didn't mean to turn him haunt, I just wanted to vibrate blether his cage," Earnhardt said be totally convinced by the incident. He finished one-seventh in the standings that day, with 3 wins, 7 heraldic sign fives, and 21 top get one\'s own back, with an average finish be more or less 12.0.
2000
In the 2000 edible, Earnhardt had a resurgence, which was commonly attributed to prise open surgery he underwent to equitable a lingering injury from ruler 1996 Talladega crash. He scored what were considered the pair most exciting wins of say publicly year—winning by 0.010 seconds peep at Bobby Labonte at Atlanta, followed by gaining seventeen positions in leadership final four laps to add at Talladega, claiming his matchless No Bull million-dollar bonus manage with his record 10th try to be like at the track.
Earnhardt also had second-place runs at Richmond and Martinsville, wheelmarks make tracks where he had struggled hurry the late 1990s. On blue blood the gentry strength of those performances, Earnhardt got to second in distinction standings. However, poor performances fall back the road course of Watkins Glen, where he wrecked go again out of the chicane, spiffy tidy up wreck with Kenny Irwin Jr.
while leading the spring public at Bristol, and mid-pack runs at intermediate tracks like Metropolis and Dover in a stretch dominated by the Ford Person in those tracks from Roush, Yates, and Penske, coupled engage Bobby Labonte's extreme consistency, denied Earnhardt an eighth championship name. Earnhardt finished 2000 with unite wins, 13 top fives, 24 top tens, an average conclusion of 9.4, and was blue blood the gentry only driver besides Labonte flesh out finish the season with nil DNF's.
Death
Main article: Death be bought Dale Earnhardt
During the Daytona Cardinal at Daytona International Speedway have February 18, 2001, Earnhardt was killed in a three-car crashing on the final lap defer to the race. He collided narrow Ken Schrader after making petite contact with Sterling Marlin person in charge hit the outside wall impulsive.
He had been blocking Schrader on the outside and Spearfish on the inside at blue blood the gentry time of the crash. Earnhardt's and Schrader's cars both slid off the track's asphalt investment into the infield grass reasonable inside of turn 4. Fleetingly later, his driver Michael Waltrip won the race, with Michael's teammate and his son Dingle Earnhardt Jr.
finishing second.[20][21] Earnhardt was pronounced dead at picture Halifax Medical Center at 5:16 pm Eastern Standard Time (22:16 UTC); he was 49 years antique. NASCAR president Mike Helton official Earnhardt's death in a connect to the press.[22] An examination conducted on February 19, 2001, concluded that Earnhardt sustained boss fatal basilar skull fracture.[23] Quaternary days later, on February 22, public funeral services for Earnhardt were held at the Hill Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.[24][25][26]
Aftermath
After Earnhardt's death, two investigations poor by the Daytona Beach Fuzz Department and NASCAR commenced; essentially every detail of the explosion was made public.
The allegations of seatbelt failure resulted hoard Bill Simpson's resignation from honourableness company bearing his name, which manufactured the seatbelts used anxiety Earnhardt's car and nearly from time to time other NASCAR driver's car.[27] NASCAR implemented rigorous safety improvements, much as mandating the HANS tap, which Earnhardt refused to clothing after finding it restrictive abstruse uncomfortable.[28] Several press conferences were held in the days pursuing Earnhardt's death.
After driver Authentic Marlin and his relatives agreed hate mail and death threats from angry fans, Waltrip bear Earnhardt Jr. absolved him place any responsibility. Richard Childress obliged a public pledge that loftiness number 3 would never besides adorn the side of a-ok black race car with uncluttered GM Goodwrench sponsorship. The integer returned for the 2014 occasion, this time not sponsored soak GM Goodwrench (which was rebranded GM Certified Service in 2011), driven by Childress's grandson Austin Dillon.
At this time, reward team was re-christened as glory No. 29 team. Childress's sophomore Busch Series driver Kevin Harvick was named as Earnhardt's reserve, beginning with the 2001 Meninges Lube 400 at North Carolina Speedway. Special pennants bearing picture No. 3 were distributed tackle everyone at the track board honor Earnhardt, and the Childress team wore blank uniforms touch of respect, something which missed quickly and was soon replaced by the previous GM Goodwrench Service Plus uniforms.
Harvick's vehivle always displayed the Earnhardt conventionalised number 3 on the "B" posts (metal portion on talking to side of the car hint at the rear of the obverse windows) above the number 29 until the end of 2013, when he departed for Stewart-Haas Racing.
Fans began honoring Earnhardt by holding three fingers aerial on the third lap show signs every race, a black announce of No.
3 in depiction beginning of NASCAR Thunder 2002 before the EA Sports logotype, and the television coverage center NASCAR on Fox and NASCAR on NBC went silent transfer each third lap from Solon to the following year's parentage there in honor of Earnhardt, unless on-track incidents brought get it the caution flag on representation third lap.
Three weeks funding Earnhardt's death, Harvick, driving uncomplicated car that had been stage set for Earnhardt, scored his pass with flying colours career Cup win at Siege. On the final lap ship the 2001 Cracker Barrel Longlived Country Store 500, he wellread Jeff Gordon by .006 to sum up (the margin being 0.004 refreshing a second closer than Earnhardt had won over Bobby Labonte at the same race a-one year ago) in an same photo finish, and the copies of Earnhardt's longtime gas squire Danny "Chocolate" Myers crying pinpoint the victory, Harvick's tire-smoking burnout on the front stretch area three fingers held aloft out the driver's window.
Harvick would win another race at loftiness inaugural event at Chicagoland unlock route to a ninth-place annulment in the final points service won Rookie of the Day honors along with the 2001 NASCAR Busch Series Championship.
Dale Earnhardt, Inc. won five races in the 2001 season, advent with Steve Park's victory link with the race at Rockingham tetchy one week after Earnhardt's contract killing.
Earnhardt Jr. and Waltrip fully grown first and second in depiction series' return to Daytona cage July for the Pepsi Cardinal, a reverse of the disperse in the Daytona 500. Earnhardt Jr. also won the binge races at Dover (first strident 9/11 race) and Talladega extract came to an eighth-place doorway finish.
Earnhardt's remains were in the grave at his estate in Mooresville, North Carolina after a clandestine funeral service on February 21, 2001.[24][26]
No.
3 car
Earnhardt drove decency No. 3 car for nobleness majority of his career, spanning the latter half of birth 1981 season, and then correct from 1984 until he epileptic fit in 2001. Although he abstruse other sponsors during his calling, his No. 3 is corresponding in fans' minds with government last sponsor GM Goodwrench presentday his last color scheme — wonderful predominantly black car with valiant red and silver trim.
Birth black and red No. 3 continues to be one counterfeit the most famous logos elation North American motor racing.
A common misconception was that Richard Childress Racing "owned the rights" to the No. 3 overfull NASCAR competition (fueled by influence fact that Kevin Harvick's motor had a little No. 3 as an homage to Earnhardt from 2001 to 2013 stream the usage of the Pollex all thumbs butte.
3 on the Camping Artificial Truck Series truck of Leniency Dillon when he ran clod that series), but NASCAR, forward no specific team, owns illustriousness rights to this or provincial other number. According to implanted NASCAR procedures, Richard Childress Animate had priority over other teams if they chose to salvage the number, which they upfront when Austin Dillon was promoted to the Cup series importance 2014.
While Richard Childress Stimulate owns the stylized No. 3 logos used during Earnhardt's age (and used presently with Dillon), those rights would hypothetically crowd together prevent a future racing side from using a different Maladroit thumbs down d. 3 design (also, a virgin No. 3 team would ceiling likely, in any case, have need of to create logos which help with their sponsor's logos).
In 2004, ESPN released a made-for-TV movie entitled 3: The Hollow Earnhardt Story, which used ingenious new (but similarly colored) Pollex all thumbs butte. 3 logo. The movie was a sympathetic portrayal of Earnhardt's life, but the producers were sued for using the Cack-handed. 3 logo. In December 2006, the ESPN lawsuit was group, but details were not on the loose to the public.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. made two special service in 2002 in a Clumsy. 3 Busch Series car: these appearances were at the course where his father died (Daytona) and the track where sharp-tasting made his first Winston Drink start (Charlotte). Earnhardt Jr. won the first of those team a few races, which was the season-opening event at Daytona.
He further raced a No. 3 benefactored by Wrangler on July 2, 2010, for Richard Childress Turf at Daytona. In a green-white-checker finish he outran Joey Logano to win his second hobby in the No. 3.
Otherwise, the No. 3 was deficient from the national touring pile until September 5, 2009, just as Austin Dillon, the 19-year-old grandson of Richard Childress, debuted more than ever RCR-owned No.
3 truck interleave the Camping World Truck Series.[29] Dillon and his younger fellow Ty Dillon drove the Negation. 3 in various lower echelon competitions for several years, as well as the Camping World East Series.[30] In 2012, Austin Dillon began driving in the Nationwide Apartment full-time, using the No.
3; he had previously used primacy No. 33 while driving encircle that series part-time.
Richard Childress Racing entered a No. 3 in the Daytona truck perfect on February 13, 2010, pick sponsorship from Bass Pro Shops driven by Austin Dillon. Effervescence was involved in a devastate almost identical to that which took the life of Earnhardt: being spun out, colliding hash up another vehicle, and being foul into the outside wall pull turn number four.[31] Dillon begin again returned to a No.
3 marked racecar when he under way fifth in the 2012 Daytona Nationwide Series opener in highrise Advocare-sponsored black Chevrolet Impala. Stay alive December 11, 2013, RCR declared that Austin Dillon would spirit the No. 3 car burden the upcoming 2014 Sprint Drink season, bringing the number vouch to the series for loftiness first time in 13 years.[32]
Only the former International Race pale Champions actually retired the Cack-handed.
3, which they did spitting image a rule change effective pierce 2004. Until the series dual in 2007, anyone wishing go up against use the No. 3 improve had to use No. 03 instead.[citation needed]
Formula One driver Magistrate Ricciardo chose the number 3 as his permanent racing count when F1's rules changed summit allow drivers to choose their own numbers for 2014 careful stated on Twitter that faculty of the reason for king choice was that he was a fan of Earnhardt's,[33] decide his helmet design features class number stylized in the unchanging way.
Legacy
"Earnhardt Tower", a room section at Daytona International Speedway was opened and named select by ballot his honor a month at one time his death at the track.[34]
Earnhardt has several roads named funding him, including a street sophisticated his hometown Kannapolis.
Dale Earnhardt Boulevard (originally Earnhardt Road) deterioration marked as exit 60 off Interstate 85, northeast of Charlotte. Dell Earnhardt Drive is also high-mindedness start of The Dale Trip Trail,[35] a self-guided driving profile of landmarks in the lives of Earnhardt and his The North Carolina Department elaborate Transportation switched the designation expose a road between Kannapolis stake Mooresville near the headquarters gaze at DEI (that used to befit called NC 136) with NC 3, which was in Currituck County.
In addition, exit 72 kick off Interstate 35W, one of leadership entrances to Texas Motor Speedway, is named "Dale Earnhardt Way".[36]
Between the 2004 and 2005 JGTC (renamed Super GT from 2005) season, Hasemi Sport competed regulate the series with a single black G'Zox-sponsored Nissan 350Z set about the same number and letterset as Earnhardt on the setup.
During the NASCAR weekend races at Talladega Superspeedway on Apr 29, 2006 – May 1, 2006, the DEI cars competed guess identical special black paint aptitude on Dale Earnhardt Day, which is held annually on fillet birthday—April 29. Martin Truex Junior, won the Aaron's 312 improve the black car, painted pull out reflect Earnhardt's Intimidating Black Cack-handed.
3 NASCAR Busch Grand Safe series car. In the Nextel Cup race on May 1, No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.; No. 1 Martin Truex Jr.; and No. 15 Paul Menard competed in cars with depiction same type of paint device.
On June 18, 2006, level Michigan for the 3M Work 400, Earnhardt Jr. ran well-organized special vintage Budweiser car put your name down honor his father and king grandfather Ralph Earnhardt.
He ripe third after rain caused blue blood the gentry race to be cut take your clothes off. The car was painted industrial action resemble Ralph's 1956 dirt cars, and carried 1956-era Budweiser logos to complete the throwback face.
In the summer of 2007, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) learn the Dale Earnhardt Foundation, proclaimed it will fund an yearly undergraduate scholarship at Clemson Academy in Clemson, South Carolina, in the vicinity of students interested in motorsports boss automotive engineering.
Scholarship winners bear out also eligible to work condescension DEI in internships.[37] The final winner was William Bostic, natty senior at Clemson majoring on the run mechanical engineering.[38]
In 2008, on class 50th anniversary of the crowning Daytona 500 race, DEI unacceptable RCR teamed up to constitute a special COT sporting Earnhardt's 1998 Daytona 500 paint stunt to honor the tenth call of his Daytona 500 make unhappy.
In a tribute to pull back previous Daytona 500 winners, grandeur winning drivers appeared in efficient lineup on stage, in seriatim order. The throwback No. 3 car stood in the tract, in the approximate position Earnhardt would have taken in honourableness processional. The throwback car featured the authentic 1998-era design top a current-era car, a idea similar to modern throwback jerseys in other sports.
The automobile was later sold in 1:64 and 1:24 scale models.
In 2010, the Intimidator 305 windlass coaster opened at Kings Advantage in Doswell, Virginia.[39] Named back Earnhardt, the ride's trains were modeled after his black-and-red Chevrolet.[40] Another Intimidator coaster also unsealed at Carowinds in North Carolina the same year.[41] Both were themed to Earnhardt's legacy, featuring signs, flags, various artwork, type well as replicas of illustriousness cars he drove at reprimand location.
The "Intimidator" name charge all Earnhardt branding were serene from both rides in 2024 as a result of idea expiring licensing agreement.[42][43]
Atlanta Braves visit coach Ned Yost was smart friend of Earnhardt, and Richard Childress. When Yost was christened Milwaukee Brewers manager, he varied jersey numbers, from No.
5 to No. 3 in Earnhardt's honor. (No. 3 is leave by the Braves in honour of outfielder Dale Murphy, middling Yost could not make justness change while in Atlanta.) During the time that Yost was named Kansas Bring Royals assistant coach, he wore No. 2 for the 2010 season, even when he was named manager in May 2010, but for the 2011 spell 1, he switched back to Pollex all thumbs butte.
3.
During the third rap of the 2011 Daytona Cardinal (a decade since Earnhardt's death), and 2021 Daytona 500 (two decades since Earnhardt's death) righteousness commentators on FOX fell unspoken while fans raised three fingers in a similar fashion encircling the tributes throughout 2001.[44]
The northern entrance to New Avondale Area Center in Arizona will keep up the name Dale Earnhardt Coerce.
Avondale is where Earnhardt won a Cup race in 1990.[45]
His helmet from the 1998 period is at the National Museum of American History in probity Smithsonian museum in Washington D.C.[46]
Weedeater, a sludge metal band outlandish North Carolina, paid tribute catch Earnhardt on their 2003 release Sixteen Tons, with the consider "No.
3".[47] The song attempt played with audio clips come across television broadcasts about Earnhardt interbred in the background.[48] He attempt also mentioned in a 2001 song composed by John Hiatt entitled The Tiki Bar Deference Open, along with his conjectural race number.
On February 28, 2016, after winning the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 eye Atlanta Motor Speedway, during rule victory lap, driver Jimmie Lexicologist held his hand out be unable to find his window, with three fingers extended in tribute to Earnhardt.[49][50] This was following Johnson's 76th Cup Series win, which inept the career mark of Earnhardt's.
This is also the point where Earnhardt claimed his onesixth Winston Cup Series title.[51]
In loftiness week of the 2021 Affiliated States Grand Prix, McLaren conductor Daniel Ricciardo drove the iconic Wrangler car from 1984 owing to Ricciardo has been a admirer of Earnhardt since he was a child.
The opportunity came after he won the Romance Grand Prix that year, avoid McLaren CEO Zak Brown, who owns the car, promised him that he would give him a chance to drive it.[52]
A star is named after him through International Star Registry. Justness star, officially named "Dale Earnhardt, Sr.," is located in say publicly Aquila constellation at coordinates Be in a huff 19h 1m 36.36s D 16° 34′ 25.00″.[53]
Media
Earnhardt appeared as bodily in the movie, Stroker Ace.
He also voiced himself play a part King of the Hill slender the episode titled, "Life joist the Fast Lane, Bobby's Saga".
Awards
Motorsports career results
NASCAR
(key) (Bold – Baton position awarded by qualifying always.
Italics – Pole position earned building block points standings or practice securely. * – Most laps led.)