A Legend Remembered: Dale Earnhardt

 

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    20 years ago, today, we lost Dale Earnhardt in a last lap crash during the 2001 the Daytona 500. The 7-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion's legacy, will live on for a long time to come. But NASCAR will never be the same without "the Intimidator".

Earnhardt had a big influence on fans, but also on the running of NASCAR itself. He would most likely would have disagreed with letting Japanese car manufacturer, Toyota, compete in NASCAR, but this doesn’t mean he was against furthering the sport. He was an ambassador, he in brought companies, totally unrelated to motorsports, to sponsor NASCAR races and race teams. 

His racing style gave all of the other drivers of his day, a weekly challenge. Most of the drivers today wouldn’t stand a chance on the track with Earnhardt.

Earnhardt's NASCAR career spanned over 27 years, with 76 Cup wins, and 7 Championships at the time of his death. There are only three, 7-Time Cup Series Champions: Richard Petty; Dale Earnhardt; and most recently, Jimmie Johnson. A feat, that may never be broken, or even tied a fourth time.  

We will never know why he was taken so soon from the sport that he loved, and the sport that loved him so dearly, but all we can do, is to find at least one way today, to honor "the Intimidator".