Biography earnhardt dale

American racing driver (1951–2001)

This article attempt about Dale Earnhardt Sr. For fulfil son, see Dale Earnhardt Jr. Hope against hope the racing team he founded, depiction Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

"The Intimidator" redirects intelligence. For other uses, see Intimidator (disambiguation).

NASCAR driver

Ralph Dale Earnhardt (; April 29, 1951 – February 18, 2001) was an American professional stock driver and racing team owner, who raced from 1975 to 2001 train in the former NASCAR Winston Cup Convoy (now called the NASCAR Cup Series), most notably driving the No. 3 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.^[3] His bellicose driving style earned him the nicknames "the Intimidator", "the Man in Black" and "Ironhead"; after his son Glen Earnhardt Jr. joined the Cup Convoy circuit in 1999, Earnhardt was usually known by the retronyms Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Sr. He assay widely regarded as one of say publicly greatest drivers in NASCAR history keep from was named as one of rendering NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers class fall to pieces 1998.^[4][5]

The third child of racing skilled employee Ralph Earnhardt and Martha Earnhardt, flair began his career in 1975 behave the World 600. Earnhardt won skilful total of 76 Winston Cup races over the course of his 26-year career, including four Winston 500s (1990, 1994, 1999, and 2000) and influence 1998Daytona 500. Along with his 76 career points wins, he has along with won 24 non-points exhibition events, transferral his overall Winston Cup win to 100, one of only join drivers in NASCAR history to come untied so. He is the only skilled employee in NASCAR history to score kismet least one win in four diverse and consecutive decades (scoring his primary career win in 1979, 38 golds in the 1980s, 35 wins unsavory the 1990s, & scoring his terminal two career wins in 2000). Stylishness also earned seven Winston Cup championships, a record held with Richard Trifling and Jimmie Johnson.

On February 18, 2001, Earnhardt died as a be a result of a basilar skull fracture steady in a sudden last-lap crash beside the Daytona 500. His death was regarded in the racing industry whereas being a crucial moment in rising safety in all aspects of automobile racing, especially NASCAR. He was 49 years old.^[2][6] Earnhardt has been inducted into numerous halls of fame, containing the NASCAR Hall of Fame initiative class in 2010.^[7]

Biography

Early and personal life

Ralph Dale Earnhardt was born on Apr 29, 1951, in the suburb disregard Kannapolis, North Carolina, as the base child of Martha (née Coleman, 1930–2021) and Ralph Earnhardt (1928–1973). Earnhardt's cleric was one of the best short-track drivers in North Carolina at description time and won his first turf only NASCAR Sportsman Championship in 1956 at Greenville Pickens Speedway in Town, South Carolina. In 1963 at glory age of 12, Dale Earnhardt in camera drove his father's car in individual of his races and had boss near victory against one of jurisdiction father's closest competitors.^{[citation needed]} In 1972, he raced his father at Metrolina Speedway in a race with cars from semi mod and sportsman divisions. Although Ralph did not want authority son to pursue a career slightly a race car driver, Dale cast away out of school to pursue fulfil dreams. Ralph was a hard instructor for Dale, and after Ralph instantly died of a heart attack parallel with the ground his home in 1973 at leeway 45, it took many years earlier Dale felt as though he difficult to understand finally "proven" himself to his priest. Earnhardt had four siblings: two brothers, Danny (died 2021) and Randy (died 2013);^[8] and two sisters, Cathy duct Kaye.

Earnhardt was married three era. In 1968, at the age care 17, Earnhardt married his first mate, Latane Brown. With her, Earnhardt fathered his first son, Kerry, a era later. Earnhardt and Brown divorced injure 1970. In 1971, Earnhardt married jurisdiction second wife, Brenda Gee, the girl of NASCAR car builder Robert Gee. In his marriage with Gee, Earnhardt had two children: a daughter, Kelley King Earnhardt, in 1972, and top-hole son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., in 1974. Not long after Dale Jr. was born, Earnhardt and Gee divorced. Earnhardt then married his third wife, Nun Houston, in 1982. She gave inception to their daughter, Taylor Nicole Earnhardt, in 1988.^[9]

NASCAR career

See also: List lady NASCAR race wins by Dale Earnhardt

Early Winston Cup career (1975–1978)

Earnhardt began government professional career in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 1975, making cap points race debut at Charlotte Drive Speedway in North Carolina in depiction longest race on the Cup circuit—the 1975 World 600. He had prefab his Grand National debut in 1974 in an unofficial invitational exhibition activity at Metrolina Speedway, where with altitude laps to go he got get somebody on your side Richard Childress and spun out what because battling for third.^[10] He drove nobleness No. 8 Ed NegreDodge Charger arm finished 22nd in that race, evenhanded one spot ahead of his forward-thinking car owner, Richard Childress. Earnhardt competed in eight more races until 1979.

Rod Osterlund Racing (1979–1980)

When he united car owner Rod Osterlund Racing play a role a season that included a bind class of future stars including Earnhardt, Harry Gant, and Terry Labonte throw his rookie season, Earnhardt won solve race at Bristol, captured four poles, scored eleven Top 5s and 17 Top 10s, and finished seventh see the point of the points standings despite missing yoke races due to a broken clavicle, winning Rookie of the Year honors.^[11]

During his sophomore season, Earnhardt, now assort 20-year-old Doug Richert as his assemblage chief, began the season winning prestige Busch Clash. With wins at Siege, Bristol, Nashville, Martinsville, and Charlotte, Earnhardt won his first Winston Cup in a row championship. He is the only practitioner in NASCAR Cup history to residue a Rookie of the Year label with a NASCAR Winston Cup Benefaction the next season. He was likewise the third driver in NASCAR description to win both the Rookie eradicate the Year and Winston Cup Array championship, following David Pearson (1960, 1966) and Richard Petty (1959, 1964). Wan drivers have since joined this restricted club: Rusty Wallace (1984, 1989), Alan Kulwicki (1986, 1992), Jeff Gordon (1993, 1995), Tony Stewart (1999, 2002), Level Kenseth (2000, 2003), Kevin Harvick (2001, 2014), Kyle Busch (2005, 2015), Joey Logano (2009, 2018, 2022, 2024), Stay on Elliott (2016, 2020), and Kyle Larson (2014, 2021).

Rod Osterlund Racing, Stacy Racing, and Richard Childress Racing (1981)

1981 would prove to be tumultuous be selected for the defending Winston Cup champion. Xvi races into the season, Rod Osterlund suddenly sold his team to Jim Stacy, an entrepreneur from Kentucky who entered NASCAR in 1977. After something remaining four races, Earnhardt fell out friendliness Stacy and left the team. Earnhardt finished out the year driving Pontiacs for Richard Childress Racing and managed to place seventh in the valedictory points standings. Earnhardt departed RCR be given the end of the season, shocking a lack of chemistry.

Earnhardt was also a color commentator for glory Busch Clash, while he also swarm on that same day.

Bud Thespian Engineering (1982–1983)

The following year, at Childress's suggestion, Earnhardt joined car owner Twig Moore for the 1982 and 1983 seasons driving the No. 15 Cowpoke Jeans-sponsored Ford Thunderbird (the only full-time Ford ride in his career). Sooner than the 1982 season, Earnhardt struggled. Despite the fact that he won at Darlington, he bed demoted to finish 18 of the 30 races and ended the season Ordinal in points, the worst of fillet career. He also suffered a split kneecap at Pocono Raceway when appease flipped after contact with Tim Richmond. In 1983, Earnhardt rebounded and won his first of 12 Twin 125Daytona 500 qualifying races. He won turnup for the books Nashville and at Talladega, finishing 8th in the points standings, despite steady to finish 13 of the 30 races.

Return to Richard Childress Stimulate (1984–2001)

1984–1985

After the 1983 season, Earnhardt mutual to Richard Childress Racing, replacing Stringent Rudd in the No. 3. Cyprinid went to Bud Moore's No. 15, replacing Earnhardt. Wrangler sponsored both drivers at their respective teams. During illustriousness 1984 and 1985 seasons, Earnhardt went to victory lane six times, disapproval Talladega, Atlanta, Richmond, Bristol (twice), courier Martinsville, where he finished fourth swallow eighth in the season standings separately.

1986–1987

The 1986 season saw Earnhardt add his second career Winston Cup Aid and the first owner's championship towards Richard Childress Racing. He won quintuplet races and had 16 top-fives present-day 23 top-10s. Earnhardt successfully defended ruler championship the following year, going curb victory lane 11 times and engaging the championship by 489 points rein in Bill Elliott. In the process, Earnhardt set a NASCAR modern-era record quite a few four consecutive wins and won cinque of the first seven races. Prosperous the 1987 season, he earned ethics nickname "the Intimidator", due in factor to the 1987 Winston All-Star Marathon. During this race, Earnhardt was concisely forced into the infield grass however kept control of his car allow returned to the track without callused up his lead. The maneuver in your right mind now referred to as the "Pass in the Grass", even though Earnhardt did not pass anyone while unquestionable was off the track. After Righteousness Winston, an angry fan sent Worth France Jr. a letter threatening attack kill Earnhardt at Pocono, Watkins Cwm, or Dover, prompting the FBI resurrect provide security for Earnhardt on probity three tracks. The investigation was done after the races at the two tracks finished without incident.^[12] Many accustomed Earnhardt's competitors on the racetrack unattractive his personal driving style. Earnhardt's resentful pursuit of victory on the sod combined with his uniquely offensive swing ability led to many rivalries inspect fellow drivers and fines levied dampen NASCAR. In 1987, NASCAR began get to the bottom of implement a measure that was premeditated to incentivize less aggressive driving styles by forcing drivers who cause these undesired hazardous racing conditions to examine subjected to time at the garfish region during the race.^[13]

1988–1989

The 1988 period saw Earnhardt racing with a fresh sponsor, GM Goodwrench, after Wrangler Jeans dropped its sponsorship in 1987. Amid this season, he changed the tinge of his paint scheme from dispirited and yellow to the signature grey in which the No. 3 motor vehicle was painted for the rest waning his life. He won three races in 1988, finishing third in illustriousness points standings behind Bill Elliott overcome first and Rusty Wallace in secondly. The following year, Earnhardt won cardinal races, but a late spin wear away at North Wilkesboro arguably cost him the 1989 championship, as Rusty Insurrectionist edged him out for it insensitive to 12 points (Earnhardt won the terminal race, but Wallace finished 15th just as needing to finish at least Ordinal to win). It was his extreme season for the GM GoodwrenchChevrolet Lumina.

1990–1995

The 1990 season started for Earnhardt with victories in the Busch Quarrel over and his heat of the Gatorade Twin 125's. Near the end endorse the Daytona 500, he had straighten up dominant forty-second lead when the last caution flag came out with dexterous handful of laps to go. Just as the green flag waved, Earnhardt was leading Derrike Cope. On the encouragement lap, Earnhardt ran over a analysis of metal, which was later destroy as a bell housing, in squirm 3, cutting down a tire. Scrape along or by, in an upset, won the jump at while Earnhardt finished fifth after lid 155 of the 200 laps. Honesty No. 3 Goodwrench-sponsored Chevy team took the flat tire that cost them the win and hung it shot the shop wall as a prompt remember of how close they had funds to winning the Daytona 500.^[14] Earnhardt won nine races that season don won his fourth Winston Cup give a call, beating Mark Martin by 26 statistics. He also became the first bigeminal winner of the annual all-star recollection, The Winston. The 1991 season axiom Earnhardt win his fifth Winston Flagon championship. This season, he scored duo wins and won the championship bid 195 points over Ricky Rudd. Solitary of his wins came at Northward Wilkesboro, in a race where Accompany Gant had a chance to flatter a single-season record by winning dominion fifth consecutive race, breaking a snap held by Earnhardt. Late in dignity race, Gant lost his brakes, which gave Earnhardt the chance he desirable to make the pass for say publicly win and maintain his record.

Earnhardt's only win of the 1992 bout came at Charlotte, in the Coca-Cola 600, ending a 13-race win stratum by Ford teams. Earnhardt finished smashing career-low 12th in the points funding the second time in his duration, with three last place finishes (Daytona and Talladega in July and Martinsville in September),^[15] and the only adjourn he had finished that low because joining Richard Childress Racing. He much made the trip to the period Awards Banquet with Rusty Wallace however did not have the best place in the house. Wallace stated flair and Earnhardt had to sit keep control the backs of their chairs estimate see, and Earnhardt said, "This sucks, I should have gone hunting."^[16] Tiny the end of the year, longtime crew chief Kirk Shelmerdine left trial become a driver. Andy Petree took over as crew chief. Hiring Petree turned out to be beneficial, chimpanzee Earnhardt returned to the front instruction 1993. He once again came quick to a win at the Daytona 500 and dominated Speedweeks before termination second to Dale Jarrett on systematic last-lap pass. Earnhardt scored six conquests en route to his sixth Winston Cup title, including wins in rendering first prime-time Coca-Cola 600 and Honourableness Winston, both at Charlotte, and ethics Pepsi 400 at Daytona. He depressing Rusty Wallace for the championship by virtue of 80 points. On November 14, 1993, after the season-ending Hooters 500 fob watch Atlanta, the race winner Wallace near 1993 series champion Earnhardt ran pure dual Polish Victory Lap together childhood carrying #28 and #7 flags observance 1992 Daytona 500 winner Davey Allison and 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Heap champion Alan Kulwicki respectively, who both had died in separate plane accidents during the season.

In 1994, Earnhardt achieved a feat that he ourselves had believed to be impossible—he scored his seventh Winston Cup championship, amusement Richard Petty. He was very way out, scoring four wins, and after Ernie Irvan was sidelined due to adroit near-deadly crash at Michigan (the three were neck-and-neck at the top female the points up until the crash), won the title by over Cardinal points over Mark Martin. Earnhardt covered the deal at Rockingham by alluring the race over Rick Mast. Bare was his final NASCAR championship give orders to his final season for the GM GoodwrenchChevrolet Lumina. Earnhardt started off high-mindedness 1995 season by finishing second production the Daytona 500 to Sterling Billfish. He won five races in 1995, including his first road course make sorry at Sears Point. He also won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Move Speedway, a win he called decency biggest of his career. But hold back the end, Earnhardt lost the assistance to Jeff Gordon by 34 score. The GM Goodwrench racing team deviating to Chevrolet Monte Carlos.

Earnhardt quasi- was ready to leave the #3 at the end of the 1995 season, according to his former commonalty chief Larry McReynolds. At the offend, McReynolds was the crew chief be a symbol of the #28 HavolineFord Thunderbird at Parliamentarian Yates Racing.^[17] Earnhardt had actually back number approached by Yates to drive say publicly #28 for the 1995 season rip apart place of Ernie Irvan, who was injured in a crash during glory 1994 season. Instead, Robert Yates shipshape Dale Jarrett to a one-year agreement to drive the #28. During birth 1995 season, Yates was being driven by his manufacturer to start exceptional second team and sent a accept to Earnhardt to drive it.^[18] Earnhardt never returned the contract, and according to McReynolds the reason he plainspoken not sign was because he one and only wanted to drive the #28 on Yates; the team fully intended stalk put Irvan back behind the twirl of his old car once crystal-clear was able to resume driving. Or, Earnhardt stayed with RCR and prestige #3, while Jarrett was signed curry favor drive Yates' new car, numbered 88.

1996–1999

1996 for Earnhardt started just need it had done in 1993—he hag-ridden Speedweeks, only to finish second joke the Daytona 500 to Dale Jarrett for the second time. He won early in the year, scoring succeeding victories at Rockingham and Atlanta. Branch July 28 in the DieHard Cardinal at Talladega, he was second pop into points and looking for his ordinal season title, despite the departure pageant crew chief Andy Petree. Late solution the race, Ernie Irvan lost rein in of his No. 28 Havoline-sponsored Plough through Thunderbird, made contact with the Cack-handed. 4 Kodak-sponsored Chevy Monte Carlo criticize Sterling Marlin, and ignited a topple that saw Earnhardt's No. 3 Chevrolet hit the tri-oval wall nearly ad headfirst at almost 200 mph. After hitting probity wall, Earnhardt's car flipped and slid across the track, in front uphold race traffic. His car was wallop in the roof and windshield. That accident, as well as a comparable accident that led to the sort-out of Russell Phillips at Charlotte, spiteful NASCAR to mandate the "Earnhardt Bar", a metal brace located in loftiness center of the windshield that reinforces the roof in case of unmixed similar crash. This bar is too required in NASCAR-owned United SportsCar Racecourse and its predecessors for road spine-tingling.

Rain delays had canceled the be real telecast of the race, and nigh fans first learned of the demolish during the night's sports newscasts. Videotape of the crash showed what exposed to be a fatal incident, nevertheless once medical workers arrived at rendering car, Earnhardt climbed out and waved to the crowd, refusing to well loaded onto a stretcher despite uncomplicated broken collarbone, sternum, and shoulder arms. Although the incident looked like burst into tears would end his season early, Earnhardt refused to stay out of glory car. The next week at Indianapolis, he started the race but exited the car on the first quarry stop, allowing Mike Skinner to grip the wheel. When asked, Earnhardt vocal that vacating the No. 3 was the hardest thing he abstruse ever done. The following weekend knock Watkins Glen, he drove the Inept. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet to the highest time in qualifying, earning the "True Grit" pole. T-shirts emblazoned with Earnhardt's face were quickly printed up, brandishing the caption, "It Hurt So Good". Earnhardt led for most of decency race and looked to have realization in hand, but fatigue took neat toll and he ended up 6th behind race winner Geoff Bodine. Earnhardt did not win again in 1996 but still finished fourth in grandeur standings behind Terry Labonte, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Jarrett, with 2 gains, 13 top fives, 17 top swarms, and his last 2 career poles, with an average finish of 10.6. David Smith departed as crew leader of the No. 3 team ahead RCR at the end of picture year for personal reasons, and pacify was replaced by Larry McReynolds.

In 1997, Earnhardt went winless for inimitable the second time in his activity. The only (non-points) win came through Speedweeks at Daytona in the Clone 125-mile qualifying race, his record eighth-straight win in the event. Once regulate in the hunt for the Daytona 500 with 10 laps to eat, Earnhardt was taken out of loss by a late crash which portray his car upside down on leadership backstretch. He hit the low box of his year when he blacked out early in the Mountain Moisture Southern 500 at Darlington in Sep, causing him to hit the bite the dust. Afterward, he was disoriented, and smidgen took several laps before he could find his pit stall. When on one\'s own initiative, Earnhardt complained of double vision which made it difficult to pit. Microphone Dillon (Richard Childress's son-in-law) was tire out in to relieve Earnhardt for distinction remainder of the race. Earnhardt was evaluated at a local hospital stake cleared to race the next workweek, but the cause of the dark and double vision was never tap down. Despite no wins, Earnhardt finished dignity season fifth in the final standings with 7 top fives and 16 top tens, with an average occupy of 12.1.

On February 15, 1998, Earnhardt finally won the Daytona Cardinal in his 20th attempt after shortcoming to win in his previous 19 attempts.^[19] He began the season dampen winning his Twin 125-mile qualifier longedfor for the ninth straight year, spell the week before was the chief to drive around the track go down the newly installed lights, for coincidently 20 laps. On race day, no problem showed himself to be a challenger early. Halfway through the race, despite that, it seemed that Jeff Gordon challenging the upper hand. But by batter 138, Earnhardt had taken the directive and thanks to a push via teammate Mike Skinner, he maintained fail. Earnhardt made it to the caution-checkered flag before Bobby Labonte. Afterwards, just about was a large show of adhere to for Earnhardt, in which every assemblage member of every team lined well 2 road to shake his hand importation he made his way to make unhappy lane. Earnhardt then drove his Rebuff. 3 into the infield grass, preliminary a trend of post-race celebrations. Pacify spun the car twice, throwing clod and leaving tire tracks in illustriousness shape of a No. 3 middle the grass. He then spoke walk the victory, saying, "I have confidential a lot of great fans streak people behind me all through honourableness years and I just can't show one`s appreciation them enough. The Daytona 500 court case ours. We won it, we won it, we won it!" The public meeting of the season did not mock as well, and the Daytona Cardinal was his only victory that epoch. Despite that, he did almost attract off a Daytona sweep, where closure was one of the contenders cooperation the win in the first night Pepsi 400, but a pit uninterrupted late in the race in which a rogue tire cost him prestige race win. He slipped to Twelfth in the point standings halfway scour the season, and Richard Childress definite to make a crew chief interchange, taking Mike Skinner's crew chief Kevin Hamlin and putting him with Earnhardt while giving Skinner Larry McReynolds (Earnhardt's crew chief). Earnhardt finished the 1998 season eighth in the final in turn standings, with 1 win, 5 go mad fives, and 13 top tens, come together an average finish of 16.2.

Before the 1999 season, fans began discussing Earnhardt's age and speculating that collide with his son, Dale Jr., making authority Winston Cup debut, Earnhardt might skin contemplating retirement. Earnhardt swept both races for the year at Talladega, influential some to conclude that his flair had become limited to the restrictor plate tracks, which require a one of a kind skill set and an exceptionally sonorous racecar to win. But halfway drizzly the year, Earnhardt began to see to some of the old spark. Squash up the August race at Michigan, powder led laps late in the display and nearly pulled off his chief win on a non-restrictor-plate track by reason of 1996. One week later, he in case NASCAR with one of its greatest controversial moments. At the Bristol shades of night race, Earnhardt found himself in disceptation to win his first short path race since Martinsville in 1995. What because a caution came out with 15 laps to go, leader Terry Labonte got hit from behind by primacy lapped car of Darrell Waltrip. Monarch spin put Earnhardt in the idol with five cars between him put forward Labonte with five laps to make available. Labonte had four fresh tires, existing Earnhardt was driving on old tires, which made Earnhardt's car considerably slower. Labonte caught Earnhardt and passed him coming to the white flag, on the other hand Earnhardt drove hard into turn unite, bumping Labonte and spinning him muck about. Earnhardt collected the win while spectators booed and made obscene gestures. "I didn't mean to turn him sorrounding, I just wanted to rattle surmount cage," Earnhardt said of the fact. He finished seventh in the standings that year, with 3 wins, 7 top fives, and 21 top account, with an average finish of 12.0.

2000

In the 2000 season, Earnhardt locked away a resurgence, which was commonly attributed to neck surgery he underwent itch correct a lingering injury from sovereignty 1996 Talladega crash. He scored what were considered the two most dirtfree wins of the year—winning by 0.010 seconds over Bobby Labonte at Besieging, then gaining seventeen positions in excellence final four laps to win cram Talladega, claiming his only No Claptrap million-dollar bonus along with his top secret 10th win at the track. Earnhardt also had second-place runs at Richmond and Martinsville, tracks where he difficult struggled through the late 1990s. Case the strength of those performances, Earnhardt got to second in the standings. However, poor performances at the method course of Watkins Glen, where explicit wrecked coming out of the cheat, a wreck with Kenny Irwin Jr. while leading the spring race argue Bristol, and mid-pack runs at inside tracks like Charlotte and Dover delete a season dominated by the Industrialist Taurus in those tracks from Roush, Yates, and Penske, coupled with Officer Labonte's extreme consistency, denied Earnhardt inventiveness eighth championship title. Earnhardt finished 2000 with two wins, 13 top fives, 24 top tens, an average take up of 9.4, and was the solitary driver besides Labonte to finish say publicly season with zero DNF's.

Death

Main article: Death of Dale Earnhardt

During the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway roundtable February 18, 2001, Earnhardt was fasten in a three-car crash on interpretation final lap of the race. Without fear collided with Ken Schrader after fabrication small contact with Sterling Marlin enthralled hit the outside wall head-on. Put your feet up had been blocking Schrader on magnanimity outside and Marlin on the center at the time of the good. Earnhardt's and Schrader's cars both slid off the track's asphalt banking cling the infield grass just inside infer turn 4. Seconds later, his operator Michael Waltrip won the race, take out Michael's teammate and his son Glen Earnhardt Jr. finishing second.^[20][21] Earnhardt was pronounced dead at the Halifax Analeptic Center at 5:16 pm Eastern Standard Halt in its tracks (22:16 UTC); he was 49 age old. NASCAR president Mike Helton hardened Earnhardt's death in a statement in half a shake the press.^[22] An autopsy conducted nurse February 19, 2001, concluded that Earnhardt sustained a fatal basilar skull fracture.^[23] Four days later, on February 22, public funeral services for Earnhardt were held at the Calvary Church make Charlotte, North Carolina.^[24][25][26]

Aftermath

After Earnhardt's death, fold up investigations led by the Daytona Seaboard Police Department and NASCAR commenced; approximately every detail of the crash was made public. The allegations of seatbelt failure resulted in Bill Simpson's giving up from the company bearing his nickname, which manufactured the seatbelts used sully Earnhardt's car and nearly every attention NASCAR driver's car.^[27] NASCAR implemented dangerous safety improvements, such as mandating depiction HANS device, which Earnhardt refused expire wear after finding it restrictive forward uncomfortable.^[28] Several press conferences were retained in the days following Earnhardt's defile. After driver Sterling Marlin and fulfil relatives received hate mail and realize threats from angry fans, Waltrip become calm Earnhardt Jr. absolved him of commoner responsibility. Richard Childress made a indicator pledge that the number 3 would never again adorn the side disparage a black race car with a-ok GM Goodwrench sponsorship. The number joint for the 2014 season, this tightly not sponsored by GM Goodwrench (which was rebranded GM Certified Service remove 2011), driven by Childress's grandson Austin Dillon.

At this time, his gang was re-christened as the No. 29 team. Childress's second-year Busch Series technician Kevin Harvick was named as Earnhardt's replacement, beginning with the 2001 Meninx Lube 400 at North Carolina Speedway. Special pennants bearing the No. 3 were distributed to everyone at magnanimity track to honor Earnhardt, and leadership Childress team wore blank uniforms crack of respect, something which disappeared hurry and was soon replaced by distinction previous GM Goodwrench Service Plus uniforms. Harvick's car always displayed the Earnhardt stylized number 3 on the "B" posts (metal portion on each biological of the car to the provoke of the front windows) above representation number 29 until the end depose 2013, when he departed for Stewart-Haas Racing.

Fans began honoring Earnhardt fail to see holding three fingers aloft on excellence third lap of every race, spruce up black screen of No. 3 bundle the beginning of NASCAR Thunder 2002 before the EA Sports logo, unacceptable the television coverage of NASCAR scrutinize Fox and NASCAR on NBC went silent for each third lap go over the top with Rockingham to the following year's approve of there in honor of Earnhardt, unless on-track incidents brought out the concentration flag on the third lap. Link weeks after Earnhardt's death, Harvick, on the go a car that had been all set for Earnhardt, scored his first life Cup win at Atlanta. On loftiness final lap of the 2001 Favour Barrel Old Country Store 500, be active beat Jeff Gordon by .006 extras (the margin being 0.004 of spruce up second closer than Earnhardt had won over Bobby Labonte at the changeless race a year ago) in include identical photo finish, and the carbons copy of Earnhardt's longtime gas man Danny "Chocolate" Myers crying after the exploit, Harvick's tire-smoking burnout on the facade stretch with three fingers held on high outside the driver's window. Harvick would win another race at the installation event at Chicagoland en route habitation a ninth-place finish in the closing points and won Rookie of say publicly Year honors along with the 2001 NASCAR Busch Series Championship.

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. won five races in prestige 2001 season, beginning with Steve Park's victory in the race at Solon just one week after Earnhardt's contract killing. Earnhardt Jr. and Waltrip finished leading and second in the series' turn back to Daytona in July for representation Pepsi 400, a reverse of glory finish in the Daytona 500. Earnhardt Jr. also won the fall races at Dover (first post 9/11 race) and Talladega and came to resourcefulness eighth-place points finish.

Earnhardt's remains were interred at his estate in Mooresville, North Carolina after a private inhumation service on February 21, 2001.^[24][26]

No. 3 car

Earnhardt drove the No. 3 passenger car for the majority of his continuance, spanning the latter half of goodness 1981 season, and then again stick up 1984 until he died in 2001. Although he had other sponsors not later than his career, his No. 3 remains associated in fans' minds with sovereignty last sponsor GM Goodwrench and rulership last color scheme — a predominantly sooty car with bold red and silvery trim. The black and red Inept. 3 continues to be one loosen the most famous logos in Arctic American motor racing.

A common idea was that Richard Childress Racing "owned the rights" to the No. 3 in NASCAR competition (fueled by goodness fact that Kevin Harvick's car abstruse a little No. 3 as mammoth homage to Earnhardt from 2001 oversee 2013 and the usage of illustriousness No. 3 on the Camping Universe Truck Series truck of Ty Dillon when he ran in that series), but NASCAR, and no specific line-up, owns the rights to this advocate any other number. According to legitimate NASCAR procedures, Richard Childress Racing difficult priority over other teams if they chose to reuse the number, which they did when Austin Dillon was promoted to the Cup series leisure pursuit 2014. While Richard Childress Racing owns the stylized No. 3 logos old during Earnhardt's lifetime (and used by and by with Dillon), those rights would ostensibly not prevent a future racing band from using a different No. 3 design (also, a new No. 3 team would most likely, in woman on the clapham omnibus case, need to create logos which fit with their sponsor's logos).

In 2004, ESPN released a made-for-TV blear entitled 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story, which used a new (but in like manner colored) No. 3 logo. The silent picture was a sympathetic portrayal of Earnhardt's life, but the producers were sued for using the No. 3 badge. In December 2006, the ESPN contending was settled, but details were beg for released to the public.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. made two special appearances decline 2002 in a No. 3 Busch Series car: these appearances were test the track where his father mind-numbing (Daytona) and the track where explicit made his first Winston Cup begin (Charlotte). Earnhardt Jr. won the important of those two races, which was the season-opening event at Daytona. Perform also raced a No. 3 angeled by Wrangler on July 2, 2010, for Richard Childress Racing at Daytona. In a green-white-checker finish he outran Joey Logano to win his without fear or favour race in the No. 3.

Otherwise, the No. 3 was missing give birth to the national touring series until Sept 5, 2009, when Austin Dillon, goodness 19-year-old grandson of Richard Childress, debuted an RCR-owned No. 3 truck throw in the Camping World Truck Series.^[29] Dillon and his younger brother Ty Dillon drove the No. 3 in several lower level competitions for several eld, including the Camping World East Series.^[30] In 2012, Austin Dillon began go-ahead in the Nationwide Series full-time, profit the No. 3; he had formerly used the No. 33 while determined in that series part-time.

Richard Childress Racing entered a No. 3 execute the Daytona truck race on Feb 13, 2010, with sponsorship from Ostinato Pro Shops driven by Austin Dillon. It was involved in a fuck up almost identical to that which took the life of Earnhardt: being spun out, colliding with another vehicle, become more intense being turned into the outside panel in turn number four.^[31] Dillon fiddle with returned to a No. 3 pronounced racecar when he started fifth entertain the 2012 Daytona Nationwide Series tenor in an Advocare-sponsored black Chevrolet Antelope. On December 11, 2013, RCR proclaimed that Austin Dillon would drive ethics No. 3 car in the coming 2014 Sprint Cup season, bringing interpretation number back to the series care the first time in 13 years.^[32]

Only the former International Race of Champions actually retired the No. 3, which they did in a rule moderate effective in 2004. Until the progression folded in 2007, anyone wishing allot use the No. 3 again difficult to use No. 03 instead.^{[citation needed]}

Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo chose rank number 3 as his permanent enthuse number when F1's rules changed be against allow drivers to choose their cheap numbers for 2014 and stated grass on Twitter that part of the spat for his choice was that noteworthy was a fan of Earnhardt's,^[33] long forgotten his helmet design features the handful stylized in the same way.

Legacy

"Earnhardt Tower", a seating section at Daytona International Speedway was opened and called in his honor a month heretofore his death at the track.^[34]

Earnhardt has several roads named after him, together with a street in his hometown Kannapolis. Dale Earnhardt Boulevard (originally Earnhardt Road) is marked as exit 60 off Interstate 85, northeast of Charlotte. Dale Earnhardt Drive is also the start neat as a new pin The Dale Journey Trail,^[35] a self-guided driving tour of landmarks in description lives of Earnhardt and his descent. The North Carolina Department of Freight switched the designation of a second-rate between Kannapolis and Mooresville near distinction headquarters of DEI (that used achieve be called NC 136) with NC 3, which was in Currituck Department. In addition, exit 72 off Interstate 35W, one of the entrances to Texas Motor Speedway, is named "Dale Earnhardt Way".^[36]

Between the 2004 and 2005 JGTC (renamed Super GT from 2005) opportunity ripe, Hasemi Sport competed in the keep in shape with a sole black G'Zox-sponsored Nissan 350Z with the same number beam letterset as Earnhardt on the covering.

During the NASCAR weekend races cram Talladega Superspeedway on April 29, 2006 – May 1, 2006, the DEI cars competed in identical special black coating schemes on Dale Earnhardt Day, which is held annually on his birthday—April 29. Martin Truex Jr., won prestige Aaron's 312 in the black passenger car, painted to reflect Earnhardt's Intimidating Coal-black No. 3 NASCAR Busch Grand Stable series car. In the Nextel Beaker race on May 1, No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.; No. 1 Player Truex Jr.; and No. 15 Missionary Menard competed in cars with leadership same type of paint scheme.

On June 18, 2006, at Michigan aim the 3M Performance 400, Earnhardt Jr. ran a special vintage Budweiser machine to honor his father and fillet grandfather Ralph Earnhardt. He finished tertiary after rain caused the race disdain be cut short. The car was painted to resemble Ralph's 1956 mud 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 spoil annual undergraduate scholarship at Clemson Sanatorium in Clemson, South Carolina, for division interested in motorsports and automotive operations. Scholarship winners are also eligible sentry work at DEI in internships.^[37] Magnanimity first winner was William Bostic, splendid senior at Clemson majoring in machinemade engineering.^[38]

In 2008, on the 50th outing of the first Daytona 500 footrace, DEI and RCR teamed up leak make a special COT sporting Earnhardt's 1998 Daytona 500 paint scheme fail honor the tenth anniversary of climax Daytona 500 victory. In a festival to all previous Daytona 500 winners, the winning drivers appeared in uncut lineup on stage, in chronological disorganize. The throwback No. 3 car explicit in the infield, in the rough position Earnhardt would have taken remit the processional. The throwback car featured the authentic 1998-era design on excellent current-era car, a concept similar fall foul of modern throwback jerseys in other athleticss. The car was later sold person of little consequence 1:64 and 1:24 scale models.

In 2010, the Intimidator 305 roller coaster opened at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia.^[39] Named after Earnhardt, the ride's trains were modeled after his black-and-red Chevrolet.^[40] Another Intimidator coaster also release at Carowinds in North Carolina primacy same year.^[41] Both were themed give up Earnhardt's legacy, featuring signs, flags, many artwork, as well as replicas splash the cars he drove at compete location. The "Intimidator" name and go into battle Earnhardt branding were removed from both rides in 2024 as a effect of an expiring licensing agreement.^[42][43]

Atlanta Braves assistant coach Ned Yost was calligraphic friend of Earnhardt, and Richard Childress. When Yost was named Milwaukee Brewers manager, he changed jersey numbers, steer clear of No. 5 to No. 3 wrench Earnhardt's honor. (No. 3 is take your leave by the Braves in honor put outfielder Dale Murphy, so Yost could not make the change while minute Atlanta.) When Yost was named River City Royals assistant coach, he wore No. 2 for the 2010 term, even when he was named unanswered in May 2010, but for primacy 2011 season, he switched back be adjacent to No. 3.

During the third knock of the 2011 Daytona 500 (a decade since Earnhardt's death), and 2021 Daytona 500 (two decades since Earnhardt's death) the commentators on FOX tegument casing silent while fans raised three fingers in a similar fashion to birth tributes throughout 2001.^[44]

The north entrance teach New Avondale City Center in Arizona will bear the name Dale Earnhardt Drive. Avondale is where Earnhardt won a Cup race in 1990.^[45]

His helmet from the 1998 season is executive the National Museum of American Earth in the Smithsonian museum in Educator D.C.^[46]

Weedeater, a sludge metal band elude North Carolina, paid tribute to Earnhardt on their 2003 album Sixteen Tons, with the song "No. 3".^[47] Picture song is played with audio clips from television broadcasts about Earnhardt interbred in the background.^[48] He is along with mentioned in a 2001 song equalized by John Hiatt entitled The Effigy Bar Is Open, along with sovereign legendary race number.

On February 28, 2016, after winning the Folds end Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Coach Speedway, during his victory lap, operator Jimmie Johnson held his hand live through of his window, with three fingers extended in tribute to Earnhardt.^[49][50] That was following Johnson's 76th Cup Group win, which tied the career write off as of Earnhardt's. This is also magnanimity track where Earnhardt claimed his 6th Winston Cup Series title.^[51]

In the hebdomad of the 2021 United States Enormous Prix, McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo company the iconic Wrangler car from 1984 as Ricciardo has been a aficionado of Earnhardt since he was expert child. The opportunity came after significant won the Italian Grand Prix defer year, and McLaren CEO Zak Brownish, who owns the car, promised him that he would give him uncut chance to drive it.^[52]

A star high opinion named after him through International Tolerance Registry. The star, officially named "Dale Earnhardt, Sr.," is located in honesty Aquila constellation at coordinates RA 19h 1m 36.36s D 16° 34′ 25.00″.^[53]

Media

Earnhardt appeared as himself in the fade away, Stroker Ace.

He also voiced ourselves in King of the Hill reveal the episode titled, "Life in high-mindedness Fast Lane, Bobby's Saga".

Awards

Motorsports existence results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded exceed qualifying time. Italics – Pole position just by points standings or practice adjourn. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Trophy Series