MY DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO THE EARNHADT FAMILY ON THE DEATH OF THE GREATEST RACE CAR DRIVER EVER. YOU WILL REMAIN IN EVERYONES PRAYER FOR A LONG TIME!
Dale Earnhardt died of massive head trauma on February 18 on the last lap a half mile away from the finish line. He was currently in third place protecting his son Dale Earnhardt Jr and his team mate Michael Waltrip postions on the track when (in my opinion) Rusty Wallace came behind Dale and inadvertantly lifted the air off the spoiler causing Earnhardt to get a little loose thus causing him to move down the track and clipped Sterling marlin on the front left side of the car. The car then veered down to the apron and Dale over corrected and the car ended up going head first into the outside wall at 180 + mph. Although on video the crash does not look fatal,it is expected that it killed Dale instantly. This is a complete shock to the entire racing world, including me. I have been watching Dale Earnhardt since I was 12 years old (all the way back in 1994) when Dale won his last championship. I saw Dale in that terrible flip at Talledega being carried out of the car with his thumbs in the air telling the fans he is alright. That next weekend at Watkins Glen he not only took the pole but beat the track record. I also viewed Dale's crash at Daytona in 1997 when he flipped after a comming together with my favorate person (Jeff Gordon) walk to the ambulance only to hop out and get back into the car and finish the race. This great man was an idol to me, he is what made me dream of becomming a race car driver. This man to me was invincible and always visioned him winning his 8 th championship and beating the Kings record at 7 championships, but this will not happen as he is now no longer with us. He is now up above with the rest of Nascar's greatest racers, including, Fireball Roberts, Joe Weatherly, Lee Petty, his father Ralph Earnhardt, Neil Bonnett, Davey Allison, Alan Kulwicki, Kenny Irwin, and Adam Petty. Dale Earnhardt one of the most selfish racers was not trying to win Sunday he was helping protect his son and fellow team mate have their chance at winning the Daytona 500, something that Dale Earnhardt after 20 years of trying finally accomplished in 1998. Still talking of his death send chills down my spine, a huge loss to the racing world, and myself. Dale you will be missed not only has a race car driver, but as a father, son, husband, and great friend to so many people.
Brian Hagelshaw February 20, 2001
