Dale Earnhardt was always known as the “Intimidator” for the aggressive style he brought to the racetrack. Ever since his teens, he’d been racing and working full time on his hobby-class cars. He would spend everyday working on his machines, from early in the morning to the next day. Sometimes maybe 24 hours straight, always trying his best and always with determination.
As most young drivers, Dale’s dream came from the footsteps of his father Ralph. Ralph Earnhardt was also a tremendous stock-car driver in the 1950’s helping Dale every step of the way. But Dale determination to succeed in NASCAR was even greater after the death of his father in 1973. He died before he even got to watch his son in his first race, before his career had even started. Ralph’s heart failure, leading to his death, was a sad part of Earnhardt’s life, but of coarse Dale didn’t let this get in the way of his racing career.
Dale Earnhardt’s four kids include of two stock-car drivers of their own. Dale Jr. and Kerry Earnhardt both took racing careers trying to be as successful as their father. These young drivers are both part of NASCAR and are trying to make the same kind of contributions as Dale has.
It was 1979 when Dale won the Rookie-of-the-year award. It was his first full season, and a major highlight of his career. The following year in 1980, for the first time in NASCAR history, Dale won the Winston Cup Championship the year after winning the Rookie-of-the-year. His major career was already forming just two seasons in.
After this amazing accomplishment, Dale had many other contributions surrounding his career, including:
All these contributions were enormous in his career, but the one he remembered the most was his Daytona 500 victory. It was February 1998, and in his 20th appearance in the season opening race, he still hadn’t won a Daytona 500. He had won every major event available to NASCAR drivers, except this one race. But that day in Daytona was very special to Dale Earnhardt, for he pulled off his first win at this racetrack, and his last. Dale wrecked the grass with the donut after this superior win, showing that this was easily the happiest day of his life.
It seemed like Dale Earnhardt’s career was complete now; he had won every event. But Dale would refuse to retire; he loved the sport too much. He loved it so much, that he took his relationship farther by taking the ownership of a GM Goodwrench dealership. He was a businessman on weekdays, but a 7 time Winston Cup Winner on weekends. You’d have to literally kill Dale to make him retire, but unfortunately, that’s what had to happen.
It was the 2001 Daytona 500, and Earnhardt was headed for another successful year, looking for his eighth title. He, and his team, were doing great. Dale was placing a 3rd place finish, while Dale Jr. 2nd. The last lap, the last turn, was the most tragic in NASCAR history. As Dale got driven straight into a wall, killing him instantly. This brought a great shock to the racing world, for Dale’s spectacular career was now over. But he left his son Dale Jr. behind, to try with determination, as Dale did when his father died. All people cried for Dale, but in a happy way, for Dale had had the best NASCAR career in racing history.
Dale Earnhardt brought life to NASCAR. He single-handedly made this sport the most popular worldwide. His great driving ability caught people all over the world. Everyone wanted to watch Dale, everyone wanted to be like Dale, and soon enough everyone loved Dale. He brought the love to this sport, and that’s what he is loved for. Now that he’s gone, never to be seen racing again, NASCAR is still the best-televised sport of all-time. Dale Earnhardt’s love to NASCAR brought the largest contribution to a sport anyone had ever made.
