I know that most of you here aren’t NASCAR fans, and don’t get the point of racing, but today there was a tragedy on the track.
Dale Earnhardt, 49, was fatally injured in an accident on the last lap. His car was nudged by that of Sterling Marlin, and he lost control to hit the wall, then hit Kenny Schrader’s car. They had to cut him out of the car, and he was unconcious. I don’t have many more details, but this has hit me deeply. I’ve been a racing fan for as long as I can remember, and every time I see the sport lose someone else, it hurts. But this hurts even more, in some ways, because for as long as I’ve been watching the sport, Dale, the Intimidator, was there. He’s been a factor, and a presense, in this sport, one of the winningest drivres. And to add a special twist of the knife, one of the cars he owned was the winner of the race not 10 seconds later.
I’m not asking that you all understand, just to keep his family, the whole NASCAR family, in your thoughts and your prayers. For the next week, I’ll be wearing black, in mourning, and in honor of the man in black.
This man was/is truly a racing legend. he was always my favorite. I didn’t get into racing much, but I loved Dale Earnhardt as a racer not for his talent; but because he kept mostly in the background, you never heard much from him. Jeff Gordon, everyone else commercialized so very heavily. Dale Earnhardt loved to race. that’s why he is a legend.
Dale wasn’t one of my favorite drivers, but this has touched me too. I feel for his son and for his family, and for all his fans. The whole NASCAR community is reeling with the news and I know it has affected me more then I thought it would. I know that Dale JR. would trade his second place finish to have his father back but that can’t happen.
I was just watching Dale Jr. on Turn Ben Stein On the other day…
This is very sad… that is one of those names you expect to keep hearing… though I guess in such a dangerous sport unexpected tragedies have to be…well… expected.
I have to admit I never liked Dale Earnhardt. Hated him, actually. As a racer, anyway. But even though I disapproved of him, cheered against him, and cheerfully wore “you snooze you lose” shirts aimed at him (after Talladega a couple years ago), I always respected him for what he did on the track and for the sport.
Normally, I’d write a nice requiem here, but I’ll leave that to others, and just go away.
Having lost my favorite CART driver ever back in 1999, I know what some of my 3-fan friends are feeling right now…
The other one I’m feeling for right now is Michael Waltrip. Today should have been the happiest day of his life, finally winning a race after so many close calls. But instead, he’ll remember this day as the day he lost his boss, and his friend. You never want this to happen. It’s always a possibility, but they’ve come so far in the safty innovations that it’s still a shock when it does. Broken bones, concussions… those you expect to hear when you have a crash like this. But death… It’s not supposed to get that bad. It’s just not supposed to happen. And not to the ones that lead the races day in and day out, the ones who’ve been through so much worse, who’ve raced with cracked ribs, who’ve gotten in the car every Sunday no matter how bad it hurts. It’s not supposed to happen to the legends.
Last report I heard, he was dead on impact. That is what I am hoping, and praying for. Please, let it have been quick. And I wonder if Kenny Schrader will ever be the same. He was the first one at DE’s car. Jimmy Means never came back to racing after JD McDuffy’s accident in 1991, when he was the first one there.
I’m sorry if I’m rambling. I am just really in large amounts of shock at the moment. But thank you all, race fans and non-race fans alike, for understanding and for your sympathies. Right now, I think I need to find someone with really big arms and just cry for awhile.
I am not fond of NASCAR and I don’t follow it but living where I do it is impossible not to know quite a bit about it.
This is a tragedy that will not soon be forgotten. Dale Earnhardt is a current legend in the sport. He was my father-in-law’s favorite driver. We have tons of Earnhardt stuff that he left when he died a few years ago. Now, it is doubly sad.
My heart goes out to the Earnhardt family and all the fans.
Thank you for this thread, Amber, I was about to start it myself. I just heard the news driving home and feel like I have been punched in the stomach. Strange that the death of someone I don’t know could affect me so strongly.
I saw the crash, and I immediately had a bad feeling. I wondered what NASCAR would be without Dale, but I dismissed the thought as soon as it entered my mind. Drivers don’t die in NASCAR! The cars are built too well.
For example, Tony Stewart flipped and landed on several cars, cartwheeling from the top of the lane to the grass in a 19- car pileup. When taken out of the car, he was alert and conscious. He suffered a concussion, but considering what his car went through, that is minor.
FWIW, I don’t think Martin did tap Earnhardt. It looked like Dale just got loose and lost control of the car. It’s hard to imagine Dale Earnhardt losing control of a car, though. Not that it matters any.
I just don’t know what to say.
And in yet another “special twist of the knife” his son was right there racing with him.
I wonder what his last thoughts were. I wonder if he knew today was his day? It’s just too much for me to think about. Life has a cruel sense of humor.
Please keep these folks in your prayers, and for those of you who don’t pray, please send good wishes.
I’m am truly saddened, I have been a racing fan for years, and introduced some people to the world of auto racing who are now bigger fans than I. Earnhardt was certainly a controversial driver at times, but he was one of the best.
I pray for him and his family to be able to reflect upon his life in happiness rather than sorrow and know that many across the racing world are holding them close to their hearts.
((((True Pisces))) I just got here, this is the first I’ve heard. I switched from Daytona shortly after Tony Stewart’s wreck to watch the UNC basketball game. That’s a blessing; I couldn’t have stomached watching Dale go.
Just switched on the TV, and being in North Carolina, Jr. Johnson is on talking about Dale.
Over the years, I ‘said’ that I wished he would get killed(wolfman=Rusty Wallace fan) many times. I can’t belive he is really gone. He was a great racer to hate, because he was such a great racer, and a world class competitor. It is a real blow to the world of motorheads that we won’t ever get to see that cheesy-looking mustache taking a vicory lap ever again. R.I.P. Dale. Ending it in the last lap of the Daytona 500 is probably the way he would have wanted.
In 1999 I had the pleasure of meeting Dale at the Texas 500. Although it was a hour before the race, and he was in the process of working with his crew he saw me standing alone watching the tuning of his car.
He walked over and extended his hand. I shook it and wished him luck. He smiled and signed my hat. I only spent 30 seconds with him, but he wasn’t and intimidating as some say. He was very personable and likeable.
I hope to be able to make it to his funeral. He was one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history, and he will be sorely missed.
It may seem strange that I would be deeply saddened by his death, but I have watched him for the better part of 20 years.
Since I am at work now, I have not had a chance to mourn. He is going to be missed.
