[Team Yates]

RALPH DALE EARNHARDT 4/29/51 - 2/18/2001
Another great driver we lost all to soon!! He was well loved by lots and he was much hated by just as many, so let's talk Earnhardt, the good, the bad and ugly.

[3829]

I was pretty young when dale died. i was only 9, so i didnt get to watch him much.
But i do rember the 2 times Dale spun out Terry Labonte to when bristol and terry spun across the line the first time and still one, but the second time dale won
lol
it was pretty funny

[24/8/48fan]

Being a Gordon fan, most people assume that I don't like Earnhardt, which could not be more wrong. Dale Sr. made the sport what it is today and would not be close to the same without him. Everything he accomplished on and off the track seemed to be done with blue-collar class and attitude, his fingerprint will forever be on NASCAR.

[oncea3fan]

Originally Posted by 3829

I was pretty young when dale died. i was only 9, so i didnt get to watch him much.
But i do rember the 2 times Dale spun out Terry Labonte to when bristol and terry spun across the line the first time and still one, but the second time dale won
lol
it was pretty funny

here we go again, in the second race that dale won, how does a cxar on old tires get off the corner better than the car in front with new tires.

simple the lead car ran too hard(was intimidated) and slipped.

terrty slipped up off the corner and dale got him.

the first race dale did wreck him there.

thats my story and i'm sticking to it!
.

[KENVOL]

Also a Gordon fan I really liked Dale. He was a tuff racer but a generous man off of the track. He probable wrecked more people than anyone else I know. But I still liked him. NASCAR owes everything to him. He brought it out to the masses and made NASCAR what it is today.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by KENVOL

Also a Gordon fan I really liked Dale. He was a tuff racer but a generous man off of the track. He probable wrecked more people than anyone else I know. But I still liked him. NASCAR owes everything to him. He brought it out to the masses and made NASCAR what it is today.

A very true statement

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by KENVOL

He probable wrecked more people than anyone else I know. But I still liked him. NASCAR owes everything to him. He brought it out to the masses and made NASCAR what it is today.

30 years from now they'll be writing the same thing about Jeffie. He has the same desire as Dale did and has brought a lot of ca$h to the NASCAR table.

[3wide]

I hated Dale on the track...you always got a lump in your throat when he was behind your driver. It's too bad that alot of the good things he did never really came to light until his passing.

[Nevadastars]

I miss him on the track tremendously. His infectious smile, like he knew something we didn't, his joking around and just all around good nature. On the track, he was a demon. Usually qualifying poorly.........but you knew he was coming and if you didn't get out of his way, he would move you!
He was/is still my favorite driver of all time. I remember him in the 80s in the Wrangler car having epic battles with Tim Richmond, Geoff Bodine, Bill Elliott etc. He would NEVER give up......EVER! Nobody could drive like him on bias ply tires. He slowed down a bit in the early 90s when they went to radial tires, but finally got a handle on them after a few seasons. He had a hard time adjusting to them because they wouldnt slide like the bias-plys. I miss the man a lot and wonder what he would be thinking of about Nascars roots being ripped to shreds, like the Southern 500 being yanked from the schedule.

Even though he had an image as a dirty or rough driver, his peers admired him. Testimony to that was when he finally won the Daytona 500 and every member from every team lined up to shake his hand or touch his car as he came down pit lane. That is probably the most heart-felt moment in the history of Nascar, and doubtful will ever be duplicated.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

I miss him on the track tremendously. His infectious smile, like he knew something we didn't, his joking around and just all around good nature. On the track, he was a demon. Usually qualifying poorly.........but you knew he was coming and if you didn't get out of his way, he would move you!
He was/is still my favorite driver of all time. I remember him in the 80s in the Wrangler car having epic battles with Tim Richmond, Geoff Bodine, Bill Elliott etc. He would NEVER give up......EVER! Nobody could drive like him on bias ply tires. He slowed down a bit in the early 90s when they went to radial tires, but finally got a handle on them after a few seasons. He had a hard time adjusting to them because they wouldnt slide like the bias-plys. I miss the man a lot and wonder what he would be thinking of about Nascars roots being ripped to shreds, like the Southern 500 being yanked from the schedule.

Even though he had an image as a dirty or rough driver, his peers admired him. Testimony to that was when he finally won the Daytona 500 and every member from every team lined up to shake his hand or touch his car as he came down pit lane. That is probably the most heart-felt moment in the history of Nascar, and doubtful will ever be duplicated.

Another true statement.

[Wampinrock]

Geez, Nevadastars///you really came through on this...I enjoyed your testimony and have gleaned a fresh and rekindled admiration for your outlook on the racing history and circuit. Do any of you know how Dale impacted the diecast market...the jacket markets etc?.

Thanks again, Navadastars...y'all touched my heart on your input...

[onlythe8survives]

There are two moments in NASCAR that I remember as vividly today as I did when they happended. Feb. 14, 1998. I had a feeling 3 was gonna do it even before the green. I taped the entire race, 1st time ever done so, and watched the dramatic conclusion, standing the whole time. I knew I was witnessing history and my mind's eye hit the record button. I remember Dale's arm out the window coming around 4 and onto the frontstretch and under the checkered flag. I'll never forget all the crews that came to his car and the celebration in victory lane. Mike Skinner, an Earnhardt enguine builder, Childress, his wife, all greeted him on camera. It was the best feeling I've ever had after any sporting event.

The Second Moment. February 18, 2001. I once again popped in a video and pushed record. I figured with the new tv deal and aero package, this would be a race worth watching. I remember seeing Dale embrace his son and his wife before the race and something about felt different. I can't really explain it. During the race, the lead swapped back and forth a few times, Earnhardt flicked off Kurt Busch early, which today would be worthy of an award of some kind, but just merely for laughs then. Finally, the big wreck happened. Stewart flipped end over end and collected at least 20 cars. Earnhardt squeaked by. There were only about 15 cars left when the green fell again. Michael Waltrip found his way to the lead with Jr. pushing from behind. 3 was back in the pack, trying to make his car as wide as possible for the impending shootout. I was excited because Michael Waltrip was going to win his first race after 16 years of trying. This was going to be a big story the next day. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the black car slam into the wall in turn 4 and I immediately knew this was no small accident. Earnhardt could be hurt. DW screamed into the mic as Mikey took the checkers, then uttered the words, "I just Dale's ok." Something still didn't feel right about this accident. Then, I saw a shot of Ken Schrader approach Earnhardt's window, look inside, and immediately wave for paramedics. This feeling I had was getting worse and worse. The next shop I saw was Jr. running in the direction of the accident. Worse and worse. Moments later, the ambulance was seen by helicopter as it sped towards Halifax Hospital. The short time between the accident and the ambulance shot was very alarming and this feeling became sickening. Dale Earnhardt could be in serious, serious trouble. I waited after the coverage stopped to get updates on his condition. I turned on nascar victory lane on foxsn and saw the graphic "Dale Earnhardt 1951-2001." I could feel my gut sinking and the nasuea associated with this shocking realization. The #1 participant in my #1 sport, was gone. I quickly thought about his sons Dale, Kerry, daughters Kelly and Taylor Nicole. TN was only in her early teens. He would never see her father grow up. I, along with all who cover, support, and participate in this sport, along with those who appreciated a loss of this magnitude, were very emotional that night. I knew I wasn't the only one who shed a tear that night. All I thought about was the family, not the fans, who had just lost their father and husband. All his close friends who were his competitors for 25 years. The man he had won 6 championships with, Richard Childress. He was Gone. It was and is still hard to fathom. There will only be one, and there can only be one Dale Earnhardt. Even today, I feel the loss whenver the green drops at a nextel cup race. He was always there, and always made his presence felt. He did things no one else did, and made it look easy. He feared nothing and never let up and any circumstances. His only effort was all his effort. He did it the right way, and earned his way to the top. He will always be the most respected, beloved, admired man ever to step into a race car. WE MISS YOU DALE

[N2Oxide]

I never liked Dale Earnhardt. I met Davey Allison when i was just a wee young'n, about 5. I asked him to take Earnhardt out because he always did it to everyone else.

[Souporscotty]

Mr. Earnhardt said something one time that EVERY driver and EVERY fan should remember EVERY week; "That's just racin".

[Team Yates]

Welcome to the forum onlythe8survives, what a great post!!!! We have a ton of fun here, hope you enjoy chatting with us!! Each week we have a race prediction thread, this week's thread is titled Lenox 300, we pick for 1st and 2nd, hope to see you join us in the contest.