The timeless legacy of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt whose tragic death changed the world of motorsports forever
Dale Earnhardt's tragic death on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 changed the world of motorsports forever.
On February 18, 2001, Dale Sr. was at the 43rd running of “The Great American Race” when his car collided on the outside wall at Daytona International Speedway, killing the 49-year-old NASCAR legend instantly.
While it's been 20 years since the devastating tragedy, it left a lasting impact across the professional auto racing community — serving as a grim reminder of what can go wrong while burning serious rubber.
Nicknamed "The Intimidator" for his bold driving nature, Earnhardt left behind a timeless legacy in the sport of professional auto racing. His illustrious career saw him secure 76 race wins, 428 top-10 finishes, and 22 poles in 676 races. What's more? Earnhardt was also a seven-time Winston Cup Series champion — an all-time record he shares with Richard Petty.
In 1998, the gifted racer was able to finally snag a Daytona 500 win. That victory at the “Super Bowl of Stock Car Racing” was notable as it had eluded Earnhardt for many years. In 2001, the relentless Kannapolis, North Carolina native decided to go for a second Daytona 500 win. But sadly, that second victory would never come.
Earnhardt was his usual self on the morning of the 2001 Daytona 500 — sporting a perfectly calm and confident demeanor. Driving his No. 3 Goodwrench car, Senior led the race for 17 laps. That said, the real tussle was between his son Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s No. 8 Chevrolet and Michael Waltrip’s No. 15 Chevrolet.
Earnhardt was uncharacteristically defensive during the race considering both Waltrip and Dale Jr. were members of his own racing team. He seemed content holding onto the third position. There was a huge wreck on lap 173 that took out a whopping 18 cars, causing the race to be red-flagged so the vehicles could be removed and the debris cleared from the speedway.
“Richard, if they don’t do something to these cars, it’s gonna end up killing somebody," Earnhardt chillingly told Richard Childress — the owner of his No. 3 car — during the caution period.
The race was restarted on lap 180, with Junior and Waltrip still battling it out for the first position.
Soon, it was time for the final lap. Earnhardt was approaching turn 4 when his vehicle made a light contact with Sterling Marlin's, causing him to slightly lose his grip and veer off his lane. Earnhardt tried his best to regain control, but collided with Ken Schrader in the process and crashed headfirst into the retaining wall at speeds of around 160 mph.
Schrader was able to escape his wrecked vehicle almost unscathed with minor injuries. He immediately rushed to check on Earnhardt's car.
When Schrader saw his friend incapacitated inside the vehicle, he knew it was bad. Hoping for the best, he quickly gestured emergency workers to rescue the stock car racing legend. Meanwhile, Michael Waltrip had already crossed the chequered flag and won the 2001 Daytona 500. It was a stunning victory, but one that would be shrouded in tragedy for years to come.
Paramedics rushed Dale Sr. to the Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach, Florida, but in vain. Dr. Steve Bohannon tragically pronounced him dead at 5:16 pm Eastern Standard Time.
A subsequent autopsy found that Earnhardt had died instantly during the crash due to blunt force trauma to his head that resulted in a basilar skull fracture. NASCAR conducted a joint investigation with the police to determine whether there were any preventable causes that resulted in the tragedy.
At the time, there was speculation of serious safety flaws with the seatbelt, prompting Bill Simpson — whose company Simpson Performance Products made the seatbelt that Dale Sr. wore during the race — to resign. NASCAR implemented rigorous safety guidelines for drivers as well as fans in the stands following Earnhardt's tragic death
Drivers are now required to wear head and neck safety gear, including the head-restraining HANS device. Meanwhile, cars must be equipped with state-of-the-art seat belt systems and roll cages.
Those familiar with NASCAR know that the Earnhardts are one of the most respected families in the world of stock car racing. While Dale Earnhardt Sr. left behind a distinguished and storied legacy, his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. successfully carried forward the torch with two stunning Daytona 500 victories and 15 Most Popular Driver awards.
Although Dale Jr. finished second at the doomed 2001 Daytona 500, the loss of his legendary father would make it one of the darkest days of his life. Earnhardt Junior currently runs JR Motorsports, which is co-owned by his elder sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller.