By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive
February 19, 2001
12:40 AM EST (0540 GMT)
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion
Dale Earnhardt, 49, was fatally injured Sunday in a multi-car accident on the
final lap of the 43rd Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
Earnhardt, a native of Kannapolis, N.C., was Daytona's career victories leader
and the winner of the 1998 Daytona 500. According to Dr. Steve Bohannon,
emergency medical services director at Daytona International Speedway who
responded to the crash, Earnhardt was killed instantly.
"He had what I feel were life-ending type injuries at the time of impact,"
Dr. Bohannon said. "Really nothing could be done for him."
The announcement was made at 7 p.m. ET by NASCAR President Mike Helton.
"Undoubtedly this is one of the toughest announcements I've personally had to
make,"
said Helton, whose motorsports career covers more than 20 years. "After the
accident in Turn 4 at the end of the Daytona 500 we've lost Dale Earnhardt."
Earnhardt's death was the 27th in the history of the track, which opened with the
inaugural Speedweeks in 1959. The first fatality was Daytona Beach native
Marshall Teague, who died before Speedweeks began while testing an Indy car
for a world closed course speed record.
"NASCAR has lost its greatest driver," said NASCAR chairman of the board
Bill France, who himself is recovering from life-threatening illnesses,
"and I personally have lost a great friend."
"The death of Dale Earnhardt is heartbreaking for millions of racing fans around
the world," said Eddie Gossage, General Manager of Texas Motor Speedway.
"I, too, am heartbroken. Athletes in other sports would be wise to follow Dale's
model of what a champion is supposed to be. He had great dignity - both on
the track and off."
Earnhardt started his 23rd Daytona 500 from the seventh position and was racing
for third when the accident occurred.
His No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet was bumped into the spin by
Sterling Marlin's closely following No. 40 Dodge between Turns 3 and 4 of the 2.5-mile
speedway as a tangled pack of cars raced to the checkered flag. Rescue workers
immediately responded and began administering oxygen and CPR to Earnhardt,
who according to Dr. Bohannon never showed any sign of life at any time.
He was immediately transported to Halifax Medical Center, less than one-mile from
the speedway, where he arrived at 4:54. There, a waiting trauma team continued
attempting to resuscitate him. Earnhardt was pronounced dead at 5:16 with his wife,
Teresa at his side. Bohannon said an autopsy scheduled for Monday would reveal the
cause of death, but said, "my speculation would be head injuries,
basically to the base of the skull."
Earnhardt was the career victories leader at Daytona. His 34th career victory here came
in the 2000 opening round of the True Value International Race of Champions.
He made 676 starts in his Winston Cup career, which began in 1975. He was the 1975
Winston Cup Rookie of the Year and won his first championship the next season.
He is sixth on the career Winston Cup victories list with 76 and was on a path to break
Terry Labonte's current consecutive starts record of 655.
Earnhardt's final start was his 649th straight.
Earnhardt is motorsports' leading all-time money winner with $41,639,662 in his career.
He had also fashioned a multi-million-dollar business and souvenir empire.
Included among Earnhardt's survivors are wife Teresa, daughters Kelley King and Taylor,
sons Kerry and Dale Jr., his mother and other siblings.
The standard post-Daytona 500 ceremony to induct Waltrip's winning car into
DAYTONA USA, the "Official Attraction of NASCAR" located outside the track's
Turn 4,
which was scheduled to take place Monday morning, has been postponed indefinitely in
deference to Earnhardt's death, NASCAR director of operations
Kevin Triplett announced at about 8 p.m. ET.
Dale Earnhardt
The 7th times Nascar Champion
The man in black Dale Earnhardt, in his 575 race and his 71 wins totally, he
finally managed to win the Daytona 500 and ended a 59-race losing streak.
Believe it.After twenty years in which Dale lost the Daytona 500 in just about every
way imaginable--out of gas here,a cut tire there,a missing lug nut over there--this time
Fate would not deny him. He crossed the line and the grandstands erupted.
"This win is for all our fans and all the people who told me, Dale, this is your
year."
"The Daytona 500 is over. And we won it ! We won it!!"
His dream came true but his dream also took his life, but I / We will always remeber
the greatest driver of all time.
Born April 29, 1951 in Kannapolis, N.C. Killed at Daytona,Fl. Februari 18, 2001.
Followed his father Ralph into NASCARracing. He teamed up with car owner
Rod Osterlund in 1978 and became rookie ofthe year 1979. In 1980 he took his first
Championship. The next 6 championships together with team owner Richard Childress
1986,1987,1990,1991,1993 and 1994.
His father Ralph died of a heart attack 1973 so he did not get the chance to see his
son
become a champion.Earnhardt family owns 3 teams,the No.1 Pennzoil driven by Steve
Park & No.8 Chevy driven by Dale Earnhardt Jr & No.15 driven by Michael
Waltrip.
Career Statistics Races Wins
Top 5 Top 10
1975-2001 676
76
281
426
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Career Statistics Races Wins
Top 5 Top 10
1999-2000
39 2
3
5
2001
1
1 1
Dale Earnhardt is No. 1.
Jonte's Homepage ©1998
CONCORD, N.C. (May 16, 1998)
Back To Nascar. 