Dale Earhardt Sr.

Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr., better known simply as Dale Earnhardt, (April 29, 1951 February 18, 2001) was an American racecar driver, best known for his career driving stock cars in NASCAR's top division. Earnhardt had four children, Kerry, Kelley Earnhardt Elledge, Dale Jr., and Taylor Earnhardt. His widow, Teresa Earnhardt whom he married in 1982 was the owner of current Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, (EGR) the race team and merchandising corporation Earnhardt founded with Teresa in February 1980. At the end of the 2008 race season, the DEI Corporation merged with Chip Ganassi to become is known as Earnhardt Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates. Dale Earnhardt is notable for his success in the Winston Cup Series, now known as the Sprint Cup Series, winning seventy-six races including one Daytona 500 victory in 1998. Earnhardt's seven championships are tied for most all-time with Richard Petty. His aggressive driving style led to a high profile, and often-controversial career; and, earned him the nicknames "Ironhead," "Mr. Restrictor Plate," "The Man in Black" and most famously, "The Intimidator" because of his aggressive driving style. Earnhardt died in a last-lap crash during the 2001 Daytona 500, the fourth NASCAR driver to die in a nine-month period that began with the death of Adam Petty in May 2000. On October 4, 2001, Blaise Alexander died in an ARCA racecar crash at Lowe's Motor Speedway, suffering from the same life-ending injuries as Dale Earnhardt. After 6 deaths in less than two years NASCAR began an intensive focus on safety that has seen the organization begin to require the use of head-and-neck restraints, such as the HANS device. Oversee the installation of SAFER barriers at all oval tracks, set rigorous new rules for seat-belt and seat inspection, develop a roof-hatch escape system used briefly, but later eliminated, and develop a next-generation race car built with extra driver safety in mind, dubbed the Tomorrow. Dale Earnhardt and his famous #3 car are the basis for two roller coasters. Intimidator 305 at Kings Dominion and Intimidator at Carowinds.

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[jvfunn3000]

MISS DALE TERRIBLY! #3 FOREVER!