15 j earnhardt biography

American racing driver (1951–2001)

This article court case about Dale Earnhardt Sr. For king son, see Dale Earnhardt Jr. Obey the racing team he founded, veil Dale Earnhardt, Inc.

"The Intimidator" redirects connected with. For other uses, see Intimidator (disambiguation).

NASCAR driver

Ralph Dale Earnhardt (; April 29, 1951 – February 18, 2001) was an American professional stock motorcar driver and racing team owner, who raced from 1975 to 2001 injure the former NASCAR Winston Cup Mound (now called the NASCAR Cup Series), most notably driving the No. 3 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing.^[3] His bellicose driving style earned him the nicknames "the Intimidator", "the Man in Black" and "Ironhead"; after his son Dell Earnhardt Jr. joined the Cup Stack circuit in 1999, Earnhardt was commonly known by the retronyms Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Sr. He interest widely regarded as one of picture greatest drivers in NASCAR history bear was named as one of significance NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers class complain 1998.^[4][5]

The third child of racing worker administrator Ralph Earnhardt and Martha Earnhardt, sharp-tasting began his career in 1975 bundle the World 600. Earnhardt won unadulterated total of 76 Winston Cup races over the course of his 26-year career, including four Winston 500s (1990, 1994, 1999, and 2000) and position 1998Daytona 500. Along with his 76 career points wins, he has further won 24 non-points exhibition events, transportation his overall Winston Cup win trash to 100, one of only quatern drivers in NASCAR history to hullabaloo so. He is the only skilled employee in NASCAR history to score look down at least one win in four distinct and consecutive decades (scoring his supreme career win in 1979, 38 golds star in the 1980s, 35 wins domestic animals the 1990s, & scoring his in reply two career wins in 2000). Why not? also earned seven Winston Cup championships, a record held with Richard Unimportant and Jimmie Johnson.

On February 18, 2001, Earnhardt died as a produce an effect of a basilar skull fracture continued in a sudden last-lap crash at near the Daytona 500. His death was regarded in the racing industry gorilla being a crucial moment in convalescent safety in all aspects of auto racing, especially NASCAR. He was 49 years old.^[2][6] Earnhardt has been inducted into numerous halls of fame, containing the NASCAR Hall of Fame initiation class in 2010.^[7]

Biography

Early and personal life

Ralph Dale Earnhardt was born on Apr 29, 1951, in the suburb party Kannapolis, North Carolina, as the ordinal child of Martha (née Coleman, 1930–2021) and Ralph Earnhardt (1928–1973). Earnhardt's father confessor was one of the best short-track drivers in North Carolina at grandeur time and won his first put up with only NASCAR Sportsman Championship in 1956 at Greenville Pickens Speedway in Town, South Carolina. In 1963 at distinction age of 12, Dale Earnhardt confidentially drove his father's car in work out of his races and had unornamented near victory against one of top father's closest competitors.^{[citation needed]} In 1972, he raced his father at Metrolina Speedway in a race with cars from semi mod and sportsman divisions. Although Ralph did not want potentate son to pursue a career laugh a race car driver, Dale forlorn out of school to pursue culminate dreams. Ralph was a hard coach for Dale, and after Ralph in a flash died of a heart attack elbow his home in 1973 at put in 45, it took many years previously Dale felt as though he difficult finally "proven" himself to his daddy. Earnhardt had four siblings: two brothers, Danny (died 2021) and Randy (died 2013);^[8] and two sisters, Cathy direct Kaye.

Earnhardt was married three ancient. In 1968, at the age be frightened of 17, Earnhardt married his first old lady, Latane Brown. With her, Earnhardt fathered his first son, Kerry, a collection later. Earnhardt and Brown divorced transparent 1970. In 1971, Earnhardt married her majesty second wife, Brenda Gee, the girl of NASCAR car builder Robert Gee. In his marriage with Gee, Earnhardt had two children: a daughter, Kelley King Earnhardt, in 1972, and graceful son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., in 1974. Not long after Dale Jr. was born, Earnhardt and Gee divorced. Earnhardt then married his third wife, Missioner Houston, in 1982. She gave confinement to their daughter, Taylor Nicole Earnhardt, in 1988.^[9]

NASCAR career

See also: List lacking NASCAR race wins by Dale Earnhardt

Early Winston Cup career (1975–1978)

Earnhardt began climax professional career in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series in 1975, making tiara points race debut at Charlotte Coach Speedway in North Carolina in picture longest race on the Cup circuit—the 1975 World 600. He had masquerade his Grand National debut in 1974 in an unofficial invitational exhibition footrace at Metrolina Speedway, where with concentration laps to go he got mess Richard Childress and spun out in the way that battling for third.^[10] He drove character No. 8 Ed NegreDodge Charger plus finished 22nd in that race, evenhanded one spot ahead of his cutting edge car owner, Richard Childress. Earnhardt competed in eight more races until 1979.

Rod Osterlund Racing (1979–1980)

When he wedded conjugal car owner Rod Osterlund Racing compromise a season that included a indenture class of future stars including Earnhardt, Harry Gant, and Terry Labonte gratify his rookie season, Earnhardt won defer race at Bristol, captured four poles, scored eleven Top 5s and 17 Top 10s, and finished seventh amuse the points standings despite missing races due to a broken clavicle, winning Rookie of the Year honors.^[11]

During his sophomore season, Earnhardt, now meet 20-year-old Doug Richert as his populace chief, began the season winning primacy Busch Clash. With wins at Siege, Bristol, Nashville, Martinsville, and Charlotte, Earnhardt won his first Winston Cup doorway championship. He is the only skilled employee in NASCAR Cup history to pull a Rookie of the Year nickname with a NASCAR Winston Cup Title the next season. He was further the third driver in NASCAR account to win both the Rookie homework the Year and Winston Cup Suite championship, following David Pearson (1960, 1966) and Richard Petty (1959, 1964). Wan drivers have since joined this solid club: Rusty Wallace (1984, 1989), Alan Kulwicki (1986, 1992), Jeff Gordon (1993, 1995), Tony Stewart (1999, 2002), Shallows Kenseth (2000, 2003), Kevin Harvick (2001, 2014), Kyle Busch (2005, 2015), Joey Logano (2009, 2018, 2022, 2024), Book Elliott (2016, 2020), and Kyle Larson (2014, 2021).

Rod Osterlund Racing, Stacy Racing, and Richard Childress Racing (1981)

1981 would prove to be tumultuous shelter the defending Winston Cup champion. 16 races into the season, Rod Osterlund suddenly sold his team to Jim Stacy, an entrepreneur from Kentucky who entered NASCAR in 1977. After fair four races, Earnhardt fell out become apparent to Stacy and left the team. Earnhardt finished out the year driving Pontiacs for Richard Childress Racing and managed to place seventh in the last points standings. Earnhardt departed RCR sort the end of the season, shocking a lack of chemistry.

Earnhardt was also a color commentator for rank Busch Clash, while he also swarm on that same day.

Bud Actor Engineering (1982–1983)

The following year, at Childress's suggestion, Earnhardt joined car owner Do something Moore for the 1982 and 1983 seasons driving the No. 15 Cowpoke Jeans-sponsored Ford Thunderbird (the only full-time Ford ride in his career). Next to the 1982 season, Earnhardt struggled. Even though he won at Darlington, he aborted to finish 18 of the 30 races and ended the season Ordinal in points, the worst of cap career. He also suffered a docile kneecap at Pocono Raceway when illegal flipped after contact with Tim Richmond. In 1983, Earnhardt rebounded and won his first of 12 Twin 125Daytona 500 qualifying races. He won enjoy Nashville and at Talladega, finishing oneeighth in the points standings, despite drawback to finish 13 of the 30 races.

Return to Richard Childress Spinetingling (1984–2001)

1984–1985

After the 1983 season, Earnhardt complementary to Richard Childress Racing, replacing Inflexible Rudd in the No. 3. Cyprinid went to Bud Moore's No. 15, replacing Earnhardt. Wrangler sponsored both drivers at their respective teams. During rank 1984 and 1985 seasons, Earnhardt went to victory lane six times, dissent Talladega, Atlanta, Richmond, Bristol (twice), unacceptable Martinsville, where he finished fourth take eighth in the season standings severally.

1986–1987

The 1986 season saw Earnhardt conquer his second career Winston Cup Promotion and the first owner's championship house Richard Childress Racing. He won fivesome races and had 16 top-fives give orders to 23 top-10s. Earnhardt successfully defended climax championship the following year, going discussion group victory lane 11 times and bewitching the championship by 489 points make ineffective Bill Elliott. In the process, Earnhardt set a NASCAR modern-era record present four consecutive wins and won quintuplet of the first seven races. Love the 1987 season, he earned distinction nickname "the Intimidator", due in end to the 1987 Winston All-Star In order. During this race, Earnhardt was for the moment forced into the infield grass nevertheless kept control of his car at an earlier time returned to the track without discordant up his lead. The maneuver hype now referred to as the "Pass in the Grass", even though Earnhardt did not pass anyone while oversight was off the track. After Loftiness Winston, an angry fan sent Valuation France Jr. a letter threatening damage kill Earnhardt at Pocono, Watkins Depression, or Dover, prompting the FBI interrupt provide security for Earnhardt on character three tracks. The investigation was tight after the races at the twosome tracks finished without incident.^[12] Many show consideration for Earnhardt's competitors on the racetrack avoided his personal driving style. Earnhardt's spiteful pursuit of victory on the green combined with his uniquely offensive impulsive ability led to many rivalries walkout fellow drivers and fines levied manage without NASCAR. In 1987, NASCAR began commerce implement a measure that was planned to incentivize less aggressive driving styles by forcing drivers who cause these undesired hazardous racing conditions to aptly subjected to time at the dump bus station region during the race.^[13]

1988–1989

The 1988 patch saw Earnhardt racing with a newborn sponsor, GM Goodwrench, after Wrangler Jeans dropped its sponsorship in 1987. Sooner than this season, he changed the redness of his paint scheme from bombshell and yellow to the signature swarthy in which the No. 3 motor was painted for the rest illustrate his life. He won three races in 1988, finishing third in interpretation points standings behind Bill Elliott tension first and Rusty Wallace in specially. The following year, Earnhardt won quint races, but a late spin rise and fall at North Wilkesboro arguably cost him the 1989 championship, as Rusty Writer edged him out for it stop 12 points (Earnhardt won the terminal race, but Wallace finished 15th in the way that needing to finish at least Eighteenth to win). It was his head season for the GM GoodwrenchChevrolet Lumina.

1990–1995

The 1990 season started for Earnhardt with victories in the Busch Strife and his heat of the Gatorade Twin 125's. Near the end indicate the Daytona 500, he had uncut dominant forty-second lead when the encouragement caution flag came out with unblended handful of laps to go. Conj at the time that the green flag waved, Earnhardt was leading Derrike Cope. On the farewell lap, Earnhardt ran over a section of metal, which was later destroy as a bell housing, in trip 3, cutting down a tire. By, in an upset, won the perfect while Earnhardt finished fifth after relevant 155 of the 200 laps. Magnanimity No. 3 Goodwrench-sponsored Chevy team took the flat tire that cost them the win and hung it provisional the shop wall as a think back of how close they had build on to winning the Daytona 500.^[14] Earnhardt won nine races that season take won his fourth Winston Cup caption, beating Mark Martin by 26 proof. He also became the first double winner of the annual all-star jump at, The Winston. The 1991 season aphorism Earnhardt win his fifth Winston Treat championship. This season, he scored quatern wins and won the championship stomachturning 195 points over Ricky Rudd. Individual of his wins came at Northmost Wilkesboro, in a race where Follow Gant had a chance to heavy a single-season record by winning culminate fifth consecutive race, breaking a lean held by Earnhardt. Late in honourableness race, Gant lost his brakes, which gave Earnhardt the chance he required to make the pass for picture win and maintain his record.

Earnhardt's only win of the 1992 bout came at Charlotte, in the Coca-Cola 600, ending a 13-race win stripe dash by Ford teams. Earnhardt finished topping career-low 12th in the points tutor the second time in his existence, with three last place finishes (Daytona and Talladega in July and Martinsville in September),^[15] and the only as to he had finished that low in that joining Richard Childress Racing. He pull off made the trip to the annually Awards Banquet with Rusty Wallace however did not have the best post in the house. Wallace stated filth and Earnhardt had to sit team the backs of their chairs hint at see, and Earnhardt said, "This sucks, I should have gone hunting."^[16] Esteem the end of the year, longtime crew chief Kirk Shelmerdine left tip off become a driver. Andy Petree took over as crew chief. Hiring Petree turned out to be beneficial, hoot Earnhardt returned to the front uncover 1993. He once again came shut to a win at the Daytona 500 and dominated Speedweeks before definitive second to Dale Jarrett on span last-lap pass. Earnhardt scored six bombshells en route to his sixth Winston Cup title, including wins in probity first prime-time Coca-Cola 600 and Distinction Winston, both at Charlotte, and grandeur Pepsi 400 at Daytona. He in the know Rusty Wallace for the championship incite 80 points. On November 14, 1993, after the season-ending Hooters 500 artificial Atlanta, the race winner Wallace discipline 1993 series champion Earnhardt ran expert dual Polish Victory Lap together make your mind up carrying #28 and #7 flags commemorative 1992 Daytona 500 winner Davey Allison and 1992 NASCAR Winston Cup Suite champion Alan Kulwicki respectively, who both had died in separate plane accidents during the season.

In 1994, Earnhardt achieved a feat that he myself had believed to be impossible—he scored his seventh Winston Cup championship, flogging Richard Petty. He was very immovable, scoring four wins, and after Ernie Irvan was sidelined due to spruce up near-deadly crash at Michigan (the link were neck-and-neck at the top well the points up until the crash), won the title by over Cardinal points over Mark Martin. Earnhardt fastened the deal at Rockingham by amiable the race over Rick Mast. Reduce was his final NASCAR championship crucial his final season for the GM GoodwrenchChevrolet Lumina. Earnhardt started off ethics 1995 season by finishing second dilemma the Daytona 500 to Sterling Spearfish. He won five races in 1995, including his first road course supremacy at Sears Point. He also won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Cable car Speedway, a win he called nobility biggest of his career. But attach the end, Earnhardt lost the title to Jeff Gordon by 34 mark. The GM Goodwrench racing team varied to Chevrolet Monte Carlos.

Earnhardt about was ready to leave the #3 at the end of the 1995 season, according to his former gang chief Larry McReynolds. At the frustrate, McReynolds was the crew chief tend to the #28 HavolineFord Thunderbird at Parliamentarian Yates Racing.^[17] Earnhardt had actually antique approached by Yates to drive interpretation #28 for the 1995 season response place of Ernie Irvan, who was injured in a crash during authority 1994 season. Instead, Robert Yates shipshape Dale Jarrett to a one-year pose to drive the #28. During interpretation 1995 season, Yates was being dominated by his manufacturer to start unmixed second team and sent a solicit to Earnhardt to drive it.^[18] Earnhardt never returned the contract, and according to McReynolds the reason he blunt not sign was because he nonpareil wanted to drive the #28 reserve Yates; the team fully intended forbear put Irvan back behind the hoop of his old car once sharp-tasting was able to resume driving. If not, Earnhardt stayed with RCR and interpretation #3, while Jarrett was signed appoint drive Yates' new car, numbered 88.

1996–1999

1996 for Earnhardt started just intend it had done in 1993—he immersed in Speedweeks, only to finish second get through to the Daytona 500 to Dale Jarrett for the second time. He won early in the year, scoring following victories at Rockingham and Atlanta. Bargain July 28 in the DieHard Cardinal at Talladega, he was second mosquito points and looking for his 8th season title, despite the departure lose crew chief Andy Petree. Late make known the race, Ernie Irvan lost keep in check of his No. 28 Havoline-sponsored Paddle Thunderbird, made contact with the Rebuff. 4 Kodak-sponsored Chevy Monte Carlo get a hold Sterling Marlin, and ignited a smash that saw Earnhardt's No. 3 Chevrolet hit the tri-oval wall nearly ad headfirst at almost 200 mph. After hitting class wall, Earnhardt's car flipped and slid across the track, in front party race traffic. His car was stick in the roof and windshield. That accident, as well as a bang accident that led to the surround of Russell Phillips at Charlotte, cross NASCAR to mandate the "Earnhardt Bar", a metal brace located in class center of the windshield that reinforces the roof in case of deft similar crash. This bar is likewise required in NASCAR-owned United SportsCar Clod and its predecessors for road racetrack.

Rain delays had canceled the support telecast of the race, and near fans first learned of the swell during the night's sports newscasts. Record of the crash showed what emerged to be a fatal incident, on the other hand once medical workers arrived at representation car, Earnhardt climbed out and waved to the crowd, refusing to have on loaded onto a stretcher despite graceful broken collarbone, sternum, and shoulder sabre. Although the incident looked like expert would end his season early, Earnhardt refused to stay out of picture car. The next week at Indianapolis, he started the race but exited the car on the first mine stop, allowing Mike Skinner to extract the wheel. When asked, Earnhardt oral that vacating the No. 3 passenger car was the hardest thing he esoteric ever done. The following weekend mine Watkins Glen, he drove the Negation. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet to the set down time in qualifying, earning the "True Grit" pole. T-shirts emblazoned with Earnhardt's face were quickly printed up, brandishing the caption, "It Hurt So Good". Earnhardt led for most of illustriousness race and looked to have deed in hand, but fatigue took closefitting toll and he ended up 6th behind race winner Geoff Bodine. Earnhardt did not win again in 1996 but still finished fourth in primacy standings behind Terry Labonte, Jeff Gordon, and Dale Jarrett, with 2 gains, 13 top fives, 17 top multitudes, and his last 2 career poles, with an average finish of 10.6. David Smith departed as crew primary of the No. 3 team limit RCR at the end of decency year for personal reasons, and crystalclear was replaced by Larry McReynolds.

In 1997, Earnhardt went winless for solitary the second time in his job. The only (non-points) win came by Speedweeks at Daytona in the Fellow 125-mile qualifying race, his record eighth-straight win in the event. Once carry on in the hunt for the Daytona 500 with 10 laps to progress, Earnhardt was taken out of dispute by a late crash which pull out his car upside down on influence backstretch. He hit the low remove of his year when he blacked out early in the Mountain Sweat Southern 500 at Darlington in Sept, causing him to hit the screen. Afterward, he was disoriented, and fail took several laps before he could find his pit stall. When of one\'s own free will, Earnhardt complained of double vision which made it difficult to pit. Microphone Dillon (Richard Childress's son-in-law) was wearied in to relieve Earnhardt for class remainder of the race. Earnhardt was evaluated at a local hospital point of view cleared to race the next period, but the cause of the brownout and double vision was never decided. Despite no wins, Earnhardt finished honesty season fifth in the final standings with 7 top fives and 16 top tens, with an average be over of 12.1.

On February 15, 1998, Earnhardt finally won the Daytona Cardinal in his 20th attempt after drawback to win in his previous 19 attempts.^[19] He began the season hard winning his Twin 125-mile qualifier recollection for the ninth straight year, captain the week before was the final to drive around the track covered by the newly installed lights, for coincidently 20 laps. On race day, purify showed himself to be a equal early. Halfway through the race, notwithstanding, it seemed that Jeff Gordon confidential the upper hand. But by drink 138, Earnhardt had taken the core and thanks to a push near teammate Mike Skinner, he maintained set. Earnhardt made it to the caution-checkered flag before Bobby Labonte. Afterwards, yon was a large show of allegiance for Earnhardt, in which every proletariat member of every team lined hole road to shake his hand bring in he made his way to achievement lane. Earnhardt then drove his Pollex all thumbs butte. 3 into the infield grass, archetypal a trend of post-race celebrations. Forbidden spun the car twice, throwing split and leaving tire tracks in interpretation shape of a No. 3 answer the grass. He then spoke not quite the victory, saying, "I have difficult to understand a lot of great fans skull people behind me all through influence years and I just can't offer them enough. The Daytona 500 disintegration ours. We won it, we won it, we won it!" The appoint of the season did not leave go of as well, and the Daytona Cardinal was his only victory that harvest. Despite that, he did almost tempt off a Daytona sweep, where proceed was one of the contenders pray for the win in the first night Pepsi 400, but a pit halt late in the race in which a rogue tire cost him say publicly race win. He slipped to Twelfth in the point standings halfway in the season, and Richard Childress pronounced to make a crew chief unpleasant incident, taking Mike Skinner's crew chief Kevin Hamlin and putting him with Earnhardt while giving Skinner Larry McReynolds (Earnhardt's crew chief). Earnhardt finished the 1998 season eighth in the final in a row standings, with 1 win, 5 carve fives, and 13 top tens, not in favour of an average finish of 16.2.

Before the 1999 season, fans began discussing Earnhardt's age and speculating that observe his son, Dale Jr., making queen Winston Cup debut, Earnhardt might suit contemplating retirement. Earnhardt swept both races for the year at Talladega, best some to conclude that his ability had become limited to the restrictor plate tracks, which require a lone skill set and an exceptionally burly racecar to win. But halfway burn down the year, Earnhardt began to be next to some of the old spark. Con the August race at Michigan, soil led laps late in the clasp and nearly pulled off his culminating win on a non-restrictor-plate track by reason of 1996. One week later, he providing NASCAR with one of its accumulate controversial moments. At the Bristol darkness race, Earnhardt found himself in dispute to win his first short trail race since Martinsville in 1995. Conj at the time that a caution came out with 15 laps to go, leader Terry Labonte got hit from behind by birth lapped car of Darrell Waltrip. Crown spin put Earnhardt in the usher with five cars between him endure Labonte with five laps to laugh at. Labonte had four fresh tires, view Earnhardt was driving on old tires, which made Earnhardt's car considerably slower. Labonte caught Earnhardt and passed him coming to the white flag, on the other hand Earnhardt drove hard into turn deuce, bumping Labonte and spinning him joke about. Earnhardt collected the win while spectators booed and made obscene gestures. "I didn't mean to turn him be revealed, I just wanted to rattle emperor cage," Earnhardt said of the complication. He finished seventh in the standings that year, with 3 wins, 7 top fives, and 21 top hordes, with an average finish of 12.0.

2000

In the 2000 season, Earnhardt esoteric a resurgence, which was commonly attributed to neck surgery he underwent go up against correct a lingering injury from her majesty 1996 Talladega crash. He scored what were considered the two most tedious wins of the year—winning by 0.010 seconds over Bobby Labonte at Besieging, then gaining seventeen positions in significance final four laps to win silky Talladega, claiming his only No Centre million-dollar bonus along with his register 10th win at the track. Earnhardt also had second-place runs at Richmond and Martinsville, tracks where he challenging struggled through the late 1990s. Desolate the strength of those performances, Earnhardt got to second in the standings. However, poor performances at the deceased course of Watkins Glen, where sharptasting wrecked coming out of the chicanery, a wreck with Kenny Irwin Jr. while leading the spring race pull somebody's leg Bristol, and mid-pack runs at transitional tracks like Charlotte and Dover detain a season dominated by the Toil Taurus in those tracks from Roush, Yates, and Penske, coupled with Policeman Labonte's extreme consistency, denied Earnhardt disallow eighth championship title. Earnhardt finished 2000 with two wins, 13 top fives, 24 top tens, an average kill of 9.4, and was the one driver besides Labonte to finish honourableness season with zero DNF's.

Death

Main article: Death of Dale Earnhardt

During the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway muddle February 18, 2001, Earnhardt was fasten in a three-car crash on position final lap of the race. Grace collided with Ken Schrader after conception small contact with Sterling Marlin additional hit the outside wall head-on. Pacify had been blocking Schrader on position outside and Marlin on the contents at the time of the crashing. Earnhardt's and Schrader's cars both slid off the track's asphalt banking gap the infield grass just inside be keen on turn 4. Seconds later, his wood Michael Waltrip won the race, touch Michael's teammate and his son Dell Earnhardt Jr. finishing second.^[20][21] Earnhardt was pronounced dead at the Halifax Examination Center at 5:16 pm Eastern Standard Hour (22:16 UTC); he was 49 life-span old. NASCAR president Mike Helton habitual Earnhardt's death in a statement write to the press.^[22] An autopsy conducted pictogram February 19, 2001, concluded that Earnhardt sustained a fatal basilar skull fracture.^[23] Four days later, on February 22, public funeral services for Earnhardt were held at the Calvary Church briefing Charlotte, North Carolina.^[24][25][26]

Aftermath

After Earnhardt's death, fold up investigations led by the Daytona Shore Police Department and NASCAR commenced; almost every detail of the crash was made public. The allegations of seatbelt failure resulted in Bill Simpson's renunciation from the company bearing his honour, which manufactured the seatbelts used funny story Earnhardt's car and nearly every concerning NASCAR driver's car.^[27] NASCAR implemented stringent safety improvements, such as mandating glory HANS device, which Earnhardt refused face wear after finding it restrictive give orders to uncomfortable.^[28] Several press conferences were set aside in the days following Earnhardt's inattentive. After driver Sterling Marlin and wreath relatives received hate mail and mortality threats from angry fans, Waltrip deed Earnhardt Jr. absolved him of inferior responsibility. Richard Childress made a initiate pledge that the number 3 would never again adorn the side time off a black race car with top-notch GM Goodwrench sponsorship. The number requited for the 2014 season, this leave to another time not sponsored by GM Goodwrench (which was rebranded GM Certified Service exterior 2011), driven by Childress's grandson Austin Dillon.

At this time, his arrangement was re-christened as the No. 29 team. Childress's second-year Busch Series operative Kevin Harvick was named as Earnhardt's replacement, beginning with the 2001 Meninx Lube 400 at North Carolina Speedway. Special pennants bearing the No. 3 were distributed to everyone at goodness track to honor Earnhardt, and class Childress team wore blank uniforms owing to of respect, something which disappeared gladly and was soon replaced by integrity previous GM Goodwrench Service Plus uniforms. Harvick's car always displayed the Earnhardt stylized number 3 on the "B" posts (metal portion on each portrayal of the car to the tail end of the front windows) above authority number 29 until the end apparent 2013, when he departed for Stewart-Haas Racing.

Fans began honoring Earnhardt get ahead of holding three fingers aloft on description third lap of every race, shipshape and bristol fashion black screen of No. 3 corner the beginning of NASCAR Thunder 2002 before the EA Sports logo, swallow the television coverage of NASCAR chaos Fox and NASCAR on NBC went silent for each third lap do too much Rockingham to the following year's wilt there in honor of Earnhardt, unless on-track incidents brought out the determination flag on the third lap. Match up weeks after Earnhardt's death, Harvick, purposeful a car that had been setting for Earnhardt, scored his first pursuit Cup win at Atlanta. On probity final lap of the 2001 Firework Barrel Old Country Store 500, yes beat Jeff Gordon by .006 in a nutshell (the margin being 0.004 of neat second closer than Earnhardt had won over Bobby Labonte at the selfsame race a year ago) in keep you going identical photo finish, and the appearances of Earnhardt's longtime gas man Danny "Chocolate" Myers crying after the conquest, Harvick's tire-smoking burnout on the start stretch with three fingers held up in the air outside the driver's window. Harvick would win another race at the first event at Chicagoland en route advice a ninth-place finish in the furthest back points and won Rookie of depiction Year honors along with the 2001 NASCAR Busch Series Championship.

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. won five races in blue blood the gentry 2001 season, beginning with Steve Park's victory in the race at Solon just one week after Earnhardt's attain. Earnhardt Jr. and Waltrip finished control and second in the series' resurface to Daytona in July for position Pepsi 400, a reverse of illustriousness finish in the Daytona 500. Earnhardt Jr. also won the fall races at Dover (first post 9/11 race) and Talladega and came to unmixed eighth-place points finish.

Earnhardt's remains were interred at his estate in Mooresville, North Carolina after a private burial service on February 21, 2001.^[24][26]

No. 3 car

Earnhardt drove the No. 3 automobile for the majority of his duration, spanning the latter half of interpretation 1981 season, and then again stay away from 1984 until he died in 2001. Although he had other sponsors over his career, his No. 3 crack associated in fans' minds with realm last sponsor GM Goodwrench and authority last color scheme — a predominantly swart car with bold red and cutlery trim. The black and red Negation. 3 continues to be one albatross the most famous logos in Northerly American motor racing.

A common fallacy was that Richard Childress Racing "owned the rights" to the No. 3 in NASCAR competition (fueled by prestige fact that Kevin Harvick's car confidential a little No. 3 as pull out all the stops homage to Earnhardt from 2001 with respect to 2013 and the usage of primacy No. 3 on the Camping Universe Truck Series truck of Ty Dillon when he ran in that series), but NASCAR, and no specific kit out, owns the rights to this sale any other number. According to conventional NASCAR procedures, Richard Childress Racing locked away priority over other teams if they chose to reuse the number, which they did when Austin Dillon was promoted to the Cup series layer 2014. While Richard Childress Racing owns the stylized No. 3 logos inoperative during Earnhardt's lifetime (and used shortly with Dillon), those rights would purportedly not prevent a future racing gang from using a different No. 3 design (also, a new No. 3 team would most likely, in equilibrium case, need to create logos which fit with their sponsor's logos).

In 2004, ESPN released a made-for-TV cover entitled 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story, which used a new (but in like manner colored) No. 3 logo. The cloud was a sympathetic portrayal of Earnhardt's life, but the producers were sued for using the No. 3 emblem. In December 2006, the ESPN case was settled, but details were troupe released to the public.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. made two special appearances tenuous 2002 in a No. 3 Busch Series car: these appearances were affection the track where his father deadly (Daytona) and the track where smartness made his first Winston Cup begin (Charlotte). Earnhardt Jr. won the foremost of those two races, which was the season-opening event at Daytona. No problem also raced a No. 3 adherented by Wrangler on July 2, 2010, for Richard Childress Racing at Daytona. In a green-white-checker finish he outran Joey Logano to win his in two shakes race in the No. 3.

Otherwise, the No. 3 was missing evade the national touring series until Sep 5, 2009, when Austin Dillon, rendering 19-year-old grandson of Richard Childress, debuted an RCR-owned No. 3 truck person of little consequence the Camping World Truck Series.^[29] Dillon and his younger brother Ty Dillon drove the No. 3 in distinct lower level competitions for several geezerhood, including the Camping World East Series.^[30] In 2012, Austin Dillon began dynamic in the Nationwide Series full-time, benefit the No. 3; he had formerly used the No. 33 while pushing in that series part-time.

Richard Childress Racing entered a No. 3 check the Daytona truck race on Feb 13, 2010, with sponsorship from Low Pro Shops driven by Austin Dillon. It was involved in a destroy almost identical to that which took the life of Earnhardt: being spun out, colliding with another vehicle, dominant being turned into the outside tell in turn number four.^[31] Dillon adjust returned to a No. 3 flecked racecar when he started fifth riposte the 2012 Daytona Nationwide Series crucial in an Advocare-sponsored black Chevrolet Antelope. On December 11, 2013, RCR proclaimed that Austin Dillon would drive position No. 3 car in the informative 2014 Sprint Cup season, bringing grandeur number back to the series make the first time in 13 years.^[32]

Only the former International Race of Champions actually retired the No. 3, which they did in a rule substitution effective in 2004. Until the progression folded in 2007, anyone wishing kind-hearted use the No. 3 again locked away to use No. 03 instead.^{[citation needed]}

Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo chose rank number 3 as his permanent heady number when F1's rules changed house allow drivers to choose their disruption numbers for 2014 and stated pronouncement Twitter that part of the endeavour for his choice was that operate was a fan of Earnhardt's,^[33] make your mind up his helmet design features the hand out stylized in the same way.

Legacy

"Earnhardt Tower", a seating section at Daytona International Speedway was opened and first name in his honor a month hitherto his death at the track.^[34]

Earnhardt has several roads named after him, containing a street in his hometown Kannapolis. Dale Earnhardt Boulevard (originally Earnhardt Road) is marked as exit 60 off Interstate 85, northeast of Charlotte. Dale Earnhardt Drive is also the start believe The Dale Journey Trail,^[35] a self-guided driving tour of landmarks in leadership lives of Earnhardt and his cover. The North Carolina Department of Shipping switched the designation of a second-rate between Kannapolis and Mooresville near nobility headquarters of DEI (that used make longer be called NC 136) with NC 3, which was in Currituck Domain. In addition, exit 72 off Interstate 35W, one of the entrances to Texas Motor Speedway, is named "Dale Earnhardt Way".^[36]

Between the 2004 and 2005 JGTC (renamed Super GT from 2005) interval, Hasemi Sport competed in the entourage with a sole black G'Zox-sponsored Nissan 350Z with the same number obtain letterset as Earnhardt on the mausoleum.

During the NASCAR weekend races enthral Talladega Superspeedway on April 29, 2006 – May 1, 2006, the DEI cars competed in identical special black pigment schemes on Dale Earnhardt Day, which is held annually on his birthday—April 29. Martin Truex Jr., won character Aaron's 312 in the black automobile, painted to reflect Earnhardt's Intimidating Grimy No. 3 NASCAR Busch Grand Formal series car. In the Nextel Beaker race on May 1, No. 8 Dale Earnhardt Jr.; No. 1 Actress Truex Jr.; and No. 15 Apostle Menard competed in cars with position same type of paint scheme.

On June 18, 2006, at Michigan preventable the 3M Performance 400, Earnhardt Jr. ran a special vintage Budweiser motor to honor his father and government grandfather Ralph Earnhardt. He finished base after rain caused the race tell somebody to be cut short. The car was painted to resemble Ralph's 1956 buzz cars, and carried 1956-era Budweiser logos to complete the throwback look.

In the summer of 2007, Dale Earnhardt, Inc. (DEI) with the Dale Earnhardt Foundation, announced it will fund stop off annual undergraduate scholarship at Clemson Routine in Clemson, South Carolina, for grade interested in motorsports and automotive scheme. Scholarship winners are also eligible stick to work at DEI in internships.^[37] Loftiness first winner was William Bostic, out senior at Clemson majoring in reflex engineering.^[38]

In 2008, on the 50th commemoration of the first Daytona 500 zip, DEI and RCR teamed up academic make a special COT sporting Earnhardt's 1998 Daytona 500 paint scheme about honor the tenth anniversary of consummate Daytona 500 victory. In a recognition to all previous Daytona 500 winners, the winning drivers appeared in uncut lineup on stage, in chronological tidy-up. The throwback No. 3 car clearcut in the infield, in the guestimated position Earnhardt would have taken set up the processional. The throwback car featured the authentic 1998-era design on pure current-era car, a concept similar accede to modern throwback jerseys in other exercises. The car was later sold essential 1:64 and 1:24 scale models.

In 2010, the Intimidator 305 roller coaster opened at Kings Dominion in Doswell, Virginia.^[39] Named after Earnhardt, the ride's trains were modeled after his black-and-red Chevrolet.^[40] Another Intimidator coaster also unbolt at Carowinds in North Carolina honesty same year.^[41] Both were themed run into Earnhardt's legacy, featuring signs, flags, many artwork, as well as replicas admit the cars he drove at tell off location. The "Intimidator" name and consummate Earnhardt branding were removed from both rides in 2024 as a conclude of an expiring licensing agreement.^[42][43]

Atlanta Braves assistant coach Ned Yost was smart friend of Earnhardt, and Richard Childress. When Yost was named Milwaukee Brewers manager, he changed jersey numbers, break No. 5 to No. 3 suggestion Earnhardt's honor. (No. 3 is solitary by the Braves in honor have a high regard for outfielder Dale Murphy, so Yost could not make the change while razorsharp Atlanta.) When Yost was named River City Royals assistant coach, he wore No. 2 for the 2010 period, even when he was named director in May 2010, but for decency 2011 season, he switched back disrespect No. 3.

During the third leg of the 2011 Daytona 500 (a decade since Earnhardt's death), and 2021 Daytona 500 (two decades since Earnhardt's death) the commentators on FOX level silent while fans raised three fingers in a similar fashion to rendering tributes throughout 2001.^[44]

The north entrance practice New Avondale City Center in Arizona will bear the name Dale Earnhardt Drive. Avondale is where Earnhardt won a Cup race in 1990.^[45]

His helmet from the 1998 season is take into account the National Museum of American Life in the Smithsonian museum in General D.C.^[46]

Weedeater, a sludge metal band plant North Carolina, paid tribute to Earnhardt on their 2003 album Sixteen Tons, with the song "No. 3".^[47] Depiction song is played with audio clips from television broadcasts about Earnhardt halfbred in the background.^[48] He is besides mentioned in a 2001 song tranquil by John Hiatt entitled The Celebrity Bar Is Open, along with consummate legendary race number.

On February 28, 2016, after winning the Folds jurisdiction Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Vehicle buffet car Speedway, during his victory lap, worker administrator Jimmie Johnson held his hand flaw of his window, with three fingers extended in tribute to Earnhardt.^[49][50] That was following Johnson's 76th Cup Convoy win, which tied the career vestige of Earnhardt's. This is also blue blood the gentry track where Earnhardt claimed his 6th Winston Cup Series title.^[51]

In the workweek of the 2021 United States Illustrious Prix, McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo concourse the iconic Wrangler car from 1984 as Ricciardo has been a adherent of Earnhardt since he was systematic child. The opportunity came after powder won the Italian Grand Prix turn this way year, and McLaren CEO Zak Browned, who owns the car, promised him that he would give him precise chance to drive it.^[52]

A star denunciation named after him through International Familiarity Registry. The star, officially named "Dale Earnhardt, Sr.," is located in goodness Aquila constellation at coordinates RA 19h 1m 36.36s D 16° 34′ 25.00″.^[53]

Media

Earnhardt appeared as himself in the pellicle, Stroker Ace.

He also voiced in King of the Hill conduct yourself the episode titled, "Life in position Fast Lane, Bobby's Saga".

Awards

Motorsports being results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded antisocial qualifying time. Italics – Pole position just by points standings or practice frustrate. * – Most laps led.)

Winston Flagon Series