| By Marty Smith, Turner Sports Interactive
CONCORD, N.C. -- It is virtually impossible to describe Dale Earnhardt's legacy in one brief story, but his nickname is a solid starting point. At a time when stock-car racing was viewed as a redneck passtime for back woods Southerners, "The Intimidator" used a no-holds-barred fury behind the wheel of the No. 3 Chevrolet to make individuals from all facets of life, and all corners of the globe stand up and take notice. NASCAR chairman of the board Bill France Jr. said it best -- he was the greatest ever. His tenacity was unmatched. It had to be. How else would a ninth-grade dropout from Kannapolis, N.C., build a multimillion-dollar business? How else could a man from a dirt-poor family make tens of millions of dollars on the strength of a tireless work ethic? How else could God-given talent be turned into the most dominant career in NASCAR history? "I knew every single time I entered that racetrack, no matter where we went or what the circumstances were, that that 3 car was the one to beat," Rusty Wallace said Tuesday. "Even during those years he wasn't winning, he was still the best. He'll always be the best." Earnhardt's career spanned more than two decades. It included 676 races, 76 victories, 281 top-5s and 428 top-10s. In April, he was set to snap Terry Labonte's record for most consecutive starts. He fell six races short. Sunday, Earnhardt was fatally injured in a last-lap accident during the 43rd running of the Daytona 500, the 23rd "Great American Race" of his illustrious career. His only victory in the 500 came after 20 years of trying, in 1998. After taking a victory lap, he drove down pit road where every member of every race team lined up to congratulate him. It was arguably the most memorable moment of a career chock full of storybook moments. |
Overall, Earnhardt won 34 times at Daytona, a track record. At one
point, he won 10 consecutive Gatorade 125-mile qualifying races. He won
10 NASCAR Winston Cup Series races at Talladega, also a record. They are
two of several venues where his record is unmatched.
"I think he'll go down as one of the greatest competitors and drivers throughout NASCAR history," said Grant Lynch, president of Talladega Superspeedway. "His camaraderie amongst the drivers, his interaction with them was unique. He was such a leader. He cut up a lot and had fun, and the other drivers really enjoyed that." That they did. To many of his competitors, the true legacy of Earnhardt stemmed far beyond the racetrack. "As millions of race fans mourn the loss of the man they knew as 'The Intimidator,' the sport and the race that he truly loved has taken from me one of my best friends," said Dale Jarrett, 1999 Winston Cup champion. "I know I should feel fortunate that I had the opportunity to race with, tangle with, sometimes outrun, and like most, usually finish behind, the greatest driving talent NASCAR racing has ever seen. "I am thankful for that opportunity but, more importantly, I am most grateful that I had the chance to know Dale Earnhardt in a way that so many people could only dream of. He was a true friend -- someone I could always depend on to give me an honest answer and, at the very least, his opinion. "I looked up to him not only because of his driving skills, but because he was so much more to so many people, including me and my family. Kelley and I choose to remember this incredible racer for his caring and giving personality."
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