| Dale Earnhardt Sr. was born on April 29th, 1951 in | | | | things took a turn for the better when he met |
| Kannapolis, North Carolina and sadly died at aged 49 | | | | Teresa Houston who then helped pave the way for |
| on February 18th, 2001 as a result of massive head | | | | Dale's path to NASCAR success. Once out of his |
| trauma from a crash in the final lap of 2001 Daytona | | | | rookie season, he started the season off with a win |
| 500. Dale Sr. was also known as The Intimidator but | | | | in the Busch Clash. He became the first and only |
| those who knew him, would say differently. He was | | | | driver thus far to have won Rookie of the year and |
| a philanthropist and never found the need for media | | | | then winning the NASCAR Winston Cup |
| coverage of his donations. | | | | Championship. He eventually went on to race for |
| His father, Ralph Earnhardt, was one of the best | | | | Richard Childress Racing in 1981 and then joined Bud |
| known short-track drivers in North Carolina. He was | | | | Moore during the 1982 and 1983 season. After that |
| not very encouraging of his son's ambition of racing | | | | he went back to Richard Childress Racing and in that |
| cars as well and even when he dropped out of high | | | | time, managed to secure victory 6 times at |
| school to race, Ralph was hard on his son. Ralph did | | | | Talladega, Atlanta, Richmond, Bristol and Martinsville. |
| teach his son everything he knew and set the stage | | | | He went on to carve NASCAR history in the |
| to make him the driver he turned into. His father | | | | following two decades. It is talked about the bigger |
| realized that his driving skill came naturally and as such | | | | things that could have been achieved had Earnhardt |
| made his son view his mistakes as open mindedly as | | | | Sr. survived the fatal crash that took away a |
| possible. Earnhardt Sr. appreciated everything his | | | | NASCAR legend. His #3 car was retired by his team |
| father did for him and missed his presence sorely | | | | owner who has promised never to let another car on |
| when he died of a heart attack in 1973. | | | | his team be designed similarly. Although he was both |
| Although Sr. started racing professionally at age 23, | | | | loved and hated in NASCAR, he has remained one of |
| he ran his first race at Metolina Fairgrounds in | | | | the sport's most popular drivers. Dale made sure his |
| Charlotte in the 1970 season where he finished in | | | | private life was kept private. When he wasn't on the |
| 10th place. In 1971, he finally won his first race which | | | | tracks, he was with his family, hunting, fishing, |
| would then bring about 26 more wins while still racing | | | | working on his farm and known as generous giver |
| at Metolina and Concord Motor Speedway. After he | | | | amongst his friends. In 2004, his life story was made |
| had quit school, he worked at several places like for | | | | into a television movie, titled "3: The Dale Earnhardt |
| an insulation company and he was also a welder who | | | | Story" and in 2007, a documentary-style movie was |
| did brake jobs as well. Dale's decision to race for a | | | | released into theaters. Even in death, many still |
| career came about after his father's death. He | | | | remember the great things Dale Sr. accomplished and |
| bought an asphalt-track car while still competing at | | | | tributes in song, movies and books have been |
| Metrolina. Although money was tight, Earnhardt Sr. | | | | dedicated to the passing to the brightest star of |
| always found away to get through it. | | | | NASCAR. |
| He began his Winston Cup career in 1975. In 1978, | | | | |