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