| Through the years, NASCAR has created legends | | | | races until near the end of his driving days but he |
| that will always be remembered by numerous fans | | | | always managed to leave a strong impression on |
| but no tribute for NASCAR legends would be | | | | other competitors, sponsors, officials, writers, sports |
| complete without mentioning Dale Earnhardt, Sr. | | | | announcers and fans. He was known for being |
| Earnhardt, Sr. was the largest star ever to grace the | | | | smooth and not abusive to the car. This gave him |
| racetracks of NASCAR. During his career, he | | | | the nickname "Mr. Clean". |
| garnered several awards including: the Motor sports | | | | Dale Earnhardt, Sr. might have left his legacy to his |
| Hall of Fame of America in 2002 and International | | | | youngest son Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR might also |
| Motor sports Hall of Fame in 2006. Dale Earnhardt, Sr. | | | | be in his blood since his father was a NASCAR legend |
| was also named number one among ESPN's | | | | and his grandfather was a NASCAR car builder. |
| NASCAR's 20 Greatest Drivers and second among | | | | Earnhardt, Jr. battled for the title of Raybestos |
| NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers in 1998 behind David | | | | NASCAR Rookie of the Year Award in 2000, where |
| Pearson. After his tragic death, he was also named | | | | his primary competitor was Matt Kenseth. He also |
| NASCAR's Most Popular Driver in 2001. In the span of | | | | became the first rookie to win the All-Star exhibition |
| the early 1980's until his death in 2001, he was known | | | | race. Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has already succeeded in |
| to drive his #3 car. He has other sponsors during his | | | | accomplishing three straight wins at the Talladega |
| career but his #3 car was associated in the minds of | | | | racetrack but he was planning to accomplish |
| the fans and his last sponsor, GM Goodwrench. His | | | | something that neither his father nor his master |
| #3 car also carries his color scheme, which includes a | | | | Buddy Baker had been able to achieve, which is to |
| black car with bold red and silver trim. This color | | | | make it to four straight wins. During the race, the |
| scheme is still one of the most famous logos in | | | | nose of Dale's car was damaged as he managed his |
| racing. | | | | way through an early wreck causing him to lose a lap |
| Johnny Allen is also a NASCAR star. He was an | | | | a couple of times. However, he coped and stayed on |
| admirer of the local Corpus Christie track where his | | | | the lead lap. Earnhardt, Jr. rushed forward to gain lead |
| foremost race car was a Kaiser. He was able to | | | | in the third turn with less than four laps ahead of him. |
| compete in twenty-two events in 1961 that qualified | | | | The pass got him close to breaching a rule banning |
| him a pole for the Birmingham. He also finished third | | | | the passing below a yellow line on the inside of the |
| at Darlington and Nashville. During that season, his | | | | track. Luckily, NASCAR stated that Earnhardt, Jr. had |
| record was three top fives and eleven top tens. | | | | not gone below the line and the pass he did was |
| Johnny Allen also entered another twenty events | | | | legal. At last, he won the Talladega for the fourth |
| during that year that provided him with a win at the | | | | straight time. This made him a legend in NASCAR |
| Bowman-Gray Stadium in North Carolina. | | | | history. |
| Robert "Red" Byron made history by winning the first | | | | NASCAR would not have been possible if not for |
| NASCAR Strictly Stock Championship in 1949. In a | | | | another legend named Bill France, Sr. He was able to |
| number of fifteen races, the managed to score two | | | | organize people and made NASCAR possible. In 1969, |
| poles, two wins, and seven top ten finishes. Poor | | | | he built the Talladega Super speedway and also |
| health made him choose to retire from racing. | | | | served as the Chairman and CEO of NASCAR. He |
| However, he became the manager of a Corvette | | | | was heading NASCAR until the late 1980s when he |
| team that aimed in the development of American | | | | turned the leadership to his son Bill France, Jr. Bill |
| sports car that would be able to win Grand Prix | | | | France, Sr. also built the International Motor sports |
| races. | | | | Hall of Fame and he was inducted in its first class on |
| Jimmy Hendrickson was known for being a | | | | July 25, 1990. |
| "gentleman" in races. He did not start to compete in | | | | |