NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing)

Legendary racer of Winston Cup Dale Earnhardt who won 76 races and started 676-times, died after the crash in the race Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FLA. This 7-time champion in the seasons 1980,86,87,90,91,93,94 got a spin in the last lap, even in the last turn, after the contact with the opponent in the battle for 3rd position. Then Dale's car No.3 hit the concrete wall together with the car which was passing him higher. In the high speed had the Chevrolet scrunched the front and then the both tight cars went to the rest of the field. Ken Schrader who drove the 2nd car, climbed out of his car and ran to check on Earnhardt. Then came the ambulance and they must carve Dale through the roof. Dale Earnhardt Jr. - the son of Dale who passed meanwhile the finish line as a 2nd, climbed out of his car and ran to the wreck. He could not do much, but he went off with his father. Earnhardt was brought to the nearest hospital at 4:54 pm and the doctors resuscitated him for 20 minutes. He didn't show any signs of life, well the doctors announced his definite death to his wife at 5:16 pm. Steve Bohannon - the Dale's doctor said that the probable cause of his death is entering blood to his airways and ears and basal skull fractures.

NASCAR president Mike Helton announced the news at 7 p.m: "This is undoubtedly one of the most difficult announcements I've ever had to make, but after the accident in Turn 4 at the end of the Daytona 500, we've lost Dale Earnhardt."

Dale Earnhardt called "The Intimidator" or "The Man In Black" was and still will be really the hero of NASCAR. The number of 7 won championchips is the record and the same number has attained only the racer Richard Petty. Only Dale has managed 34 wins at Daytona Int'l Speedway. He already won the Daytona 500 in 1998. The last season (2000) he ended as the 2nd and he was decided to win this season as the record of 8 won seasons. His last 76th win was on 10/15/2000 at Talladega, ALA. He ran his first race in Winston Cup on 5/25/1975 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, NC. But his first complete season was in 1979. That year he got his first win on 4/1 at Bristol Motor Speedway, TEN and became the rookie of the year.

Already his father Ralph Earnhardt raced in Winston Cup. He was famed, but he got no win. Then just continued Dale who dominated in Winston Cup in the 80's and the 1st half of the 90's and now pehaps will take the scepter his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. He boarded to Winston Cup in 2000 and got already 3 wins.

Written: Feb 25, 2001