Dale Earnhardt 2001 Deaths

Dale Earnhardt

seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion and one of the most beloved drivers in auto racing history; considered the heart and soul of the sport by fans and sportswriters alike; best known for his dark sunglasses, push broom mustache and his No. 3 black Chevrolet; earned the nickname "The Intimidator" for his aggressive racing style; won more races at Atlanta Motor Speedway (nine) and Talladega Speedway (10) than any other driver; his 76 career victories placed him sixth on the all-time list at the time of his death; he won 48 speedway races (third all-time); career leading money winner with $41,639,622; won at least one race each season from 1982-96; recorded a top-10 finish in 428 of his 676 career starts; won 22 career poles; became third driver of the modern era to win four consecutive races (1987); won his first Daytona 500 in 1998, on his 20th attempt; first career victory: April 1, 1979 Bristol Motor Speedway; won 1979 Rookie of the Year Award; won the National Motorsport Press Association's Driver of the Year Award four times and twice selected the American Driver of the Year. He died of injuries sustained in an accident on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.