My Life

Remembering The Intimidator

No funny short story today. It’s all about Nascar!

The Daytona 500 is hitting the airwaves in just about 2 hours. I can’t think, my heart is racing.

Today is the 3rd Daytona 500 to start without Dale Earnhardt Sr. #3 The Intimidator. I always reflect on the memories that this man produced. Love him or hate, he was the best! The 2001 racing season was the last time for me to hold season passes.

When I went to The Texas Motor Speedway in April 2001, the whole event was very emotional and I've not attended a live race since. But every Sunday from February through November, you will find me in front of the TV watching the Nascar races.

In Loving Memory of Dale Earnhardt
‘The Intimidator”

DATE OF BIRTH
April 29, 1951
Kannapolis, North Carolina

DATE OF DEATH
February 18, 2001
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona, Florida

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Loving son, husband and father.
Respected by peers,
worshipped by fans.
7 Time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion
$41,605,662 in Career Earnings
676 Winston Cup Race Starts
76 Career Race Wins, 6th on all time list
9 Atlanta Motor Speedway Wins
10 Talladega Speedway Wins
1979 NASCAR Rookie of the Year

Thank you Bobby for the Memorial folders

He is still loved and mourned by many fans. His death changed the racing world forever. The tracks are safer, the drivers have better protective gear, and it’s a whole new Nascar.

Today’s race will bring about a raw feeling of loss as it does each year, for me anyway. But I’ll still be here watching, rooting, holding my breath, screaming at the TV...

My son will ask me to calm down as he always does. He swears I’ll die of a heart attack while watching a Nascar race. But I’m still young and have a healthy heart...so I just tell him not to worry about!

OK...The starting grid:

1. Greg Biffle
2. Elliott Sadler
3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. #8 Budweiser (Come on baby!)
4. Sterling Marlin
5. Tony Stewart
6. Jimmy Johnson
7. Jamie McMurray
8. Mark Martin
9. Michael Waltrip # 15 Napa (Alright Mikey!)
10. Kevin Harvick

13. Bobby Labonte
18. Rusty Wallace
19. Ward Burton
20. Ryan Newman
22. Jeremy Mayfield
29. John Andretti
31. Dale Jarrett
33. Kyle Petty
39. Jeff Gordon

This just in...Greg Biffle, Ryan Newman and Ricky Craven will be starting from the back, due to engine changes.

I think I got most of the favorites in there. There are a lot of great drivers out there. They will all be safer today as they complete this race because of one mans death!

Thank you Dale Sr.

For who you were, and what you did...we will always remember.

In Loving Memory,
Gina

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