Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1010

Dale Earnhardt died at the Daytona 500

For those of you who have been locked in a closet for years, of maybe live under a rock, and have no clue who Dale Earnhardt is, let me fill you in.

Dale Earnhardt was one of the greatest Nascar drivers ever. He won seven Winston Cup Championships. 76 Winston Cup races. He also won the Daytona 500 34 times. This loss will be a great impact to NASCAR. He was most likely the best driver ever to grace the NASCAR circut.

Even if you don't like NASCAR, and I can understand why. You must realize this man is beloved by millions. He was known for his bump and run driving style. He was known as the intimidator while on the race track. Off the race track he had his wife, Teresa Earnhardt, and his son Dale Earnhardt Jr. who happens to be a NASCAR driver as well. Both were at his side when he died. He was only 49 years old. He will be greatly missed. I know I will never forget him.

Now having said all that, only one more thing to say. If any of you fucks are insensitive enough to write something bad about him or NASCAR in this thread, it will show me once and for all that some of are inhuman heartless bastards like I suspect some of you to be.
Be resepectful.


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I stopped being sexist because bitches hate that shit.

[This message has been edited by VKL (edited 02-18-2001).]

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: NH
Posts: 6082

And people want to ban boxing for being "barbaric".

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Registered: Jan 2001
Location: library
Posts: 19581

What the hell?? I left off watching that around lap 130 or so and nothing much happened, how'd he die?

-m


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I like my soapbox...

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 7113

i had it on with my brother with 8 laps left watching it.
i watched as the two cars crashed off the track
you could tell he was not going to come out of it after impact.
=(
i turned it off after victory lane, thinking that he might be ok.
later while watching tv, just 10 minutes ago or so i saw during a preview of the news he had died.

tragic.

i dont see why people must be respectful of his death, but it shouldnt bother you if someone isnt.
rip.

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Will accept plush toys as bribes.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Clevelaund Ohissy
Posts: 722

Oh my god, thats sad.

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If your frightened of dyin' and then you hold on, you see that the devil is tearin' your life away. But, if you made your peace, then the devils are really angles that freed you from the earth.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Sedona, Arizona
Posts: 18829

That is truly tragic. I attended two NASCAR races that he ran in and he was truly a presence on the track (won one, crashed in the last few laps in the other). The sport of racing has suffered an incredible loss.
RIP

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Don't argue with me.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Los Angeles, Ca
Posts: 2104

Like I said in chat, Dale meant alot to hunters and sportsmen and women. He was very active in the hunting community and was a spokesman for some good causes. This is really too bad, he seemed like a very good man. My prayers go out to his family...

God's Speed Dale...

CAL

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"The desert is my church, and hunting is my god."

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: NH
Posts: 6082

quote:

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Originally posted by Dead_Inside:
And people want to ban boxing for being "barbaric".

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: A New England
Posts: 9168

quote:

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Originally posted by Dead_Inside:
And people want to ban boxing for being "barbaric".

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Beatrice, Nebraska
Posts: 18505

Actually, Dale died on impact.

I don't give two shits about racing, but I know that Dale was one of the most respected drivers ever. His loss is a great loss for racing fans everywhere.

His death will be used to force racing safety standards to be reviewed. We've lost something like 5 racers in two years. The loss of Earnhardt will probably give the safety reform group a champion for their cause.

RIP.

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Have a good day, and if you feel like subjecting your genitals to high doses of x-ray radiation I'm sure the world will kindly thank you.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Ivory Tower, USA
Posts: 1485

Like SP, I'm not the least bit interested in racing. But as an outsider to the sport, it does seem like racing has seen an unusually high number of deaths in recent years. Is this true? Have the machines' speed outpaced our human capacity to control them?

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"Wisdom comes with winters."--Oscar Wilde

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Location Location
Posts: 26385

I'm not into racing at all, but death sucks.

Though I don't want sports to be "safe". Where's the fun in that?

Fuck that. He wasn't known as the Intimidator because he drove like a grandmother. Died with his eyes open doing what he loved best how he loved to do it. Good for him.

His son finished 2nd, BTW.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: seattle-ish
Posts: 11272

I dont watch racing either, but I do know that he seemed like a really GOOD man. A true role model as a person.
Although, its truly a loss, I hope its a comfort to his family that he died doing what he loved, and in the Daytona, no less.

RIP


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http://asylumnation.com/karen
how very "not guilty" of you!

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Beatrice, Nebraska
Posts: 18505

For all the lazy people in the forum, here is an article on the death:

quote:

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Earnhardt Dies After Daytona Wreck

By DICK BRINSTER, AP Sports Writer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) - Dale Earnhardt, the seven-time Winston Cup champion and one of the most beloved stars in auto racing history, died Sunday from head injuries in a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500. He was 49.

Earnhardt, known as The Intimidator for his aggressive driving, had to be cut out of his car after slamming into the wall at about 180 mph on the final turn of the race while fighting for position.

He was taken to the hospital accompanied by his son, Dale Jr., an up-and-coming driver who finished second in the race. The elder Earhardt's wife, Teresa, also was at the hospital.

``This is understandably the toughest announcement I've ever had to make. We've lost Dale Earnhardt,'' NASCAR (news - web sites) president Mike Helton said.

Earnhardt died instantly of head injuries, said Steve Bohannon, a doctor at Halifax Medical Center who also works at the track.

``There was nothing that could have been done for him,'' he said.

The death comes at a time that driver safety issues are under increased scrutiny. Three NASCAR drivers were killed in wrecks last season.

The accident happened a half-mile from the finish of the NASCAR season-opener, won by Michael Waltrip.

Earnhardt, running fourth, grazed Sterling Marlin's car, crashed into the fourth-turn wall, and was smacked hard by Ken Schrader.

Earnhardt's death was the biggest blow to auto racing since three-time Formula One champion Ayrton Senna was killed in the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, in 1994.

Neil Bonnett, one of Earnhardt's best friends, was killed that same year in practice for the Daytona 500. Rodney Orr died in a wreck three days later, also in practice, and was the last driver killed at the track until Earnhardt's crash.

``NASCAR has lost its greatest driver ever, and I personally have lost a great friend,'' NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr. said.

It was the second major wreck in five years in the race for Earnhardt. He flipped wildly on the backstretch near the end of the race in 1997 but was not seriously hurt. He came back to win the race the next year on his 20th try.

Earnhardt was the leader among active Winston Cup drivers with 76 career victories. He also had the most wins (34) at Daytona International Speedway, which lowered its huge American flag in the infield to half-staff after the race.

The death made Waltrip's victory virtually meaningless, as drivers mourned one of their greatest stars.

``My heart is hurting right now,'' Waltrip said before news of Earnhardt's death was announced. ``I would rather be any place right this moment than here. It's so painful.''

Earnhardt was doing what he does best throughout the race, being the crowd favorite and bumping other cars for position.

He was a factor throughout, and spent the final laps close to his son and Waltrip, trying to block Marlin. Marlin had just passed Earnhardt, who was trying to get back by him on the low side of the track when there was slight contact that sent his Chevrolet spinning up the banking.

It turned to the right and hit the wall, and Schrader could not avoid hitting Earnhardt's car. Both cars slowly began to slide down to the bottom of the track as the rest of the field raced by.

Earnhardt Jr. quickly left the postrace celebration for Waltrip, and sprinted to the infield care center to be with his father. It took several minutes to get the elder Earnhardt out of the car, and he was quickly taken to Halifax Hospital.

Meanwhile, the crowd at Victory Circle was chanting ``DEI, DEI,'' for Dale Earnhardt Inc., which owns the cars of his son and Waltrip. The celebration, which usually lasts 30 minutes, ended quickly.

Last year, Busch Series driver Adam Petty, the grandson of stock car great Richard Petty, and Winston Cup driver Kenny Irwin were killed two months apart on the same turn at New Hampshire International Speedway. Truck series driver Tony Roper was killed in a wreck at Texas Motor Speedway in October.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: zanzibar
Posts: 10428

I saw the end of the race and the crash didn't look that severe, especially following a huge crash that involved a lot of cars including Tony Stewart's car which flipped in the air and rolled down the track. Darrell Waltrip (who was crying at the end of the race because his brother won) said that the crash was much harder than it appeared and that he hoped Dale was ok. I was surprised to find out later that he was in 'serious condition' (later reports had him as DOA). In his prime he was the man to beat in NASCAR, and he was still among the top drivers. He died on the last lap of the biggest race in NASCAR as two cars he owned (including the one driven by his son) finished 1-2. I could think of worse ways to go.

DM

p.s. I only caught the end of the race, but I think NASCAR has somehow cornered the market on ugly hats. Who designs those things??

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choosy mothers choose evil

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 15124

All I have to say is that 49 is too young to die, especially like that.


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I could never take any computer seriously that doesnt give me blue screens and illegal ops now and again. --Urbanjunkie
Graphic Cheeseworks.

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Registered: Oct 2000
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1217

"The Leader of the Pack"

nuff said

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E=Insane²

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 1353

Died with his eyes open doing what he loved best how he loved to do it. Good for him.


exactly ..
while it is without a doubt tragic to see someone die, it could be considered that the real tragedy is most of us will never experience the passion that Earnhardt had for racing. He knew the risks and was willing to pay the price for his passion.
I hope than when I go out, I can do it in the same fashion .. with a smile on my face becuase I'm doing something I love, and like Earnhardt, with my eyes wide open.




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¤¬=(©) .. boOM!!

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