Earnhardt: The greatest 'til the end

CONCORD, N.C.--Two names usually ascend to the forefront in conversations about the greatest driver in NASCAR Winston Cup Series history: Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. Petty has the all-time numbers on his side, Earnhardt the recent history.

Petty leads the sport's career winning list with 200 victories, more than twice as many as his closest pursuer.

More than half of his victories, however, came in an era when there was often more than one race a week and not every driver competed in every event. All 76 of Earnhardt's triumphs came after the circuit was reorganized and significantly streamlined, meaning, in theory at least, he was assured of competing against the best each and every time out.

While this argument is embraced strongly by Earnhardt's supporters, Petty's backers can once again point to the numbers. Their driver won eight championships compared to seven for Earnhardt. And a breakdown of some individual race statistics shows Petty with a decided edge.
Petty once won 27 races in a season; Earnhardt never had more than 12. Petty had 55 victories on superspeedways; Earnhardt had 48. Petty won 139 races on short tracks; Earnhardt had 27.


One area where Petty clearly lagged behind, however, was the issue of competitiveness over the length of their careers. Petty got his final victory in 1984 but continued to drive through 1992, going the final four-plus years of his career without a top-5 finish. Earnhardt remained competitive right up until the end, finishing second in the points last year, when he won two races and recorded 24 top-10s and 13 top-5s.

He was picked by many as a legitimate title contender this year, and he began the season by running with the leaders all the way up until the final turn of the Daytona 500.

Earnhardt's name lives on through his family, team

CONCORD, N.C. --Even with the death of Dale Earnhardt, steps are in place to ensure that the family continues to maintain a significant presence in stock-car racing.

The biggest reminder of the family's influence is on a two-lane road a few miles southeast of Mooresville, N.C., where a smoked glass and steel shrine known as Dale Earnhardt, Inc. has risen from rolling farm terrain. The sprawling DEI complex of more than 200,000 square feet houses the NASCAR Winston Cup Series teams of Dale Earnhardt Jr., Steve Park and Michael Waltrip.

Playing an integral role in the development and day-to-day oversight of DEI is Teresa Earnhardt, Dale's widow. Her hands-on management style has helped DEI quickly grow into one of the top Winston Cup teams, as evidenced by the fact that all three of the company's drivers have visited Victory Lane in the past nine months.

Dale Earnhardt Jr., the youngest of Dale Earnhardt's two sons, is a two-time NASCAR Busch Series champion who last year made a successful jump to the Winston Cup ranks, winning two points events as well as the circuit's all-star race.
Kerry Earnhardt, Dale's oldest son, also is trying to break into the racing business, showing promise while driving in the ARCA ranks last year and making several recent starts in Winston Cup and Busch competition.

Dale Earnhardt also had two daughters. The eldest, Kelley King, last year made Dale Earnhardt a grandfather for the first time, and his youngest daughter, Taylor Nicole Earnhardt, is 12.

Martha Earnhardt, Dale's mother, still lives in the same home in Kannapolis, N.C., where she raised her family.

Earnhardt legacy extends far beyond track

CONCORD, N.C. -- It is virtually impossible to describe Dale Earnhardt's legacy in one brief story, but his nickname is a solid starting point.

At a time when stock-car racing was viewed as a redneck passtime for back woods Southerners, "The Intimidator" used a no-holds-barred fury behind the wheel of the No. 3 Chevrolet to make individuals from all facets of life, and all corners of the globe stand up and take notice.

NASCAR chairman of the board Bill France Jr. said it best -- he was the greatest ever.

His tenacity was unmatched. It had to be. How else would a ninth-grade dropout from Kannapolis, N.C., build a multimillion-dollar business? How else could a man from a dirt-poor family make tens of millions of dollars on the strength of a tireless work ethic? How else could God-given talent be turned into the most dominant career in NASCAR history?

"I knew every single time I entered that racetrack, no matter where we went or what the circumstances were, that that 3 car was the one to beat," Rusty Wallace said Tuesday. "Even during those years he wasn't winning, he was still the best. He'll always be the best."


Earnhardt's career spanned more than two decades. It included 676 races, 76 victories, 281 top-5s and 428 top-10s. In April, he was set to snap Terry Labonte's record for most consecutive starts. He fell six races short.

Sunday, Earnhardt was fatally injured in a last-lap accident during the 43rd running of the Daytona 500, the 23rd "Great American Race" of his illustrious career. His only victory in the 500 came after 20 years of trying, in 1998.

After taking a victory lap, he drove down pit road where every member of every race team lined up to congratulate him. It was arguably the most memorable moment of a career chock full of storybook moments.
Overall, Earnhardt won 34 times at Daytona, a track record. At one point, he won 10 consecutive Gatorade 125-mile qualifying races. He won 10 NASCAR Winston Cup Series races at Talladega, also a record. They are two of several venues where his record is unmatched.

"I think he'll go down as one of the greatest competitors and drivers throughout NASCAR history," said Grant Lynch, president of Talladega Superspeedway. "His camaraderie amongst the drivers, his interaction with them was unique. He was such a leader. He cut up a lot and had fun, and the other drivers really enjoyed that."

That they did. To many of his competitors, the true legacy of Earnhardt stemmed far beyond the racetrack.

"As millions of race fans mourn the loss of the man they knew as 'The Intimidator,' the sport and the race that he truly loved has taken from me one of my best friends," said Dale Jarrett, 1999 Winston Cup champion. "I know I should feel fortunate that I had the opportunity to race with, tangle with, sometimes outrun, and like most, usually finish behind, the greatest driving talent NASCAR racing has ever seen.

"I am thankful for that opportunity but, more importantly, I am most grateful that I had the chance to know Dale Earnhardt in a way that so many people could only dream of. He was a true friend -- someone I could always depend on to give me an honest answer and, at the very least, his opinion.

"I looked up to him not only because of his driving skills, but because he was so much more to so many people, including me and my family. Kelley and I choose to remember this incredible racer for his caring and giving personality."