On this day, February 18, 2001, Dale Earnhardt died.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

This is Daytona 500 weekend and a time to note his death.

Thu Feb 18, 2021: On this day, February 18, 2001, Dale Earnhardt died.

Hat tip, some AM radio station

Dale Earnhardt



Earnhardt, late 1990s

Born: Ralph Dale Earnhardt; April 29, 1951; Kannapolis, North Carolina, U.S.
Died: February 18, 2001 (aged 49); Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S.
Cause of death: Basilar skull fracture sustained in racing accident
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight: 195 lb : (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb)
Achievements: {snip; there are way too many to list}

Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr. (/ˈɜːrnhɑːrt/; April 29, 1951 – February 18, 2001) was an American professional stock car driver and team owner, who raced from 1975 to 2001 in the former NASCAR Winston Cup Series (now called the NASCAR Cup Series), most notably driving the No. 3 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing. The third child of racing driver Ralph Earnhardt and Martha Earnhardt, he began his career in 1975 in the World 600. Earnhardt won a total of 76 Winston Cup races over the course of his 4 decade career, including four Winston 500s (1990, 1994, 1999, and 2000) and the 1998 Daytona 500. He also earned seven Winston Cup championships, a record held with Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson. His aggressive driving style earned him the nicknames "The Intimidator", "The Man in Black", and "Ironhead", while his success at the restrictor plate tracks of Daytona and Talladega Superspeedway also earned him the nickname, "Mr. Restrictor Plate". He is regarded as one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history.

On February 18, 2001, Earnhardt died in a sudden last-lap crash during the Daytona 500, an event that is regarded in the racing industry as being a crucial moment in improving safety in all aspects of car racing, especially NASCAR. Earnhardt has been inducted into numerous halls of fame, including the NASCAR Hall of Fame inaugural class in 2010.

{snip}

Death

Main article: Death of Dale Earnhardt


The final-lap crash that Earnhardt died in. He and Ken Schrader (No. 36) have just made contact with each other.

During the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 18, 2001, Earnhardt was killed in a three-car crash on the final lap of the race. He collided with Ken Schrader after making small contact with Sterling Marlin and hit the outside wall head-on. He had been blocking Schrader on the outside and Marlin on the inside at the time of the crash. Earnhardt's and Schrader's cars both slid off the track's asphalt banking into the infield grass just inside of turn 4. Seconds later, his driver Michael Waltrip won the race, with his teammate and son Dale Earnhardt Jr. finishing second. Earnhardt's death was officially pronounced at the Halifax Medical Center at 5:16 PM Eastern Standard Time (22:16 UTC); he was 49 years old. NASCAR president Mike Helton confirmed Earnhardt's death in a statement to the press. An autopsy conducted on February 19, 2001, concluded that Earnhardt sustained a fatal basilar skull fracture. Days later, on February 22, public funeral services were held at the Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.

{snip}

The wreck didn't look that bad. I've seen worse looking wrecks than that.

You never can tell.

[Mopar151]

1. Dale had to do it "his way"

Pulled his belts through the adjusters at an angle, reducing their strength by 70%. His friend Bill Simpson, who manufactured belts and other safety gear, begged - literally begged - him to use the belts correctly, offered to make custom belts to suit, etc.

The left lap belt failed. Some attribute that to the adjuster issue, although Randy Earnhardt (@RCR) claimed that the extensive chassis dyno work had damaged the belt.

PS: I bought some NICE Simpson safety gear, and some other RCR "surplus", from the guy that told me that story. He had bought 3 trailer loads from Randy E. @ RCR.