Richard's Earnhardt Tribute

 

Dale Earnhardt was the greatest NASCAR driver in the history of NASCAR. He will be missed by all NASCAR fans. This is my tribute to the man that made NASCAR what it is today.

For me...Dale Earnhardt was NASCAR. Dale was the reason I tuned in every Sunday. It has been said that Dale was the Michael Jordan of NASCAR. Well, I haven't watched a NBA game since M.J. left the court. Because he was the reason I watched. I could care less about basketball. I liked watching the best at the sport play. Same goes for Dale, he was the best at the sport of auto racing. Dale didn't always win, but he was always a threat to win, every time he took to the track. Just like M.J.

I cannot express the sense of loss I feel. I want to keep watching the races, mostly to see what kind of tributes the other drivers and networks bestow on Dale Earnhardt. But I don't think I can ever watch another race without thinking...I sure wish Dale was in the field.

I've read so many memorials, poems and news articles...they all express great feelings of loss and respect for a man that touched more lives than he could ever know. Dale Earnhardt made NASCAR the huge success that it is today. Yes I know, there are 42 other drivers on the track every week. But, whether you loved Dale or hated him, you always wanted to know how he was doing in the race. Whether so you could cheer or boo...you wanted to know where Dale Earnhardt was on the track. That's why I say he was the reason most people tuned in...to cheer for their driver, and see what Dale Earnhardt was doing.

I never actually got to meet Dale Earnhardt in person, a fact that makes me truly sad. But, if in heaven all dreams come true...I'm gonna get to ride in the black #3 with Dale at the wheel.

Goodbye Dale, I'll miss you till I see you.

Richard

 

 

By the numbers

  
1 -- Driver in Winston Cup history who has won Rookie of the Year and the points championship in consecutive seasons -- Dale Earnhardt in 1979 and '80. 2 -- Victories by Earnhardt in races he started from the 30th position or lower -- the 2000 Cracker Barrel 500 from the 35th position and the 1980 Atlanta 500 (31st). Bobby Labonte also has two but no other driver has more than one. 3 -- Races won from the pole by Earnhardt -- Busch 500 (1995), Southern 500 ('90) and The Winston ('90).
4 -- Consecutive victories by Earnhardt in 1987, the longest winning streak of his career. He is one of seven drivers to post a four-race winning streak since '72; none have won five in a row since Bobby Allison and Richard Petty in '71. 7 -- Winston Cup points championships by Earnhardt (1994, '93, '91, '90, '87, '86, '80), tied with Petty for first on the all-time list. 12 -- Drivers who have made at least 600 starts. Earnhardt is seventh at 677.
22 -- Full seasons on the Winston Cup circuit by Earnhardt, who finished in the Top 10 in the final points standings 20 times. 27 -- Consecutive races finished by Earnhardt, dating back to Oct. 24, 1999, before his fatal crash on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. 34 -- Victories by Earnhardt at Daytona International Speedway, an all-time record, including the 1998 Daytona 500.
53 -- Earnhardt's streak of finishing consecutive races -- a modern-era Winston Cup record -- from 1997-98. 59 -- Career-long winless streak by Earnhardt, who broke the drought by winning the 1998 Daytona 500. 76 -- Career Winston Cup victories by Earnhardt, sixth on the all-time list. Richard Petty is the leader with 200.
95 -- Races Earnhardt did not finish out of 677 career starts, including Sunday's Daytona 500. 427 -- Top-10 finishes by Earnhardt in 677 career races. 575 -- Career starts made by Earnhardt before he won his first Daytona 500, in 1998.

Dale's Career Stat's

 $41,411,551 -- Earnhardt's career winnings on the Winston Cup circuit, making him the all-time leader.

Dale's Career Highlights