The Intimidator

1951-2001
The End of an Era
On Turn 4 of the fnal lap in
the Daytona 500 on February 18,
2001, Sterling Marlin came into
contact with the left rear on Earn-
hardts vehicle. Earnhardt slid of the
tracks steep banking, onto the fat
apron. Trying to correct at speed, he
turned sharply up the track toward
the outside retaining wall. Although
it briefy looked as though Earn-
hardt was going to avoid hitting
the wall, his car went right into Ken
Schraders path. Schrader rammed
into Earnhardt just behind the pas-
senger door, causing Earnhardts car
to snap, rapidly changing the angle
of his car toward the wall. When
Schrader made contact, Earnhardt
hit the wall nose-frst at an estimat-
ed speed of 155 to 160 mph and was
pushed down the track by Schrader.
Earnhardts right-rear wheel assem-
bly broke of the car on impact, and
the passenger window broke out of
the car. The hood pins severed and
the hood opened, slamming back
violently against the windshield. As
Earnhardt was nose frst on the wall,
Schrader was pushing him along
the wall. No other drivers ran into
Earnhardt after he hit the wall, as
Schrader was the only driver in the
vicinity and all of the cars behind
them were able to make it past with-
out incident.
While Michael Waltrip raced
toward the checkered fag to claim
his frst victory, with Dale Earnhardt,
Jr. right behind him, Earnhardt,
Sr.s and Schraders cars slid of the
tracks asphalt banking toward
the infeld grass just inside of turn
four. Once the cars came to a stop,
Schrader climbed out of his car,
with minor injuries. He peered into
Earnhardts car, only to immediately
jump back and signal for paramedics
while Earnhardt, Jr. - who had fn-
ished in second place - rushed to the
crash scene. Both of these images
are etched into the minds of many
racing fans.
As medical crews converged
upon the crash scene, NASCAR on
Fox reporter Jeanne Zelasko asked
Schrader about Earnhardts condi-
tion. I dont know. Im not a doctor,
but I got the heck out of the way as
soon as they got there, Schrader
said. Earnhardt was taken to Halifax
Medical Center by ambulance after
being removed from his car. Hours
later, at a press conference, NASCAR
President Mike Helton announced
Earnhardts death: This is undoubt-
edly one of the toughest announce-
ments Ive personally had to make.
But after the accident in Turn 4 at
the end of the Daytona 500, weve
lost Dale Earnhardt.
1985 2000 1995 1990 1980 1975
Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Began his career
at the 1975
Winston Cup
placing 22nd.
Won his frst
of 12 Twin 125
Daytona 500
qualifying races
in 1983.
Won his 2nd
career Winston Cup
Championship in
1986.
Earned his nickname
The Intimidator in
1987.
Won nine races
this season and
won his 4t
Winston Cup title
in 1990.
Won his 5th
Winston Cup
in 1991.
Won his 6th
Winston Cup in
1993.
Won his 7th Winston
Cup championship,
tying the legendary
Richard Petty in 1994.
Won his frst Daytona
500 in 1998 after 19
years of attempting
it.
Passed away
February 18, 2001
during the fnal
lap of the Daytona
500.
Earnhardt Sr. s Stats
Number of Years Racing: 27
Total Races: 677
Total Wins: 76
Top Tens: 428
Poles: 26
First Win: 1979 Southeastern 500
Last Win: 2000 Winston 500