Dale Earnhardt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dale Earnhardt Sr. |
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Earnhardt, late 1990s
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| Born | Ralph Dale Earnhardt April 29, 1951 Kannapolis, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Died | February 18, 2001 (aged 49) Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. |
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| Cause of death | Basilar skull fracture sustained in racing accident | ||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | ||||||
| Weight | 195 lb (88 kg; 13 st 13 lb) | ||||||
| Achievements | 1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994 Winston Cup Series Champion Tied with Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson for most NASCAR Cup Series Championships (7) 1990, 1995, 1999, 2000 IROC Champion 1998 Daytona 500 winner 1995 Brickyard 400 winner 1987, 1989, 1990 Southern 500 winner 1986, 1992, 1993 Coca-Cola 600 winner 1990, 1994, 1999, 2000 Winston 500 winner The Winston winner (1987, 1990, 1993) Led Winston Cup Series in wins in 1987 and 1990 Led Winston Cup Series in poles in 1990 Winner of the first ever Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race in 1982 Led Busch Series in wins in 1986 |
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| Awards | 1979 Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year 2001 Winston Cup Series Most Popular Driver (posthumously) Named as one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998) 2002 Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee 2006 International Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee 2010 NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee (Inaugural class) |
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| NASCAR Cup Series career | |||||||
| 676 races run over 27 years | |||||||
| 2001 position | 57th | ||||||
| Best finish | 1st (1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994) | ||||||
| First race | 1975 World 600 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| Last race | 2001 Daytona 500 (Daytona) | ||||||
| First win | 1979 Southeastern 500 (Bristol) | ||||||
| Last win | 2000 Winston 500 (Talladega) | ||||||
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| NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
| 136 races run over 13 years | |||||||
| Best finish | 21st (1982) | ||||||
| First race | 1982 Goody's 300 (Daytona) | ||||||
| Last race | 1994 All Pro 300 (Charlotte) | ||||||
| First win | 1982 Goody's 300 (Daytona) | ||||||
| Last win | 1994 Goody's 300 (Daytona) | ||||||
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Ralph Dale Earnhardt Sr. (born April 29, 1951 – died February 18, 2001) was a famous American auto racing driver. He was also a team owner. He is best known for his amazing career in stock car racing with NASCAR. Dale was the third child of racing driver Ralph Earnhardt. He started his racing journey in 1975 in the 1975 World 600 race.
Many people think Dale Earnhardt was one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history. He won 76 major NASCAR races, including the famous 1998 Daytona 500. He also won seven NASCAR championships. This tied him with other legends like Richard Petty and Jimmie Johnson for the most championships ever. His tough and daring way of driving earned him cool nicknames. These included "Ironhead", "The Intimidator", and "The Man in Black". Because he was so good at tracks like Daytona and Talladega, he was also called "Mr. Restrictor Plate".
In February 2001, Dale Earnhardt was in a crash during the 2001 Daytona 500. He passed away from his injuries. This sad event led to big changes in NASCAR. It made car racing much safer for all drivers. Dale Earnhardt has been honored in many halls of fame. This includes being part of the first group inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Dale Earnhardt was born in Kannapolis, North Carolina, on April 29, 1951. His father, Ralph Earnhardt, was a very good short-track driver in North Carolina. Ralph won a NASCAR Sportsman Championship in 1956. Even though his father didn't want him to race, Dale loved it too much to stop. He even left high school to chase his racing dream. His father was a tough teacher. After Ralph passed away in 1973, Dale felt he still had to prove himself to his father.
Dale had three children: Kerry, Kelley, and Dale Jr. His sons, Kerry and Dale Jr., also became race car drivers.
Racing Career Highlights
During his amazing career, Dale Earnhardt won the NASCAR Championship seven times. This tied the record held by the legendary driver Richard Petty. He also won over $41 million in prize money!
Besides his aggressive driving, Earnhardt was known for being great at "drafting." This is when two cars line up closely. They go faster together than one car alone. Earnhardt even figured out a special trick called "side-drafting." He was also very good at racing on "restrictor plate" tracks. These tracks, like Daytona and Talladega, use special plates to limit engine power. This makes cars race closer together. Drafting is very important there. Earnhardt won 10 races at Talladega alone!
Dale drove the famous #3 car for most of his career. This was from the late 1970s until his passing in 2001.
In 1981, Dale joined forces with team owner Richard Childress. Childress offered Earnhardt his #3 car and its sponsorship. This partnership became one of the most successful teams in racing. Together, they won 69 of Earnhardt's 76 races.
The #3 car was first sponsored by Wrangler Jeans. Later, Goodwrench became the main sponsor. Earnhardt usually drove a Chevrolet car, like the Lumina and later the Monte Carlo. Even though Earnhardt started his own racing company, Dale Earnhardt, Incorporated (DEI), he stayed loyal to Richard Childress Racing.
Dale Earnhardt's Passing
On February 18, 2001, Dale Earnhardt was racing in the 2001 Daytona 500. On the very last lap, he was involved in a crash.
Earnhardt was taken to the hospital. A few hours later, NASCAR announced that Dale Earnhardt had passed away.
Impact on Racing Safety
Dale Earnhardt's death was a very sad moment for racing. But it also led to huge changes that made NASCAR much safer. Every detail of the crash was looked at closely. This helped experts understand what happened.
After his passing, team owner Richard Childress decided to retire Earnhardt's famous #3 car. He promised that the black car with the GM Goodwrench sponsor would never use that number again.
The Iconic #3 Car
Dale Earnhardt drove the #3 car for most of his career. This was from the early 1980s until his death in 2001. While he had other sponsors, fans mostly remember his #3 car with GM Goodwrench. It was a mostly black car with bold red and silver designs. The black and red #3 is still one of the most famous symbols in racing history.
In 2002, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Dale's son, drove a #3 car in a special race at Daytona. He won that race. However, he has not driven the #3 car again since then.
Lasting Legacy
Dale Earnhardt was a very well-known person in NASCAR. Some fans loved him, and some didn't, but he was always one of the most popular drivers. His passing caused a huge reaction across the country and in the racing world.
Dale was a private person. He loved spending time with his family, being outdoors, hunting, and fishing on his farm. Even though he was known as a tough competitor on the track, his friends knew him as a kind and generous person. He just didn't show that side to everyone.
Many places have been named after him. There's Dale Earnhardt Boulevard in his hometown of Kannapolis, North Carolina. This road is also the start of "The Dale Trail," a tour of places important to his family. A highway between Kannapolis and Mooresville is called State Highway 3, honoring his car number. Even an entrance to Texas Motor Speedway is named "Dale Earnhardt Way."
Many songs and tributes have been made for Dale Earnhardt. Racing teams have also honored him by using special black paint schemes on his birthday, April 29th. In 2006, his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., even raced a special car that looked like his grandfather Ralph Earnhardt's old race car.
The Dale Earnhardt Foundation also helps students interested in motorsports. They offer scholarships at Clemson University for engineering students.
At Daytona International Speedway, where he passed away, a seating area called "Earnhardt Tower" is named in his honor.
Awards and Honors
- In 1994, he received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from the Governor of North Carolina.
- He was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1994.
- In 1998, Earnhardt was named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers.
- After his passing in 2001, he was named "NASCAR's Most Popular Driver." This was the only time he received this award.
- He was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2002.
- In 2004, he was inducted into the Oceanside Rotary Club Stock Car Racing Hall of Fame.
- He was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2006.
- In 2007, ESPN ranked him first on their list of "NASCAR's 20 Greatest Drivers," ahead of Richard Petty.
- He was also inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2006.
- On May 23, 2010, he was part of the first group inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
- In 2020, he was voted into the Indianapolis Motorspeedway Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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As part of a fan contest, Earnhardt drove a special truck. He helped load a missile at Langley Air Force Base in 2000.
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The final-lap crash that Earnhardt was in. He and Ken Schrader (No. 36) had just touched each other.
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A statue of Dale Earnhardt Sr. holding his winner's trophy at the Daytona International Speedway.
See also
In Spanish: Dale Earnhardt para niños
