Dale Earnhardt has been gone twenty years, but his life and
legacy live on as do his diehard fans.
For many, losing Earnhardt was the end of NASCAR. For
others, it was a natural transition from father to son. For so many he is still
an icon, a legend, a god.
But how did this second-generation wheelman garner such
passionate fandom? How did a guy with mediocre luck at the start of his career,
catapult himself to stardom?
With 7 championships that tied him with the King of NASCAR,
Richard Petty, and 76 race wins that put him 8th on the all-time
wins list, Earnhardt was an unstoppable winning machine.
Even when a trophy from the Daytona 500, the Great American
Race, eluded him for two decades, Earnhardt finally made it to Victory Lane in
1998. Every team member of every NASCAR Cup team lined up to high five and
congratulate Earnhardt on such an auspicious win.
Earnhardt teased, played practical jokes, worked hard away
from the track, and worked even harder on it. He was a damn great friend,
mentor, husband, and father.
He was a Hero.
So how did his self-proclaimed Super Fans discover him and
maintain their loyalty to his memory?
Here’s a random sampling of stories from fans I've met throughout the years:
Ira Coleman Jr.:
“He was having an autograph session at West Chevrolet Alcoa
Tennessee and everybody was lined out the door waiting on him to show up. When
him and Richard showed up Richard talked first and said folks I apologize for
being late, Dale had scared us to death driving us over from the airport, he
has drove like he was racing @ Bristol, I saw speeds over 100 a few times and
he passed traffic by going up on the curb and every which way. lol The Folks
were lined up for a hundred yards outside and after a hour his manager can't
come in and tell on him that it was time to go, that they had to kiss to pine
and fly on to Bristol Motor Speedway. Dale said I ain't leaving till I
see everyone and he probably didn't because a man I work with had his autograph
signed around 11 o'clock at night.”
Cathy Ann Brock Manchester remembers, “the time he came to
Orlando, Fla, at K92, and I got his autograph! I never will forget that day
when I seen him!”
Mindy Reno said, “My favorite memory is when I got to meet
Dale Sr on June 22, 2000!”
David Foytlin:
“It was at an open house at RCR '89. I had an Earnhardt cap
signed by the crew. I saw Richard sitting off to the side. Took him the hat for
his signature. Told him that I had a spot on it for Dale to sign. He said wait
a minute, took the hat and came back a few minutes later with Dale’s signature.
I cherish that cap so much.”
Joey Cassady:
“When Dale came to Bowling Green, KY for an autograph
session. It was cold and there was a pregnant woman that could not afford a
ticket to get in and was waiting outside in the very cold weather. Dale saw her
and asked her why she was waiting outside and she said she did not have a
enough money for a ticket and it was her wedding anniversary and she wanted an
autograph for her husband. Dale said let’s take a ride to the airport and he
gave her his jacket off his back and some other stuff and ask if she had a name
for the baby yet and she said no and he said Dale is a good name. He was a
warrior on the track and a classy guy off the track.”
Brian Scott Gregory:
“The ultimate was when I was at the MI track in August of
'98 and got to meet him, shake his hand and sat down with him and had a drink. Now
that as awesome. He didn’t treat me any
different then he would have anyone else, and I didn’t treat him different. We
sat and had a few drinks and talked about the weather and fishing and hunting. Not
one word was mentioned about racing other then he did say about Jr. (I just don’t
know what I'm gonna do with that boy, he just won’t listen to anyone). Gotta
love it!”
Michael McHone:
“I also met Dale and Richard. They came to a grand opening
for a Chevy dealer in Alaska. I have both their autographs on my copy of the
1994 Winston cup yearbook, the year of his last championship. What great people
they were. NASCAR took a big loss when Dale
passed away.”
John Flock:
“He made an appearance at Fulton Speedway on one Watkins
Glen weekend. After more than an hour of signing autographs, I had a private
meeting with him in the office. All went well, talking of his dad's exploits in
the 50's. When that first race hit the track, he stood up and said, ‘I gotta
go. Can't stand to watch races when I'm not in a car.’”
Mark L. Bardin:
“Years ago, after a race in NH a friend of mine stopped at a
restaurant. The place was packed. They sat my friend and his wife at a table
for 6. They ordered there meals and as they we’re waiting in walked Dale Sr, Jr,
Dale’s wife and (not sure)Jeffery. There was no place for them to eat so my
friend noticed them and walked over and offered to have them sit with them.
Dale accepted and was very kind, pleasant. Dry down to earth for such a famous
man and family. My friend has since passed and lived in Pawlet, VT. I’m from
Granville, NY right over the border from Pawlet, VT. Hearing the story and the
the passing of Dale which I saw on TV was devastating . My father died in my
arms at a basketball game up in the stands at 51 yearrs old . We worked
together every day. Went to Dirt track racing together. We were very close. So,
I relate to JR when his dad passed. I always wanted to meet them. Jr. and I have red hair.”
Daniel Pascale:
“I watched him in 1979. He was rookie of the year. I
couldn't stop watching him. My mom knew where I was every Sunday. He was my
hero.”
Mary Elizabeth Gibson Peace
“Love Dale for The Kindness He Showed To Others & Never Wanted
Any Recognition For It... He Put on This Hard Core But Really Had A Heart Of
Gold....”
Dennis Baker
“Dale Earnhardt was one hell of a driver. I started liking
him in the 80’s. I was and am a huge Chevy guy. The day he passed Bill Elliot
in the grass he was my guy from then on. I’ve watched him go between two cars
in turn one at Atlanta to pass them both. Come from 18 to win in 5 laps at ‘dega
. I saw him win his last race at ‘dega and run his last at Daytona. I even
named a dog I had after him.”
Greeta Burbage
“I loved the man he was and always will be the best ever, if
I had to work on a weekend I would record the race and every break I’d be in my
car listening to it on the radio!! He was the MAN!!”
Brian Blevins
“I became a fan based on his sheer determination and will to
win… his driving ability was unmatched…”
Gerry Hamelton
“I remember one time after a race that he won on the last
lap. Someone asked Dale why he had taken the leader out.
His answer was, ‘I wanted to win the race.’”
Lorie White
“I love watching Dale Sr. and Dale Jr. racing together. But
after Dale Sr. passed away Dale Jr. became my favorite driver.”
Donna Lama Larson
“He was my favorite driver, I met him a few times, nice guy.
Was at the race when he was killed, broke my heart. Cried For days. NASCAR died
when we lost him.”
Keith Cox
“Dale was a real deal... raced you hard whether for the win
or just to get back/put you a lap back!!!!”
Zack Ireland
“I was at my friend’s daughter’s birthday party. They had
the race on TV. I had no idea who Earnhardt was. They asked what car I liked,
it was the black number 3. It’s the coolest car on the track. The rest is
history. Forever a fan, followed him ever since.”
Joyce Domini
“I became a fan when he was rookie of the year, when I was
in Daytona watching the race when he drove the yellow and green Chevy. He was
bumper to bumper on everybody in his way. I could not take my eyes off him. That
was the first time we went to all races after that in states next to us. Alabama,
Atlanta, Daytona, Darlington. Two a year at each place, then I got to meet him
in Daytona, he was staying in the same hotel I was in. I was so excited. I saw the mark key that
said welcome Dale Earnhardt. I first thought it was just to Daytona, but it was
to the hotel. Someone said he was at the beach with his family. I sat by the
pool until he came up. I had my picture taken with him. My husband started
talking to him, because had won lots of trophies in drag racing and could talk
on his level. He visited with us a while, he was the nicest man. I also meet
Richard Childress, he was so nice also.”
Ray E. Shelton
“I started watching Dale after reading an article about he
and the death of his father. He drew my attention and his struggle to race in
the NASCAR series was something that I felt drawn to. He was a no mess with
driver that put his all into his racing. From his first full time season (‘79 )
to the beginning of an amazing career. Many hated him including drivers, but
deep down it was like I was him. He worked hard away from the racetrack. When
he had a bad race, I felt awful and grumpy then had a bad week myself. He was
someone I looked up to and I couldn’t wait for the next race. The more I found
out about him the more I followed him. The day we lost him my heart broke and I
never hid the fact that I cried like was my best friend.”
There are as many stories as there are fans. There are as
many “3” Flags that fly at races as any other number. New generations learn
from others about “The Man In Black” and “The Intimidator”.
Dale Earnhardt lives on forever and continues to leave an
indelible mark on his fans that will never go away.
