The son of dirt-track racer Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt grew from humble beginnings to become more than a successful stock-car driver, but a legend in every sense of the word.
His tragic death (at age 49) during the 2001 Daytona 500 is as well documented as his splendid driving career, but it was the aggressive no-holds-barred driving style that won Earnhardt legions of fans, not only across the South, but throughout the world.
The Intimidator is one of only two drivers (Richard Petty) to win seven NASCAR Cup titles. The 1979 NASCAR Rookie of the Year won 76 times in stock-car racing’s top class and also was a four-time IROC champion.
Earnhardt has posthumously been inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Featured here (clockwise from top left): Celebrating his 1986 Coke 600 win; In 1980; At Talladega; Celebrating Dale, Jr.’s 2000 Busch Series title; Searching for Darlington tickets; Tailgating Terry Labonte (11); With crewman Dale Inman; On pit road with wife Teresa in 1984; The man in black; In victory lane at Talladega with Teresa (left) and car owner Richard Childress (right); Marking his seventh championship with Petty (left). — NSSN Archives