Five years ago today at 7pm EST , Dale Earnhardt was pronounced dead

Journeyman · Feb 18, 2006

Was just thinking back, when Ahmad Rashad came on during the NBA basketball game and gave the news, "Dale Earnhardt has died" , aside from family members by far the worst news I ever heard of anyone dying...

NASCAR for me has never been the same.

stolidog · Feb 18, 2006

Wow - it's been five years? I would have guessed 3. Seems like yesterday.

Helluva driver.

Journeyman · Feb 18, 2006

stolidog88 said:
Wow - it's been five years? I would have guessed 3. Seems like yesterday.

Helluva driver.

Feels like about 3 which means 5-6...time flying....

I remember it like yesterday, the news hit hard ,like slow motion, wanting to run from a tidal wave of bad news.

hawkeye171 · Feb 18, 2006

I remember watching the race and later that night talking to a friend who told me Earnhardt died. Shocking.

GreenDoberman · Feb 18, 2006

Watching this LMU-Gonzaga memories brings back the horrible memories of Hank Gathers dying on the court.
That is one day I will never forget the rest of my life.

Journeyman · Feb 18, 2006

GreenDoberman said:
Watching this LMU-Gonzaga memories brings back the horrible memories of Hank Gathers dying on the court.
That is one day I will never forget the rest of my life.

That was awful too....that was some team they had.

Journeyman · Feb 18, 2006

hawkeye171 said:
I remember watching the race and later that night talking to a friend who told me Earnhardt died. Shocking.

I think he had an 8th championship in him, maybe that year, he was very close the year before ( Bobby Labonte won it) and seemed ready to make a run in 2001.

I wonder if he would still be driving?

WorldNumberOne · Feb 18, 2006

the one thing i remember most about it was thinking the crash didnt even look violent .

looks like all he did was slide into the wall..

just couldnt help but thinking it would take a bigger wreck to kill someone.

Wrigley · Feb 18, 2006

WOW 5 years already ESPN classic is honoring him all night tonight

<TABLE class=tborder id=post138169 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD class=alt2 width=175></TD><TD class=alt1 id=td_post_138169>

The Life size statue to honor Dale at Daytona.

He is standing on a number 3 and holding the Daytona 500 Trophy

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Journeyman · Feb 18, 2006

Earnhardt finished second in the Daytona 500 five times (1984, 1993, 1995, 1996 and 1999). Earnhardt recorded 12 top-five finishes in the Daytona 500.

5 times 2nd :icon_conf

Wrigley · Feb 18, 2006

Journeyman said:
Earnhardt finished second in the Daytona 500 five times (1984, 1993, 1995, 1996 and 1999). Earnhardt recorded 12 top-five finishes in the Daytona 500.

5 times 2nd

And he died on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500

Journeyman · Feb 18, 2006

Wrigley said:
And he died on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500

The way he dies, it couldn't have been written anymore poetically....did I say 'dies' ??? yes I did, almost like a story and not reality!

My favorite Earnhardt race, 2000 Bristol night race, incredibly, he storms through the field on fresh tires and gets into Terry Labonte (race leader) spins him out and passes him on the final lap !

Anyone you watched that race came away a fan of the sport.

Labonte was livid...and Earnhardt came from way back to get him at the finish.

volhound · Feb 18, 2006

I came away from that Bristol race madder than hell at Earnhardt. It was a blatant cheap shot to win the race.
I loved rooting against him and will admit I miss him tremendously.
The race he died in was one the most exciting races that I have ever watched

i can't wait for tomorrow

ElJefe · Feb 18, 2006

It feels like it happened yesterday. I happened to be really into the Daytona 500 that particular year and to see it end like that was tragic.

Wrigley · Feb 18, 2006

Journeyman said:
The way he dies, it couldn't have been written anymore poetically....did I say 'dies' ??? yes I did, almost like a story and not reality!

My favorite Earnhardt race, 2000 Bristol night race, incredibly, he storms through the field on fresh tires and gets into Terry Labonte (race leader) spins him out and passes him on the final lap !

Anyone you watched that race came away a fan of the sport.

Labonte was livid...and Earnhardt came from way back to get him at the finish.

I remember that, showing the 1991 matinsville race on classic now. Geez how racing has change in just 15 years

Birdman · Feb 19, 2006

Wrigley said:
I remember that, showing the 1991 matinsville race on classic now. Geez how racing has change in just 15 years

I think you might be wrong. Labonte put on fresh tires with 10 laps or so left during a caution and was last car on lead lap after green dropped. Labonte passed 7 cars (one per lap) which is unreal at Bristol. Labonte then passed Earnhardt and was about to pull away on last lap. Dale knew he had no chance except to immediately go under Labonte's back bumper on turn three before he was dusted. Dale spun out Labonte and his quote with that shit eating grin was, "wanted to rattle his cage".

On another not, #3 was a cash cow for me and I blew thre opp for Jr at the following 400 as JR was 11-1 to win and it was pretty much fixed in my mind. That night Jr passed cars with ease and no drafting partner--can't do that at Daytona at the front.

kyhawk · Feb 19, 2006

Every where here in South he is a god. He probably would be alive if he werent an idiot macho man and wore the hans device thing. There have been much worse crashes and survived because of the device.

Journeyman · Feb 19, 2006

#3

5teamparlay · Feb 19, 2011

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/feb/18/stratosphere-tower-will-go-dark-tonight-honor-dale/

Stratosphere tower will go dark tonight to honor Dale Earnhardt

Steve Marcus
A #1 special edition 2010 2SS Camaro, one of 10 produced by Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet, is displayed at the Stratosphere Wednesday, January 12, 2011. The new display is part of a $20 million renovation at the Stratosphere.

By Amanda Finnegan (contact)
Friday, Feb. 18, 2011 | 10:23 a.m.
The Stratosphere will dim its lights tonight in honor of the 10th anniversary of Dale Earnhardt’s death.
The tower will turn off its lights at 9 p.m. and it will remain dark for 10 minutes in remembrance of the NASCAR driver who died during an event on Feb. 18, 2001.
During that time, the Stratosphere marquee will also play a tribute to Earnhardt for three minutes in honor of his No. 3 car.
In December, the hotel-casino received one of 10 limited edition Dale Earnhardt Hall of Fame Camaros. The car is on display near Ruby’s Diner at the Stratosphere.
Also on display are items that once belonged to Earnhardt, including a Winston Cup Jacket, autographed champagne bottle from Earnhardt’s Winston 500 win, Gargoyle sunglasses, racing gloves and custom racing shoes.