"I don't know what to say," said Jeremy Mayfield, driver of
the No. 12 Ford. "This is incredible, just incredible. I think
everybody is just in shock right now. I didn't see much of what happened
up there (in the fourth turn). After the race was over, I heard things
didn't look very good but, man, Earnhardt. You figure he'll bounce right
back. Your first thought is, 'hey, he'll probably come back next week at
Rockingham and beat us all.' My heart goes out to Theresa and Dale Jr.,
Kerry and Kelly and Taylor Nicole."
John Andretti, driver of the No. 43 Dodge, grew up just like
Earnhardt with racing as part of the family way of life.
"I feel like somebody kicked me in the chest," he said.
"I'm stunned. And I'm really sad. That's about all I can say."
Kyle Petty, driver of the No. 45 Dodge, knows the pain of losing a
loved one to racing. He has empathy for what Earnhardt's family is going
through.
"No matter where it happens, or how it happens, or even how
prepared you think you might be for it, losing somebody close to you
hurts," he said. "My heart just breaks for Theresa and the
family."
Even though Earnhardt drove a Chevrolet, his competitors knew what he
was all about when it came to racing, and the sport as a whole. Dan
Davis, director of Ford racing technology, shares his thoughts.
"On behalf of Ford Motor Company, I want to extend our deepest
sympathies to Teresa and the entire Earnhardt family on the loss of one
of racing's greatest competitors," Davis said. "Like many
others, we were fans of Dale Earnhardt -- certainly the driver, but
especially the man.
"In spite of our intense rivalry, he has been a great friend to
us and to all who have helped to make this sport great. Dale Earnhardt
transcended NASCAR. His loss will have an effect on racing and its fans
worldwide.
"I'm not sure you can measure the impact of what he meant to
racing in this country because when you picture the epitome of a race
car driver, you picture Dale Earnhardt
He drove Chevrolets for a majority of his racing career and both he
and his manufacturer enjoyed great success from each other's efforts.
Kurt Ritter, Chevrolet's general manager, spoke about the respect that
people showed to Earnhardt.
"All of us at Chevrolet and General Motors are truly saddened by
the passing of Dale Earnhardt," he said. "As we all know, Dale
was more than just a legend. He was an individual respected by all who
ever came in contact with him...family, friends, business associates and
fellow competitors.Dale was also more than just a Monte Carlo race car
driver. Like all drivers we considered him a valued member of our own
family.
"To that end, our Chevrolet and General Motors family offers our
heartfelt condolences to his wife, Teresa, and the rest of his family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with them and the Richard Childress Racing
and Dale Earnhardt Incorporated organizations."
