NASCAR Loses A Friend

From the President of the United States to the president of local Dale Earnhardt fan clubs, everyone has something to share about what No. 3 meant to them. NASCAR.com will continue to gather these reactions and show you what people worldwide are saying.


The following people have left their mark by saying what Dale meant to them:

RICHARD PETTY: "We shared a common bond in championships as well as a mutual respect. Our family has raced against his family since this sport began, going back to when my dad and I raced against Ralph Earnhardt."

JEREMY MAYFIELD: "One of the biggest thrills of my career was the deal last year at Pocono. You know he never said anything to me about that? He came over and gave me that grin of his, and that was like his seal of approval."

RON HORNADAY: "Dale and Teresa changed my life with a simple phone call, and I will be forever grateful to them both for having that confidence in me."

SHAWNA ROBINSON: "You might look at him and think he was the biggest chauvinist around, but he would always help me if I had a question or a problem. He was not the kind of guy who would cut you one bit of slack on the race track, but he would do whatever he could to help you off of it."

JEFF GREEN: "Dale Earnhardt was to NASCAR what Elvis was to rock and roll. He meant everything to this sport. He’s my idol, what I want to be. I won't be the only driver to tell you this, but I want to be as good as he was. That’s my focus--to get there."

JOHN ANDRETTI: "The thing I remember most about Dale Earnhardt--and the thing that, to me, really epitomizes him--is something that happened at Talladega my rookie season (1994). The second race there, my team (Billy Hagan) just didn’t have a lot of money. We had one good restrictor plate engine and we broke it in practice. There was no way we were even going to make the race. I was walking through the garage before second-round qualifying and ran into Richard Childress. He said, ‘How are things going?’ and I said, ‘Not so good.’ I told him what was going on but didn’t say much more. Even if I had thought to ask him for some help there is no way we could have afforded anything from them. I found out later he told Earnhardt about it and Earnhardt had an idea. He and Richard gave one of their qualifying engines to Dave Marcis, and had Marcis move his qualifying engine to our car. The engine we got was phenomenal. We were 11th-fastest in second-round qualifying and made the race because of Dale Earnhardt and Richard Childress."

KYLE PETTY: "He was the last cowboy."

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: "I am saddened by the untimely loss of this American legend and want to express my deepest sympathy to his family, friends and fans. Dale was an American icon who made great contributions to his sport. Dale's legacy will live on for millions of Americans. He was an inspiration to many."

RICHARD CHILDRESS: "Words cannot express the tremendous loss all of us at Richard Childress Racing are feeling at this time. All of our thoughts and prayers and deepest sympathies are with Martha, Teresa, Kerry, Kelley, Dale, Jr. and Taylor Nicole and the entire Earnhardt family.

"Dale Earnhardt was much more than a race car driver. He was a very loving husband and a proud father and grandfather. He was a successful businessman. He was also a hero to millions of racing fans throughout the world.

"Dale was my friend. We hunted and raced together. We laughed and cried together. We were able to work side-by-side and have the success we had for almost 20 years because we were friends first.

"I will miss him always. He was the greatest."

JEFF GORDON: "Brooke and I are deeply saddened by this devastating loss. Not only is it a huge loss for this sport, but a huge loss for me personally. Dale taught me so much and became a great friend."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Teresa and the entire Earnhardt family."

JOHNNY BENSON: "There is really nothing I can say right now. I found out about Dale after I got home (Cornelius,N.C) tonight. I'm very sad. NASCAR lost its greatest driver and probably the greatest driver it will ever have. My heart goes out to his family, his crew, his friends and his fans. There is no better group of fans in our sport and I feel for them tonight also. Our sport will go on, but I don't think it will ever be the same. NASCAR is about family, and I can't think of a time in its history when it needs to pull together like a family. I know everyone on our team and our entire sport sends its condolences to everyone hurting."

RUSTY WALLACE: "Patti and I are both having a hard time dealing with this. It's such a tragic loss. We're grieving just like so many people are today with such a loss.

"He and I were about as close of friends as you can get in our sport with the competition and all that goes along with it. We've had some helluva battles out there on the race track through the years, but we've had so many good times off the track.

"I can't help but think about all the fun we've had out on the water with the big boats and all. We've had some helluva good times out on the boats down in the Bahamas. We were both on the boats down in Daytona for all those days. All the ups and downs we've both experienced...that all comes to mind.

"I just keep on running that last lap in my mind and keep saying to myself, 'Man, if I'd just been able to give him a little tap from the rear...that could have meant all the difference in the world.' It's just a helpless feeling I have.

"I have to think that the way it happened and where it happened...he and his old buddy Neil Bonnet are up there doing something fun together right now. It's just such a hard blow to the sport for everybody involved and for me personally.

"Patti and I both want extend our thoughts, prayers and sympathy to Teresa, Taylor Nicole , Dale Jr., Kerry, Kelley and the whole Earnhardt family. Our hearts go out to all of them, to all his many fans and friends all over the world and especially to all the employees at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., and at Richard Childress Racing."

A.J. FOYT: "It was a terrible accident and my heart goes out to his family because they are the ones who suffer most. Racing lost one of the greatest stock car drivers that ever lived and I lost a great friend, somebody that I respected highly."

GENERAL MOTORS: "All of us at Chevrolet and General Motors are truly saddened by the passing of Dale Earnhardt. 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 offersour 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."

MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY: "It's hard to put into words what the loss of Dale Earnhardt means. I feel without question he was the greatest driver we have ever had. At a time when the popularity of NASCAR has been rapidly growing across this country, we can thank Dale Earnhardt for a lot of that attention. The fan base he enjoyed is unparalleled in this sport. Our hearts and prayers are with his family," said Martinsville Speedway president Clay Campbell.

DALE JARRETT & JIMMY SPENCER:DALE JARRETT: "As millions of race fans mourn the loss of the man they knew as 'The Intimidator,' the sport and the race that he truly loved has taken from me one of my best friends. I know I should feel fortunate that I had the opportunity to race with, tangle with, sometimes outrun, and like most usually finish behind, the greatest driving talent NASCAR racing has ever seen."

"I am thankful for that opportunity but, more importantly, I am most grateful that I had the chance to know Dale Earnhardt in a way that so many people could only dream of. He was a true friend -- someone I could always depend on to give me an honest answer and, at the very least, his opinion. I looked up to him not only because of his driving skills, but because he was so much more to so many people, including me and my family. Kelley and I choose to remember this incredible racer for his caring and giving personality."

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Teresa and the kids in this time of mourning. But knowing Dale, he would rather this be a celebration of his amazing accomplishments. This, we will do in his honor. Just know, Dale, that we love you and we all are truly going to miss you. Thanks for making our sport what it is today and for being my friend."

JIMMY SPENCER: "I really don't know what to say. I can't believe Dale Earnhardt isn't with us anymore and that he's not going to be out there every week in that black number three. There isn't anyone I loved racing more than him because he was the best and you always want to challenge yourself against the best."

"The thing about Dale Earnhardt is that there were two Dale Earnhardts -- the Dale Earnhardt that raced you for every inch on the race track and the Dale Earnhardt who cared about making people happy. He loved my dad and he loved my mom. Every time he saw me he'd ask how my mom and dad were doing. Every time he saw my mom he grabbed her hand and would stop and talk for a minute. He did it just last week at Daytona."

"I've got so many Dale Earnhardt stories I could write a book. I remember he came to my mom and dad's house in Berwick (Pa.) and I'll never forget it. We crashed three or four cars one night in my dad's junkyard and just had a great time afterwards just laughing and eating dinner. Then there was the time in 1988 when we raced up Route 136 from his old shop in Kannapolis to his new facility. It was late at night. He had a pickup and I had a pickup and he beat me. He never let me forget that and rubbed it in every chance he got."

"I'll miss him. There isn't one person in NASCAR that won't say they'll miss him. I was talking to my dad today and I said to him, 'What are we gonna do as drivers?' We all congregated around him. He was always one of the first drivers to go out for pre-race introductions and I don't care if you were Rusty Wallace or Dale Jarrett or who it was, we all talked to him because he was the guy."

"That 3 car scared every driver because they knew what was coming. Dale Earnhardt never gave up. He didn't care if he was five laps down, you were going to have to work to get past him. He would race you just as hard for 20th as he would for the win and us as competitors all realized that and expected that from him."

"I said some things a few weeks ago that looking back in hindsight I wish I could take back. I'm sorry for what I said, but at the time I felt I needed to speak up because T. Wayne (Robertson) was like a father to me, and I just felt that Dale Earnhardt the race car driver should have been there. I don't mean to slight any of the other top drivers in our sport, but if there was an autograph session and it was Dale Earnhardt against anybody else in the garage area, he would outdraw them two or three to one. Why? Because they want to meet John Wayne. He could probably outdraw any professional athlete in the world and maybe even the President of the United States. He had that kind of power."

"It's really hard to express just how sad I am. All I can think about is Teresa and the whole Earnhardt family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them."

ATLANTA MOTOR SPEEDWAY: "American auto racing has lost its Babe Ruth, Arnold Palmer and Michael Jordan. To millions of Americans, Dale Earnhardt was so much a part of what life was all about. He expressed drive and determination in everything he endeavored to do. He loved his profession like none other, and there is simply no way this void can ever be filled. Racing has lost its best ambassador."

MOTOR MCLURE MOTORSPORTS: "Dale Earnhardt's death is a tremendous loss to our NASCAR family and to the entire nation. Whether you liked him or not, he stood as a hero. Many looked up to Dale as a man who stuck to his convictions. Earnhardt set the stage in Winston Cup. What he did, everyone followed. He was a fierce competitor, one that we did battle with many times. "He lived a life that was full. As a father, a husband and a businessman, Dale experienced success. He showed people that they can follow their dreams and reach their goals. Dale accomplished more in his life than most of us ever could. It is unfortunate. All of us in the NASCAR community live on the edge. The drivers are on the edge all of the time, every weekend."

"This seems more of a shock to people, because the wreck did not look that bad. When someone so talented is involved in such a deal, it is unbelieveable. I know we will all go into the garage at Rockingham next weekend and expect to see that sly grin that Earnhardt patented. It is going to be tough on NASCAR fans and Dale Earnhardt fans. For those of us who saw him and talked to him every weekend, it will take a long time to deal with this horrible loss."

"Cherish the memories of Dale. Realize we were lucky to be able to share his life with him. Finally, believe. If you believe in Christ, the pain will be easier to handle."

"On a personal note... My father died in a tragic accident two years ago of the same head injuries that Earnhart died of. When he heard of my devasting loss, he consoled me by talking of his own pain for the loss of his dad. Earnhart's advice was to carry on and make my dad proud, as if he were still present. I use this advice everyday in my life. It gives me a tremendous desire to succeed and it helps ease the pain."

JOE GIBBS, BOBBY LABONTE, & TONY STEWART:JOE GIBBS: "On behalf of everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, we would like to extend our heartfelt sympathies to Teresa and the entire Earnhardt family as well as everyone at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated and Richard Childress Racing. While Dale was a fierce competitor on and off the track and a leader in the community, he was a member of our family and, as you can imagine, we are grieving that loss."

BOBBY LABONTE: "I, like everyone else, am in shock with the passing of Dale Earnhardt. Besides being an incredible driver and spokesman for the sport he so loved, he was a true friend and has been a major influence on my life and career. Understandably, my family's thoughts are with Teresa, Kerry, Kelly, Dale Jr, and Taylor Nicole as well as all of the employees and their families at Richard Childress Racing and Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. May God bless all of them and watch over them in this time of need."

TONY STEWART: "Dale Earnhardt made a difference in the world. On the track, he made us all better drivers because he set a standard of excellence we all aspired to achieve. He had a passion and a desire that took the sport of NASCAR to a new level every time he climbed in the car. Off the track he was a kind, giving, loving man who gave his all to his family and friends. He worked tirelessly to make the world a better place for as many people as possible who were less fortunate than he. I did not know him as long as most of the other drivers, but he made a huge impact on my life in the years I have been in NASCAR. I am grateful and blessed to have had the benefit of his wisdom and guidance. My heart and prayers go out to his wife Teresa; his children Dale Jr., Kerry, Kelley and Taylor; and all his family and friends."

FORD: "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.

"Like many others, we were fans of Dale Earnhardt -- certainly the driver, but especially the man. In spite of our intense rivalry, Dale Earnhardt 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.

"We're deeply saddened by this loss. Again, our condolences go out to the Earnhardt family and to those legion of supporters who have cheered for this great champion through the years."

LOWE'S MOTOR SPEEDWAY: "He was a good friend and I'm still in shock. This is a terrible, terrible loss and, for me, it ranks right up there with the death of JFK. Dale was the Michael Jordan of our sport.

"We always thought of Dale as being invincible, so when he didn't climb out of that car after the wreck I knew it was bad.

"I talked to him this morning before the race and he was poised to challenge for an unprecedented eighth championship and was really looking forward to a fantastic season. "I knew Dale's father, Ralph, and I've know Dale since he was a little boy. He had things pretty tough when his father passed away when he was young and I was so proud of the way he turned out and the way he represented our sport.

"Behind that macho facade was a real sensitive individual who did a lot of things for a lot of people and didn't want any publicity in return. He was part of a very loving family and was truly an extraordinary human being. To think he is not around anymore is incomprehensible.

"Right now, we've got to do what we can do to help his family get through this terrible time. Our thoughts and prayers are with his mother, Martha, his wife, Teresa, and his children--Kerry, Dale, Jr., Kelley and Taylor Nicole.

"We will never fill the void left by the loss of Dale Earnhardt."

-- H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler

EDDIE CHEEVER: "I have known only two individuals whose very presence transcended the fact that they were extraordinary racing drivers: Dale Earnhardt and Ayrton Senna. No one else could fill a room like they could. I met Dale just two years ago but I feel like I have lost a member of my family. There is truly nothing you can say -- it is an enormous loss. The last words that Dale said to me were: "I'll race you next time, and we'll have just as much fun." I'm incredibly sad that that won't happen. My heart goes out to all of Dale's family, friends, and fans at this very difficult time."

ANHEUSER BUSCH: "All of us at Anheuser-Busch are deeply saddened by the death of Dale Earnhardt. Dale was a great man, a dear friend of my family, a true champion and a great ambassador for NASCAR and the sport of auto racing. Our prayers go out to his wife, Teresa, Dale Jr., and the entire Earnhardt family, as well as everyone at Dale Earnhardt Inc."

SEARS POINT RACEWAY: "Dale Earnhardt may have been the most talented driver ever to climb in a stock car, but his loss will be felt well beyond the racing community. Dale was one of the most distinctive personalities in the world of sports. His image as a fierce competitor, as the relentless pursuer in the black car personified the qualities that have characterized history's greatest athletes.

"There were no fans more passionate or loyal than Dale Earnhardt fans. On behalf of all of those fans who have turned out to see Dale at Sears Point Raceway over the years, we offer our thoughts and prayers to the Earnhardt family."

RJR TOBACCO: "All of us at R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company are shocked and deeply saddened by this tragedy. Dale Earnhardt was a fierce competitor and great champion. More importantly, he was a friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with Teresa, Kerry, Kelley, Dale Junior and Taylor Nicole, as well as everyone at Dale Earnhardt Inc. and Richard Childress Racing."

TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY: "The death of Dale Earnhardt is heartbreaking for millions of racing fans around the world. I, too, am heartbroken. Athletes in other sports would be wise to follow Dale's model of what a champion is supposed to be. He had great dignity - both on the track and off.

"I know people would question why people risk such great odds to race automobiles. But I'm certain Dale would tell you that he lived his life to the fullest and his life was better for being a participant in the arena. While many people may not understand this, Dale understood better than anyone.

"We want to express our sympathies to Dale's wife Teresa, his children, his mother and the rest of his family as well as Richard Childress Racing and the people of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. We will remember them in our prayers."