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The Final Lap
A thrill was in the air that day
As the number three flashed past
Shouts and cheers rose on the wind
As his car sped by so fast.
The race had been so thrilling
The finish line just ahead
The thought did not occur to us
We'd see tragedy instead.
The final lap came all to soon
For a hero we held dear
Little did we know that day
That the end for him was near.
Our hearts are filled with sadness
Our hero had to leave
To race across the Heavens now
While we are left to grieve.
The gates of Heaven opened
His final trophy gleaming bright
He slowly gunned his engine
As he drove into the light
 
Dale Earnhardt
has left us, his life cut short in the final turn, of the final lap at the 2001
Daytona 500 held on 2/18/01. He was a champion. He was an icon. He made
Nascar what it is today. A sport to be reckoned with. But behind the
the dark glasses and the smug smile was a private man. A successful
business man and a loving father. Many said he was a selfish man on the
track. Go for the lead or the win at any cost. But, on 2/18/01 we
saw a different side of a man that came to be called the Intimidator. We
didn't see what some called reckless abandon, and others called sheer
skill. We saw a man, a race car driver that fended off the attack of
others. He held the field back allowing is son and new driver and friend, Michael
Waltrip to battle for the lead. He gave up a chance to win a race that was
within his grasp. He gave up his life. In
that final turn of the final lap, Dale Earnhardt took his final checkered
flag. And you can bet he had that familiar smile on his face as he watched
his two young guns head for the finish line as he headed for a bright light and
a better place. Dale
left behind a wife , Teresa, 4 children, Kelly, Dale Jr., Kerry, and Taylor
Nicole. He left behind a partnership of 20 years, RCR. He left
behind a racing dynasty in the making, DEI. And, he left behind an extended
family of millions world wide. In
basketball, it was Micheal Jordan. Football, Joe Montana. Baseball,
Mark McQuire and Sammy Sosa. And in Nascar, it's Dale Earnhardt. We've
lost Dale Earnhardt, but we haven't lost the memories. GOD
SPEED Dale Earnhardt, and thanks for the memories. 
    
    
    
    
    
Poems written about Dale
Like a guardian angel from four cars back,
watching Mike & Dale Jr as they circled the track.
No intention of winning just holding his place,
so proud of his "boys" now winning the race.
We thought it was over, the end was near.
No time for pain no time for fear.
We did not know as there were no sign,
Dale was only one-quarter mile from his final finish line.
Within an instant NASCAR fans would be facing,
an eternal change in their world of racing.
He was one of the greatest beloved in his sport,
with a grand career now sadly cut short.
All the crowd noticed was excitement and debris,
but a miracle was happening we could not see.
Dale said goodbye through shining metal & chrome,
as God gave "Number 3" the checkered flag home.
But forever in our hearts and in the scheme of things,
we'll picture him circling heaven with black & red wings;
grinning and telling angels...and even the creator,
Look out over there.......here comes the "Intimidator."
Unknown Author
February 2001
A fine Daytona afternoon, the season just begun.
My boys were running one and two, and I was having fun.
I probably could have won the thing, but something held me back.
I was busy watching Jr. and Mike -- and holding off the pack.
I was looking toward the front and not really to the rear.
Something tapped me on my bumper, but still I had no fear.
I thought it might be Sterlin - I knew he was nearby.
When Sterlin smells the checkered flag, I'll tell you, he ain't shy.
I slipped a bit and turned the wheel, but I sensed something very odd.
It wasn't Sterlin's tap I'd felt. It was the tap of God.
"Not now," I said. "I'm racing hard. There's work still here to
do."
"You're time is up," He whispered low, "So say a quick
adieu."
I wasn't really ready, but I didn't have a choice.
He'd tapped me on the bumper and I'd heard His hallowed voice.
So I did as He instructed. I just packed it in and left.
I guess it can't be helped that I left some of you bereft.
Did you see those birds upon the wall as they scattered in the breeze?
Will it make it any easier to know that one of them was me?
There was also Davey, Dad and Neil and some other guys I've known.
And they all came to Daytona just to escort me on home.
Hey - congratulations, Mikey! You made a worthy run.
I wish you many, many more. You're wins have just begun.
All that fun you had in Victory Lane, I was proud as proud can be.
Did you see a seagull flying low? Yeah, Mikey, that was me.
So, friends and fans and family, get on with life and don't mourn me for too
long.
I'll surely miss you every one, but be brave and proud and strong.
Remember me, and have your final cry,
You'll see my again in Heaven, because I didn't really die.
Big "E"
3/03/01
"My Hero"
The greatest man I never met, has run his
final race
The pain I feel is showing, in the tears upon my face
With the love of a father, and that of a friend
He protected Mike and Junior, right to the end
In that special, unselfish move, for all the world to see
He showed why we love that BLACK #3
We have lost the heart of racing, it will never be the same
But he was far more than just a racing name
His skill in driving was beyond compare
But it was the man himself that made me care
Those steel blue eyes, that sly dawg grin
They way he cared , all part of him
The loving husband, the faithful friend
The proud father, memories that will never end
He lived for Sundays,the race to win
To beat the odds, was life to him
To hear those engines roar to life
Was second only to God and his wife
Strapped into the number 3, after Teresa's kiss
Calm, relaxed, ready to race. Nothing was amiss
As he made that final turn, in the number 3
I wonder if it was more than air, the MAN IN BLACK could see
Did he see his daddy, and Neil Bonnet standing there
And all of heaven angels, when all we saw was air
I think that God was standing there to meet the elder E
The one that he's been waiting for to drive Heaven's #3
I do not know how long this ache, will tear apart my heart
It may never happen, it may never start
No one can replace him, in our hearts or on the track
Rest in peace my hero, I'll always love the Man in Black.
Barb Kerr
02/19/01
Quotes
- "On behalf of Taylor, Dale Jr., Kerry, Kelley and the entire
Earnhardt family, which also includes all the employees of Dale Earnhardt
Incorporated, we want to sincerely thank everyone that has offered their
condolences during our very tragic loss. This outpouring has been
overwhelming. We kindly ask that you keep our family in your thoughts and
prayers."
– Wife, Teresa Earnhardt
"We're deeply saddened by the loss. We appreciate everybody for their
support. We'll get through this. I'm sure he'd want us to go on."
– Son, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
"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 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
together and raced together. We laughed and cried together. We were able to
work side-by-side and have success we had for almost 20 years because we were
friends first. I will miss him always. He was the greatest."
– Richard Childress, owner of Dale
Earnhardt's #3 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo
"I don't know about you but over the last couple days I've been
searching for a place to anchor my hope. When times like this come, and they
come for all of us, we look to a place to anchor for stability. We want to
celebrate, remember and think, and think about the man that we love. I want to
encourage you to do three things in the coming days. To tell those stories,
and everybody's got a Dale Earnhardt story sitting in here, and to laugh, and
to remember the emotion that goes with those stories. To listen to each other
as you tell those stories and to pray. And to pray. Pray alone and with each
other. I think Dale would be happy that we would be laughing and telling
stories with each other."
– Motor Racing Outreach Chaplain,
Dale Beaver
"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. May god bless all of them and watch over
them in this time of need."
– Defending Winston Cup Champion,
Bobby Labonte
"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 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."
– Driver, Tony Stewart
"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 leader in the community,
he was a member of our family and as you can imagine, we are grieving that
loss."
– Joe Gibbs, car owner
"We are deeply saddened by the fatal accident of our good friend and
driver Dale Earnhardt in the final lap of the Daytona 500 NASCAR race
yesterday. We have been priviledged to have been the sponsor of Dale's No. 3
Goodwrench Chevrolet for the past 13 years. He's given so many people so many
thrills over so many years. He will be missed beyond words. On behalf of all
GM employees and all of Dale's thousands of fans, we offer our sincere
condolences to Dale's wife Teresa, their children including Dale Earnhardt Jr.
and team owner Richard Childress on the loss of NASCAR's greatest driver
ever."
– Vice President and General Manager
of GM Sevice Parts Operations, John F. Smith
"Brooke (Gordon) 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."
– Driver, Jeff Gordon
"My heart is hurting right now. I would rather be any place right this
moment than here. It's so painful."
– 2001 Daytona 500 winner, Michael
Waltrip at his press conference. Waltrip drives a car owned by Dale Earnhardt
Inc.
"This is undoubtedly one of the toughest announcements that I've ever
personally had to make. But after the accident in Turn 4 at the end of the
Daytona 500, we've lost Dale Earnhardt."
– NASCAR President, Mike Helton
"Like so many people around the world, I became a NASCAR fan because I
became a Dale Earnhardt fan. Dale was someone I was proud to have my son look
up to. We all have our memories we will cherish, memories of excitement,
competitiveness and most of all memories of a great man. On behalf of the
people of Alabama, I extend my thoughts and prayers to his family and
friends."
– Gov. Don Siegelman of Alabama
"On behalf of all of us at Action Performance, we extend our heartfelt
condolences to the entire Earnhardt family. We are heartbroken over the tragic
loss of Dale Earnhardt, a legend among champions and a hero to his multitude
of fans across the nation. We are grateful that, for so many years, Dale
invited us to share his accomplishments and dreams while he participated in
the sport he so dearly loved. We are saddened that we have lost a champion
whose skill, determination and dedication were unequaled. Most of all, we
regret the loss of a dear friend. Again, our sympathy and prayers are with the
entire Earnhardt family and to all of his fans who are dealing with this
terrible loss."
– Fred W. Wagenhals, Action
Performance Companies, Inc. Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
"My heart is broken at the loss of this awesome man. If it weren't for
Dale, I wouldn't be a fan... I have loved watching this man drive. NASCAR will
never be the same again. WE LOVE YOU DALE!!! Thank you for giving us the
wonderful memories."
– Mavis Mayfield, fan from Atlanta,
GA
"On Feb 18, 2001, we lost the greatest driver NASCAR has ever known. On
the track, Dale Earnhardt was know as "The Intimidator," but off the
track, he was a devoted husband, loving father, and a tenderhearted man. I grew
up watching Dale Earnhardt set and break records. This was to be his best shot,
at winning his record 8th Championship. Entering the final turn on the last lap
of the 2001 Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt went from Aggressor to Protector as he
held off the rest of the field so his son, Dale Jr., and good friend, Michael
Waldrip, could have their shot at winning NASCAR most prestigious event. He
could have only been thrilled knowing that they were to finish 1st and 2nd. Dale
once said, when asked about Neil Bonnet's accident, that if he were in an
accident like Neil and were to die, he wouldn't want anyone crying for him, but
instead, he would want them celebrating his life. He also said, "That'd be
the way I'd want to go." With that being known, I ASK THAT ALL OF THE FANS
THAT BLAME ANYONE OR ANYTHING FOR HIS DEATH WOULD STOP, AND IF THREATS WERE MADE
FOR YOU TO APOLOGIZE, PERSONALLY!. Dale would never blame anyone for what
happened, so why should we? I would like to apologize to all the people at
Simpson Performance Parts and especially to Sterlin Marlin on behalf of all Dale
Earnhardt fans. The threats and placement of blame were completely uncalled for.
I will always remember the feeling I had with tears in my eyes as I heard these
words: "CHECKERED FLAG!!!........Dale Earnhardt.......finally, is a
Champion of the Daytona 500."
– Jason Christian, fan from
Northport, AL
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