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"How Do You Say Good-Bye to a Hero ?"
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Here are some quotes from around the racing world, upon their hearing of the tragic news:
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"This is the hardest announcement I've ever had to make. We've lost Dale Earnhardt."
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NASCAR President Mike Helton
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Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman
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A.J. Foyt
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Pres., Atlanta Motor Speedway
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"He was our main guy. He was the man. He was NASCAR Winston Cup racing."
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"This is a terrible, terrible loss and, for me, it ranks right up there with the death
of JFK. We always thought of Dale Earnhardt as being invincible. I was so proud
of 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 he didn't want any
publicity in return."
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"Auto Racing has lost its Babe Ruth, Arnold Palmer and Michael Jordan.
To millions of fans, Dale Earnhardt was so much a part of what life is all about.
He expressed drive and determination in everything he endeavored to do.
Racing has lost its best ambassador."
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Pres., Lowe's Motor Speedway
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"What can i say, the guy was my hero. People don't realize how generous this man was.
Dale's shoes will never be filled. He was the best."
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Rick Mast
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Tony Stewart
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"There isn't anyone I loved racing against more than Dale Earnhardt, because he was
the best, and you always want to challenge yourself against the best.
What are we gonna do as drivers? We all congregated around him. That '3' car scared
every driver because they knew what was coming. Dale Earnhardt never gave up.
He didn't care if he was 5 laps down, you were going to have to work to get past him."
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Jimmy Spencer
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# 3 car owner, Richard Childress
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"NASCAR has lost its greatest driver ever, and I personally have lost a great friend."
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Bill France...Chairman of the Board, Nascar
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Return to our Main page
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Give 'em Hell in Heaven , Dale !!!
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I've been a Dale Earnhardt fan for as long as I can remember. I cried when he won the Daytona 500,
and now the tears I shed are for his death. Probably like most Earnhardt fans,
I've got a wall just for all my 'special' Earnhardt collections. Such as posters, books,
license plates, coke bottles, die cast cars, magazines, t-shirts, hats and even a Wheaties box.
My entire family called me when the news came out that Sunday night on Feb. 18, 2001.
Without a doubt, they understood that I was the number one Dale Earnhardt fan, well at least in their
minds and in mine. I've been a Dale Earnhardt fan longer than my marriage lasted. My sons have never
known me when I wasn't a Dale Earnhardt fan. Right now I'm not sure how I feel and I'm not sure on
how to say good bye. In fact, I'm not sure I can say it, because I don't want to say good bye.
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Sundays will never be the same !
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You will be missed !!
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The Thunder is Gone....and we're left with the rain.
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"Long Live the Legend"
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There are no fans more passionate or loyal than Dale Earnhardt fans. His tenacity, his toughness,
his driving style, and his accomplishments were what kept us in our living rooms every Sunday.
The sun rose and set on Dale Earnhardt each raceday. We took the good with the bad and never
apologized for his actions.
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The subject has come up regarding the retiring of the car number 3. Although NASCAR has never
done as such, it is my opinion, that unless Dale Jr. wants it, shouldn't it be obvious that no one else
should have it ? Besides the fact of it being the ultimate tribute to racings' biggest icon, but just how
unfair would it be to ask another driver to carry the burden that will forever weigh on that number ?
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I would like to take a moment to thank Teresa, for allowing the TV coverage of Dale's Memorial
Service so that his fans around the world could share in this time of grief. As millions watched on
television we took pause to remember and honor a great champion and legend, the likes of whom
we will never see again. For a few moments in our fast and crazy world, time was at a still, perhaps
long enough to say good-bye to a Hero.
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Who Would Have Thought....
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Headlines on Feb. 15,1998 read - EARNHARDT WINS DAYTONA 500
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Headlines on Feb. 18,2001 read - EARNHARDT KILLED IN CRASH AT DAYTONA
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On February 18, 2001 at the Daytona International Speedway, a horrific last lap accident claimed the life
of Seven Time NASCAR Champion, Dale Earnhardt. There's not enough words or tears to express the shock
and disbelief that shook the world in that single moment.
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Dale could have overrun his own team for the lead and possible victory, but he chose otherwise.
While running in 3rd place, and 8 laps remaining, he outdrove the field of cars behind him in order to
protect the positions of his son and friend in front, which neither had before expierenced the thrill of winning
the Daytona 500. He had learned from the Twin 125 on Thursday, just how much space was needed
by Sterling Marlin to overrun him and just how close he had to stay to the pack to keep those runs back.
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Who Would Have Thought....
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the Intimidator would have thought of anyone else during a race ?
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Who Would Have Thought....
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the Man in Black would have CHOSEN to give up a win in the Daytona 500 ?
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Who Would Have Thought....
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Dale's game plan in the end would be not to win, but to challenge everyone behind
him to get around him ? |
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Who Would Have Thought....
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Lady Luck would finally fail ' The Man' ?
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Who Would Have Thought....
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the excitement and anticipation of the new NASCAR season would end after only
one race ? |
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Who Would Have Thought....
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the irony that his best friend, Neil Bonnett who in 1994, had lost his life at the
same track, on the same turn ? |
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the irony that separates the headlines below by 3 Years and 3 Days ?
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On a more pleasant thought........Can you just imagine ??
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Tim Richmond, Davey Allison, Alan Kulwicki and others who have gone to Heavens' Raceway........
as they are lining up to race.....to discover the black car # 3 setting on the pole position, reving up his
engine....they'd probably say to themselves, "Holy Crap, he's still fighting to get that 8th Championship."
And also there, would be Elmo Langley, the long time NASCAR Pace Car driver, who once again will have
to put up with Dale putting donuts on his door and denting the rear of his pace car.
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All Rights Reserved. Route53.com
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ã
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Dale learned early on how to use Nascar rules to his
advantage, to push the envelope and drive his car to
the edge. In the end, it was Nascar who rode Earnhardt
to the promised land of popularity.
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For he was 'The Show.'
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Rattle a few cages....and
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"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."
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"Words cannot express the tremendous loss all of us are feeling at this time. Dale was
a hero to millions. He was my friend. I will miss him always. He was the greatest."
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To Sign a Petition asking to place Dale on a US Postage Stamp,
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7 Time
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Winston Cup
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Champion
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1986
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1987
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1991
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1990
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1993
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1994
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1980
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"Racing has lost one of the greatest stock car drivers that ever lived."
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Statute
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at Daytona
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