Remembering Dale Earnhardt
The Daytona 500 was yesterday and it was a one, two, three finish for Joe Gibbs Racing. Denny Hamlin took the checkered flag in OT and held off Kyle Busch and Erik Jones. It was the second win for Hamlin in the Great American Race.
Today we remember something that happened 18 years ago, February 18th, 2001 that all race fans will remember forever. You may even remember where you were when you saw when of the biggest tragedies not only in racing but in all of sport.
It was the day that Dale Earnhardt was killed on the final lap of the Daytona 500. He was blocking the drivers behind him so that his son, Dale Earnhardt Jr. or Michael Waltrip could win the race.
Dale was the owner of the car that Michael was driving and eventually won the race. Some say that it was the first time he was unselfish on the track and it ended up costing him his life.
Adding to the tragedy is that he was turned into the wall by one of his best friends, Ken Schrader. Ken was also the first on the scene after Dale's car ended up in the grass after the crash.
I remember watching the ambulance slowly driving away with Dale Earnhardt in it. Anyone watching it, knew that the speed it was going was not a good speed to be at.
I remember my Dad saying to me, "What are we going to do now." Earnhardt was my dad's favorite driver and still has his memorabilia in a glass hutch at the house.
Jeffrey Earnhardt paid tribute to his grandfather yesterday at the race by wearing a special Daytona helmet. What do you remember from that race in 2001?
[via Fox Sports]