Nascar reels from loss of legend

Earnhardt, the archetypal Nascar driver, was a huge star

By BBC Sport Online's Andrew Benson

The loss of Dale Earnhardt, who was killed in a crash on the last lap of the Daytona 500 on Sunday, has rocked American motorsport to its core.

He was a legend in the Nascar Winston Cup and was by far the sport's most popular star. He was at least partly responsible for making the stock-car series the most popular form of motorsport in the USA.

Earnhardt was known as 'The Intimidator' in Nascar for his uncompromising driving style, and he was loved and loathed by fans in equal measure.

His on-track approach led fans to split into pro- and anti-Earnhardt camps. But no one was in any doubt about his abilities, even if, at 49, they were starting to wane a little.

This is incredible, just incredible; everybody is just in shock right now

Jeremy Mayfield
Nascar driver

His death has hit all the harder because, like Formula One driver Ayrton Senna before his death in 1994, he was held in awe by his rivals.

He was renowned for being as tough and as skilful as drivers come.

"Dale was the Michael Jordan of our sport," said HA 'Humpy' Wheeler, a circuit owner.

"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."

Nascar drivers were stunned by the announcement of his death.

And there were tears and anguished expressions on the faces of fans at the Daytona Speedway.

Red-neck image

Nascar driver Jeremy Mayfield said: "I don't know what to say. 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 [the next event] and beat us all."

Nascar boss Bill France said: "Nascar has lost its greatest driver. And I have lost a great friend."

Earnhardt had become synonymous with his black Chevy

Earnhardt was the archetypal Nascar driver - a native of America's Deep South, he personified the sport's red-neck image.

He still lived in North Carolina, where he was brought up, and liked to go hunting on his rare weekends off.

Earnhardt owned a farm, where he lived with horses, dogs, cats, bulls and chickens.

But the country simplicity of his domestic life belied his professional success; his ultra-successful career had made him a mega-star and a multi-millionaire.

He had won more than US$41m (£28.3m) as the biggest career money-winner in Nascar. And it is estimated that he earned at least that much annually from endorsements and sponsorship.

His record of seven Winston Cup season titles was matched only by Richard Petty, the most successful Nascar driver.

When you picture the epitome of a race car driver, you picture Dale Earnhardt

Dan Davis
Ford racing technology director

Petty, who like Earnhardt runs his own team, scored 200 victories; Earnhardt was the most successful active driver with 76 wins, which puts him sixth in the all-time standings.

Earnhardt, the 1998 Daytona 500 champion, was also the career-victories leader at Daytona Speedway.

Earnhardt won the Rookie of the Year title in 1979 before taking the first of his seven titles in 1980. The others came in 1986-7, 1990-1 and 1993-4.

"Dale Earnhardt transcended Nascar," Ford racing technology director Dan Davis said. "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."