the man, the myth.....The Legend 

   I’ve been a fan of Nascar since my days in North Carolina back in the late 70’s, about the same time a young, reckless Dale Earnhardt started making a name for himself, starting with capturing the “Rookie of the Year” award at the conclusion of the 1979 Winston Cup season, and culminating in 7 Winston Cup championships, equalling the King, Richard Petty for the most ever in Nascar history.  As a brash, young driver back in the 70’s, young Dale idolized his father, Ralph Dale Earnhardt, also a former champion driver in Nascar.

……But I’m not going to tell you all the history and feel good stories of Dale’s life and career. No, I want to tell you about the “phenomenon” of Dale Earnhardt after his death, how the legend grows from year to year.

 I’ve attended many Nascar races, most were at Darlington, South Carolina, for The Southern 500.  As Dale was always, and forever, my favorite driver, I was amazed at the long lines of fans that were at his souvenir trailers to buy anything “Earnhardt”. These lines would be 5 or 6 rows deep, compared to other trailers, where you might see 5 or 6 fans mingling around.

  Year after year, these lines at Earnhardt’s trailers would continue to grow, to the point now,  there are 2 or 3 Earnhardt trailers at just about every race on the Nascar schedule. Before his death, Earnhardt garnered 40 to 50% of all Nascar souvenir sales. One driver…..amongst 42 others. Even today, 8 years after his death, Earnhardt is still in the top 5 in souvenir sales.

....the myth.....

   Another thing that amazes me, and sorry it doesn’t continue, is this fact. Without any promotion, encouragement whats so ever, at the beginning of every race following Earnhardts tragic death at Daytona International Speedway Feb. 18th, 2001, on the third lap, most fans would hold up three fingers in a salute to their hero. Again, nobody came out with an announcement, “hey, this is what we want to do”. They just did it. And if you didn’t get to go to races, and just stayed home and watched on T.V., the broadcast announcers would remain silent during the 3rd lap, week after week, race after race for the whole season. I was honored by partaking in this activity, at home and the race track.

...3 held high......

   Well, today would’ve been Dale’s 57th birthday, and for the 7th year in a row, “Dale Earnhadt” day will be celebrated from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.  at Dale Earnhadt headquarters in Mooresville, N.C. and the thousands of folks that will trek to that little hamlet, otherwise known as Race City, U.S.A. is simply amazing.

Happy Birthday, Dale

You left us way too soon.

...farewell at DEI....