The Intimidator 
Dale Earnhardt was one of the greatest champions of NASCAR, we review his successful career, that after 7 championships culminate tragically in the 2001 edition of the Daytona 500.
In May 1975, the No. 8 Dodge began the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway from a modest thirty-third position. With an engine power up to 10000 RPM, and led by one Dale Earnhardt, unknown 24 year-old, completed the 355 laps of the test ending in the twenty-second place, earning a prize of $ 2425. For those who would be one of the greatest drivers in NASCAR history, was not too sounded debut, although Earnhardt himself, that day was one of his greatest triumphs. Ralph
Dale Earnhardt was born in April 1951 in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Son of Martha Coleman and Ralph Earnhardt, came to life with the speed running through his veins, since Ralph was one of the best drivers of short courses on land in North Carolina, going on to win the 1956 Sportsman championship, lower level of NASCAR.
Although Ralph did not want his son follow in his footsteps in any way, so dangerous that could become those races could not stop the dreams of young aspiring pilot that led him to leave school.
From then on, he became a hard teacher, and taught his son to run, seeing racing in category Hobby in his native Kannapolis. During those years, young Dale worked full time at a tire shop, and at night was in charge of putting pointed his car. He himself paid the cost of car maintenance, often asking to borrow money to purchase spare parts, with the hope of returning to the winnings from the races of the weekend.
In 1973, a heart attack ended the life of Ralph Earnhardt, while working on his car in the garage of his home. It was not until many years after his death, when Dale thought his father could finally be proud of él.Tras that setback, Dale proposed to achieve success as a racing driver, and his determination led him to compete in the Sportsman category, which his father won his biggest hits, running near his home circuit, such as Hickory, Concord and Metrolina Fairgrounds.
In 1968, only 17 years, Dale married Latane Brown, and in 1969 was born their first son, Kerry Dale. The following year the couple separated, and 71 Earnhardt remarried, this time with Brenda Gee, daughter of Bobby Gee, builder of cars for NASCAR. From this union were born a girl first, Kelley King, in 1972, then a child, which they named Ralph Dale Jr. in 1974. Not much after the birth of Dale Jr., the couple divorció.Durante that stage, Dale surviving day to day, struggling economy, and turned in an almost obsessive in his dream of becoming someone in the world of racing "Stock Car. "
That dream became reality with their participation in the World 600, the longest race of the 1975 season, thanks to a deal with the president of Charlotte Motor Speedway, Richard Howard. While Earnhardt racing throughout the Southeast trying to earn enough money to feed his family, Howard was set at the impetus of the young aspirant, and occasional pilot convinced him to Ed Negre given a chance ceding the wheel of his newly acquired Dodge # 8. Earnhardt finished 10 places ahead of blacks themselves, and one place ahead of veteran Richard Childress, who would later have an important role in the Kannapolis Pilot career.
During the three years he played a total of 8 races, the last of which was the Dixie 500 of 1978 in Atlanta, which drove the second car for Rod Osterlund, finishing in fourth place, one place behind Osterlund first pilot, Dave Marcis.Al finish this season, Rod Osterlund Marcis left to form his own team, leaving the owner with a list candidates to take its place. It was finally decided to provide an opportunity for the young Earnhardt, and confirmed as a driver of a Chevrolet for next season. Earnhardt considered this offer as the highest accolade of his career.
In its first full year of competition, Dale scored his first Winston Cup victory at Bristol, at its sixteenth race in NASCAR. Eight races later achieved his first pole at Riverside. At the end of the 1979 season, Earnhardt won a total of 11 finals in the Top5, finishing the tournament in seventh place, and snatched the title of "Rookie of the Year drivers like Harry Gant, Joe Millikan and Terry Labonte.
In 1980, with a young, strong team and determined to become a senior pilot, Earnhard beat veteran Cale Yarborough and took over the Winston Cup, becoming the only rider to have won NASCAR a championship the season after being named "Rookie of the Year.
the middle of the 1981 season, Osterlund sold the team to Jim Stacy. Earnhardt, dissatisfied with the modus operandi of the new owner, finished the season driving for Richard Childress.
the end of the year, Childress realized that his cars were not at the height of a pilot Earnhardt category, so they offered it to join the team of Bud Moore, sponsored by Wrangler.
Over the next two years, the results were quite discreet Earnhardt, Richard Childress while riding his team with Ricky Rud, and had to fight for the championship. Earnhardt
then decided to rejoin Childress, and they initiated a development program to win the championship. None of them could get to imagine the huge success they would achieve together.
After the 1983 season in which Earnhardt drove the Wrangler Jeans Ford Thunderbird No. 15, winning at Nashville and Talladega and finishing eighth in the standings, there was a return to Richard Childress Racing.
On a computer with 2 pilots, sharing a garage with Ricky Rudd, Earnhardt was at the controls of car number 3, also sponsored by Wrangler.
During the seasons of 1984 and 1985, visited Victory Lane six times at Talladega, Atlanta, Richmond, 2 times at Bristol and Martinsville, finishing fourth and eighth respectively in the overall standings.
The 1986 season saw as Earnhardt won for the second time Winston Cup, first win as owner Richard Childress. In this session, won 5 races, was among the top 5 10 times and finished among the top 10 in 16 ocasiones.Al following year, the champion successfully defended his title, and repeated championship winning 9 races and finishing in the top of the standings with a margin of 489 points over second-placed Bill Elliot. During the process, Earnhardt beat the record of 4 wins in NASCAR, achieving also be the first to win 5 of 7 races of the year. The formidable union of North Carolina driver Richard Childress bore fruit.
In 1987, Earnhardt earned the nickname that he brought the rest of his career, "The Intimidator" after spinning cause of Bill Elliott returns late is now the All Star Race "non-points race for the championship, and then known as The Winston."
The following year, the No. 3 Chevrolet changed his appearance to make an appearance BF Goodwrench, which replaced the Wrangler as a sponsor. With the change, car decoration became more dark, predominantly black, which gave Earnhardt his other nickname, the "Man in Black", which would add fame and notoriety to the pilot that you missed the track if it could not come on.
won 3 times in 1988, finishing third in the overall after Bill Elliott and Rusty Wallace. The following year, Dale won 5 races, but a spin at the end of the proof of North Wilkesboro left him without the championship, being the year for Rusty Wallace.
The 90's began with starting at Daytona. After winning the Busch Class "and the" Gatorade Twin 125's ", Earnhardt was leading the Daytona 500 with 4 seconds ahead, at which time the yellow flag waved and the race was neutralized. On the restart, with just one lap to go, the car number 3 stepped on a metal and one of its tires punctured, finishing the race in fifth position. The team overcame the disappointment, and during 1990 Earnhardt won 9 races, and won his fourth championship, after beating Mark Martin by just 26 points.
91 year witnessed the fifth championship for Earnhardt and his team. Only managed 4 wins, but finished the year with a difference of 195 points over Ricky Rudd.Después to win her second set of 2 consecutive championships, the "Man in Black" was determined to achieve the third, but the introduction of a new engine and aerodynamic improvements in the models of Ford, made the Thunderbird will take the victory in 13 consecutive races between 1991 and last early 1992. Earnhardt's only victory this year came in the Coca Cola Charlotte 600, cutting the Ford winning streak. The 92 years ended with the number 3 in the twelfth place in the table, the worst result achieved by Earnhardt since he joined Richard Childress. At the end of the year, which was for a long time crew chief, Kirk Shelmerdine, leaving him to become a pilot, and was replaced by Andy Petree.
The change was beneficial to the GM Goodwrench No. 3, and he returned to top positions during the 1993 season. Again came close to victory at Daytona, after dominating the "Speedweeks" before finishing second in the "Great American Race", being overtaken on the final lap for Dale Jarrett. On his way to his sixth championship, Earnhardt managed 6 wins, and could beat Rusty Wallace for 80 points of difference.
The following year, the Kannapolis Pilot got what he thought was impossible, to equal the record of Richard Petty, convirtienose the second driver in history to win 7 titles in NASCAR's top flight, beating back Mark Martin by 400 points difference.
The 1995 season began similarly to the above, with a further disappointment, finishing second in the Daytona 500, after Sterling Marlin. This season, Earnhardt won his first race in a non-oval circuit also for the win in Indianapolis, but eventually lost the championship by 34 points apart, and Jeff Gordon got the first drink of his career, in a symbolic over after the seventh and last title of Earnhardt.
96 year began with the domain back in "Speed \u200b\u200bWeek", topped by the second in the Daytona 500, won a second time for Dale Jarrett. In July of that year, during the dispute of the DieHard 500 at Talladega, Earnhardt led the points table in search of his eighth title, when in the closing stages of the test, Ernie Irvan lost control of his Ford, causing an accident hub, which was poured into the No. 3 Chevrolet after hitting the wall. The images of Earnhardt being struck by several cars going around the hood at 300 km / h shocked viewers, but ultimately a relief to see their idol out of the car under his own power and saludando.Todo the world thought that after that Earnhardt crash brutal say goodbye to the season but did not surrender and was fourth at the end.
The 1997 season ended without a win for the second time in the career of Earnhardt. That year was to be marked by two accidents at Daytona and Darlington, which prevented return to winning ways most popular driver in NASCAR.
The last year 98 began with a joy. After 20 years of trying, Dale Earnhardt finally won the Daytona 500, beating Bobby Labonte. In a sign of respect, returning to the pit lane was with all members of the rival teams lined up to greet him, and then celebrated by drawing a large number 3 on the grass at Daytona. Finally I had conseguido.El rest of the season was not too successful, being eighth in the standings at the end.
Before the start of the 1999 season, fans debated the age of the great champion, and on whether to let his son take his baton. His two victories in both races at Talladega did the public think that the talent of Earnhardt and only showed in the tests with "Restrictor Plate", but during the second half of the season to show his class again, winning in Michigan, in a race that was put in head at the very end.
The year 2000 saw the resurgence of the star, to be recovered from the injuries he drew from his accident in Taladega in 96, but their performances were not good enough to achieve the eighth career title.
The year 2001 began with Earnhardt as the favorite to win the Daytona 500. His television appearance showed that he was totally relaxed provisions to repeat the victory achieved in 1998. After a multiple accident that stopped the race got underway the final laps, with Michael Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the lead, followed by the No. 3 Chevrolet. A 3 laps to go, Sterling Marlin, who had proved to be one of the fastest cars all day, was blocked by Dale Earnhardt, and both contacts. The No. 3 car lost control, head-banging against the wall. To be crossed on the track, the No. 36 Pontiac of Ken Schrader slammed the passenger door to drag for a few meters before stopping.
Apparently the acciente not seem serious, especially compared to Talladega years ocuido antes.Mientras Michael Waltrip saw the checkered flag, followed in second place Dale Earnhardt Jr., the attendance reached the crash site.
Earnhardt was evacuated to Halifax Medical Center by ambulance, and a few hours later, NASCAR president Mike Helton announced the death of the most beloved driver in NASCAR history.
