This is fresh news so details will follow. I watched the whole race with friends and we are in shock.

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), February 18, 2001

Answers

Definitely a tragedy....

Not a big NASCAR fan but realize this is a huge loss.

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), February 18, 2001.

Oh well, 49 ain't bad for a race car driver. Should have retired last year and considered himself lucky.

In the meantime, all of my souvenirs and collectibles just quadrupled in value. Thanks Dale!

-- (going @ to ebay. now), February 18, 2001.

I just saw the coverage on Fox Sports. I am shocked. The wreck didn't look near as bad as the large pile up that had occured before.

While I was never a large fan of Dale's, my heart goes out to his family and the close knit racing family as a whole. The sport did suffer a huge loss today.

Apparently, he suffered way to much trama, and they knew going to the hospital that he would not survive.

-- (Sheeple@Greener.Pastures), February 18, 2001.

It’s a damn dangerous sport, no doubt about that. Even though the NASCAR vehicles are the safest in auto racing there have still been many fatalities. Why then is it so hard to grasp the death of arguably the greatest of them all and a living legend at his prime? There are so many sub-stories here that I’m sure to miss some:

 The crash that killed him was not nearly as visually dramatic as the 17-car wipeout earlier in the race. It was however the worst kind… a head-on at 190 MPH.

 He was ˝ lap from the finish line!

 He and his son were running ‘interference’ for the eventual winner, Michael Waltrip. This was the FIRST win in 460+ attempts for Waltrip and how devastated will he be?

The world of sports has lost an icon and my thoughts go out to his family and the millions of fans that will mourn the loss of ‘The Intimidator’.

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), February 18, 2001.

It didn't look like that bad a wreck. I was so pumped watching Michael getting his first win that I never gave a thought to what looked like just another wreck. Sterling Marlin is crying right now as are a hell of lot of other people. Never liked Earnhart much till the last couple of years but still.....damn. Imagine Edie Cheever's thoughts as the last reciepient of a Dale payback. Tears all around man.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), February 18, 2001.

-- Uncle Bob (unclb0b@aol.com), February 18, 2001.

-- Uncle Bob (unclb0b@aol.com), February 18, 2001.

Wrong wreck Bob. Was hoping my tough little arkie Martin (#6) would get through that one.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), February 18, 2001.

Please forgive Uncle Boob, he is an imbecile.

-- cyber freud (UB = IQ @ below. 50), February 18, 2001.

Don't pick on Uncle Bob.

-- Debra (Thisis@it.com), February 18, 2001.

Y A W N!

-- who cares (no@big.deal), February 18, 2001.

What about Eddie Mathews, the Hall of Fame baseball player? He died too. He was a real baseball player, before the greedy homos took over.

-- (eddie@was.good), February 18, 2001.

Debra, I was not picking on Uncle Boob, just stating a fact. We have done the tests, it is confirmed.

He posts pictures of car crashes, but he does not even know the number of the correct car involved.

-- cyber freud (please @ forgive. him), February 18, 2001.

Who cares? Millions of people throughout the world is my guess. I know, he was an auto racer…..but still.

How bout you ‘who cares’? Will anybody miss YOU when you bite the big one? No, no…your blow-up doll collection does not count!

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), February 18, 2001.

I heard that Earnhardt took his hand off the wheel to flip the bird to someone outside his window. Could this be what caused the crash?? Very unprofessional, guess he got what he deserved. God will no doubt laugh at him and send him down to hang out with Satan where he belongs.

-- bad karma (road rage @ not. very mature), February 18, 2001.

Thank you for recently taking the Self Discovery Workshop's IQ Test. Because of the Internet's ability to mishandle transmissions, we are reconfirming via email that your IQ Test score was: 150

Our test gives you a quick and fast measurement of your abilities, and that can indicate directions for you to take.

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cyber fraud...blow me

-- Uncle Bob (unclb0b@aol.com), February 18, 2001.

Thanks Uncle Boob!

I just took that test and I got a 197!! I knew I wasn't as dumb as everybody says I am!

-- Dumbya (internet IQ test @ much. easier), February 18, 2001.

Does that look like enough helmet?

-- (doc_paulie@hotmail.com), February 19, 2001.

-- (doc_paulie@hotmail.com), February 19, 2001.

Go look, hope it lasts.

-- (doc_paulie@hotmail.com), February 19, 2001.

Took his helmet off, what a dumbass!

-- (yep@i.knew.it), February 19, 2001.

OK this time it will work. Like I said, I think Nascar needs to rethink their helmet requirements.

-- (doc_paulie@hotmail.com), February 19, 2001.

My husband and son are NASCAR fans, and while I never was very much, in watching the races I surely picked out that Dale used to go out of his way to spin people in front of him. My family would laugh and say "That's Dale". He was an offensive driver..which went a long way towards making him the winning driver he was...somewhat of a dark hero. I also think he was on the receiving end this time..from Sterling Marlin, and I'm sorry to see him go, but I think he'd be mighty proud of his end. He died doing what he loved to do. Really sad though. Poor Dale Jr.!

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), February 19, 2001.

Sure looks that way, Doc. What WAS he thinking? That he was invincible probably.

-- (cin@cin.cin), February 19, 2001.

Kritter, for someone that claims to not be a big NASCAR fan you have crafted a wonderfully introspective post on ‘The Intimidator’. He died doing what he loved so well and we all should be so lucky. Now, I am wondering what will become of Sterling Marlin? He will forever be labeled as the guy who sent Dale to his final resting-place and that could go many ways. BTW, did any of you see Dale JR’s press conference? There should be no questions as to who will now be the new ‘Intimidator’.

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), February 19, 2001.

I was a big fan back in the 1980s, but hadn't really watched many races since that time. I happened to tune in yesterday when there was about 100 laps left.

I'm kind of sorry I did.

It was surreal; I mean, you know they lose drivers (and not always on the track -- Davey Allison comes to mind), but Earnhardt, Sr. **was** NASCAR. You just never think this will happen. You know it could; that the potential is always there.

That was the first thing I said, Barry; he died doing what he loved to do. Precious few people have the opportunity in life to get paid to do what you love. He lived his life to the absolute fullest.

I really feel for Michael Waltrip, too. His first win and the Earnhardts helped him to the victory. That can't be an easy thing to live with either.

Dale Sr. had "modified" his reputation the past few years (my brother is still a big fan and keeps me "up-to-date"). He wasn't nearly The Intimidator he used to be. Until yesterday.

Rest In Peace, Dale; you'll be missed. :-(

-- (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), February 19, 2001.

BTW, Doc and Cin have brought up some good points on the helmet issue. I have done a lot of racing so I know what the current situation is. NASCAR is one of the only major league auto racing groups that do not require the HANS helmets, that may or may not have saved Earnhardt’s life. Dale is one of the last drivers to not wear a full-face helmet OR the HANS device. He had so much influence within NASCAR that I suspect he may have been responsible for the lack of mandatory use of these devices. Watch how quickly that will change.

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), February 19, 2001.

I don't know if he was responsible (it's certainly possible) but it was reported that he refused to use the HANS system because it was just too uncomfortable.

-- (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), February 19, 2001.

I told my wife it didn't look like that should have been a fatal crash. I used to always have a great deal of respect for Dale and I'm saddened by his death. However, if what you're saying about him is true, I vote to give him a belated Darwinian award.

-- Michael (mikeroskoff@myself.com), February 19, 2001.

Frustration! I’m not mad, just frustrated. Of all of the scrapes with death that occurred throughout Dale’s career, the one that took his life did not appear to be that serious. Yes, yes, I know all about head-on’s at 180mph but still……we’re talking about the ‘Intimidator’ here and somehow it doesn’t seem possible.

Selfish! Like millions of you NASCAR fans, I was looking forward to all of the great years of watching Sr.& Jr. battle it out on racing tracks throughout the country. Now, in a fit of selfish frustration, I must try to imagine what might have been.

Celebration! My tears are shed and now replaced by the image of that wicked grin that only Dale could bestow upon us mere mortals. In my heart I celebrate this man’s life and only hope that I could accomplish but as a speck of what he has. His family will be blessed with a universe of great memories and I will pray that Little E will now move up from 8 to 3.

-- Elvis (is@now.gone), February 20, 2001.

I was wondering how Jr. might react towards racing after what happened to his father. After seeing him speak, I think Dale Jr. will have his best year ever. He was the reason I came to like the sport, althought I still can't understand a word he says. Guess it's a southern thing. In any case, I will watch now just to see him come into his own.

Nascar should retire Dale's number..don't you agree?

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), February 20, 2001.

The man in black has left you see,

His last great dash was not to be.

So now I pray that little ‘E’,

Will now move up from 8 to 3.

-- NASCAR (r@cing.fan), February 20, 2001.

An interesting take on NASCAR and on the acident--

INTIMIDATOR

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), February 21, 2001.

Earnhardt Buried In Private Service Memorial Service Planned Thursday

CHARLOTTE, N.C. , 5:55 p.m. EST February 21, 2001 -- Dale Earnhardt was buried in his hometown Wednesday in a private service, even as his team prepared to return his car to the track.

Earnhardt was laid to rest in Kannapolis with only immediate family members attending, an Earnhardt company employee said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The exact location of the site, about 25 miles north of Charlotte, was not disclosed.

A memorial service for the seven-time Winston Cup champion is planned for Thursday in Charlotte and will be televised live on Fox Sports Net.

Earnhardt, 49, was killed Sunday on the last turn of the last lap in the Daytona 500. He slammed into the concrete wall after making contact with Sterling Marlin at the head of a tight pack of five cars fighting for position.

While his family said goodbye, his team at Richard Childress Racing was planning to enter his car in Sunday's Dura-Lube 400 at North Carolina Speedway in Rockingham.

Kevin Harvick, a Busch Grand National driver for RCR, will take over Earnhardt's car for the rest of the season, a team source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

-- (bettypaige01@hotmail.com), February 21, 2001.

Earnhardt Lap Belt Found Broken After NASCAR Crash

-- (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), February 23, 2001.

Because he wasn't wearing a helmet with chin protection, his chin hit the steering wheel so hard that his jawbone shredded his brain and his teeth were coming out the backside of his skull. This was the price he paid for being macho, or dumb, depending on how you look at it.

-- there are old drivers, and there are bold drivers (but there aren't many @ old, bold. drivers), February 23, 2001.

Live by the sword, die by the sword.

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), February 23, 2001.

Live your life like a dummy, die because you are dumb.

-- (too cool @ for. school), February 23, 2001.

Heard a report earlier today that his safety harness malfunctioned...odd, since it was supposed to be new. I'm thinking either the manufacturer or installer can expect a humongous lawsuit if this is true.

-- Sideline (Observer@teevee.com), February 23, 2001.

OMG is that blood? whaaaaaaaaaaaa =0|

-- (cin@cin.cin), February 23, 2001.

cin,

You are correct, that is blood. I had to go to yahoo to find the picture, but that is indeed the inside of the car that Dale died in. The blood which you see on the right side of the wheel is most likely his. He hit with enough force that he broke the steering wheel.

-- (bettypaige01@hotmail.com), February 23, 2001.