Very few knew every inch of a race track as he did. No one could feel what cannot be seen as this man could.
He represents the past in Nascar's lore of hard short track racing and is part of the present with the high speed chess matches we enjoy today.
No one was a tough as Dale Earnhardt. From the old Richmond Fairgrounds to Talladega Super Speedway Earnhardt was the toughest competitor we have seen in Nascar racing in the last 40 years.
Dale was as comfortable on a tractor as he was in a race car and he knew one thing for certain. Drive hard, have fun and plow the field.
Earnhardt's driving style is reminicent of Curtis Turner as he did not like to be passed and many drivers today will attest to that. This hard nosed driving style brought him to the top with 7 championships.
His knowledge and feel for race tracks is a secret that has been locked away. Dale's work at Talladega may never be seen again as no one rode the wind the way he did. Maybe it is personna, intimidation or just true grit.... Earnhardt knew what to do on these high banks as well as any other track. Dale knew how to work the draft better than anyone in recent memory.
Dale learned his lessons well from his father beating on his bumper to becoming a champion . No one has been rookie of the year and champion the next year. Earnhardt did it and at the World 600 in 1980 he learned what it was all about and changed the gaurd. At Charlotte that day Dale was the only one to really race and he put on a show. Probably racing too hard the yellow and blue Rod Osterland Chevrolet blew a tire wiping out several contenders but this was a man on a mission.
This was the start of his reign as it took several years to rise as a top competitor. Hooking up with Richard Childress for the second time proved to be a blessing as Dale blistered the speedways with 6 titles while driving for Childress.
Racing doesnt matter so much, I just miss him. Those sunglasses, mustasche and that sly smile that says I got you
Wish he was still here to give us some of that old school and his smile.
Dale Earnhardt was one of the best ever and brought racing to a level that is very hard to beat.
Sr. as they would say, could see the air. He could do what few hoped to do. Yea I was not a fan, but did respect his ability. The man was one of if not the best. Great article back tracking on the sport we love...RL. History od Nascar, fan style.
Rick - Good blog on the man Earnhardt Sr. was. And he was hard to beat on the race track. Glad I got to see him race during most of his career. He was another driver that the fans either loved or hated. But you would never under estimate his skills as a driver, on any track.
I live north of Washington DC in Frederick Maryland. My job is as an Automotiive Service Advisor in the Washington DC area..
My interesests are the Blues, Rock music, playing guitar and Nascar racing..
