Page 12
NEWS
Monday, February 14
THE BATTALION
Dale Earnhardt dies after Daytona crash
‘Intimidator’ dies
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP)
— Dale Earnhardt, one of the great
est stars in auto racing history, died
Sunday from injuries in a last-lap
crash at the Daytona 500.
The seven-time Winston Cup
champion had to be cut out of his
car after slamming into the wall on
the final turn of the race while
fighting for position. He was tak
en to the hospital accompanied by
his son, Dale Jr., a young
NASCAR star who finished sec
ond in the race.
“This is understandably the
toughest announcement I’ve ever
had to make. We’ve lost Dale Earn
hardt,” said NASCAR president
Mike Helton.
Earnhardt died instantly of head
injuries, said Steve Bohannon, a
doctor at Halifax Medical Center.
“There was nothing that could
have been done for him,” he said.
The death comes at a time that
driver safety issues are under in
creased scrutiny. Three NASCAR
drivers were killed in wrecks last
season.
Jhe accident happened a half-
mile from the finish of the
NASCAR season-opener, won by
Michael Waltrip.
Earnhardt, running fourth,
grazed Sterling Marlin’s car,
crashed into the wall at the high-
banked fourth turn going about 180
mph, and was smacked hard by Ken
Schrader.
Earnhardt’s death was the
biggest blow to auto racing since
three-time Formula One champion
Ayrton Senna was killed in the San
Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy,
in 1994.
Neil Bonnett, one of Earnhardt’s
best friends, was killed that same
year in practice for the Daytona
500. Rodney Orr died in a wreck
three days later, also in practice, and
was the last driver killed at the track
until Earnhardt’s accident.
“NASCAR has lost its greatest
driver ever, and I personally have
lost a great friend,” NASCAR
chairman Bill France Jr. said.
It was the second major wreck in
five years in the race for Earnhardt,
«
This is under
standably the
toughest announce
ment I've ever had
to make. We've lost
Dale Eamhardt. ,>
— Mike Helton
NASCAR president
a driver known for his aggressive
ness on the track. He Pipped wild
ly on the backstretch near the end of
the race in 1997 but was not seri
ously hurt. He came back.to win the
race the next year on his 20th try.
Earnhardt is the leader among
active Winston Cup drivers with 76
career victories. He also had the
most victories at Daytona Interna
tional Speedway, 34.
The death made Waltrip’s vic
tory virtually meaningless, as dri
vers mourned one of their greatest
stars.
“My heart is hurting right now,”
Waltrip said before news of Earn
hardt’s death was announced. “I
would rather be any place right this
moment than here. It’s so painful.”
Earnhardt was doing what he
does best throughout the race, be
ing the crowd favorite and bumping
other cars for position.
He was a factor throughout,and
spent the final laps close to his son
and Waltrip, trying to block Mar
lin. Marlin had just passed Earn
hardt, who was trying to get back
by him on the low side of the track
when there was slight contact that
sent his Chevrolet spinning up the
banking.
It turned to the right and hit the
wall, and Schrader could not avoid
hitting Earnhardt’s car. Both cars
slowly began to slide down to the
bottom of the track as the rest of the
field raced by.
Earnhardt Jr. quickly left the
postrace celebration for Waltrip and
sprinted to the infield care center to
be with his father. It took several
minutes to get the elder Earnhardt
out of the car, and he was quickly
taken to Halifax Hospital.
Meanwhile, the crowd at Vic
tory Circle was chanting “DEI,
DEI,” for Dale Earnhardt Inc.,
which owns the cars of his son and
Waltrip. The celebration, which
usually lasts 30 minutes, ended
quickly.
Last May, Busch Series driver
Adam Petty, the grandson of stock
car great Richard Petty, was killed
in Loudon, N.H. Two months lat
er, Winston Cup driver Kenny Ir
win also was killed at New Hamp
shire International Speedway.
NASCAR truck series driver
Tony Roper was killed in October
at Texas Motor Speedway.
Dale Earnhardt, 49, was
an accident on the final lapofl
Daytona 500 Sunday.
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