I realize this is early, but on the 50th anniversary of another legend's death, I thought it'd be appropriate.
He was the Man in Black, the king of restrictor-plate racing, The Intimidator.
Three weeks from tomorrow, on a quiet February Wednesday, it'll be the eighth anniversary of his death.
Eight years ago, we lost a legend. We lost Dale Earnhardt.
His story began in Kannapolis, North Carolina, where Ralph Dale Earnhardt was born to parents Ralph and Martha Earnhardt. A persistent Dale wanted no part in his father banning him from racing. Sadly, the elder Earnhardt passed away before his son had reached his full potential—a tragedy that would sadly parallel itself 28 years later.
Dale Earnhardt struggled from 1975 to 1978 to gain a full-time ride, but finally did his official rookie year in 1979, when he drove for Rob Osterland.
The man who would one day be known as The Intimidator would win the Winston Cup Championship for the team the following year, one of many to come.
Leaving the team near the end of 1981 to drive for Richard Childress Racing would prove to be the wisest choice. There, a partnership, and eventual friendship, between the two would prove to be a nearly unstoppable.
Together, they won 68 races, captured 262 top fives and finished in the top 10 404 times. They also combined for Earnhardt's six other championships—1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, and his last in 1994.
Earnhardt also claimed 31 restrictor-plate wins, including six in the Busch Clash and 12 in the Daytona qualifying races.
Despite all that success, the win that eluded him most was the prestigious Daytona 500.
After twenty years, he finally did it.
Dale Earnhardt won "The Great American Race" in 1998, congratulated by every pit crew member on pit road, who lined up to shake the Man in Black's hand.
His last win came in the 2000 Winston 500 at Talladega. Earnhardt would never visit Victory Lane again.
On Feb. 18, 2001, Earnhardt, in his infamous black No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet, was running behind his son, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Dale Earnhardt Inc. entry, Michael Waltrip during the Daytona 500, the race that he'd spent most of his career trying to conquer.
With one lap remaining, Sterling Marlin tried to pass Earnhardt, but ended up hitting him, sending the No. 3 and Kenny Schrader into the wall.
Later that evening, NASCAR President Mike Helton made the dreaded announcement.
"This is the hardest thing I've ever done," Helton said through tears. "We've lost Dale Earnhardt."
Earnhardt Nation mourned the loss of their hero, but bright points throughout the season lightened hearts around the NASCAR world.
A week after Earnhardt's death, DEI driver Steve Park won the DuraLube 400 at Rockingham. Earnhardt's son, Dale Jr., won the next race in Daytona that July.
Richard Childress, who had contemplated leaving the sport after his friend's death, put second year Busch driver Kevin Harvick in the renumbered No. 29—now white—Goodwrench Chevrolet.
Three weeks after the Intimidator's tragic death, Harvick beat out the eventual champion, Jeff Gordon, at Atlanta Motor Speedway to win his first race by a margin of .006 seconds.
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