NASCAR Loses 'The Intimidator' forever

This past Sunday, NASCAR lost one of their best drivers ever in Stock Car Racing. Dale Earnhardt Sr. was involved in a horrific crash that claimed his life in the final turn of the Daytona 500. Dale Earnhardt’s Number 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet was bumped from behind by Sterling Marlin's closely following Number 40 Dodge between Turns 3 and 4 of the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway as a tangled pack of cars raced to the checkered flag. Rescue workers responded immediately and began administering oxygen and CPR to Earnhardt.

But unfortunately it was to no avail. At the time of the deadly crash, Earnhardt Sr. was in third position right behind his son, Dale Jr. and longtime friend Michael Waltrip who was leading the race. Dale Sr. was very content in staying in third position, as he owned both the two cars ahead of him racing for the win. The outcome of the race was Michael Waltrip winning for the first time in 463 tries, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished a close second.

The loss of Dale Earnhardt Sr. will be felt throughout the NASCAR community for years to come. Dale Sr. made 676 starts in his Winston Cup career, which began back in 1975. He was the 1979 Winston Cup Rookie of the Year and won his first championship the next season, winning five races and becoming the first driver in history to win the Rookie of the Year award and Winston Cup in back-to-back seasons.

Dale was sixth on the career Winston Cup victories list with 76 and was on his way to break Terry Labonte's current consecutive starts record of 655. Dale Earnhardt Sr. was the career victories leader at Daytona. His 34th and final career victory here came in the 2000 opening round of the True Value International Race of Champions. In addition to all the Winston Cup Championships, Dale Earnhardt Sr. also won three IROC Championships in 1990, 1995 and 1999.

Here are Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s final career stats:

Total Races- 676

Wins- 76

Top 5 Finishes- 281

Top 10 Finishes- 428

Poles- 22

Total Earnings- $ 41,538,362

Dale Earnhardt Sr. was known as the "Intimidator". If you’re a NASCAR fan, you either loved Earnhardt or hated him. There was no in between. Earnhardt told it like it was; speaking the truth, even if that’s not what you wanted to hear. This is why Earnhardt’s fans loved him the way that they did. NASCAR lost a family member, a great driver, and first and foremost an all around great person. He will be sorely missed by all and the NASCAR community will never ever be the same without him.