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Dale Earnhardt Tribute
This page is dedicated one of the all time greatest racecar drivers.
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A fine Daytona afternoon, the season just begun.
My boys were running one and two, and I was having fun.
I probably could have won the thing, but something held me back.
I was busy watching Dale and Mike -- and holding off the pack. I was looking toward the front and not really to the rear.
Something tapped me on my bumper, but still I had no fear.
I thought it might be Sterling - I knew he was nearby.
When Sterling smells the checkered flag,! I'll tell you, he ain't shy.
I slipped a bit. I turned the wheel. I sensed something very odd.
It wasn't Sterling's tap I'd felt. It was the tap of God.
"Not now," I said. "I'm racing hard. There's work still here to do."
"You're time is up," He whispered low, "So say a quick adieu."
I wasn't really ready, but I didn't have a choice.
He'd tapped me on the bumper and I'd heard His hallowed voice.
So ! I did as He instructed. I just packed it in and left.
I guess it can't be helped that I left some of you bereft.
Did you see those birds upon the wall as they scattered in the breeze?
Will it make it any easier to know that was me?
There was also Davey, Dad and Neil and some other guys I've known.
And they all came to Daytona just to escort me on home.
Hey - congratulations, Mikey! You made a worthy run.
I wish you many, many more. You're wins have just begun.
All that fun you had in Victory Lane, I was proud as proud can be.
Did you see a seagull flying low? Yeah, Mikey, that was me.
So, friends and fans and family, don't mourn me for too long.
Get on with life - take care of things - be brave and proud and strong.
I'll surely miss you every one. About that I will not lie.
But as long as you remember me - I didn't really die.
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Dale's Winston Cup Record Total Winston Cup Carrer 676 Starts, 76 Wins, 281 Top 5's, and 428 Top 10's and 22 poles!!!! Rookie of the Year 1979
Four Time IROC Champion
1990
1995
1999
2000 |
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You win some, lose some, and wreck some.
Dale Earnhardt
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"Terry got into me in the middle of 3 and 4. I got back to him and met to rattle him. I didn't mean to wreck him...I just meant to rattle his cage a little bit."
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7 Time Winston Cup Champion |
"We have lost our Elvis Presley. This man carried our sport after Richard Petty left." Bobby Hamilton, on Dale Earnhardt "Losing Earnhardt, to me, was like losing Elvis. It took a piece away of my life, a piece of all our lives. What Earnhardt's death shows everybody is 'enjoy life.' It's like we lost Babe Ruth."
- John Force |
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"Fire, wind, rain, and black cars with the No. 3 on them ... these things are natural disasters, and you have to steer clear of them."
- Darrell Waltrip "He was a true friend, someone I could always depend on to give me an honest answer and most certainly his opinion. I looked up to him not only because of his driving skills, but because he was so much more to so many people, including me and my family."
- Dale Jarrett "It was a terrible accident and my heart goes out to his family because they are the ones who suffer most. Racing lost one of the greatest stock car drivers that ever lived and I lost a great friend, somebody that I respected highly."
- A.J. Foyt "He and I were about as close of friends as you can get in our sport with the competition and all that goes along with it. We've had some helluva battles out there on the race track through the years, but we've had so many good times off the track."
- Rusty Wallace |
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Dale and Rusty Wallce honoring the late Davey Allison and Alan Kulwicki |
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The Heaven 500 The Heaven 500, was just getting started, An All Star race, for the racing departed, Heroes of the track, with nerves like steel, And sitting on the pole, was a cat named Neil.
Adam Petty was there, with his beautiful smile, Kenny Irwin determined, to finish in style. Lee Petty was glowing, with that Grandfather pride, With Bobby & Clifford, both in a new ride.
Fireball Roberts, floated in on a cloud, While Tony Roper waved, to the Heavenly crowd. Morrosso & Nemecheck, then Tim Richmond appeared, Kulwicki strapped in while the race fans cheered.
The honorary starter, for this Heavenly race, Ralph Earnhardt was chosen, a tear on his face. But the red flag flew, just before it had begun, And every eye, was open wide, and looking to the SON.
A last minute entry, was the cause of the delay,
While the fans were instructed, to kneel and to pray.
The heavens turned black, and the clouds turned dark, The lightning was brilliant, the thunder did bark.
Then out of the rumble, for all there to see, The clouds formed a number, a black number three. The Heavenly fans, then erupted with pride, And welcomed this star, who had recently died.
With a bolt of lightning, Dale Earnhardt arrived, As he stood before Jesus, his spirit revived. Jesus hugged his precious child, then revealed his perfect plan, “I brought you home, to let you know, that I’m your biggest fan!”
“The Intimidator was needed, for his Heavenly race,
leaving all of your earthly fans, with honor and with grace.”
Ralph Earnhardt then stepped forward, embracing his son,
Then whispered in the ear of Dale, “Let’s go have some fun!”
As Ralph stood proud, the green flag flew,
The crowd went wild and the tension grew,
And just like Salvation, the admission was free,
As every eye focused, on the black number three.
When the checkered flag dropped, no dry eyes remained,
It was a photo finish, as Jesus explained.
He said, “There are no losers, on this Heavenly track.
That was a welcome home party, for The Man In Black!” |
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