Remembering Dale
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Ten years ago, on February 18, 2001, I was a junior in high school without a care in the world. Well, there were a few things that were important to me ... one of which was Dale Earnhardt.
Little did I know, as the checkered flag was being waved on that Sunday afternoon, I was never going to be able to cheer on my favorite driver again.
I remember that day like it was yesterday.
Headed into the 2001 season, NASCAR was about to hit an all-time high in popularity with a new TV deal. I was excited for the fact that Earnhardt, my favorite driver, had a really good chance at being the Winston Cup champion for the 8th time.
In 2000, Earnhardt finished in second place to Bobby Labonte in the points standings, so why wouldn't I, then 16 years old, not think the man who I worshipped more in sports than any other wouldn't win the title for a record breaking 8th time?
I spent any money that I had on racing collectibles and apparel with the No. 3 on it. My walls were covered with framed photos, posters and die-cast cars. You name it, I probably had it. My collection of treasures had hats, Coke bottles, collector's plates, rugs, a tissue box, magazines, license plates, T-shirts, key chains, trading cards, figurines, knives, pens, notebooks, flags … you get the point.
I mean, he was the Intimidator. Nobody in my mind was better than him, so 2001 was going to be the best year ever. I thought he was going to be the champ again.
We all know what happened later on that day on the final lap.
Celebrating that a car owned by Earnhardt (Michael Waltrip) was going to win the race, I didn't realize the elder Earnhardt had hit the wall like he did. I remember cheering for Waltrip, yelling for Dale wrecking and then being happy for "Mikey" winning his first Cup points race … ever. Plus, my new second-favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., finished in second place. What a great way to start the season.
The wreck didn't look that bad on TV. I remember Darrell Waltrip saying "I hope Dale is OK."
Then after many replays, I remember vividly, with the telecast going off the air … it showed an ambulance driving kind of slow toward the hospital. No hurry. No lights. Nothing.
I thought, "well, he should be all right." I mean, he was the Intimidator, plus Dale was always OK after wrecks.
Now here is the tough part.
I was sitting in my room, playing a NASCAR video game on the original Playstation, when I heard the phone ring. My mom said something about how they were talking about Earnhardt on TV.
At the moment, my world was crushed.
All I really remember was a head shot of Dale with the following under the photo … 1951-2001, while seeing a clip saying "We lost Dale Earnhardt."
I don't remember when the tears stopped, but I know I wasn't the only person who cried over the passing of Dale. For the next week, I wore a different Earnhardt shirt every day. A small tribute to my sports hero.
To this day, that wreck gives me chills. I have seen clips of it a few times, but deep down, I always hope it doesn't turn out the same.
It never changes. It never will change.
Ten years later, the sport is much safer. The cars are safer, the drivers are safer and the tracks are safer.
Drivers no longer wear an open-faced helmet that the ones of the past wore. The walls have extra padding to absorb the momentum when the cars wreck into them, and since that day, every driver in the top-series of NASCAR has walked away from their wreck. Dale's legacy is much greater than what he did in the race car, by how much safer the entire sport is after his death.
Racing is and never will never be the same, but what is?
I still watch the races. I've even gone to a Daytona 500 in 2008, which was the 10-year anniversary of his only 500 win. Though I never got to see him race in person, at least I got to raise three fingers on the third lap of that race. Though it wasn't planned, it felt right. I wasn't the only person raising three fingers in the air that day.
He was one of us regular folk who have to work their way up from the bottom, in hopes that one day, we can achieve whatever our dream is.
When I think back to watching Dale race, I have good memories. I remember him winning the Daytona 500 in 1998. I remember him racing to the end at Atlanta in 2000, winning by the slimmest of margins. I remember his spinning out Terry Labonte on the final lap at Bristol in 1999, and when he got out of the car, a mix of cheers and boos came from the stands.
I remember in late October 2000 watching on ESPN when he went from 18th to 1st in five laps to win a race at Talladega. I remember watching that with a buddy of mine and saying I needed to tape this race. So, that night, I put a tape into the VCR and recorded the replay. It turned out to be his last win. I still have the tape.
But not all the memories are of him winning, I remember throwing my hat in anger after the 1999 Daytona 500, when Jeff Gordon passed him for the win. That sticks with me because I was a participant of many arguments of who was better … Earnhardt or Gordon. I still say Earnhardt.
So with today, Feb. 18, 2011, being the day Dale passed away 10 years ago, I know I am a better person for just being a fan of his. In my mind, he's a symbol of hard work and hope.
Today, I will open a couple of the boxes of Earnhardt memorabilia I collected back then. It will be kind of like a time capsule of sorts. I'll look at it, remember the joy that it brought, remember where I got it, all while paying my respects to the greatest of all-time.
Remember, Dale never wanted to wreck anyone on purpose … he just wanted to rattle them.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]
Little did I know, as the checkered flag was being waved on that Sunday afternoon, I was never going to be able to cheer on my favorite driver again.
I remember that day like it was yesterday.
Headed into the 2001 season, NASCAR was about to hit an all-time high in popularity with a new TV deal. I was excited for the fact that Earnhardt, my favorite driver, had a really good chance at being the Winston Cup champion for the 8th time.
In 2000, Earnhardt finished in second place to Bobby Labonte in the points standings, so why wouldn't I, then 16 years old, not think the man who I worshipped more in sports than any other wouldn't win the title for a record breaking 8th time?
I spent any money that I had on racing collectibles and apparel with the No. 3 on it. My walls were covered with framed photos, posters and die-cast cars. You name it, I probably had it. My collection of treasures had hats, Coke bottles, collector's plates, rugs, a tissue box, magazines, license plates, T-shirts, key chains, trading cards, figurines, knives, pens, notebooks, flags … you get the point.
I mean, he was the Intimidator. Nobody in my mind was better than him, so 2001 was going to be the best year ever. I thought he was going to be the champ again.
We all know what happened later on that day on the final lap.
Celebrating that a car owned by Earnhardt (Michael Waltrip) was going to win the race, I didn't realize the elder Earnhardt had hit the wall like he did. I remember cheering for Waltrip, yelling for Dale wrecking and then being happy for "Mikey" winning his first Cup points race … ever. Plus, my new second-favorite driver, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., finished in second place. What a great way to start the season.
The wreck didn't look that bad on TV. I remember Darrell Waltrip saying "I hope Dale is OK."
Then after many replays, I remember vividly, with the telecast going off the air … it showed an ambulance driving kind of slow toward the hospital. No hurry. No lights. Nothing.
I thought, "well, he should be all right." I mean, he was the Intimidator, plus Dale was always OK after wrecks.
Now here is the tough part.
I was sitting in my room, playing a NASCAR video game on the original Playstation, when I heard the phone ring. My mom said something about how they were talking about Earnhardt on TV.
At the moment, my world was crushed.
All I really remember was a head shot of Dale with the following under the photo … 1951-2001, while seeing a clip saying "We lost Dale Earnhardt."
I don't remember when the tears stopped, but I know I wasn't the only person who cried over the passing of Dale. For the next week, I wore a different Earnhardt shirt every day. A small tribute to my sports hero.
To this day, that wreck gives me chills. I have seen clips of it a few times, but deep down, I always hope it doesn't turn out the same.
It never changes. It never will change.
Ten years later, the sport is much safer. The cars are safer, the drivers are safer and the tracks are safer.
Drivers no longer wear an open-faced helmet that the ones of the past wore. The walls have extra padding to absorb the momentum when the cars wreck into them, and since that day, every driver in the top-series of NASCAR has walked away from their wreck. Dale's legacy is much greater than what he did in the race car, by how much safer the entire sport is after his death.
Racing is and never will never be the same, but what is?
I still watch the races. I've even gone to a Daytona 500 in 2008, which was the 10-year anniversary of his only 500 win. Though I never got to see him race in person, at least I got to raise three fingers on the third lap of that race. Though it wasn't planned, it felt right. I wasn't the only person raising three fingers in the air that day.
He was one of us regular folk who have to work their way up from the bottom, in hopes that one day, we can achieve whatever our dream is.
When I think back to watching Dale race, I have good memories. I remember him winning the Daytona 500 in 1998. I remember him racing to the end at Atlanta in 2000, winning by the slimmest of margins. I remember his spinning out Terry Labonte on the final lap at Bristol in 1999, and when he got out of the car, a mix of cheers and boos came from the stands.
I remember in late October 2000 watching on ESPN when he went from 18th to 1st in five laps to win a race at Talladega. I remember watching that with a buddy of mine and saying I needed to tape this race. So, that night, I put a tape into the VCR and recorded the replay. It turned out to be his last win. I still have the tape.
But not all the memories are of him winning, I remember throwing my hat in anger after the 1999 Daytona 500, when Jeff Gordon passed him for the win. That sticks with me because I was a participant of many arguments of who was better … Earnhardt or Gordon. I still say Earnhardt.
So with today, Feb. 18, 2011, being the day Dale passed away 10 years ago, I know I am a better person for just being a fan of his. In my mind, he's a symbol of hard work and hope.
Today, I will open a couple of the boxes of Earnhardt memorabilia I collected back then. It will be kind of like a time capsule of sorts. I'll look at it, remember the joy that it brought, remember where I got it, all while paying my respects to the greatest of all-time.
Remember, Dale never wanted to wreck anyone on purpose … he just wanted to rattle them.
Stephen Forsha is the sports editor of The Highland County Press.[[In-content Ad]]