RSS
Home
Hall of Fame spotlight: Dale Earnhardt
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Dale Earnhardt (photo from NASCAR Media)
Among the first five inductees into NASCAR's Hall of Fame, set to open in May 2010, is seven-time Cup champion Dale Earnhardt.
"I am very proud that the new Hall of Fame has chosen to include my son in the first induction," Earnhardt's mother, Martha Earnhardt, said. "Being honored for his accomplishments is the highest praise of his sacrifices and commitment to NASCAR, which he truly loved. We appreciate the induction committee's time and all its hard work in choosing Dale on this most important list of people. I also want to congratulate the other four inductees."
Earnhardt definitely contributed to NASCAR in several ways over the years, in life and since death and both on and off the racetrack.
“For what my Dad achieved in this sport – both on and off the track – he certainly earned his place in history and deserves to be distinguished in this inaugural class of NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees," son Dale Earnhardt Jr. said.
Earnhardt is one of only two drivers to earn seven Cup-level championships (1980, '86, '87, '90, '91, '93, and '94) -- the other, of course, being Richard Petty (another Hall of Fame inductee). In addition to his seven titles, Earnhardt posted 76 Cup wins, ranking him seventh all-time. He also has to his credit a win in the first Busch Series (now Nationwide Series) race in 1982.
In addition, Earnhardt is the only driver to win Cup Rookie of the Year honors one year (1979) and claim a series title the next (1980).
Among his many other on-track accomplishments is his claim to the most wins of any driver at Daytona International Speedway with 34, although the Daytona 500 trophy eluded him for 20 years, until he finally won it in 1998.
Earnhardt also contributed to how business was conducted in NASCAR. The way business was done at his Dale Earnhardt Inc., including licensing and copyrighting his name and likeness, was the foundation of a business model that was adopted by many other race teams and personalities in the sport.
He has also made significant contributions to NASCAR, even since his death in the 2001 Daytona 500.
His death, as a result of a head injury, has prompted NASCAR to adopt several safety innovations in the years since -- head and neck restraints, the SAFER barrier, etc. Perhaps even the Car of Tomorrow can be traced back, at least partially, to the desire to prevent such injuries.
"My father impacted many lives, and I know I speak on behalf of Dale Earnhardt fans everywhere in showing appreciation that his memory will live forever inside the walls of the NASCAR Hall of Fame," daughter Kelley Earnhardt said.
Related Articles:
Comments
