On February 15,2001 just eight months before our country would either witness or become a victim to the Worst attack on U.S. soil, those of us whom are fans of Auto Racing thought that we had witnessed the worst already.
Dale Earnhardt or as most like to call him "The INTIMIDATOR" was by far the most aggressive race car driver to come. He made his way by bumping, and banging all the way to 7 National Championships, and over 70 wins during his career.
Although a very sad day when we lost him, I as a huge fan could not ever imagine any other way for such a competitor to go. I was watching the Daytona 500 on February 15,2001 with my dad, and when ol' number "3" first hit the wall we, along with over 100,000 other fans, said "Ah, he'll wa;k away just like before" well he didn't and thanks to modern technology and forensics, the reason why was made clear almost immediatly. Unlike other crashes that he had been in, this time the body took the hit instead of JUST the car. When a crash occurs any where on the track, except into the wall, the car will absorb the crash.
The ourside retainer walls, are there to keep the car inside of the track and therefore will stop a car traveling 180 + miles an hour, immediatly. That is what happened on that faitful day, and that is when NASCAR lost the BEST driver it has or will ever see.
