One Quarter Mile From Heaven
Like a guardian angel from four cars back,
Watching Michael and Dale Jr. as they circled the track.
No intention of winning, just holding his place,
So proud of his “boys” now winning the race.
We thought it was over, the end was so near,
No time for pain, no time for fear.
We did not know, as there was no sign,
Dale was only one quarter mile from his final finish line.
Within an instant, fans would be facing,
An eternal change in their world of racing.
He was one of the greatest beloved in his sport,
With a grand career now sadly cut short.
All the crowd noticed was excitement and debris,
But a miracle was happening we could not see.
Dale said goodbye through shining metal and chrome,
As God gave “#3” the checkered flag home.
But forever in our hearts and in the scheme of things,
We’ll picture him circling heaven with black and red wings.
Grinning, telling angels and even the Creator,
Look out over there, here comes the Intimidator.
Dale Earnhardt's Legacy...
1973: Earnhardt's father, Ralph, dies at age 45 of a heart attack while working on a race car.
1975: Earnhardt makes his Winston Cup debut in the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He started 33rd and finished 22nd in a Dodge owned by Ed Negre. He earned $2,245 and finished one spot ahead of his future boss, Richard Childress.
1979: He wins the Winston Cup Rookie of the Year title while driving for Rod Osterlund, the season that includes his first victory at Bristol.
1980: Earnhardt wins five races en route to his first Winston Cup championship. He's the only driver to win a series championship after being Rookie of the Year.
1981: Earnhardt struggles, failing to win a race or a pole. Osterlund sells the team in mid-season and Earnhardt quits. He drives for Childress the rest of the season.
1982: He joins Bud Moore's team. He wins at Darlington in April but fractures a knee in a crash at Talladega. He doesn't miss a race.
1983: He wins two races before bolting back to a car owned by Childress, with whom he'd spend the rest of racing career.
1984: He wins two races including one at Atlanta where newcomer Terry Schoonover is killed. "I'm sorry it happened, real sorry," Earnhardt said. "It's something you don't want to think about happening, and I try not to."
1985: Earnhardt wins four races and finishes eighth in the season points race.
1986: He wins his second Winston Cup title with five victories.
1987: Earnhardt wins a third series title with 11 victories.
1989: He finishes second in the series, losing to Rusty Wallace by 12 points.
1990: Earnhardt earns a then-record $3million in prize money while taking home a fourth Winston Cup title, 26 points ahead of Mark Martin.
1991: He takes a fifth series title.
1992: He finishes 12th in the season's points race, tying his worst showing of his Winston Cup career.
1993: Earnhardt wins a sixth Winston Cup championship.
1994: He ties Richard Petty's mark of seven Winston Cup titles.
1997: Earnhardt goes winless for the first time since 1981.
1998: He claims his only Daytona 500 victory, in is 20th attempt.
2000: He finishes second in the points race to Bobby Labonte. He wins his last race in October at Talladega, Ala., giving him 76 career victories.
2001: Earnhardt is killed in a crash during the last lap of the Daytona 500, while a car he owns, driven by Michael Waltrip, wins the race.
This page was designed by me...Leah
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