Dale Earnhardt Was Kept in Same Bracket as Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks by Bestselling Country Musician in Iconic Southern History Anthem

Among some very few universally agreed facts there are in this world, Dale Earnhardt being one of the greatest and most influential racecar drivers in the history of motorsports is one. The Intimidator, unlike other legends, did a little more than just succeed in his profession.

What he did was revolutionary in many ways, iconic in some, and undeniably historic in all.

Perhaps that’s why he found his name in country musician Tim McGraw’s 2009 tune, ‘Southern Voice’, alongside names such as Dr. Martin Luther King, William Faulkner, Rosa Parks, Michael Jordan, Tom Petty, and more sons and daughters of the South.

If that isn’t a testament to Earnhardt’s legend, his legacy, and his contributions, then what is?

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Competing against Dale Earnhardt changed this NASCAR legend’s life forever

Of all the rivalries Dale Earnhardt had in his long, illustrious career, arguably the one with Jeff Gordon ranks in the top echelon.

The tussle between the then veteran and already established legend Earnhardt and the new kid on the block Gordon went on to launch NASCAR in a new era along with pushing the young Hendrick Motorsports to his very limits, post which, he too emerged as one of the all-time greats himself.

Naturally, the effects of being pushed against the wall by the Intimidator weren’t lost on Gordon, who reflected on his rivalry with the seven-timer in 2019.

“To be able to go out there head-to-head against one of the all-time greats for that championship changed my life and my career forever,” Gordon said according to USA Today.

“Just what a pain in the ass he was to race against,” the four-time Cup champion remembered. “He just was a tough, tough competitor.”

“He just had this magical way of shoving you out of the way, knocking you sideways or maybe even wrecking you, and the next day or the next week put his arm around you and say, ‘Hey, kid.'”

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