A legendary NASCAR legacy ended in the spring of 2001. Dale Earnhardt Sr‘s influence in the motorsport was infectious – by the 21st century he was an enduring asset for the racing community. After achieving 76 glittering Cup wins in his signature ‘Intimidator’ style, he entered the 2001 Daytona 500 at the peak of confidence.

But nobody could suspect the tragedy that struck NASCAR that day. A terrifying crash debilitated Dale Sr.’s brilliant talents forever. A recent reminder of that scary day still offers chills to several fans.

Dale Earnhardt Sr. raced like it was another day

Two days before the Daytona 500 race, Dale Earnhardt Sr. was ecstatic. He talked about his renewed life as a family man, finally getting marriage and fatherhood right on the third try. He basked in the glory of a successful career with 76 wins and seven Cup championships. So Dale Sr gleefully told Darrell Waltrip, “I’ve got it all right now, Darrell, I’ve got it all!” 

Little did anyone know that Dale Earnhardt had reached the end of the road. The race was thrilling with 49 lead changes among 14 different race leaders. With 25 laps to go, a massive crash unfolded involving Tony Stewart – his car drilled the concrete wall before going airborne. Luckily, Stewart came out of that safe. But later into the race, Dale Earnhardt headed toward another blood-curdling crash. And with just three laps to go, a media person took a fated photo.

Dale Earnhardt could be seen wearing a faceless helmet, riding alongside Kerry Schrader, whose helmet was different. This picture could have been Earnhardt’s last one, taken alive. Soon a rival’s bump sent his car ricocheting up the track and into the race field. But then Schrader’s car fiercely hit Earnhardt’s passenger door, sending both cars into the wall. The impact registered was a staggering 60 G’s.

Dale Earnhardt refused to wear the HANS device like a few other drivers. Citing restriction of motion, Earnhardt famously called it a “noose”. But that fatal decision cost him his life, as it did for Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin Jr, and Tony Roper. HANS inventor Jim Downing was fairly sure that Dale Earnhardt would have survived otherwise.

“If he’d had the device on, it would have stopped a fair amount of the (body) twist and taken a bunch out of the neck (stress). It may have pushed him below that threshold where he didn’t die.” He mentioned on Dale Sr’s 20th anniversary: “I can say it’s probably 95% he would have survived.” 

Yet fate took its own path. 23 years after Dale Earnhardt’s death, the final photo of him alive still haunts NASCAR fans.