How do you measure an icon? Well, there are numbers and statistics. But then there’s this concept of ‘impact.’ And that can’t be measured, it can only be felt, felt when we see something and it reminds us of ‘that’ person. And this theory holds up NASCAR fans, just take a look at a recent video of a tornado that should remind you of the great Dale Earnhardt. Surely you’re thinking now, a tornado and Dale Earnhardt, what’s the connection there? The answer is simply this – 1997 Daytona 500. In the video, which Rex Chapman also shared as he wrote, “Oh. My. God,” a red truck can be seen being violently heckled and spun around by a proper tornado. Yet after a while, the truck lands on its four wheels and before you know it, it drives away. Yes, it drives away like it’s no biggie. Now, as for how it reminds us of Earnhardt, two words, Daytona 500. DALE EARNHARDT DOING ONLY WHAT HE COULD’VE DONE During the 1997 Daytona 500, Dale Earnhardt was still hunting for his first win at the Great American Race. But that year too, it wouldn’t come. Because the Intimidator was spun around by the car behind him as he hit the wall, went airborne, landed on the tarmac as he flipped, but then somehow, landed on his four wheels again, and drove away. Now, this is more or less similar to what happened to the red truck in that tornado recently. But Earnhardt took it a step further. He jumped out of his car, went to the ambulance, and after a while, went back into his car, drove it to his pit crew. The car, which was completely wrecked, was then fixed by tape, yes by tape. Dale Earnhardt [https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-230049.jpg]15 Feb 1996: Dale Earnhardt celebrates his seventh Gatorade125 Qualifying race as he chases the remarkable 500th win, at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Mandatory Credit: David Taylor/Allsport Dale Earnhardt was one and only of his kind. The Intimidator is known not only for his incredible numbers [https://www.racing-reference.info/driver/Dale_Earnhardt/] in his NASCAR career but he is remembered for a completely different thing more than any number can measure. And that is his impact and the way he was as a racecar driver, a true American icon. Also Read: EssentiallySports Exclusive: Tony Breidinger Not Part of Busch Beer Light’s $10 Million Program for Women in NASCAR Anymore [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-essentiallysports-exclusive-tony-breidinger-not-part-of-busch-beer-lights-10-million-program-for-women-in-nascar-anymore/] 

A recent video of a red truck stuck in a tornado is going viral on social media
that reminds us of Dale Earnhardt in the 1997 Daytona 500.

Shaharyar is an F1 & NASCAR writer at EssentiallySports. A graduate in
Journalism from Amity University, he has been a passionate follower of
motorsports for a better part of the decade. A Max Verstappen and Ferrari
supporter, he dreams of a pairing of the two in future. While his favourite
track is Monza, his favourite F1 car is the MP4/4. He enjoys watching soccer
when the engines are off. Along with being an author, he is also a filmmaker who
believes in the power of storytelling and taking a walk.

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/afc0a65575e79c2dd4b2b19a4e61e9d8?s=96&d=mm&r=g

Shaharyar Khan Chauhan

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VIDEO: Curious Case of the Viral Red Truck in a Tornado Reminiscent of NASCAR
Legend Dale Earnhardt at Daytona 500 in 1997

What Is Left of Denny Hamlin’s Depleting Core After Having to Deal With a Nearly
$70 Billion Worth Sponsor Loss?

“No Way in Hell”: Tony Stewart Discloses a Major Roadblock After His Baby Boy’s
Birth

NASCAR Rumor: Backed by Billionaire Family, Fans Speculate Former Formula 1
Driver to Soon Make NASCAR Debut

NASCAR Rumors: Corey LaJoie’s Cup Future Dependent on ‘$’ Amid Rick Ware’s Hopes
of Tony Stewart’s SHR Replay

NASCAR Rumor: Handed $25,000 Fine, Xfinity Star Could Replace Chevy’s Rejected
Prodigy

<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial "birthplace of speed", Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">NASCAR Cup Series</a> schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races.

[caption id="attachment_1627382" align="alignnone" width="1"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-1627382" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1024835900h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1" height="1" /> Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America - ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Origins of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2632995 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/DoBedrfXoAAjZ5P-1.jpeg" alt="" width="3000" height="2400" />

And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps.

The first-ever Daytona 500, called the <b>1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona</b> back then, saw 59 cars competing.Â The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Why is the Daytona 500 called â€˜The Great American Raceâ€™</strong></span></h2>
As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR's crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven't been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl.

The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President's Day weekend in every NASCAR fan's heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President's Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that's definitely a win-win!

While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn't any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure.

One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway.

[caption id="attachment_1948603" align="alignnone" width="1800"]<img class="wp-image-1948603 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago0004296892h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1800" height="1200" /> Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme - (ZUMAse4)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Highlights of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty's father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2491357 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/lee-petty.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1262" />

&nbsp;

Lee Petty's son isn't much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/richard-petty/">Richard Petty</a> sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981.

While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn't see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison's car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne.

Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011.

Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when 'Cars of Tomorrow' debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, 'Cars of Tomorrow' simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks.

The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While 'Captain America' famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event's grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Â Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter.

In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to asÂ <em>"the duels".Â </em>The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt/">Dale Earnhardt</a>'s greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nerve-wracking-crashes-that-changed-nascar-forever-edition-five-dale-earnhardt/">The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall</a> after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt's death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today.

[caption id="attachment_2105958" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-2105958 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1029986512h-e1699811493626.jpg" alt="Dale Earnhardt Sr" width="1920" height="1080" /> US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564<br />Image Credits - Imago[/caption]

&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The changes of the name of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt's passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that's the very name that has stuck around.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Daytona 500

What is the Daytona 500? For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial &#8220;birthplace of speed&#8221;, Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races. Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America &#8211; ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx Origins of the Daytona 500 While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year. And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps. The first-ever Daytona 500, called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona back then, saw 59 cars competing.Â The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650. Why is the Daytona 500 called â€˜The Great American Raceâ€™ As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR&#8217;s crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven&#8217;t been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl. The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President&#8217;s Day weekend in every NASCAR fan&#8217;s heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President&#8217;s Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that&#8217;s definitely a win-win! While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn&#8217;t any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure. One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway. Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme &#8211; (ZUMAse4) Highlights of the Daytona 500 The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty&#8217;s father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions. &nbsp; Lee Petty&#8217;s son isn&#8217;t much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, Richard Petty sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981. While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn&#8217;t see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison&#8217;s car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne. Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011. Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when &#8216;Cars of Tomorrow&#8217; debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, &#8216;Cars of Tomorrow&#8217; simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks. The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While &#8216;Captain America&#8217; famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event&#8217;s grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively. Â Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500 Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter. In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to asÂ &#8220;the duels&#8221;.Â The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels. The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of Dale Earnhardt&#8216;s greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt&#8217;s death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today. US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564Image Credits &#8211; Imago &nbsp; The changes of the name of the Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt&#8217;s passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that&#8217;s the very name that has stuck around. &nbsp; &nbsp;

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A recent video of a red truck stuck in a tornado is going viral on social media that reminds us of Dale Earnhardt in the 1997 Daytona 500.

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[caption id="attachment_423971" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="size-full wp-image-423971" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/20201026191536/GettyImages-78605405.jpg" alt="Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr." width="1920" height="1376" /> DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 4: Dale Earnhardt Sr. &amp; Dale Earnhard, Jr. pose together at the raceway in Daytona Beach, Florinda on February 4, 2001. The Earhnardts and Andy Pilgram earned second in the GTS category during the 2001 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. (Photo by ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images)[/caption]
<h3>Dale Earnhardt: 2021 Net Worth, Salary, and Endorsements</h3>
Dale Earnhardt Sr. was the most prominent driver in American stock car racing. Even though he always did things the way they suited him, he was remarkable in the NASCAR world.

Beyond etching his name as a legendary driver in the history books of NASCAR, he was also popular as his own Brand name. Outside his remarkable career in the racing field, Earnhardt Sr. also raved in business. He named it Dale Earnhardt Inc. -  the team his son raced with.
<h3>Dale Earnhardt Sr.: Stats and Championships</h3>
Earnhardt began his racing career in NASCAR, participating in the Winston Cup Series in 1975. He bagged the 1979 Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year. Following this, he earned seven titles of the Winston Cup Series Champion for the NASCAR Cup Series.

In the NASCAR Cup Series, Earnhardt Sr. raced for 27 consecutive years. In the record of 676 races he subsequently achieved 76 victories, 22 Pole finishes, and 428 Top Tens.

At the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the maestro drove in 136 races. In the tenure of 13 years, he clinched 21 trophies, 7 pole positions, and 75 top ten finishes.

He won the IROC Championship four times and also won the 1998 Daytona 500.

Furthermore, Earnhardt Sr. triumphed over the Southern 500 three times; he has the same record at the Coca-Cola 600.

He was the winner of the maiden Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race as well as the Busch Series.

Dale Earnhardt also claimed the 2001 Winston Cup Series Most Popular Driver. He received the award of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers too.

In 2002, Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee; 2006, International Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee; 2010, NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee; all three awards are under his collection.
<h3>Dale Earnhardt Sr: 2021 Net Worth</h3>
The accurate worth of Earnhardt Sr. is not available. However, at the time of his death, his approximate <a href="https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-athletes/race-car-drivers/dale-earnhardt-net-worth/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">net worth</a> was $70 million. If calculated at present, his net Worth will rise more than $100 million.

He has a long list of assets and properties along with his firm left for his kins.
<h3>Dale Earnhardt Sr: Foundations and Charity</h3>
Earnhardt Sr. has profoundly contributed to the field of philanthropy.

He helped in preserving wildlife and the environment. He further participated in lending help to the unprivileged children and their education.

The Dale Earnhardt Foundation still runs in his name to continue the legacy. It supports the needy through funds and sponsorships too.
<h3>Dale Earnhardt Sr.: Family</h3>
Earnhardt Sr. was born on April 29, 1951. He was the third child of Martha and Ralph Earnhardt. His father was a racer in NASCAR too.

At the early age of 17, Dale tied the knot with Latane Brown for the first time in 1968. The couple conceived their first child, Kerry, in the following year.

After his first divorce, he got married to Brenda Gee. The couple further gave birth to two children - Kelley King Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Soon after their son was born, the couple split. Wedding bells rang for the last time in 1982 as he read vows to Teresa Houston. The couple had their daughter in 1982, Taylor Nicole Earnhardt.

Earnhardt Sr. passed away on February 18, 2001, in an accident.
<h3>Dale Earnhardt Sr: Quick Facts</h3>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="206">DATE OF BIRTH</td>
<td width="142">April 29, 1951</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="206">EXPIRED</td>
<td width="142">February 18, 2001 (49)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="206">CAUSE OF DEATH</td>
<td width="142">Basilar Skull Fracture (in an accident while racing)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="206">HEIGHT</td>
<td width="142">6’1’’</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="206">NATIONALITY</td>
<td width="142">German-American</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="206">MARITAL STATUS</td>
<td width="142">Married (thrice)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="206">SPOUSE</td>
<td width="142">Latane Brown (M-1968)

Brenda Gee (M-1971)

Teresa Houston (M-1982)

&nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="206">KIDS</td>
<td width="142">4-Kerry, Kelley King Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Taylor Nicole Earnhardt</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="206">CHAMPIONSHIPS</td>
<td width="142">7</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="206">NET WORTH</td>
<td width="142">Above $70 Million</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Dale Earnhardt

DAYTONA BEACH, FL &#8211; FEBRUARY 4: Dale Earnhardt Sr. &amp; Dale Earnhard, Jr. pose together at the raceway in Daytona Beach, Florinda on February 4, 2001. The Earhnardts and Andy Pilgram earned second in the GTS category during the 2001 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. (Photo by ISC Archives/CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images) Dale Earnhardt: 2021 Net Worth, Salary, and Endorsements Dale Earnhardt Sr. was the most prominent driver in American stock car racing. Even though he always did things the way they suited him, he was remarkable in the NASCAR world. Beyond etching his name as a legendary driver in the history books of NASCAR, he was also popular as his own Brand name. Outside his remarkable career in the racing field, Earnhardt Sr. also raved in business. He named it Dale Earnhardt Inc. &#8211;  the team his son raced with. Dale Earnhardt Sr.: Stats and Championships Earnhardt began his racing career in NASCAR, participating in the Winston Cup Series in 1975. He bagged the 1979 Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year. Following this, he earned seven titles of the Winston Cup Series Champion for the NASCAR Cup Series. In the NASCAR Cup Series, Earnhardt Sr. raced for 27 consecutive years. In the record of 676 races he subsequently achieved 76 victories, 22 Pole finishes, and 428 Top Tens. At the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the maestro drove in 136 races. In the tenure of 13 years, he clinched 21 trophies, 7 pole positions, and 75 top ten finishes. He won the IROC Championship four times and also won the 1998 Daytona 500. Furthermore, Earnhardt Sr. triumphed over the Southern 500 three times; he has the same record at the Coca-Cola 600. He was the winner of the maiden Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race as well as the Busch Series. Dale Earnhardt also claimed the 2001 Winston Cup Series Most Popular Driver. He received the award of NASCAR&#8217;s 50 Greatest Drivers too. In 2002, Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee; 2006, International Motorsports Hall of Fame Inductee; 2010, NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee; all three awards are under his collection. Dale Earnhardt Sr: 2021 Net Worth The accurate worth of Earnhardt Sr. is not available. However, at the time of his death, his approximate net worth was $70 million. If calculated at present, his net Worth will rise more than $100 million. He has a long list of assets and properties along with his firm left for his kins. Dale Earnhardt Sr: Foundations and Charity Earnhardt Sr. has profoundly contributed to the field of philanthropy. He helped in preserving wildlife and the environment. He further participated in lending help to the unprivileged children and their education. The Dale Earnhardt Foundation still runs in his name to continue the legacy. It supports the needy through funds and sponsorships too. Dale Earnhardt Sr.: Family Earnhardt Sr. was born on April 29, 1951. He was the third child of Martha and Ralph Earnhardt. His father was a racer in NASCAR too. At the early age of 17, Dale tied the knot with Latane Brown for the first time in 1968. The couple conceived their first child, Kerry, in the following year. After his first divorce, he got married to Brenda Gee. The couple further gave birth to two children &#8211; Kelley King Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Soon after their son was born, the couple split. Wedding bells rang for the last time in 1982 as he read vows to Teresa Houston. The couple had their daughter in 1982, Taylor Nicole Earnhardt. Earnhardt Sr. passed away on February 18, 2001, in an accident. Dale Earnhardt Sr: Quick Facts  DATE OF BIRTH April 29, 1951  EXPIRED February 18, 2001 (49)  CAUSE OF DEATH Basilar Skull Fracture (in an accident while racing)  HEIGHT 6’1’’  NATIONALITY German-American  MARITAL STATUS Married (thrice)  SPOUSE Latane Brown (M-1968) Brenda Gee (M-1971) Teresa Houston (M-1982) &nbsp;  KIDS 4-Kerry, Kelley King Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Taylor Nicole Earnhardt  CHAMPIONSHIPS 7  NET WORTH Above $70 Million

VIDEO: Curious Case of the Viral Red Truck in a Tornado Reminiscent of NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt at Daytona 500 in 1997

Dale Earnhardt doing only what he could’ve done