When a Holiday in the Bahamas Made Dale Earnhardt Look Almost Unrecognizable

Every celebrity has a signature look that distinguishes them. For the late great Dale Earnhardt, it was his thick luxuriant moustache. Best-known as The Intimidator, the moustache definitely added to that element of intimidation. Of course, his driving did most of the donkey work, but his signature stache just screamed Dale Earnhardt.

However, once upon a time, there was a time when he actually shaved it off voluntarily. For many, it would sound like a bizarre reason, but Dale Sr wanted to have some fun. According to a report, “Earnhardt shaved the moustache last weekend while vacationing in the Bahamas during a rare NASCAR Winston Cup off weekend. Earnhardt, who snorkelled with Michael Waltrip, had problems with his mask. It wouldn’t seal above his mouth because of the moustache and water rushed in.”

READ MORE: “Maybe We’ll Go Run Le Mans” – Dale Earnhardt Had Plans To Compete In Iconic Race After NASCAR

What did Dale Earnhardt do to solve the problem?

Owing to the difficulty, the 7-time Cup champion had to choose between his reputation and his comfort. Suffice to say, the choice was an easy one, and he promptly shaved it off instead of sitting on the sidelines. He confessed that he was practically ‘drowning’, so he swam back to the boat and shaved. It made a world of difference because his clean-shaven face granted him the ability to snorkel even deeper and not drown in the water.

Obviously, the moustache grew back eventually, though it knocked off the intimidation a lot. Nevertheless, he more than made up for it in his driving, and it was a fitting reminder. It just goes to show that it takes more than a moustache to truly define a driver as legendary as Dale Earnhardt. Even though Dale Sr is no longer with us on this mortal plane, his seven Cup Series titles and a rock-solid legacy will never ever die out.

WATCH STORY: Most heated moments between Dale Earnhardt & Jeff Gordon