The Death of Dale Earnhardt: A Sobering Reminder
Though I am frequently irritated by some of the inane questions and dialogue on Yahoo! Answers (”Is Jeff Gordon really gay?”), I still visit there. If nothing else, it gives me a sense of what serious and casual NASCAR fans are thinking. Given the fact we live nowhere near a NASCAR track, I have to rely on forums like this to stay connected to my race fan community. A question was asked last night that fueled my curiosity and led me down a sobering path.
Someone asked for a link on the report of the cause of death of Dale Earnhardt, which unless you’ve been living in a cave, you know that “The Intimidator” died on Turn Four of the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. I wasn’t a real serious race fan at the time, I was actually watching an NBA game that day, but I still remember well the scene in my living room and where I was and my reaction and shock, though I’d seen and heard death on the race track before.
Sadly, since that time, a lot of conjecture, blame, and urban myth has surrounded the death of perhaps the greatest, certaintly the most popular, and conversely the most controversial race car driver of all time. I remember the death threats and blame thrown in the direction of other drivers involved in the crash- Sterling Marlin and Ken Schrader- two guys at or near the top of the clean driver list. Some insist Earnhardt was throwing a block for his teammate (Michael Waltrip) and his son (Dale Jr.). Some say Earnhardt’s lap belt frayed because he cut it, suggesting suicide. Others have come up with all manner or zany ideas on what happened that day. Being a part of the media, you might say I am nosy by nature. I had to learn more. I clicked on to the link of the report.
It’s not a quick read, and I won’t bore you (or gross you out) with all the details. What is all boils down to is that Dale Earnhardt died of head injuries that are the result of a high speed crash. Earnhardt was missing a key safety device (the now-famous HANS neck restraint), and he wore an open face helmet. The conclusion of the report is that there were quite of number of factors occuring at just the wrong time to play a part of the death of the driver of the #3 Goodwrench Chevrolet. I try to avoid being preachy or get into a long discussion in this kind of forum about my religious beliefs, but it is my conclusion that it was Dale Earnhardt’s appointed day to die and he would have died whether he was in that car, a shopping mall, or in his own easy chair in his living room.
His death and those of Adam Petty, Fireball Roberts, Niel Bonnett, Joe Weatherly and others are reminders of the dangers of racing around in a 3,500 pound hunk of metal traveling close to 200 miles per hour. We have been immensely fortunate in that NASCAR hasn’t seen a death on the track since. A considerable amount of study came out of that tragedy to spring forth and mandate safety innovations that we don’t think 5 seconds about today, other than when we think about how this may have changed the outcome of affairs in Daytona, Florida on February 18, 2001.
The whole study of this event reminds me again not to take for granted the risks involved with those who participate in NASCAR racing. Those guys are either brave or crazy, or are more likely a little of both. I suppose that’s why I get a little miffed at those who say they “hate” a driver. These guys are human beings with families and loved ones and would be missed if they died. Futhermore, almost all racers use a portion of their riches to help the less fortunate via programs like Victory Junction and Jeff Gordon’s Children’s Hospital. That isn’t even the beginning. I guess I’m saying you can love your driver, you can have drivers you don’t root for, and you can even hope they don’t win. Wishing for a crash: bite your tongue! My kids would be on the receiving end of a serious scolding if I caught them wishing for such a thing. DON’T EVEN THINK IT, PEOPLE.
Appreciate what these guys do, and keep this sport in perspective. Can we agree on that?
