1951 -  2001
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup
champion Dale Earnhardt, 49, was fatally injured Sunday Feb 18, 2001
in a multi-car accident on the final lap of the 43rd Daytona 500 at
Daytona International Speedway.

We were watching the race and we felt that Dales' injuries
were serious because of the angle he hit the wall.  We were
saddened when we found out his injuries were fatal.
Our hearts go out to the Earnhardt Family.
We wish them well.
M.J.K. Collectables & Family

Dale Earnhardt touched many lives in his lifetime -- from
his humble beginnings to his glory days.  As the world mourns
his passing, join in the tribute to this NASCAR legend.

Information from NASCAR.COM
The announcement was made at 7 p.m. ET
by NASCAR President Mike Helton.

"NASCAR has lost its greatest driver," said NASCAR Chairman of the Board
Bill France, who himself is recovering from life threatening illnesses,
"and I personally have lost a great friend."

His wife Teresa was at his side at the time of death.  Dr. Steve Bohannon,
emergency trauma surgeon who was on one of the ambulances that responded,
said, "My speculation would be head injuries, basically to the base of
the skull."   Earnhardt, who won the 1998 Daytona 500, was unconscious
when he was cut from his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet after
the accident between Turns 3 and 4 of the 2.5-mile speedway as a tangled
pack of cars raced to the checkered flag. He was immediately transported
to Halifax Medical Center, less than one-mile from the speedway.

Earnhardt was pronounced dead from massive chest injuries even while
his driver, Michael Waltrip, was being interviewed in the Daytona press
box after his first career victory in 463 starts.

In the accident, Ken Schrader's No. 36 Pontiac was pinned against the outside
wall by Earnhardt's out-of-control No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet,
which came from a lower lane on the 31-degree banked turn.

"I don't know what happened -- all of a sudden we were all crashing,
" said Schrader, who was unhurt in the accident. "I guess someone got
into Dale because Dale got into me and then we went up. We hit pretty
hard and Dale hit harder."

Schrader tried to visit Earnhardt's car after the accident ended, but
quickly left the area.

"I didn't get to talk to Dale," Schrader said of his escape. "I went over there
and then they (safety workers) got there real quick, so I got the hell out of the
way. I'm fine. I'm fine -- I'm just thinking about Dale and those guys."

"The only reason why I won this race was Dale Earnhardt," said Waltrip,
who was unaware of the news while he was being interviewed. "I wondered
why he wasn't in Victory Lane until I found out he was hurt."

Earnhardt was the career victories leader at Daytona. His 34th career victory
here came in the 2000 opening round of the True Value International Race of Champions.

Tony Stewart, who was injured in a separate accident, was also transported
directly to Halifax Sunday afternoon. Stewart was injured when his No. 20
Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac was one of no less than 19 cars that were involved
in an accident on the 2.5-mile trioval's backstretch. The race was red-flagged
at that point with 25 laps remaining.

Stewart was listed as "alert and conscious" when transported. A CT scan of his
head and neck and a x-ray of his left shoulder were negative, a speedway
statement revealed at 6 p.m. ET. He suffered a concussion in the accident, in
which his car flipped several times and was ultimately struck -- in the
bottom while flipping -- by his teammate Bobby Labonte.

Earnhardt's son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., 26, who finished second to Waltrip in
the race, immediately left the speedway following the race to join his father.
  
You will be missed Dale.
2001
There are certain individuals in this world that simply
refuse to quit.  Dale Earnhardt was one of these people.

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