[RocketCutlass]

Remember when Jr got in that wreck not too long after that looked identeical to Sr's? I remember the anouncer saying something things just aint going right for that boy or something to that affect, thats when it hit me he was gone.

[2010 SSRS]

I was watching at my buddy's house and it seems like it was yesterday when that happened, very sad, these years go by to fast.

["prima"Donna]

It was the saddest day in the history of NASCAR....I felt like a beloved friend had died when they announced it after the race..........

Can't believe it's been 9 yrs already...as I've started saying the last few years, "Time flies whether we are having fun or not".....

[earn88hardt]

That day changed nascar forever.

[FLP]

I remember watching the wreck too and thinking, what's all the comotion about he barely tapped the wall. Great race car driver and even greater person, liked hearing about his different stories in the movie they did about him.

He was an innovator in the sport his whole life and ultimatley in his death also, the changes that were made do to his accident has saved alot of drivers lifes since then. Ryan Newman, Carl Edwards just last year at 'Dega. All these accidents were 100x worse than Sr's but they managed to walk away.

Seeing Jr. get aggresive and drive damn near to the front last weekend actually made me very happy, seemed to be a bit of Sr behind the wheel...

[BlackSunsine]

I was shocked that Sr had died that day as well.

However, we can all say he died doing what he loved. he died as the man he was and not as some old guy crawling by in his years.

[jcamaro]

I watched it happened, as well. I wasn't as big a fan as my brother was but we watched that race together. I remember seeing it happen and then his son won the race. I was thinking, "Man it sucks not to be there with his son's first Daytona win." And then later we hear the news that he died... It was shocking. My brother was pretty distraught about it. The Intimidator was his favorite of all time. NASCAR was never the same after that. He still watches, but its not the same.

[Rogue Leader]

Originally Posted by jcamaro

I watched it happened, as well. I wasn't as big a fan as my brother was but we watched that race together. I remember seeing it happen and then his son won the race. I was thinking, "Man it sucks not to be there with his son's first Daytona win." And then later we hear the news that he died... It was shocking. My brother was pretty distraught about it. The Intimidator was his favorite of all time. NASCAR was never the same after that. He still watches, but its not the same.

Jr didn't win, Michael Waltrip did.....

[jcamaro]

Originally Posted by Rogue Leader

Jr didn't win, Michael Waltrip did.....

It was so dramatic that my memory was skewed... He took 2nd though right? Wow, I was only 14 at the time but I thought he won. Its weird how memory starts to fail you so soon.

[Chrisrp454]

No only 9.

Originally Posted by PQ

It's been ten years?

Damn I'm getting along.

[MLL67RSSS]

Originally Posted by ljustin293

Moose, amazing you got to meet him, it was a dream of mine

Me too!!! The only, and I mean THE ONLY person of some celebrity that I would ever have cared and been honored to meet, bar none. I too still get choked up just reading this thread and thinking about it. I remember watching that day when he had Michaels back, that guy that everyone said was a has-been and would never win a race, that Dale Sr. himself had hired. My buddy called me and kept voicing his concern that he had been killed, "Did you see the tarp over the car,,,, Did you see how slowly the ambulance was going,,,,Did you see,,,,etc." I was so in denial and told him he was off his rocker. Nothing could kill that tough as nails guy. He'll be back in a race car next week. I still couldn't really accept it even after they made the annoucement. NASCAR has been, and never will be the same.

[SS 376]

I stopped watching NASCAR after Dale Earnhardt died. I'm only 29 but I can't get into any of the new guys. Too used to Ricky Rudd, Bill Elliot, Dale Jarrett and those guys...

[ljustin293]

Very cool Moose


Right now the only driver that comes close to reminding me of him is Kevin Harvick, still not close but he has kind of the same attitude in some areas. Jimmy Johnson is just dominating

[Angrybird 12]

Originally Posted by Moose

I consider myself very fortunate.

I've got a piece of memorabilia which I'm very proud of; I went to Richard Childress' "Open House" in '94, and I have a hauler signed by Richard, Dale's entire crew, and Dale himself. (My girlfriend and I waited in line 7 hrs., and not once did Dale leave the table.)

I was also fortunate enough to attend a car show at DEI, celebrating the Camaro, where I got to tour the race shop, and have lunch in Dale's 'Trophy Room'. Here I am in my SS parked in front of DEI;

I met him several times also, The first time was in 1990 at the Winston cup preview In Winston Salem NC. He signed 3 posters and 3 postcards for us.

The next time was in Louisville Ky also in 1990, I have a picture where he is signing my Talladega Checkered flag and talking to my Son....

The last time was in 1997 at his open house at his dealership, I got him to sign my Daytona Checkered flag and a Diecast car, Later I also got Richard Childress and the whole crew to sign the Daytona Flag...