On February 18, 2001, Dale Earnhardt Sr., considered one of
the greatest drivers in NASCAR history, died at the age of 49
in a last-lap crash at the 43rd Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach,
Florida.
Earnhardt was driving his black No. 3 Chevrolet and vying for
third place when he collided with another car, then crashed
into a wall. After being cut from his car,
Earnhardt, whose tough, aggressive driving style earned him
the nickname “The Intimidator,” was taken to a hospital, where
he was pronounced dead of head injuries.
Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s death made him the fourth NASCAR driver
to die within a nine-month period and eventually prompted
NASCAR officials to implement a series of more stringent
safety regulations, including the use of head-and-neck
restraints.
