1957
William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. is 86 today.
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.
CHICAGO (TNND) — Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, a prominent
civil rights leader who worked closely with Rev. Martin
Luther King Jr. and continued his work after his death,
died Tuesday.

Avel Gordlywas an activist, community organizer, and former
politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. In 1996, she became the
first African-American woman to be elected to the Oregon
State Senate, serving from 1997 to 2009.
After retiring from the legislature, Gordly joined the faculty
of Portland State University as an associate professor in
the Black studies Department. She was 79.
Avel Louise Gordly (February 13, 1947 – February 16, 2026)
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Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a businessman and retired
professional basketball player who is a minority owner
of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball
Association.
Michael Jordan is a principal owner of 23XI Racing,
a NASCAR Cup Series team he founded in 2020
alongside Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin.
On February 15,of this year, the team achieved its
biggest milestone by winning the 2026 Daytona 500
with driver Tyler Reddick, marking a major success
for the NBA icon’s venture.
