Andrew Tiedeman
ENGL 111
Profile Essay
02-10-2016
He felt the adrenaline pumping through his veins whenever that engine fired up! The power and roar of car number three had fans cheering with all of their heart! He was the best driver on the track and his career reflects it! He is Ralph Dale Earnhardt, mostly just called Dale, and is known worldwide for his racing career. A career that has inspired most of today’s drivers in NASCAR and all forms of racing. He created a legendary career that will never be forgotten! Dale’s life began on April 29, 1951 in Kannapolis, North Carolina.(Biography.com editors.) Dale was named after his father Ralph Earnhardt who was also a successful racecar driver. Dale’s mother, Martha Earnhardt, cared very
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He dropped out of school and began turning wrenches and racing cars.(Biography.com) Showing a lot of promise for a successful career at a very young age, Dale truly had the heart and passion to drive! In 1973, Dale’s father, Ralph Earnhardt, died of a heart attack while working on his car. (biography) As it would be to any child that dearly loved their father, Dale was heart broken. However, his father’s death set off a spark that ignited Dale’s career! Two years after the death of Ralph Earnhardt, Dale made his own stock car racing debut, finishing 22nd in the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.(biography)
Dale was starting to grab attention from fans and it wasn’t until 1979 that he was signed to his first full-time Winston Cup contract by Rod Osterlund.(biography) He then went on to get his first win at the Southeastern 500 in Bristol, Tennessee. He also became the first rookie driver to take home 200,000 dollars!(biography) Dale was beginning to realize the potential he had in store and so did all of his
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Dale had finished second four times in this event, with only inches separating him and the gold.(biography) Until finally, after surviving a horrible crash in 1997, Dale won the Daytona cup in 1998.(biography) He had lost 59 races in a row and finished eighth in points that season.(biography)
Dale’s career not only shined bright to his fans but to his four children as well. Dale has two sons, Dale Jr and Kerry, who are also NASCAR drivers today, and two daughters, Kelley and Taylor. Kelley, Kerry, and Dale Jr. are from Dale’s first two marriages, while Taylor was born to his third wife Teresa.(biography) Dale inspired his children to achieve success on their own!
Horrifically, on February 18, 2001, NASCAR fans stood in shock at the Daytona 500. On the last lap of the race, stock car number three was traveling 180 miles per hour and sent head on into a wall.(Libaw,Dubrow,Maier) After Dale was cut free from his car, he was transported to Halifax Medical Center with his son Dale Jr. by his side.(Libaw,Dubrow,Maier) Dale passed away later that day, leaving fans and family in awe. A legend on the track died doing what he loved to