ESPN Classic - Stunned racing world reacts to loss

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Punch: Earnhardt unselfish at the end

Friday, February 23, 2001
Stunned racing world reacts to loss
ESPN.com news services

	Sending your remembrances
	The Earnhardt family has asked that instead of flowers, donations can be sent to the Foundation for the Carolinas, a nonprofit philanthropic organization. The address is: Foundation for the Carolinas In Honor of Dale Earnhardt P.O. Box 34769 Charlotte, N.C. 28234-4769

"On behalf of Taylor, Dale Jr., Kerry, Kelley and the entire Earnhardt family, which also includes all the employees of Dale Earnhardt Incorporated, we want to sincerely thank everyone that has offered their condolences during our very tragic loss. This outpouring has been overwhelming. We kindly ask that you keep our family in your thoughts and prayers."
– Wife Teresa Earnhardt

"We're deeply saddened by the loss. We appreciate everybody for their support. We'll get through this. I'm sure he'd want us to go on."
– Son Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"Words cannot express the tremendous loss all of us at Richard Childress Racing are feeling at this time. All of our thoughts and prayers and deepest sympathies are with Martha, Teresa, Kerry, Kelley, Dale Jr. and Taylor Nicole and the entire Earnhardt family.

"Dale Earnhardt was much more than a race car driver. He was a very loving husband and proud father and grandfather. He was a successful businessman. He was also a hero to millions of racing fans throughout the world.

"Dale was my friend. We hunted together and raced together. We laughed and cried together. We were able to work side-by-side and have success we had for almost 20 years because we were friends first. I will miss him always. He was the greatest."
– Richard Childress, owner of Dale Earnhardt's car

"I, like everyone else, am in shock with the passing of Dale Earnhardt. Besides being an incredible driver and spokesman for the sport he so loved, he was a true friend and has been a major influence on my life and career. Understandably, my family's thoughts are with Teresa, Kerry, Kelly, Dale Jr. and Taylor Nicole. May god bless all of them and watch over them in this time of need."
– Defending Winston Cup champion Bobby Labonte

"Dale Earnhardt made a difference in the world. On the track, he made us all better drivers because he set a standard of excellence we all aspired to achieve. He had a passion and a desire that took the sport of NASCAR to a new level every time he climbed in the car. Off the track he was kind, giving, loving man who gave his all to his family and friends. He worked tirelessly to make the world a better place for as many people as possible who were less fortunate than he. I did not know him as long as most of the other drivers but he made a huge impact on my life in the years I have been in NASCAR. I am grateful and blessed to have had the benefit of his wisdom and guidance."
– Driver Tony Stewart

"On behalf of everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, we would like to extend our heartfelt sympathies to Teresa and the entire Earnhardt family as well as everyone at Dale Earnhardt Incorporated and Richard Childress Racing. While Dale was a fierce competitor on and off the track and leader in the community, he was a member of our family and as you can imagine, we are grieving that loss."
– Joe Gibbs, car owner

"We are deeply saddened by the fatal accident of our good friend and driver Dale Earnhardt in the final lap of the Daytona 500 NASCAR race yesterday. We have been priviledged to have been the sponsor of Dale's No. 3 Goodwrench Chevrolet for the past 13 years. He's given so many people so many thrills over so many years. He will be missed beyond words. On behalf of all GM employees and all of Dale's thousands of fans, we offer our sincere condolences to Dale's wife Teresa, their children including Dale Earnhardt Jr. and team owner Richard Childress on the loss of NASCAR's greatest driver ever."
– Vice President and General Manager of GM Sevice Parts Operations John F. Smith

"Brooke (Gordon) and I are deeply saddened by this devastating loss. Not only is it a huge loss for this sport, but a huge loss for me personally. Dale taught me so much and became a great friend. Our thoughts and prayers are with Teresa and the entire Earnhardt family."
– Driver Jeff Gordon

"My heart is hurting right now. I would rather be any place right this moment than here. It's so painful."
– Race winner Michael Waltrip at his press conference. Waltrip drove a car owned by Earnhardt.

"This is undoubtedly one of the toughest announcements that I've ever personally had to make. But after the accident in Turn 4 at the end of the Daytona 500, we've lost Dale Earnhardt."
– NASCAR president Mike Helton.

"I don't know for sure what happened. We all spread out going down the back straightaway. I knew that was going to happen. I was just hoping we'd get someone to go with us. They spread out, so I just hung with the guys on the outside. I guess someone got into Dale because Dale got into me and then we went up. We hit pretty hard and Dale hit harder."
– Kenny Schrader, who was involved in the last-lap crash.

"NASCAR has lost its greatest driver ever, and I personally have lost a great friend."
– NASCAR chairman Bill France Jr.

"No matter where it happens or how it happens or even how prepared you think you might be for it, losing somebody close to you hurts. My heart just breaks for Teresa and the family."
– Driver Kyle Petty. Petty's son, Adam, was killed last year in a crash during a Busch series practice session in New Hampshire.

"Dale Earnhardt was the greatest race car driver that ever lived. He could do things with a race car that no one else could. You never think anyone will get killed, but he was the last one you'd think that would happen to.

"He had a tremendous impact on NASCAR racing. He's done so much to help the sport get where it is today. He took the sport to new places. It's going to be hard for anyone else to take it there. He leaves a big, big void here that will be very hard to fill."
– Ned Jarrett, broadcaster, former driver and father of driver Dale Jarrett.

"I don't know what to say. This is incredible, just incredible. I think everybody is just in shock right now. I didn't see much of what happened. After the race was over, I heard things didn't look very good but, man, Earnhardt. You figure he'll bounce right back. Your first thought is, hey, he'll probably come back next week at Rockingham and beat us all."
– Driver Jeremy Mayfield.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dale Earnhardt. He was a true champion as well as a wonderful ambassador for our sport. The thoughts and prayers of the entire CART community are with the Earnhardt family and everyone involved in NASCAR racing during this difficult time."
– President/CEO of CART Joseph Heitzler

"It's just the way this sport is. That's the chances you take. It's unfortunate it happened to him. It just don't seem right. It's hard to believe. You don't think things like that will happen to drivers of his caliber.

"We're going to have to take a look at some of the safety issues. My driver tested the HANS (Head And Neck Safety) device over the summer and he will not get in the car without it now. If Dale had that on, we'd probably be looking at a different situation."
– Todd Parrott, Dale Jarrett's crew chief.

"I feel like somebody kicked me in the chest. I'm stunned. And I'm really sad. That's about all I can say."
– Driver John Andretti.

"Like so many people around the world, I became a NASCAR fan because I became a Dale Earnhardt fan. Dale was someone I was proud to have my son look up to. We all have our memories we will cherish, memories of excitement, competitiveness and most of all memories of a great man. On behalf of the people of Alabama, I extend my thoughts and prayers to his family and friends."
– Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman.

"It's always tragic, but this is our main guy. Today when they introduced him, he got the biggest applause there. He's the man, he is NASCAR Winston Cup racing. We haven't had something like this happen. We've got a lot of work to do at the track in the next three weeks (for the March 11 Cracker Barrel 400), but I don't feel like doing anything. I'm just numb. I've lost a great friend."
– Ed Clark, president of Atlanta Motor Speedway.

"Like many others, we were fans of Dale Earnhardt – certainly the driver, but especially the man. In spite of our intense rivalry, Dale Earnhardt has been a great friend to us and to all who have helped to make this sport great. Dale Earnhardt transcended NASCAR. His loss will have an effect on racing and its fans worldwide."
– Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology.

"He was a good friend and I'm still in shock. This is a terrible, terrible loss and, for me, it ranks right up there with the death of JFK. Dale was the Michael Jordan of our sport.

"We always thought of Dale as being invincible, so when he didn't climb out of that car after the wreck I knew it was bad.

"I talked to him this morning before the race and he was poised to challenge for an unprecedented eighth championship and was really looking forward to a fantastic season.

"I knew Dale's father, Ralph, and I've know Dale since he was a little boy. He had things pretty tough when his father passed away when he was young and I was so proud of the way he turned out and the way he represented our sport.

"Behind that macho facade was a real sensitive individual who did a lot of things for a lot of people and didn't want any publicity in return. He was part of a very loving family and was truly an extraordinary human being. To think he is not around anymore is incomprehensible.

"Right now, we've got to do what we can do to help his family get through this terrible time. Our thoughts and prayers are with his mother, Martha, his wife, Teresa, and his children-Kerry, Dale, Jr., Kelly and Taylor Nicole.

"We will never fill the void left by the loss of Dale Earnhardt."
– H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler, president of Lowe's Motor Speedway.