Dale Earnhardt knew the risks. Despite being the first driver killed in the Daytona 500, he was well aware that six of his racing brethren had died of injuries from wrecks in qualifying races for the 500. For all of his 49 years, Earnhardt lived life in the fast lane. The Intimidator, as they called him for his fierce, competitive style, he permanently park his famous block No. 3 Chevrolet and let the younger guys take over.

"If physically and mentally I can't do this, [I'll retire]. If i can't go downi n the corner and drive competitively with the next guy and beat him or win a race, that's going to [determine when I stop]," Earnhardt said last year. "Your reflexes and health or whatever is going to tell on you. I don't see it happening in the next three years."

The competitive juices ran in Earnhardt from the start. And he never stopped putting the pedal to the metal. It was high gear or nothing.

Dale Earnhardt was born April 29, 1951, in Kannapolis, North Carolina. Although young Earnhardt helped his parents work on the family far, it was in the pedigree to pursue a career behing the wheel of his race car. Although never a NASCAR Winston Cup series champion, his father, Ralph, was an accomplished driver in his own right. A household name North Carolina short tracks, the elder Earnhardt ran up some decent numbers during a 23-year racing career. He won NASCAR's Sportsman Division championship in 1956 and in 1961 posed seven top-10 finishes in eight starts in the Winston Cup series division-good for 17th in the standings. Ralph Earnhardt was inducted in the National Motorsports Press Association's Hall of Fame at Darlington, South Caralina Raceway, as well as the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in Talladega, Alabama.

While Ralph was off racing, Martha Earnhardt, the matriach of the family, would stay home in Kannapolis and watch over the their five children.

It was through his father that Earnhardt learned to love and respect that sport of car racing. A high school dropout, Earnhardt began racing Hobby-class cars at local events while still a teenager. He worked full-time during the day, welding and mounting tires, and either racing or tinkering with his cars at night. He used his meager wages to buy parts, sometimes even borrowing money with the hopes of paying back the bank Monday, after a weekend of racing.

Tragically. his father would never see his son attain international fame. On Sept. 26, 1973, Ralph Earnhardt died or a heart attack at the age of 45, ironcally while working on his race car. The tragedy hit Dale Earnhardt hard and gave him a renewed determination to dedicate his life to race-car driving. Earnhardt continued to compete on the Sportsman circuit, racing at local speedways such as Hickory, Concord and the Metrolina Fairgrounds.

1975 - Made stock-car racing debut on May 25, finishing 22nd in the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

1979 - Earned first victory on April 1 at Bristol, Tenn.; Won Rookie of the Year Award.

1980 - Won first Winston Cup Championship, becoming only driver to win Rookie of the Year and season championship back-to-back.

1986 - Won five races to take second Winstion Cup Championship.

1987 - Won 11 races for third Winston Cup Championship, finishing in top five 21 times in 29 races.

1990 - Won nine times to take fourth Winston Cup Championship, earning a then- record $3,083,056.

1991 - Won four races for fifth Winston Cup Championship.

1993 - Won sixes races to earn sixth Winston Cup Championship.

1994 - Won seventh Winston Cup Championship, tying Richard Petty for most career titles. Topped $3 million mark in earnings for third time five years.

1996 - Became third driver to start 500 consecutive Winston Cup races.

1997 - Became first driver to reach $30 million in American Motor Sports winnings and first race car driver to appear on box of Wheaties Cereal.

1998 - Won first Daytona 500 in 20th career start, breaking a 59-race winless streak overall. Finished eight in season standings, his 18th top-10 finish in 20 years.

1999 - Won 10th consecutive Twin 125 qualifying race at Daytona.

2000 - Won Winston 500 on Oct. 15 at Talladega Superspeedway for final career victory.

Career Pole Positions:22

Career top 5 finishes:268

Career top 10 finishes:404

Winston Cup Championships:7(1980, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994)

IROC Championships:3(1990, 1995, 1999)

American Driver of the Year:2(1987, 1994)

Won record nine races at Talladega Superspeedway.

Owns record 34 victories in all forms of racing at Daytona Speedway.
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