5 Years Ago

[chasfm11]

It will be logically 5 years ago tomorrow that we lost "Big E" at Daytona. Things sure have changed since then.

[chasfm11]

It will be logically 5 years ago tomorrow that we lost "Big E" at Daytona. Things sure have changed since then.

[DriVer]

Number "3"

[RV Wizard]

We were there for many years watching and hoping HE would win the Daytona 500; in 98 HE finally did and we were so excited for him. He was on top of the world all night that night. He did not want to stop the party and really enjoyed the win far more than any other I could remember. We were there also when He left us and it was one of the saddest days of our lives as well. It is fitting that he died only a very short distance from where his best friend Neil Bonnett died several years before. He died doing what He loved the most with a big grin on his face. He was the kind of driver that you either loved him or you hated him and he liked it. A fan of his since before Jr. was born, and living in Rockingham, I came to learn that He did more for NASCAR than any other single person in their exsistance. We have strongly missed "The man that could see the air", "Iron Head", "Intimidator", "Man in Black". Once a fan, Forever a Fan of Dale Earnhardt. I had the previlege of talking with him twice and have several autographed items that are not only treasures but trophies of mine. When ever the word Daytona or even NASCAR are mentioned I think of Him. Changed? Yes things have definitely changed, although I can't say for the better. It has not been the same for the last five or even ten years ago as it once was.

[6MISFITZ]

The sport lost a true Ambassador that day which in my opinion they may never have again with what seems like their big push to bring in younger less disciplined guns these days.

We were there in Daytona in 2001 for their father / son C5R Corvette second place finish in the Rolex 24 hour race (and for Ron Fellows' win) and arrived home the same day of the crash.

Have always been and will forever be, a 3 Fan!

Mike.