Dale Earnhardt Sr. Dies On This Date In 2001 [POLL]

It was on this date that we lost one of the most, if not the most popular NASCAR driver of all time, Dale Earnhardt. Earnhardt was killed on the final lap of the Datona 500 on Sunday February 18th, 2001.

For NASCAR fans and the viewers of that day's race his death came as a complete surprise, as the accident first appeared to not be that serious. Dale Earnhardt became the first driver ever to be killed at Daytona.

Earnhardt was a seven time Winston Cup Champion and won 76 races at Daytona over his twenty five year career.

I had watched that day's race, made it all the way to the end with no clue that Earnhardt had been killed until a family member called long after I had shut off the TV.