1951 - 2001
Falcon's Thoughts
While not a long time NASCAR addict, dating back in an active interest in racing to only around 1996, Falcon Whump knew of the Earnhardt and Petty names prior to his co-founding Team Whump with team mate Wally. To Falcon, Dale Earnhardt has, and always will, epitomize what a real racer should be.
It is tragic that the day of Michael Waltrip's first win in 493 starts
(over 10 years) and the first race completed for DEI in one of Dale's 'Lucky Numbers' will be greatly overshadowed by the death of his employer and a long time friend of the Waltrip family. On behalf of Team Whump, Falcon's thoughts and prayers are for the Earnhardt family and friends and for all of the fans who share Falcon's massive sense of loss.
Perhaps it is good, at least in a minimal way, that Dale died doing what he so enjoyed, racing to the edge, and in doing so seeing his son and friend winning what he considered one of the greatest races in history, while helping them by guarding the back door. He would have known that no one was going to catch them on that last piece of straightaway.
As for Falcon, this is arguably the 4th most unhappy day of his life as far as he can recall. He feels great sadness at the passing of someone he never knew, but did respect greatly; Falcon has few heroes and now they have all passed from the world of the waking man. Not only will Falcon continue to treasure his most prized possession - his 2000 Dale Earnhardt Jacket obtained at Las Vegas Motor Speedway - but Falcon Whump will continue to drive the 2000 #3 Goodwrench Plus Monte Carlo for as long as he participates in online or offline racing.
I've Learned
I've learned - that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
I've learned - that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I've learned - that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.
I've learned - that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.
I've learned - that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.
And to quote Forest Gump - "And that's all I have to say about that"
Earnhardt dies following Daytona 500 accident
February 18, 2001
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt, 49, was fatally injured Sunday in a multi-car accident on the final lap of the 43rd Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. The announcement was made at 7 p.m. ET by NASCAR President Mike Helton.
"NASCAR has lost its greatest driver," said NASCAR Chairman of the Board Bill France, who himself is recovering from life threatening illnesses, "and I personally have lost a great friend." His wife Teresa was at his side at the time of death. Dr. Steve Bohannon, emergency trauma surgeon who was on one of the ambulances that responded, said, "My speculation would be head injuries, basically to the base of the skull." Earnhardt, who won the 1998 Daytona 500, was unconscious when he was cut from his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet after the accident between Turns 3 and 4 of the 2.5-mile speedway as a tangled pack of cars raced to the checkered flag. He was immediately transported to Halifax, less than one-mile from the speedway.
"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 up there (in the fourth turn). After the race was over, I heard things didn't look very good but, man, Earnhardt. You figure he'll bounce right back," said Jeremy Mayfield, driver of the No .12 Penske Ford. "Your first thought is, hey, he'll probably come back next week at Rockingham and beat us all. My heart goes out to Theresa and Dale, Jr., Kerry and Kelly, and to Taylor Nicole."
Earnhardt was pronounced dead while his driver, Michael Waltrip, was being interviewed in the Daytona press box after his first career victory in 463 starts.
In the accident, Ken Schrader's No. 36 Pontiac was pinned against the outside wall by Earnhardt's out-of-control No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, which came from a lower lane on the 31-degree banked turn. "I don't know what happened -- all of a sudden we were all crashing," said Schrader, who was unhurt in the accident. "I guess someone got into Dale because Dale got into me and then we went up. We hit pretty hard and Dale hit harder." Schrader tried to visit Earnhardt's car after the accident ended, but quickly left the area. "I didn't get to talk to Dale," Schrader said of his escape. "I went over there and then they (safety workers) got there real quick, so I got the hell out of the way. I'm fine. I'm fine -- I'm just thinking about Dale and those guys."
Dale Earnhardt won 76 NASCAR Winston Cup races.
"The only reason why I won this race was Dale Earnhardt," said Waltrip, who was unaware of the news while he was being interviewed. "I wondered why he wasn't in Victory Lane until I found out he was hurt."
Earnhardt was the career victories leader at Daytona. His 34th career victory here came in the 2000 opening round of the True Value International Race of Champions.
Tony Stewart, who was injured in a separate accident, was also transported directly to Halifax Sunday afternoon. Stewart was injured when his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Pontiac was one of no less than 19 cars that were involved in an accident on the 2.5-mile trioval's backstretch. The race was red-flagged at that point with 25 laps remaining. Stewart was listed as "alert and conscious" when transported. A CT scan of his head and neck and a x-ray of his left shoulder were negative, a speedway statement revealed at 6 p.m. ET. He suffered a concussion in the accident, in which his car flipped several times and was ultimately struck -- in the bottom while flipping -- by his teammate Bobby Labonte.
Earnhardt's son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., 26, who finished second to Waltrip in the race, immediately left the speedway following the race to join his father.
Falcon Whump acknowledges that the text from this page was saved from http://www.nascar.com/ posted to the News Page on 2001-02-18 at 20:00:23 EST. Since this first posting there have been many more, but this is the only one that will be retained on this site and this site will remain on the web while this site, Falcon Whump and Team Whump International exist.
NASCAR Cafe Dale Earnhardt Memorial 2001
