DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Ryan Newman was lying in bed one morning, his two daughters still tucked in down the hall, when a YouTube video of his death-defying c
Sidelines: Legacy of Dale Earnhardt lives on 20 years after his death
Two decades after NASCAR s most polarizing driver was killed in Daytona 500 crash, his impact on the sport lingers, Travis Barrett writes.
Share
A statue of Dale Earnhardt rises above an entrance at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 16, 2011 in Daytona Beach, Florida. On the cusp of a national popularity explosion, NASCAR never stopped after the deaths of Adam Petty, Kenny Irwin Jr. and Tony Roper. But losing Earnhardt forced the stock car series to confront safety issues it had been slow to even acknowledge, let alone address. The dramatic upgrades have saved multiple lives NASCAR has not suffered a racing death in its three national series since and are the hallmark of Earnhardt s legacy. Lynne Sladky/AP file photo
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Ryan Newman was lying in bed one morning, his two daughters still tucked in down the hall, when a YouTube video of his death-defying crash popped up as a recommended watch.He hit play, absorbing every angle of the terrifying.
This is the final installment of a four-part series on the life, death and safety legacy of Dale Earnhardt, 20 years after his fatal crash at the 2001 Daytona 500.
THE WORLD HAS not seen Ryan Newman s 2020 Daytona 500 race car in nearly a year. The last time any of us saw that Roush Fenway Racing-constructed Mustang, we thought we were staring at a coffin.
The car that had been in the lead with the checkered flag in sight was upside down on the infield grass, twisted and on fire as safety crews crawled all over it, frantically working to save the unconscious driver inside, 42-year-old Newman, hanging limp from his seat belts.
The death of Dale Earnhardt from a crash during the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500 is considered the darkest day in the history of NASCAR. The 20th anniversary of his death is coming up on Feb. 18 and the stock car racing community is noting that his legacy includes dramatic improvements in the safety of motorsports. As part of its coverage, The Associated Press is republishing its primary Daytona 500 story from Feb. 18, 2001:
AP Motorsports Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) Dale Earnhardt, the greatest stock car star of his era, was killed in a crash on the last turn of the last lap of Sunday’s Daytona 500 as he tried to protect Michael Waltrip’s victory.