Earnhardt biography

Thursday, March 1, 2001 | 9:52 a.m.

A LEGEND IS LOST

A look at Dale Earnhardt, seven-time Winston Cup champion:

Age: 49, Born April 29, 1951

Birthplace: Kannapolis, N.C.

Residence: Mooresville, N.C.

Died: Killed Feb. 18 on the last turn of the last lap of the Daytona 500 in a crash involving cars driven by Sterling Marlin and Ken Schrader

Driving career: Known as "The Intimidator" for his aggressive driving style, Earnhardt won seven NASCAR Winston Cup titles to tie Richard Petty's record. Won 76 races, including the 1998 Daytona 500. Was the 1979 Rookie of the Year, and won the National Motorsport Press Association's Driver of the Year award four times and twice was selected the American Driver of the Year.

Family: Wife, Teresa; four children, Dale Jr., Kerry, Kelly, Taylor. Earnhardt's father, Ralph, was one of the pioneers of NASCAR and a star in its Sportsman division in the 1950s. Dale Jr. is a top Winston Cup driver.

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